The man with a golden camera picked

Over the last few years, Chipiliro Khonje has steadily been making a name for himself in the fast-paced world of video production, emerging as one of the leading video directors in Malawi and arguably the most accomplished.

Khonje has broken the record as being the only one to have his works approved by Channel O to be aired on its airwaves.

Recently, his four videos, all for Zimbabwean artists, including Cindy, have been

picked up by Channel O for their top notch quality in terms of production and presentation.

And now, the soft spoken videographer is back with a project that will see him producing two short films.

“I am working on two scripts, the first is a short film based around the Lake of Stars event. It will be ready a few months after the event because part of it will be shot during this year’s festival. The other is a drama set around the life of one taxi driver, Shoveli. It’s a film about persistence and passion. More information will come out soon on this one because there will be a lot of preparation to get it right. The scripts, I’m doing

myself and my girlfriend, Yolanda Katsonga Phiri. If all goes well I’ll start shooting soon,” said Khonje.

He has invested about K3 million in this project.

Said Khonje: “There is a new camera that is coming and will be used for the projects, new lenses and lighting equipment. So far, I’ve invested about

K3 million in preparation for these projects. It is hard as you know shops don’t stock most of the equipment we use in film production here, so I have been buying equipment from UK.”

Khonje is not new on the Malawi video production scene, most Malawians having sampled his creativity through his golden camera.

“I’ve done music videos, for a lot of artists in Malawi including Dan Lu, Maskal, Piksy, Lulu, Lucius Banda, Ethel Kamwendo, just to mention but a few. I have gone as far as Zimbabwe to do videos. I did music videos for a top female R’n’B artist from Zimbabwe called Cindy.

“I haven’t produced a movie as such, but rather I’ve been a part of the cinematography for The Last Fishing Boat and B’ella. That is why I am working on scripts for my own films,” he explained.

While he has not quit interest in music video production, the 33-year-old videographer now has focus set on the film industry.

He explained: “At the moment I would say film has stolen my passion from music video production. I was attracted to film because I loved music

videos. When I was in secondary school I used to love music videos a lot such as Micheal Jackson’s Thriller. I think that was where a revolution in music videos began. I was just fascinated at how that and other videos were made. When I got the chance to lay hands on a camera the passion has never stopped.”

Yet this is the man who is a self-taught student of film. He is crazy about film that in his spare time he reads about film and electronics.

“Film for me was self taught. But I’ve continuously updated myself on the latest trends and tricks about film. I’m a student of film because my life has been a life of study over the 10 years which I have dedicated to film,” he enthused.

While the road has not been all rosy for Khonje and he prays for the day the industry will change and be welcoming to the arts.

Artists for example have had issues with duty on entertainment equipment which they say is very restrictive. “I thank Jesus for the many blessings in my life including my God-given talent and, Yolanda.

“It’s not been easy though neither will the future be. As it stands, the arts as a whole suffer because, unlike sports and other fields, the arts is not fully supported by government. Imagine if films were supported the same way as our national teams, where would Malawi be?

“Individually, we are still going to try push and see what happens

but we really need government’s support. Film is an important tool for selling a country’s tourism and trade. Ever wondered how Malawians know so much about USA, South Africa, Nigeria and many more countries around the world? It’s because we have been exposed to their way of life through films. So, if we want to sell Malawi as a trade and investment destination maybe we have to start growing our film industry,” he affirmed.

There are a number of people that Khonje looks up to in the film and videos professional circles.

“People have been supportive. I’m friends with the whole city of Blantyre and I love it. My biggest icon in my life has been my brother Nelson Khonje. We have been good friends for a long time and he understands my passion and my dream, he is very supportive.

“There are also people that I’ve looked up to and have helped me grow. People like Peter Mazunda, Shemu Joya, Mike Phoya, Taonga Nkhonjera, Edson Gunsaru and Mike Kambalame. This is a great circle of professionals. I love discussing film. I go into Shemu Joyah’s office and we would just be talking about cameras, video formats and film techniques, among others. It’s been an incredible journey,” he signs out.