TWO Bulawayo filmmakers are part of a six-member group taking part in an inaugural two-week Media Entrepreneurship Leadership Programme-in Hollywood-funded by the United States.
BATANAI MUTASA OWN CORRESPONDENT
The six, who left the country over the weekend, will be representing various facets of the filmmaking and entertainment sector in a programme set to expose them to Hollywood filmmaking and entertainment business activities.
Radio personality Zandile Ndlovu, aka Zaza, and veteran documentary producer Priscilla Ncube, aka MaSithole, who both hail from Bulawayo are the only women in the group which also comprises Elton Mjanana, Tongai Makawa, Nqobizitha Mlilo and Samuel Monro.
Ndlovu told Southern Eye Lifestyle before her departure that although people associated her more with radio through her work with Zi FM Stereo, she was into film thus her selection by the American Embassy.
“For example, I am working on a romantic documentary with a very illustrious cast due for release next year, but I won’t divulge more at the moment,” she said.
“We are leaving tomorrow (Saturday), but I just had to come here because I grew up in Barbourfields and wanted to celebrate this achievement with the city just as I would never leave without thanking Joe Njagu, Rufaro Kaseke and media guru Susan Makore for contributing immensely towards my development.”
Sithole started out as an artistic director at Amakhosi Theatre before forming an all-female band — Amakhosikazi.
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Her passion for film led her to establish an academy for young girls and women in 2010 where she trains women to create movies and documentaries.
The group will tour Hollywood, visiting such areas as the African Technology Foundation (Relativity Media) where they will hold discussions and site visits led by chief executive officer Stephen Ozoigbo.
They will also visit University of California, Los Angeles School of Theatre, Film and Television, University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts and Film Independent — a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping independent filmmakers get their films made, building the audience for independent films and increasing diversity in the industry.
“Basically, we are going to learn how to market and package ourselves and also to perfect our act from professionals who are established,” Ndlovu said.
“We have also lined up meetings with Zimbabweans who have made it in Hollywood like Arnold Chirisa of the Mr Bones fame.”
Ndlovu said the country had lost its attraction for international filmmakers who now preferred South Africa and Kenya yet some blockbusters like King Solomon’s Mines were done in Zimbabwe.
“Our aim is, therefore, to network with the filmmakers from Hollywood so that we can attract them back to work in the country or work with us on some movies,” she said.
The film industry struggles to raise funding and often filmmakers end up using personal resources to see their projects to fruition.
This cultural exchange programme seeks to empower Zimbabweans in film and entertainment and educate them on how to run sustainable businesses.
“I want to promise the people here great things because we are going to gain a lot over these two weeks and as soon as we land we should have a lot of stuff on our fingertips,” Ndlovu said.
