New soap in the offing
Drama. Suspence. Deep lessons. Inspiration. These are some of the elements of a new soap, Choices, which will start beaming by the end of the month.
If the first two episodes Society watched on Monday are anything to go by, Malawians should brace for interesting and mind-gripping action from the small screen.
The brains behind the series, Thoko Tembo and Ashukile Mwakisulu, have international background in film production. Mwakisulu, who writes the script, has appeared in several South African soaps, including Generations, Scandal, Jacob’s Cross and The Lab. He has also been featured in several films: Seven of Daran (Holland), King Otto (Germany) and he features as Saidi in Shemu Joyah’s film The Last Fishing boat.
The series involves up-and-coming actors brushing shoulders with experienced actors. Renowned actors Tapiwa Gwaza, Flora Suya, Hope Chisanu and Ashukile face Julliet Royo, Mwayi Simbota and Simunye Nyamali.
According to Mwakisulu, the 30-minute episodes will revolve around the lives of four women, Tina, Frida, Milcah and Elsie. The four have been friends since their childhood days. Tina (Suya) owns a hair salon and is married to Derrick (Justin Luwemba) who is a journalist; Frida (Royo) works in town and stays with her younger sister Deliwe (Nyamali) while Milcah (Gwaza) is a single businesswoman; Elsie (Simbota) is married to Kambani (Mwakisulu), who runs a construction company.
The first episode shows the drama revolving around one of the men who impregnates a sister to one of her wife’s friends.
In the words of Thoko, who directs the bilingual (English and Chichewa) soap, the idea was engendered because only Malawians can tell best the Malawian story. He says life is about choices, hence the branding of the series. The good or bad choices people make affect their lives.
“It is out of a deep passion. We have financed the shooting of the first four episodes from our pockets. Right now we are talking to potential sponsors and a television station where the soap would be beamed,” says Tembo, who was trained in film production at Stokport in the United Kingdom.
With a fine picture quality and booming sound, one can tell the creativity and professionalism. Yet, the characters are from a middle class the majority of Malawians can neither relate nor associate with.
However, Mwakisulu says time for portraying Malawians as an impoverished land is gone.
“We are not running away from reality, but you know how Malawians are progressing these days. Besides, the series also seeks to inspire girls. We believe many girls would like to prosper like the women we are portraying,” he observes.
Tembo, who also runs Thuso Media, agrees: “It is high time we went a step further in producing topnotch and quality productions. We are talking to colleagues in other countries on how we can go international. Platforms such as African Magic expose talent from Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and other countries.”
Sharing the view of going international, Mwakisulu who is director of Tereza’s Dream Entertainment, said it is pleasing that the Malawi film industry is gaining international repute. He cited Joyah’s Seasons of a Life and The Last Fishing Boat and singling out Tawonga Nkhonjera’s recent film B’ella as one fair work of art.
“Some countries produce thousands of films, but most of them fail to meet international standards. We have a few movies, but their impact is being felt,” observes Mwakisulu.
With the coming of another soap, Senses, Mwakisulu said Malawi is on the right track. The Nation reported this week the new drama series would start beaming on MBC-TV in October.
“This shows Malawi is getting there. Malawians need to watch a variety of soaps,” he said.
As one waits for the drama, suspence, deep lessons and inspiration to start unfolding, the hope remains: the series will not die the unnatural deaths from an Ebola-like ailment other Malawian soaps faced in the past.
