The Cinema Society of Zimbabwe (CSZ) has emerged as a beacon of hope for filmmakers in Zimbabwe and at the helm is Richard Tenton whose passion for film is rewriting the Zimbabwean film trajectory.
Standard Style reporter Sandra Ngwaru (SN) recently had the privilege of sitting down with its founder Richard Tentone (RT) to discuss various issues with regards to the CSZ and the film industry in general.
Below are excerpts from the interview.
SN: What inspired you to start the Cinema Society of Zimbabwe, and what were your goals?
RT: Well it was my lifelong aspiration and passion for the film industry. From childhood, I dreamt of being the Chuck Norris of Zimbabwe.
I was captivated by the iconic Western action films, and television dramas that were the talk of the town during my formative years. I also had a flair for creative writing and my ambition was to pursue a career in the film industry, telling authentic stories and starring in my own movies.
However, upon closer examination of the state of the Zimbabwean film industry in 2016, I recognised that the sector was in a state of disrepair, requiring a collaborative, multi-stakeholder effort to bring it back on track and set it on a sustainable path.
While my original intention was to achieve stardom on the big screen, the necessity to address the industry’s challenges became the primary catalyst for the establishment of the CSZ.
Read more here Interview: Local film industry on new trajectory
