MTF recipients gaining more skills in Zambia
The country’s MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) recipients for the second cohort Mphatso Makamo and Chisomo Levison have said they have benefited a lot so far learning new skills and that they have expanded their knowledge of filmmaking.
Makamo and Levison are participating in the programme following the footsteps of the first recipients Jonathan Kapumba and Chimwemwe Mkwezalamba, who shined for the country last year.
MultiChoice Malawi General Manager, Gus Banda, said last time after the two were selected that the new cohort had big shoes to fill following the success of the first cohort.
“The first recipients did exceedingly well and they were great ambassadors for Malawi. We are optimistic the second cohort of recipients will do well. We have an amazing staff at the academy and they will ensure our students are successful in their endevours,” Banda said.
Livason said they have learnt a lot so far and that they were looking forward to implementing what they had learnt.
“We are well equipped in terms of technical knowhow. Most of the filmmakers in Malawi and other African countries are self-taught but with the MultiChoice Talent Factory we are getting new things in terms of improving our products,” he said.
Livason, who has participated in a number of contests in the country including winning an award in the Focus on Ability Short Film, said they have learnt subjects such as history of filmmaking, script writing, pitching, cinematography and lighting, directing, sound and production.
Makamo said apart from learning new things, they had been exposed to a number of programmes and how they were produced.
“We have also been able to interest with people from different walks of life. We have learned from people, who have worked on well-known productions such Black Panther, Amazing Race, Scandal and Isidingo just to name a few,” she said.
Makamo said her knowledge was now so much advanced compared to the past.
“I now know how to pitch to a channel professionally and write my own concepts, shoot and now currently learning how to edit content and now I can take the film industry head on. As filmmakers, we have a big task of telling our own stories,” she said.
Meanwhile Kapumba and Mkwezalamba continue to use their skills to work on different projects in the country having graduated as the first cohort.
Makamo and Livason were selected to represent Malawi in the MTF Academy which picked close to 60 participants with 20 for each region.
The MTF Academy has 20 participants in East Africa whose hub is in Kenya with Southern Africa where Malawi lies also having 20 participants with its academy in Lusaka, Zambia whereas West Africa’s hub is in Nigeria.
MultiChoice Africa introduced MTF Academy and other platforms as part of building Africa’s creative industry particularly filmmaking.
MultiChoice has said the African continent needs to tell its stories in a better way hence the training.
