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Doc Vikela

Tafadzwa Zimoyo :  Silver Screen

It’s been a fortnight since we last beamed each other. Let me take this opportunity to sincerely apologize to the avid followers of this column. With this kind of weather that we are experiencing this side of the Equator at this particular moment, yours truly was down struggling with a bug. Alas! But that does not mean we were not together in following our favourite programmes on our favourite channels and local stations, and thanks to you TV buffs.I must say that this period gave me a better insight into what local television ought to be like and in the truest sense of the word TV. There should and there is need for variety, innovation, as well as the skills requisite to capture and package evolving issues in a more dynamic, eye-catching and interesting way which will make your audience, both local and international, appreciate not just the content that you are broadcasting but also the relevance of the programmes.

Remember recently, yours truly had a tour at Multichoice South Africa offices in Randburg and the main agenda was on Zambezi Magic Channel. That alone was an eye-opener on what television broadcasting not only in Zimbabwe but the rest of the Southern African continent ought to be like.

All along, I was busy taking notes on the areas that our local broadcasting corporation needs to improve on while at the same time I also made it a point to note where we had made strides of them.

Yes! Zimbabwe has its own marks ahead of these guys and it is just a matter of time, the requisite corporate and social support that we can take our local broadcasting industry to another level.

Not that our local TV is not performing well, the fact that I however gathered during my itinerary is that this broadcaster has potential but is not tapping into it.

Carl Joshua Ncube

If any SA channel goes to the extreme of screening local soccer matches, why can’t local artistes such as comedians live up to the billing and impress foreign broadcasters to do the same for this country?

Stories abound of local soccer players who are making it big in the SA soccer circles and most of these we hear about them or see them on Mzansi Magic, SABC and Etv among others.

Coming back to my visit to the Multichoice South Africa, the guys expressed the dearth of comedies coming out of Zimbabwe.

As part of their mission, according to the head of content for Zambezi Magic, Kwangu Liwewe, it is part of mission to promote fresh content from inside the Southern African region.

“We are keen to promote content and concepts from Zimbabwe, but the challenge that we have at the moment is that we are experiencing a shortage in the genre of comedy from Zimbabwean producers,” she said.

I could not help but pose the question of why local comedies are failing the grade yet we have the likes of Carl Joshua Ncube, Bus Stop Tv, P.O. Box, Doc Vikela, Simba the comic king, Clive Chigubu, Mabla 10, Sabhuku Vhara Zipi among others who are managing to tickle the ribs of local comedy lovers?

The answer-question that emerged is that are local producers not giving their “oomph” when it comes to producing their work, much of which might appeal to the local domestic lovers but will be lacking on the appeal and quality content.

Or are we ignorant to do a production?

We need to over-emphasize here that it is not a stroll in the park to be appreciated on the international platform if your stuff doesn’t appeal to or suit the requirements.

Times should shift for local comedians to just view themselves as cheap entertainers.

It is high time that they should take a leaf from the likes of South Africa’s Leon Schuster and make quality comedies of international appeal.

Otherwise, all said and done, the gaps are there for local comedy producers to plug and for them to keep on crying foul and pointing fingers at ZBC is akin to the cry-baby syndrome.

If Zimbabweans who are based in Hollywood like actress and film director Danai Gurira and Tongai Chirisa can make such big breakthroughs as evidenced by their string of successes, what is stopping us?

As an actress and playwright, Danai has feathers such as Michonne on The Walking Dead, an AMC television horror drama series, and the Tony-nominated Eclipsed, a play starring Lupita Nyong’o, to her name. Recently, it was rumoured that she might be taking a part of the leading role in the Tupac Shakur movie.

What this then means is that Zimbabwean film producers, directors and actors have a long way to go, and if they make good use of festivals such as the Zimbabwe International Film Festival as well as the International Images Film Festival, among others, then no big strides will be made.

Of course, the likes of Tsitsi Dangarembga and Tawanda Gunda Mupengo have made it big on the local TV with their productions, some of which have earned international recognition in the form of awards. There is however need to really look into where the likes of our Mabla 10s, Sekuru Zvambu’s, Kahembeze’s and Sabhuku Vharazipi are falling short.

If it means that they should use their local languages which they are skilful in – then sub-titles are not a crime.

After all, a good number of South Africa’s popular comedies are in their vernacular and they are proud of that too.

Still on the issue of comedy, moving over to DSTV, the 68th Emmy award nominees were announced by Black-ish star Anthony Anderson and once-and-future Gilmore Girls actress Lauren Graham at the Academy’s North Hollywood headquarters.

The show will be beamed on E! Entertainment and is taking place on September 18.

We say good luck to the nominees.

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