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A scene from “Eleven PM”

Brenda Phiri Entertainment Reporter
The life and unheralded struggles of today’s youth are put under the spotlight in a new television series “Eleven PM”, a dance flick by Masvingo-based production house “Wezhira TV”. The series will be premiering on the silver screen soon.

The production house recently released the film’s pilot episode and more than before, they bring a new perspective on how the society’s ills can be highlighted while promoting the positives – which is art in this case. According to the producer, Edward Chombe, the production is a story of the hasles of the youths as told by the youths, hence the choice of a youthful cast. “Before we came up with the film, we sat down with about 26 young people and discussed at length the challenges that they go through in their lives. It was an insightful experience and many topics came out of the no-holds-barred encounter,” said Chombe.

“I then used the issue they raised to come up with a script for the series.” The topics tapped in the production range from drug abuse, forced marriages, unemployment, disability and a fair share music and dance.

“The film brings out raw talent and creativity as it also follows up on the young people who strive to carve their niche in the arts industry. “

Speaking on the series, Chombe – who is also the film’s director – said the initiative was a deliberate move to exhibit raw talent that was rife in Masvingo and surrounding areas.

“Art is a crucial part of the young people’s culture today. This is evident in the emergence of expressive music genres like Zim dancehall. Vibrant dance groups are also making waves and make up part of people who are surviving through the arts,” he said.

The series is centred on the story of Brandon (real name Brandon Yosulu), who is a skilled, upcoming dancer. Brandon loses his parents in a car accident that also leaves his brother crippled. Facing what seems to be an empty life, he loses his passion for dance and resorts to hustling his way out of poverty.

As he is busy “doing his thing”, he finds himself back on the dance floor after a group of youths approach him for help in order to win a potentially life-changing competition. There is also the realisation that he not only needs to do it for prestige as it could bail the youngsters out of a destructive path of life.

It is a relief that the twist and turns in the film are different from the predictable “Step Ups” dance flicks. “Brandon has his own demons to deal with and feels uninspired to take up the offer. His brother, however, changes his mind. What transpires is a roller- coaster life in modern-day Zimbabwe,” said Chombe.

The first season of the series will have 13 episodes