Channel O trains 60 in video production
An M-Net and Channel O-organised music videos and movies production workshop has excited Malawian artists with many of them planning on works that will find their way on international television stations.
Facilitated by Job Bakama and Makere Thekiso from Callback Dreams, a film and television production company based in Pretoria, South Africa, the one-day workshop took place at the Bingu International Conference Centre in Lilongwe and drew over 60 videographers.
As producers for Callback Dreams, the two trainers have an amazing repertoire in shooting music shows and videos for Channel O with Mafikizolo’s hits Khona and Happiness, as well as South Africa’s Idols finalists’ videos being some of their latest works.
“We are happy with the training. It is quite refreshing and we are learning a lot. Perhaps we used to take some things for granted or we never put them into consideration before shooting music videos.
“Listening to the trainers, all we needed was sensitisation, especially on the basic requirements such as video format and length, among others. But all in all, we would like to thank MultiChoice Malawi for opening the gates for us so that we are also featured on Channel O, for instance. I am certain, next year, we will have as many videos as possible being beamed coming from Malawi,” said Kalimba band-leader Vita Chirwa.
Reggae musician Sally Nyundo also concurred with Chirwa, noting: “2014 is Malawi’s year in as far as local music videos are concerned.”
On his part, Bakama said Malawi is blessed with talent and all the artists need is a direction.
“The talent is enormous, good equipment is there and all Malawian artists need to do is to push up a little bit more and concentrate on quality and they will be there just like Nigeria and South Africa,” explained Bakama.
Multichoice Malawi says the training is in response to several calls from local artists and DStv subscribers who have been wishing to see local productions on the cable network.
“It has been challenging so far for our local musicians to have their music on international television music channels or locally produced movies to break into the international market. We believe we have made a step in the right direction and we would love to hold more of these trainings.
“For the time being, we will engage the artists to share the knowledge to others who did not attend the training through social media, Facebook, where we have created a page called Malawi Filming Forum,” said the company’s sales and marketing manager Chimwemwe Nyirenda.
