Stan BW-Film

12/12/2022

National Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Master Trainer and Public Health Specialist Dr. Chidzani Mbenge commended the organisers of Corporation Games Charity Challenge for fighting Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Dr. Mbenge, who was the Guest Speaker at the event, stressed the importance of body activity in combating NCDs. She was speaking in line with the event’s theme “Play for impact: Putting an end to Non-Communicable Diseases in Tweenies.” Speaking to parents, she encouraged them to make a correlation between a diet that includes protein, fruits and vegetables with the overall health of their children. She also challenged children to avoid a sedentary lifestyle and pursue outdoor activities. One of the key highlights of what she said was that, as of yet, there was little research that had gone into understanding the impact of NCDs on tweenies but expressed hope that activities by Corporation Games would go a long way in making research possible.

Corporation Games is a recently launched Corporate League where business corporates and organisations compete for a floating trophy and a cash prize. At a press briefing recently, organisers said the Corporate League was a social impact platform that intends to use part of its proceeds for social development causes. Currently the Corporate League is recruiting teams and courting partners and sponsors ahead of the 2023/24 season. One of the industries that stand to benefit from this Corporate League is the film industry that has been roped in as a Premier Partner of Corporation Games.

Speaking at the Corporation Games Charity Challenge, Africa Independent Film Commission (AIFCo) Country Director, Bokamoso Selaelo said Corporation Games provided Botswana filmmakers with a platform to showcase their skill. He said the involvement of filmmakers to tell Botswana stories through Corporation Games was a welcome development as this will increase content production. This is in line with his platform-agency's objective which is to increase film content as a way to fast-track the growth of the sector.

The Seasons’ Theme for Corporation Games is “Together we can beat NCDs.”

Staff Writer
OSADJ Journalism Development Programme

Pics: Tshepo Mashabile

08/09/2022

Action for Jobs has called on the Government of Botswana to seek for an exemption from all Covid-19 mandates for Batswana traders, whose vaccination status, may be prejudicial one way or the other. This comes in the wake of government’s pronouncement of an agreement on the exemption of a visa requirement between the Botswana and Brazil governments. In a press statement welcoming the VISA exemption, Action for Jobs said the effort of trade was movement and curtailing it by any instrument, however well meaning, was an undoing of the effort of job creation.

But what this development means is that Botswana traders have one more friendly destination for their goods and services. Ties between Botswana and Brazil have deepened in recent times with Botswana recently purchasing tones of sugar from Brazil.

Film and digital art industries stand to gain from this development when they participate in the Odyssey to Sao-Paulo, Brazil in 2023. This is a work/play expedition that is meant to expose Botswana Film, Business and Culture to culturally diverse Brazil. For more information on how to participate, Action for Jobs will be at the launch of Corporation Games in Gaborone on the 07th October 2022.

OSADJ Staff Writer

01/09/2022

Ivory Awards, a first for Botswana

Action for Jobs, an alliance of Smart-Partners and development affiliates in Botswana, has announced the Ivory Awards. In a statement released on 1st September 2022, Action for Jobs said the Ivory Awards are a festival that celebrates film and the art of filmmaking. It continues to say that the awards are a primary networking platform for industry, business, film and ancillary industries.

Set to be staged on 1st March 2023, the Awards will recognise and celebrate innovation, dedication and the inspiring role film plays in delivering much needed impact preserved as entertainment. Nominees will be drawn from entrants from business, film, digital and graffiti arts, urban sports, performers, screen and feature writers, as well as production and development agencies.

Mouthwatering prizes, including a trip to the Culture Experience in Sao-Paulo, Brazil are up for grabs.

Staff Writer
OSADJ Journalism Development Programme

31/08/2022

Call to action.

Innovation is the key driver of vibrant economies. At the heart of innovation is the ingenuity of product makers, designers and manufacturers. Take advantage of our Fresh Start programme and list your product with us.

29/08/2022

We are excited to share new developments that are geared towards the growth of film in Botswana. We will be co-promoting some of the activities with partners at the Fairgrounds Consumer Fair 2022 in Gaborone from the 29th August 2022 to the 04th September 2022. Stay tuned for more details.

16/08/2022

Cameroon’s film industry is evolving from the sales of DVDs to online. The Central African nation has seen considerable growth in its film productions with over 300 movies produced since 2008.

In an interview while shooting an advert in a studio in Buea, the film epicenter, Coach Obi, who joined the industry as an actor in 2006 said that while there are no official statistics on how much the industry has contributed to the Cameroonian economy, it has undoubtedly created jobs in a country with an economy that relies mainly on oil and agriculture.

This growth is also benefitting the country’s tourism sector. Cameroon's cultural diversity, tree-lined suburbs and sweeping landscapes, deserts and lakes have increasingly dotted the silver screen in recent years, serving as the backdrop for several popular movies in the country.

