Young Tsvakai creator shares his journey from being MSU's Best Innovative student to a producer of a weekly news show

 

The catchy Tsvakai opening soundtrack is familiar melody to many.  The Midlands State University produced show has slowly gained popularity on TV. Despite the now recognized faces of the students like Tafadzwa popularly known as Tsvakai, who play these, some likable and some unlikable characters, a few actually know the brains behind the series. Though his face is not seen on the screens at home, his impact is definitely seen through the course of the story. Given Mufori, a former student, who was a student himself at the time when Tsvakai film was made and eventually turned into a TV series. The series has continued to air after his graduation and even though he was leaving the school, he made sure to live with mark, as he left with The Best Innovative Student award. The Best Innovative students has continues to thrive as the early stages of his potentially long career in entertainment begin to unfold, as he finds himself being the sole producer of the “Midweek Express” news show on 3ktv. To get more into his life after school, Beatdrop! Had a chat with the talented young man.

MJ: So we know that the creative industry is a competitive one and that it takes time to get recognized, and it is especially hard to become a producer at your age. How have you managed to be the best innovative student at MSU and then after graduating finding yourself being a producer of a weekly TV show? Walk us through your journey.

GIVEN: Firstly, it’s all summed up under the term “belief.” You can be anything you want to be as long as you set your mind to it. The crossover from being a graduate to my job at 3ktv as a news producer of “Midweek Express” wasn’t easy, but I knew there was reason why I was where I was, and just needed to continue digging deep into my creative inner self and come up with ideas of how I can make and improve my workplace and I believe I’m doing justice to it.

MJ: Was producing news or a factual show something you were also open to as a fictional writer or when you went to the broadcasting channel you saw an opportunity and slowly eased up to the idea?

GIVEN: Quite frankly, I never imagined myself as a news producer, I’m more into writing for film and theatrical pieces, but when an opportunity availed itself, it was a challenge I thought to myself could be fun and I said why not? The first days where hard, I won’t lie. Compiling a whole bulletin and directing it live, with thousands watching at home seemed scary. But then again, I got used to it. Once I got into the groove, it was now clear what the head the department expected from me and how best I could do it.

MJ: You mentioned the first few days were hard, can you tell us a few of the obstacles you faced and what you learnt from them.

GIVEN: Being a producer comes with a lot of pressure, no lies. Like I said, you are the director of the production. So it requires you to give instructions and orders, to the Technical director, the VT operator, to your news anchor, and it’s something I felt was hard for me. Walking into a studio with these big names in the form of news anchors, people who have been in the industry for decades and you are supposed to give them orders. That made me suffer from low self-esteem, I mean I was just a boy trying to stand on my feet but now I have this kind of responsibility. Lucky enough, I was fortunate to shadow some senior producers, who showed me the ropes and taught me that age, height, weight are overlooked when it comes to work and I appreciate them for that.

MJ: You said you had some senior producers who showed you the ropes around the studio. Was there any advice or any producer in particular who you think really helped you push through, or maybe you said to yourself this piece of advice is something I'm going to take with me even in my future projects.

GIVEN: I would mention Memory Nyakarenga. She used to tell me not to succumb to pressure because in “that moment that’s when things go wrong”. Even for instance, when things are going wrong with the sound during a live bulletin, she used to remind me to keep calm and find a solution and not to panic.

MJ:  Props to her. So you mentioned, ordering around prominent figures in the industry and crew members, you said it was hard for you at first ... Was it hard for them too? Suddenly having to listen to someone who's younger than them. How was the whole situation like, and how has your whole relationship with them evolved as you’re working together?

GIVEN: Well, it was proper for them, they understood that there was and still is need to maintain professionalism always which is what they have been doing since day 1 and I have managed to form some personal relationships with most of them, I can safely say, my workplace is now my second

MJ:  Describe a typical work day in a news producer’s life.

GIVEN: Get to work at around 8am, attend a diary meeting at 830am to 10 am, produce a live languages bulletin which starts at 1030 but rehearsals are at 10am…, produce a live languages bulletin which starts at 1030 but rehearsals are at 10am. Then after lunch you start preparing for the main news which is at 1930hrs but Rehearsals start at 1900hrs. You knock off at 830pm.

MJ: 8:30pm!

GIVEN: (laughs) Yeah but that shift is once after 2 weeks.

MJ: So can we expect you to come back to the fictional writing section, is there something you're working on?

GIVEN: Yeah, sure, there is something I’m working on personally, with a few friends, it’s a short film. Unfortunately, I can’t disclose much about it at this stage.

MJ: (laughing) Can’t we at least get a title?

GIVEN: (laughing) “The Ring Ling.”

MJ: Thanks for taking some time to talk to us.

GIVEN: Pleasure is all mine, thanks for having me.