Local film industry throws itself a life line
Patience Musa
Which local film did you watch last? Which year was it? Do you even remember the main characters in the film? Was it ‘Consequences’, Neria…or maybe ‘Lobola’?
The local film industry has been in a coma for years; alive, breathing but barely holding on. With a few talented, dedicated artists who refuse to switch the machines off in the hope that one day the industry will get the much needed organs that it needs to thrive.
Some of those artists are a group of women and men who are calling themselves Gango Productions. Gango for those who aren’t familiar with the word means a mixture of a lot of different things. Gango production is made up of writer/ director, actor Joe Njagu, actor Charles Njagu, actress Nyaradzo Nhongonhema, Comedian Doc Vickela, cinematographer Nyaradzo Muchena, actor Munyaradzi Chidzonga, actor Eddie Sandifolo, and gaffer Farai Chimombe. The Gango productions members all are producers as well. Joe Njagu explained “…everyone is a producer in the group, because everyone is investing more besides their expertise…”
After realising that the Zimbabwean film industry really isn’t developing. The group of passionate film makers got together and came up with a solution. They would make films that would cost them as little as possible, which meant – small cast, crew and limited locations and days to shoot. The trial film of the model was ‘Who Is Tete B?’, which was shot in 7 days with only two locations and a cast of 5 actors only. What their actually doing is keeping the cost of making their films low so that there is a return in investment. The model that Gango Productions has come up with is a straight to T.V model. There is a need for investors to make a film, money is very important and Njangu revealed another thorn in the film Industry.
“…yes it’s important to have investors but at the moment the biggest challenge in the industry is distribution, you make the film and then what?” said Njagu
Gango Production released Who Is Tete B in May this year at Sterkinekor and Theartre in the park and soon the film will be on satellite TV .They have also just finished shooting their next film The Letter, if it’s just half as entertaining as Who Is Tete B…theirs is definitely a winning model.
Unlike most industries that “claim” to be ‘open for business’, this is one industry that is actually REALLY open for business; where key players are taking control against all odds and basically making something out of nothing. No government policies are aiding them, no co-operate investors, no ministry spear heading campaigns just their talent and love for the art. At a time when all industries in the country should be booming with action just maybe our new government should be looking into unconventional means to keep the countries pulse going and maybe those means could be in the arts industry. After all stranger things have been known to happen. If the arts industry has been doing so much unaided imagine what can be achieved with the most miniscule of help from the government.
