10 Mar 2021

A local acting agency, Tear Drainers’ Crew (TDC), has partnered with a Nollywood registered film production company, Ndmax Jojo, in an effort to grow the country’s film industry.

Speaking during a media briefing in Gaborone on Monday, TDC director, Jethro Ndebele, commonly known as Umaga in the industry, said the plan was to workshop local actors and create content as well as exchange skills.

Ndebele highlighted that they were looking for 100 actors who would attend a two-week workshop to stand a chance to cast in their projects.

The AFDA University live performances graduate said he registered TDC with the aim to develop the local film industry. He revealed that he started communicating with Ndmax Jojo while still a student in 2017 to explore what could be done to grow the local industry, hence a Nigerian film production company crew was in Botswana.

He noted that there were challenges in the local film industry such as the inability to penetrate international markets. He also noted that most local content was sold on DVDs in the streets.

Ndebele cited some local productions such as Radijo, Chobolo as well as Ramozara, saying they failed to penetrate the international market.

He said their partnership would ensure that local content reached international markets.

“We have already engaged Netflix and they have told us the specifics they look for in content they buy,” he added.

He said the film industry had the potential to employ lots of people who were currently unemployed to contribute to the economy and the country.

He revealed that it was a five-year plan from 2021 to 2025, adding that upon completion the best actors and actresses would be selected to join a project run by Ndmax Jojo in the United Kingdom.

Umaga highlighted that they were negotiating with government to assist financially. He also urged investors to come on board, adding that the project would be mutually beneficial.

For his part, the coordinator for Ndmax Jojo, Wilson John said the aim of the collaboration was to elevate the local film industry to greater heights by imparting skills and experiences that made Nollywood highly rated internationally.

He said the partnership would also attract foreign investors to Botswana as well as assist in marketing the tourism industry.

The youth, he said, should think of what they could do for the country and not the other way round. He said there was a need to nurture them to realise their potential.

John said he hoped government would assist when it realised that everyone involved was determined and produced positive results.

The chief executive officer of Ndmax Jojo, Nduoma Nwaogwugwu explained that films touched on different aspects of life, and that they teach, entertain and build nations.

He said their visit was to learn and share experiences, adding that it was important for people to believe in themselves in order to succeed.

In the near future, he said they would open a branch of their film academy in Botswana, and that he hoped it would play a pivotal role in developing the local film industry.  ENDS