The Sunday News
I JUST spent a few days in a film workshop with over 40 other local filmmakers or television content creators here in Bulawayo. On the first day of the workshop I remember counting to almost 50 participants and thinking the number was just a fraction of the people who attended the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) meeting with content creators sometime last year at the Small City Hall.
You should have been there, dear reader, to witness the excitement of the participants. And in the workshop it dawned on me that while we have quite a lot of filmmakers and content creators in the city the number does not translate to local films being made in the city. I think it is also safe to say that it is the same with Harare and other cities — the numbers of filmmakers and content creators does not translate to the number of content or films being made in this country.
And so the questions that beg for answers are: Where is the content all these people are making, if they are making anything at all? Where are the local films? Go to all video shops, video vendors and ask for locally made films and the answer you will get is a negative. There are no local films. So where are our Zimbabwean stories and who is telling them if not the people in that room?
These stories are not on television too. In fact, our television station is one of the most boring channels on the DStv bouquet.
Not because what you see on the channel is poorly done — NO. But that most of the content is done without thought — it is unimaginative and uninspiring to say the least.
We are not seeing our stories on the small screen or elsewhere because they are not there. Most people in that workshop had never made a film, let alone a short film for one reason or another.
Reasons for not making films in this country are plenty. They range from lack of equipment, lack of skills and knowledge, lack of funding or finances. There is another school of thought that believes Zimbabweans are just not ready to make films, especially films that will be able to please or compete on an international level. I once belonged to this school. I believed that if you were not sure of making a good film don’t make it. But not anymore. Over the years I have realised that waiting for perfect conditions to make films in Zimbabwe might take years, if not forever. And no one is there to wait forever. Time is short and in a few years from now you might even be there to tell that story you have been holding onto for so many years.
This is also the time for us to start demystifying the notion that film is a medium for the rich, and those with resources. In Africa, Nigeria’s Nollywood and South African’s Lokshin Bioskop have proved that you don’t have to have millions of dollars to make a watchable film. The operative word here being watchable, not perfect film. Nollywood and South African television industry have proved that you don’t have to have the best equipment or best crew to make films that can attract a good viewership. Poor artistes can still tell their stories through film. And it’s time we started doing so too in this country.
Another lame reason given for not making films particularly in Bulawayo is that the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Authority is not broadcasting these films. But rumour has it that ZBCtv is desperate for content, particularly from outside Harare.
Also times are changing and ZBC’s monopoly is ending soon. Besides now there is Zambezi Magic looking for content. Soon Kwese TV will start calling for Zimbabwean content. There is also the Internet. So many avenues to explore.
The ordinary person in the street wants our stories, for these are also his/her stories. What exactly is stopping us from telling our stories and in our own way? To be honest I believe it is tragic that there are literally no local stories available for local consumers that want stories about their places of birth or stories they simply can understand. The market for these films or stories is there. Wait until someone finds a way to tap into it.
