Botswana Film Industry Is Still Young

| Monday January 28, 2008 00:00

But I would like to first comment on the article by Neil Parsons that the slow pace at which this industry is establishing itself should not be blamed on Botswana Television (Btv). Failure to commission local productions by Btv symbolises something that most of the local filmmakers and film lovers are not willing to admit.

I understand that local producers should be encouraged but if we say Btv only commissions foreign products then we should first of all look at the quality of these two products and realise that Btv is not obliged to commission local products. I personally think that Btv should commission what they think is of better quality, if not the best, because we have to understand that the cost at which Btv is operating is not cheap.

I would like to say let us not be disappointed if these new stations we are talking about doing the same thing to our local products. Before anything we should accept where we are and find ways that will take us to Hollywood because that is where we want to be.

Secondly, local producers should unite to produce better products, because firstly the standard of our productions is not yet at the level of Hollywood and we do not have enough equipment and sponsorship for every individual willing to produce.

From what we have seen if we can unite we can produce better products. A re tlogeleng tuck shops and unite because we have the knowledge and skills but if we do not have enough sponsorship and equipment. Its not going to do any good to us if we do not unite.

Tshiamo Morobosi
By email