ZAMBEZI Magic channel boss Addiel Dzinoreva has urged Zimbabwean filmmakers to produce films that tell their own stories and address issues that are uniquely Zimbabwean.
BY IDAH MHETU
Zambezi Magic channel was launched by DStv last month for southern African viewers and is sourcing content from Africa, particularly southern African countries such as Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Speaking during a recent workshop organised by the Zimbabwe international Film Festival Trust, Dzinoreva said their desire was to make Zambezi Magic a “hyper local channel that speaks to Zimbabweans”.
He said their long-term goal was to phase out all the South African soaps – including the popular Generations and Jacob’s Cross – and replace them with predominantly Zimbabwean and Zambian productions.
“Every South African soapie on Zambezi Magic will be phased out as soon as we get better content from the Zimbabwean and Zambian filmmakers,” he said.
He challenged the film-makers to follow the example of Nigerian producers who have a knack of telling their own unique stories and experiences through their movies.
“People should be true to their context and characters, be as local as the Nigerians and be as authentic and real to your content. Look at Mzansi Magic – it’s unashamedly South African,” Dzinoreva said.
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“Zambezi Magic is looking for the stories that resonate with the audience, something that is uniquely Zimbabwean and you should try and tap into local and cultural nuances.”
He said the channel was not going to broadcast hard news and sport, as those were oversubscribed on DStv.
Viewers, however, can look forward to spell-binding soaps, dramas, documentaries, talk shows, reality shows and music videos, he said, adding that the channel was currently licensing readily available content and mainly existing material.
