Kimberley Rudo Gwanzura is a 24 year old Zimbabwean film maker who aspires to change the film and television industry in Africa. Having recently graduated with a B.A Degree in Motion Picture Medium (majoring in film producing) from AFDA (The South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance), Kim is continuing with her studies there as an honours student. Kim had produced over 15 short films which include, Conversations with my mother, (co-writer, director, producer) which was showcased at the Zimbabwe International Film Festival, Hupenyu (producer) an experimental film and most recently Amari  (producer) which was showcased at the AFDA Film Festival at Ster Kinekor Cinema Nouveau in Rosebank (Johannesburg), this film got 8 nominations at the AFDA Awards 2012. She also directed and produced a documentary, Breathe: The Life and Rise of Tehn Diamond which follows the musical life of Zimbabwean musician Tehn Diamond. Some of Kim’s other works include music videos and promotional videos for various musicians. Kim is slowly making her mark in the film industry.

Who am I and where am I from?

Born in Bulawayo and raised in Harare, so I guess I’m and H-Town girl who also considers Bulawayo home.

Where did your journey begin?

PS* I was raised by my mother and step-father who I refer to as my dad.

As a child my mum always encouraged me to pursue creative options from singing in a children’s church band to dancing (which I did for 10 years), I guess I always knew I wanted to be in the arts. I was always the kid who would stay behind after a movie was done and read all the credits and I was curious about what those people whose names appeared on the credits did. My dad is also a huge movie fan and when I was younger weekends were always dedicated to watching films, he always insisted on choosing films with great story lines, for example, the Star Wars series and Back to the future. And I guess these experiences fuelled my passion for film more.

My curiosity with film and television carried on throughout high school but somehow I wasn’t convinced that I could actually make a career in film making. Then in 2007 at took my curiosity and joined the video team at my church and from the very first day of training I knew in my heart that I wanted to pursue film making. I liked the idea that I could capture life happening and it would tell a story that people can watch forever. And so the pursuit of becoming a film maker began.

In 2008 I started working at CMedia and its there were my skill was developed and was taught the value of producing good quality productions. While I was at CMedia I decided I wanted to take my passion further and decided to apply to film school. So in 2010 I moved to Joburg, enrolled into AFDA and my film school journey began. Being a foreigner in strange place was difficult as well as the fact that I actually couldn’t afford to be at film school, but I knew what I wanted to do and I wasn’t going to allow outside factors that I couldn’t control stop me from doing what I wanted to do. The perseverance paid off and I’m glad I never gave up. I always believed that if you do what God created you to do everything else will fall into place, it hasn’t been an easy journey but at least I get to do what I love every day.

What challenges have you faced?

The biggest challenge I have faced is having people not taking me seriously as a film maker because I am a female, the colour of my skin and my size. But I’m thankful for the people who have given me the opportunity to work with them. Another challenge is people in the creative industry especially in Zimbabwe not being taken seriously and therefore we have to work a 100 times harder than everyone else.

Who have you worked with?

1.     CMedia – they gave me my first job

2.     Seasons Studio and The Zimbabwe International Film Trust – they helped me produce my first film as an independent film maker, “Conversations with my mother”

3.     Tendayi Nyeke – production assistant on her theatre production “Flying kites with boys” which starred BBA star Munya Chidzonga and model Stevel Marc

4.     HIFA – in 2011 as part of the official film crew and in 2012 as part of the ZimboJam JamTV crew, as well as a interview clip of Tumi and the Volume at HIFa 2012 for 25toLyf

5.     Tehn Diamond – I produced and directed a documentary on his musical life, which was also my very first documentary.

6.     Themba Ntuli (a.k.a. the Vodacom guy) – he directed the two 3^rd films I produced, Hupenyu and Amari.

7.     Ill Ceey – Produced and directed a music video for him, “Business” which was co-produced by Gwinyai Mabika a.k.a. @MrGwi as well as a short documentary which will be released soon. He’s also the first artist who fully trusted me to bring his vision to life.

8.     Reverb7 – Produced and directed his HIFA 2013 promotional video

9.     G.O.R.E – produced and directed a music video for Reverb7s G.O.R.E’s Heart ft. G.O.R.E which I worked on with Gwi and Zash

10. RutendoDenise and LochNation – produced and directed an anti-violence campaign clip which is still work in progress to be released soon.

