By Frederick Philander
WINDHOEK
Optimedia, a local film company, has been selected by the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) through its television commissioning system for the production of a local 26-part soapie, Art/Life has exclusively learned.
It was apparently a very close call between Optimedia and two other local film companies, Clevercloggs and Homebrewed Productions.
The soapie, to be known as The Ties That Bind, will be the first-ever proper television series to be done by the national broadcaster after it widely advertised earlier this year for submissions from the local film industry.
“It will be a typical Namibian story in which two families prominently feature in their daily lives and escapades, with a black and white sub-story on racism in present-dayNamibia,” the owner of Optimedia and producer of the series, Abius Akwaake, revealed yesterday.
It is understood that the production contract will exceed N$ 2,3 million at an alleged production fee of N$90 000 per episode.
“A few weeks ago, the three short-listed companies were called in to pitch our proposals, in itself a very trying time for all of us, taking into account that outside consultants from America and South Africa were used to make the final decision,” said Akwaake rather reluctantly yesterday.
It is understood that American film director, Charles Burnett, responsible for the feature movie ‘Where Others Wavered’ showing tonight at the Los Angeles International Film Festival, and the creator of the very popular South African soapie ‘Generations’, Mfundi Vundla, assisted the NBC in its quest for a suitable and quality local series.
When asked whether his involvement in the making of ‘Where Others Wavered’ has anything to do with his company getting the contract from NBC, Akwaake vehemently denied this.
“I think the selection was purely on merit, and I don’t think my involvement with the film has anything to do with it. The concept of the series, ‘The Ties That Bind’, was a collective creative effort by Feme Oke and myself, ” was his response to rumours doing the rounds in the local film fraternity.
Feme Oke is an experienced film and television Nigerian writer who works for Optimedia. He had also been the script doctor of the initial script efforts of ‘Where Others Wavered’ for PACON.
“Due to some delays in the signing of the contract with NBC and other technical issues that need to be resolved, shooting on the series will probably start much later than the anticipated starting time of September this year.
Anyway, it still remains a unique achievement for myself and my company. I have been waiting for more than 17 years for this opportunity to prove to the NBC and the outside world that local filmmakers have the ability and the creativity to produce quality film works,” Akwaake said.
According to him, the production of a local series is the only way forward for the NBC to proceed if it is to survive in future.
“The NBC needs to focus and concentrate on local films like the SABC in South Africa. Presently there are a number of successful series simultaneously running on its respective channels, making lots of money and drawing huge audiences. Why can it not happen here, even though we only have one channel?,” Akwaake asked.
He sees the series as a great challenge to his company.
“Obviously I would consider the contract a highlight in my career as a filmmaker, who has almost thrown in the towel out of frustration. I also see it as a growing path for myself to develop as a filmmaker and to the local industry to prove what we can do,” he asserted.
He concluded by saying that the project will provide ample opportunity to other creative Namibians as actors, technicians as well as writers, once everything is in place.