Experts say local productions below standard

Experts say local productions below standard
Published: 12 December 2017
MOST, if not all, local content productions are sub-standard as they fail to meet the basic requirements needed by international satellite television channels, film experts have said.

This, experts from South Africa said, resulted in most Zimbabwean productions being thrown away or rejected because they fall far short of expected standards.

Speaking at content summits held by MultiChoice Zimbabwe in Harare and Bulawayo last week, experts alluded to the fact that local content producers lacked basic training, financial resources and the equipment to produce quality productions suitable for satellite television channels now broadcasting in HD, 4K and 8K for countries like Japan.

Petronella Tasara, the executive producer of Connect TV, said content producers should not cut corners but go by the book.

"If it's commissioned work, one has to stick to the budget because if you don't, then you will incur costs. The other thing is that content producers should not cut corners.

"Filmmaking is a process and when you produce something that does not reflect the budget, then you're bound to lose a client or incur costs," Tasara said.

She, however, was hopeful that Zimbabwe would regain its former status as the creative hub in the film industry.

"Things are beginning to open up in Zimbabwe and I'd like to see a ZBCtv that I can watch. South Africa and Kenya were once where we are but they've since developed the productions over time, so yes, Zimbabwe will get there (world standards)," she said.

Cheryl-Uys Allie, MultiChoice Southern Africa head of content said most productions were turned down or rejected because of technical issues.

"There's more to it than just shooting a film and then edit it. One has to know how to work the camera and use the right equipment for the job," she said.

Another presenter Moleko Msiwa, who is a technical specialist for M-Net's Media Operations department, took participants through the requirements needed for any production to be aired on DStv.

Msiwa presented a long list of requirements which he said if one is not met then the whole production will be rejected or sent back for adjustments.

He, however, said the majority of the productions from Zimbabwe were sub-standard although at times they are lenient because they partner content producers.

The content summits were attended by various stakeholders in the creative industry and the media.
- chronicle
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