LOCAL filmmaker and actor Stephen Mutsago has said the Zambian film industry is more organised and fast-growing in comparison to the local scene.
It appears Mutsago is enjoying the partnership with Zambian national Abel Silungwe as he continues to forge alliances in the film industry.
Having worked together as co-directors on Comrade, a film written by Mutsago released in April this year, the duo is working on Samson, an action-themed potentially explosive production.
In an interview with NewsDay Life & Style Mutsago, the producer of the forthcoming film, said working in Zambia with Silungwe had been a great experience.
“Going back to Zambia after a collaboration on our film was like keeping my end of the stick as we had promised each other that we will work together to grow the film industry both in Zimbabwe and Zambia,” he said.
“Apart from our own resources, we have used Zambian police resources and government stakeholders were on board. This shows that the government there is supportive of the film industry. Locally, we have been trying to engage the government on strategies for filmmaking to be part of the economic development agenda to no avail.”
In giving an insight into the film’s synopsis, Mutsago said the storyline of Samson was a journey of redemption for a young man brought up in a world of pain and brutality.
“After escaping physical and sexual abuse, Samson finds himself in the hands and protection of a war rebel Jacob Kalejhi (played by Khondwani Zulu) who promises him a better life as long he leads with him his militia group to cause terror in society,” he said.
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Mutsago said their next challenge was to make films that promoted Zimbabwean heritage and sovereignty, adding that such films required full support of the government and he hoped that stakeholders would come on board.
Mutsago has produced films such as Vicious Circle, Ngozi, Lobengula, The Gold Father and a television series Smoking Gun.