11. Karizma – co-produced and directed a documentary on his return home to pursue music in Zimbabwe which is also work in progress

12. Opulence Entertainment (a South African based entertainment company) – produced a corporate video for them.

Can’t remember if I have left anyone out.

Who influences you?

1.     My parents – they’ve taught me that anything can be done if you put your mind to it.

2.     African film makers – making African based films for African audiences isn’t easy, our people don’t fully believe in our story telling capabilities yet, hopefully one day they will.

3.     Jerry Bruckheimer, Shonda Rhymes, Tyler Perry, Steven Spielberg, Akin Omotoso, Craig Freimond are all film makers who’ve influenced my film making journey. There’s lots more but these are top of my list.

4.     I’m also influenced by everyday people who are pursuing their dreams, I believe in telling real stories about real people.

What are your future plans?

To make more short films, more music videos, more documentaries as well as get into shooting adverts. I want to build a brand and set a standard for African film maker and hopefully become one of the most influential people in the African film and television industry. So my plan is to take over Africa and tell original African stories that can compete internationally.

Im excited about this young lady and she is only just getting started!

 The Ndau Collection is a Zimbabwean design home specializing in the creation of unique African jewelry and exotic leather accessories. Based in  their home studio in the beautiful Victoria Falls, they are a collective of designers from all over southern Africa, brought together by their love of African culture, history and design!

Sterling Silver Bronze Silver Bronze Cuff

Ndau was formed in 1998 by current owner Gail van Jaarsveldt and Gill Athestone as a result of their great passion for African beadwork.  It is now run by Gail and her daughter Christie Hastead and together hey have grown The Ndau Collection to where they are today!

Model in a beautiful Ndau Collection piece.

Meet The Owners!

Gail van Jaarsveldt

Gail van Jaarsveldt is the founder of the company and now owns it
in conjunction with her daughter Christie Halsted.Whilst never formally trained, Gail has an innate sense of designand an uncanny eye for what works – she describes herself as an‘ideas person’. She is Zimbabwean born and has worked in Victoria Falls most of her life, where she has played a major role in thetown’s development. She is a passionate supporter of local design and of the culture of Zimbabwe and has amassed a museum’s worth of local art and craft. She has combined her extensive knowledge of the leather, tanning and retail industry with the Ndau product to create the amazing pieces you will see in-store today. And to think Ndau is a project she says started as a stress reliever and hobby! Currently spending time between the Cape Winelands in South Africa and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Gail says she is happiest in her new role as grandmother to Blayke, Maya
and Emil! Her latest collection, African Renaissance, created from rare African Trade beads, gold dusted vermeil and African bronze beads is a sell-out success.

Christie Halsted
Christie is Gail’s eldest daughter and co-owns the company
with her.She has a passion for design and an obsession with
perfection that has led to her excelling in every career move she’s made. Starting out learning ceramic sculpture from her aunt Fee Halsted (Ardmore Ceramics) she then did a brief stint at Ruth Prowse Art College in Cape Town, where she quickly realised formal art education wasn’t really her thing. Her next bold move was into the world of eventing, where she worked with a large variety of international corporate groups Currently, she finds herself immersed in the world of design, working both as an interior designer and the head of The Ndau Collection studio. Christie has emerged as a talented jewellery designer who pushes the limits of design and constantly moves Ndau into new fields – she first introduced the combination of croc skin with sterling silver that has become so synonymous with Ndau’s current look. Her edgy vision drives the brand to excel and to develop new techniques and finishes

The Ndau Colletion is an exciting brand and their innovative designs are amazing!

Visit : www.ndaucollection.com. Tweet. @ndau_jewlry . Instagram . NdauCollection

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You’re Invited!

If you came to our Pop Up Garden Party back in Dec, then you’ll know that WE know how to throwdown. If you didn’t make it then you can see what you missed here. Disclaimer: Watching this video if you weren’t there may induce severe feelings of feeling sorry for oneself.

But fear not FOMO sufferers, for we are coming back to celebrate more young Zimbabwean creatives! In collaboration with HIFA 2013, Styled By Africa presents the F.R.A.P party, an afternoon of Fashion.Radio.Art and Photography. Shop Zimbabwe’s best fashion designers while listening to live music including Hope Masike and The Monkey Nuts. Don’t forget to take part in our digital art exhibition and live interactive photography installation while sipping on cocktails and hearty snacks provided by Niche.

