The Sunday News
Kudzai Mpangi, Sunday Life Reporter
ZIMBABWE’s film industry has been struggling in recent years, but it has been a positive story of late.
And this renewed optimism in the industry has given rise to talents like 18-year-old filmmaker Daniel Lasker who has made a name for himself since his first short film The Joker.
The short flick made headlines and inspired the meteoric rise of the teenager who is now being considered a prodigy and an easy bet to become one of the best filmmakers out of Zimbabwe.
He followed up his debut with two more short films The way it is and The Walk which were shot in his home town, Bulawayo and have received rave reviews on his YouTube channel. Lasker’s productions have managed to portray originality and are of high quality.
According to the filmmaker, The Walk has made it on international platforms and has been made an official selection for the New York City Film Awards.
Apart from film making, he is also an accomplished actor and has part of a large number of theatre productions. The teen also competed at the 2017 World Championships of Performing Arts in Hollywood, where he represented Zimbabwe and won various medals as well as two scholarships to prestigious acting and film institutions.
Lasker told Sunday Life that his acting prowess has seen him landing a lead role in one of the best films in Zimbabwe.
“I must agree that a lot of my success is due to my Joker video that I created a long time ago. It is the reason Duncan Frost, the director of the movie The Telling Room, discovered me and I am lucky to be in one of the life changing films that’s going to wow the world,” Lasker said.
His latest and no doubt, biggest project The Telling Room, in which he is cast as in the main act, has just completed filming and is now in post production and is expected to be released in international cinemas in early 2019.
“The Telling Room is definitely going to be a film that will be a revelation for Zimbabwe. The film is full of depth, drama, suspense, plot twists, as well as a bit of hilarious comedy,” he said.
Lasker said he was happy to have had the opportunity to work with some of the best actors in Zimbabwe.
“I am so humbled to have worked with some of the most talented actors in the country, renowned actors in the Zimbabwe film industry such as Eddie Sandifolo and Farai Chigudu. Kevin Hansson who has acted in a large number of international production as well as Zimbabwean ones is also in this film,” he said.
The filmmaker believes the international release of The Telling Room will put Zimbabwe in the spotlight and will show the world that Zimbabwe has incredible talent. -@kayskudzai
