Filmmaker Tatenda Mbudzi makes a point of calling Zim High the first African teen movie ever, as a direct challenge to the way in which Africa and Africans have been portrayed and perceived in the moving image.
He reiterates that the film is not about cliché stereotypes. “Zim High is truly a first,” he says. “The first African teen movie that isn’t about AIDS, Ebola, blood diamonds, Somali pirates, dudes holding AK-47s, child soldiers, etc, etc.”
Mbudzi hopes to shift paradigms about what an African film can be. “Zim High is like Harry Potter but instead of magic, there is casual racism. It’s like The Fault In Our Stars, but the white female character would rather die of cancer than date a black guy,” said Mbudzi. Describing the film as a dark comedy about identity and finding a way to make your dreams come true. “I wanted it to be visually amusing, hence the use of animation and illustration, which also expresses the character’s struggle of being creative as an African,” adds Mbudzi.
He turned to crowdfunding to make this film and, through Indiegogo, raised 10 per cent of the goal. “We see so few investments in empowering films about African kids using their imagination. Imagination and self-esteem are key to empowerment,” Mbudzi says.
The trailer has been released but the film is still in postproduction with the aim of a May release. Mbudzi hopes for an international theatrical release. “There is the potential,” he says. “It just depends on how the film does at festivals. The dream would be for it to be very well received and then have some sort of a theatrical run in the US or Europe. Ironically and unfortunately for a film to be taken seriously in Africa, it needs to have some clout overseas.”
Mbudzi who worked in the Hollywood studio system hopes to create an appetite in African and international audiences for high quality African stories.
The film was shot with the Sony a7s and the Atumos external recorder for 4k. “The dynamic range on the camera and high IOS was great. There are some GoPro shots, and a few Canon shots. I used the a7s because of its lightness, and easy maneuverability.”
Mbudzi sourced his crew through the Zimbabwe International Film Festival Trust where he taught a directing workshop and met some of his key crew members: First assistant director Elton Mjanana, and line producer, Nakai Matema. Algerian cinematographer and co-producer Naim Keriah. Production designer and co-producer Carine TredGold. Kuda Gopo costume designer, associate producer Eric Lodde, script supervisor Yeukai Ndirimani. “The crew was light in numbers, a core team, but very heavy hitting and talented,” Mbudzi says.
To get close to the characters Mbudzi chose documentary style. “I combine the slice of life style with animation, and more bombastic elements to show the battle to define the African experience on one’s own terms as an individual. As an African, what do you want the movie of your life to be? I don’t think anyone would say ‘I want the movie of my life to be a depressing documentary with no adventure, imagination or excitement.’”
He adds: “It’s also a chance to mock the fact that most non-Africans experience Africa through some sort of documentary type camera which reduces and abstracts what actual life is like, and says a lot more about the prejudices of those filming the documentary, than it does about the subjects.”
Mbudzi’s overarching aim is nothing less than “making implausible dreams real. There is raw power in that. I love the acting, I love the writing, and I love seeing it all come together. I enjoy that elusive nature of creativity, of channeling that power.”
While he readies the film for release, any interested person or production company can still get involved and support the making of it by contacting zimhighmovie@gmail.com or Twitter: @ta10da.