SATURDAY 04.05.2013, $10, 2-8pm, Alliance Francaise, 328 Herbert Chitepo Avenue

Keep an eye on our FB event page for live updates. Oh and don’t be stingy, share it with your friends!

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IS UP TO YOU…

Tickets are $10 and are available from all HIFA box offices at Arundel Village, Avondale and Harare Gardens from 15th April.

2pm-8pm 

Alliance Française de Harare
328 Herbert Chitepo Avenue
Harare,
Zimbabwe.

Oh you tweet? So do we, see you there? We also dabble in a bit of Facebook and Instagram don’tcha know.

It wasn’t easy catching up with Vimbai, she’s either gracing a TV screen  on her hit entertainment news show , Star Gist or jet setting between Jo’Burg and Lagos hosting award shows! Lucky for me she always has time for a friend. In trying to fit myself into her schedule I asked her what a day in her life was like and she broke it down!

“My normal day goes like this:

5am:      Alarm goes off. Snooze
5:30am:  Force eyes to open, read bible and pray
5:45am:  Read all major blogs and entertainment news websites
6:30am:  Somehow, miraculously get out of bed!
7:30am:  Studio call time, get into hair and make up and GIST
8:00am:  We ACTUALLY start doing hair and make up. Lol
9:00am:  Someone forces me to eat as I go through the day’s scripts
9:30am:  Lawrence arrives in studio and we scare him off with girl talk!
10:00am: Stylist arrives- this is probably the highlight of my day: yummy yummy clothes! *happy dance*
10:30am: We finally start shooting. When you work on a daily show, the crew become family so “shooting” means this is when the fun and games begin! The only factor that determines how long this takes is the person who’s the butt of jokes for the day!
3:00pm-ish: This is usually wrap time, and time to prep for meetings and events.
4:00pm : Brief with my publicist Farah Fortune and we go through plans for the week.
6:00pm   Bikram Yoga class
8:00pm   Look fabulous and BE fabulous for something fabulous!
11:00pm  Hopefully, bed time! “

With days like this, ( and because I’m nosey) I wondered what she carries around i her bag to maintain the fab!

What’s in the bag? Fancy, right!?

” I never leave home without:

-my fragrance du jour (which is Chanel no 19) at the moment. Makes me feel feminine and confident :)

-Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream; so important to keep well moisturizer

-YSL lipstick: you never know who you might bump into!

-Hermes hand wash: so much more luxurious than anything you’ll get in a public bathroom.

-shades: currently in love with Marc Jacobs cat eyes

- my brush. Need I say anymore?!

- blackberry: I call the extension to my fingers. It’s part of me

-iPad

- MAC studio fix cos shine is NOT cute!!!”

What is Styled By Africa?

SBA was set up by Kiran & Alae after bonding over their shared mixed African heritage, and a love of food, travel + style. Bringing together original and creative design sourced from across Africa, the blog documents their journey discovering unique and interesting things from the continent, and showcasing emerging designers

Alae of Styled By Africa

Kiran of Styled By Africa

What do they do?

 SBA aims to promote contemporary design that is rooted in Africa but with an international appeal. They also support established designers and spot + nurture emerging designers.  What I love about SBA is how they highlight creative businesses that are influenced by African culture and provide an access to market for creative design rooted in Africa and artisan producers to scale their business through their online concept store. This then  provides their customers with unique, curated, stylish pieces through their online store and pop up events.

Why they are here.

SBA are here to  provide a different perspective on African design, culture and lifestyle that moves beyond the clichés. They also aim to Increase the profile of African designers and African made products within the continent and globally through allowing people from all over the world to access innovative products through their future stores which will support local businesses in Africa.

SBA came to Zimbabwe late last year and held a successful pop up garden party in Harare which featured some of of our nations young creatives from music and fashion. If you missed it check out images from the even here They will be back in Harare as part of HIFA festivities, will post more details in the days to come! You don’t want to miss it :)

Website : www.styledbyafrica.com

Twitter : @styledbyafrica

Facebook : Facebook.com/styledbyafrica

Our favorite Zimbabwean  “diva in the making” launched her new website last week. The site features the singers bio, images and her music. Make sure you check it out!

Look out for the release of her video for her hit song ‘” Everytime” coming soon!

Visit the site here : www.davinagreenmusic.com

Twitter : @davinagreen