THE ZIMBABWEAN FILM INDUSTRY: A CHAT with TAFADZWA RANGANAI.

Welcome back to my third edition newsletter FILMS with CLIFF and I have a few things I want to spill out before we dive into today′s topic. First, I want to thank you all the 400+ subscribers (by the time of writing this article). you made this writing possible. secondly, we are about to close 2024 and I strongly believe that many if not all of you met personal or work targets. And last but not least, I just want to promise you that this newsletter will deliver the best film in the coming year (we still have a period of 8 more articles bi-weekly) before the?year's?end. I thought it was wise to just say it before we move to the importance of this?newsletter.

To those who do not know me or are new here on this platform, hello my name is Cliff Taruvinga. I am a Filmmaker, TEDx Speaker, Podcaster, and Author of just one book, 7 THINGS YOU MUST REMEMBER WHEN YOU ARE PRAYING 7 THINGS YOU MUST REMEMBER WHEN PRAYING. And here is my link to my Amazon book store if you want to buy the book and one more thing that I do, I love people (lol). Seriously I love people I am a friendly guy from Zimbabwe who wants to see people carry faces of joy and fulfilment. that is all.

Now let us get to business, I have been a filmmaker for almost half of my life. I am 32 years by the way. I wrote my first screenplay when I was 15 turning?16?that?year. Fast forward to when I was 25 (the year was 2016), I decided to write, direct, and edit my first short film titled MY FATHER IS A DEVIL, again link below when you finish reading. I have seen a lot when it comes to making movies in my country Zimbabwe and the most talked about issue is finances?or?funding. A couple of weeks ago I sat down with Tafadzwa Ranaganai, my fellow brother in the film industry who is down well in the industry with noted films and projects at hand, and talked about his view about the future of the Zimbabwean film industry.

The following is a question-and-answer script, I am adding my notes on some of the questions. I tried to make our conversation a gentlemen′s talk where my goal was to create an environment of expressing our opinions about?film?industry. So the very first and second questions I asked him were who is Tafadzwa, what′s his role in the Zimbabwean film industry, and why he chose filmmaking over journalism which he obtained a certificate in Botswana.

TAFADZWA RANGANAI: I am a writer, director, and editor in the film and television industry in Zimbabwe. I also do graphic design, and photography and I dabble with VFX and animation here and there. Like a lot of us in the industry, I have multiple skill sets but narrowed down, I’m the first three?I?mentioned.

Honestly speaking, journalism is something I got into as a pathway to filmmaking. Movies were always the goal but film school was just not obtainable for me. Because I couldn’t go to film school, the next best thing was a degree in Media Studies at the University of Botswana where I lived for some years. I will say I enjoyed studying journalism but I always did try to squeeze film into my studies and in actual fact my final year project was a film. Journalism and Public Relations (which I ended up also falling into) was, in my opinion, a great foundation which I then built my film career on. If it wasn’t for journalism I probably wouldn’t have all the skills that I use daily in?my?film?work.

Now this is me Cliff writing, I believe that if you want to be so good at what you do as an individual, you must understand that experience is the best teacher. I am sure most of you even those who do not understand filmmaking, can relate to what I am saying here, you got to understand that it takes time to produce anything good. And I think most filmmakers around the world are missing the point of success as a storyteller simply by wanting shortcuts to greatness. The Zimbabwean film industry has so many great people who have stood during tough times to just be an example to the young people of today who are?making?movies.

CLIFF TARUVINGA: Has the Ministry of Arts, Sports, and Culture or the National Arts Council deeper their fingers into the film industry by any means?

This question I asked him has been the one big question most Zimbabwean filmmakers have at the back of their minds, they want the government to commit their full help in seeing the growth of the entertainment sector that has seen only the music world getting the most recognition in different ways. His view was either going to add to the many who have raised their concern or the positive that he thinks is about to come.

TAFADZWA RANGANAI: I believe so. The ministry in conjunction with the National Arts Council and a group of film industry professionals is actually in the process of formulating a film policy. I believe this comes right after they just completed a music policy and is part of a broader plan to come up with official policies for the arts industries as a whole. I would like to believe this is because the government sees the potential of film and other creative activities to contribute to the development of the country, not just necessarily contributing to the economy alone but to social development too. I look forward to seeing how we as the film industry and the government will be able to?work?together.

CLIFF TARUVINGA: In your own words do you think there is enough focus, collaborations, business platforms, coming within the circles of industry gurus?

TAFADZWA RANGANAI: I believe there are tonnes of collaborations that are happening in our industry. Film is by nature a collaborative art form. I do, however, feel that as an industry we need to encourage collaboration with other industries. We need clothing for our characters, sets constructed so we shoot, music to accompany our visuals, marketers, and publicists to sell our films, financiers to make the films possible in the first place…I could go on and on about the different other industries we need to work with to enhance the film industry. In the evolution of Zimbabwe film, I believe this is the next step we?need?to?take.

CLIFF TARUVINGA: Who do you think is the best modern-day filmmaker, male and female?

TAFADZWA RANGANAI: Ah! That’s such a difficult question ???? my opinion shifts depending on the mood I’m in and what I’m currently watching. I enjoy films by directors from all over the world and who operate on different budget levels ?? Allow me to include myself in a group that I believe is the best group of filmmakers, and that’s us, those of us who live in the 3rd world, with minimal to no industry infrastructure yet still putting out good, entertaining?films.

CLIFF TARUVINGA: Do you think issues like lack of proper budgets, not enough talent in the country, or corruption by other movie producers are hindering progress?in?any?way?

TAFADZWA RANGANAI: I believe the lack of budgets is hindering progress in our industry ???? the lack of money affects the whole filmmaking chain. From the scale of films, we write/conceptualize, how we compensate writers, to the production value we can put into our films all the way to marketing budgets and access to distribution. Filmmaking?is?expensive.

CLIFF TARUVINGA: Let′s talk about your latest movie,?Bako.

TAFADZWA RANGANAI: Bako, my latest film. What can I say? It tells the tale of Makorokoza who go hunting for a huge hoard of gold in an abandoned mine that may or may not be haunted. Without giving away too much, they find themselves trapped underground and fighting for their lives.

I am fond of horror and stories that have to do with the supernatural so this is my second horror film. What’s unique about it though is the way the team and I went about producing it. We built a set (with no set-building experience, I might add) and supplemented the shots we filmed on the set with footage shot in actual mine shafts and caves. It was a challenge, we were all in unfamiliar territory but that’s where I have found I thrive in. I love trying things out and this film provided me with the opportunity to try multiple things out.

It’s currently in post-production, the final sound mix to be exact….and the next step is to try and secure distribution for it. The people who attended the screening I held in May all had high praises for the actors’ performances so I’m optimistic that audiences will love it once?it’s?released.

I had a great time with my brother sharing his wisdom about the industry. As promised I will drop the link to his latest movie BAKO.

BAKO the movie