The growth and popularity of the industry has won the admiration and attention of young Cameroonians like Josiane Shengang, 21, Angel Ntube, 21 and Elyon-Bright Ayuk, 22 who raised funds to produce "Boss Daughters" a local film that is under production.

Obi joined the industry as an actor in 2006.

Staff Writer
OSADJ Journalism Development Programme

09/08/2022

It is Tuesday.

01/08/2022

The Founder of Peo Pictures; who is also Office Manager at Action for Jobs, Tshepo Mashabile has said that opportunities in the creators economy are plentiful. He was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the Art Case Gallery in Gaborone recently.

The gallery is amongst the centerpieces of the newly launched Molapo Creative Hub. Mashabile said, per the management of the hub, the gallery was the beginning of the construction of many other projects and studios. One of the creative minds - known only as Matthew - who attended the launch, also shared his optimism with Mashabile saying this was a light at the end of a tunnel for creatives who are desperate to exhibit their works.

Baagisan is the collective that is at the centre of the creative hub. Their name means ‘neighbours’ in the local main language, Setswana.

Staff Writer
OSADJ Journalism Development Programme

29/07/2022

A fatal road accident is reported to have claimed 16 lives and left 14 hospitalised as three motor vehicles collided. To us, this is nothing short of a national tragedy and like the nation of Botswana as a whole, our hearts are with the families and friends of the affected as they go through this challenging period.

Gomotsegang.

Action for Jobs

12/07/2022

Call-to-Action
Today, champion the most important cause of action ever taken for Film & Digital Arts. Connect, share, mobilise.

08/07/2022

Action for Jobs Chief Executive Officer Khumo Lekgetho commemorated BW-Film day in style on Thursday 07th 2022. Speaking on Botswana Television’s Breakfast Show as she was unveiling Project Grow BW-Film, she called for a community of Ambassadors for BW-Film. She said that Ambassadors are critical for the growth of film due to their twin-roles of influencing ordinary people to enjoy and support film in Botswana as well as building a strong relationship between the market and the industry.

Lekgetho further called for citizen support for BW-Film days, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The key message was simply that you or someone (mother, aunt, father, sibling, cousin, partner, etc) you know can be a champion of BW-Film in the work place.

Project Grow BW-Film is premised on the Action for Jobs founding pillars of Workforce Development, Innovation and Civic Engagement. The gist of Lekgetho’s call for Ambassadors is anchored on the Civic Engagement pillar.

To sign up as an Ambassador, simply inbox or press the call-button.

Staff Writer
OSADJ Journalism Development Programme

04/07/2022

The Botswana National Museum in the Capital Gaborone, was a hive of activity on the 30th June 2022 as Action for Jobs launched Project Grow BW-Film. Action for Jobs is an alliance of people, business & industry dedicated to advancing sustainable jobs for graduates anchored on the film & digital arts sector. The event which was in the form of a presentation to the Director of the Museum Steven Mogotsi and his colleagues, marked the official introduction of Stan-BW campaign to the market.

Delegates interacted with speakers, amongst them, the Convener and Chief Executive Officer of Action for Jobs, Gabriel Rasengwatshe and Khumo Lekgetho, respectively; as well as the Managing Director of Seedpod Capital Itumeleng Botlhoko. Bokani Nleya, who was the Moderator for the day interviewed aspiring Producer Tshepo Mashabile on the mental challenges that graduates face particularly those struggling with scoring gainful employment. The audience interacted widely and even shared their personal experiences. The screening of the launch will be announced soon.

Staff Writer
OSADJ Journalism Development Programme

23/06/2022

Do you know that you can join the Ambassador community that is driving film culture in Botswana? Every Tuesday & Thursdays, Ambassadors mobilise their colleagues to celebrate film in Botswana. This is resulting in dialogue in spaces and areas where BW-Film culture is non-existent traditionally. Inbox for more details on how you can join this growing community.

20/06/2022

The objective to collaborate with the market to grow film & digital arts in Botswana is a national call. You hold the power to drive value and make the impossible, possible. All it takes is stepping up. Find out how you can participate every Tuesday & Thursday 🥰

18/06/2022

Julian Assange is not the first journalist to face persecution neither will he be the last. But he is a clear pinup of the sacrifice that comes with working in the media industry. Competing interests create a compelling story that has gripped audiences since the advent of content creation. As things stand, Assange is closer to a trial in the United States (U.S.) than at any time since his incarceration in the United Kingdom (U.K.) in 2019. On the 17th of June 2022, British Home Secretary Priti Patel formally ordered the WikiLeaks founder to be extradited to the U.S.. He has two weeks to appeal failing which he will inevitably face 18 federal counts related to his publishing of classified diplomatic cables and sensitive military reports from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

When he was arrested in April of 2019 by U.K. authorities, it was on the basis of an unsealed indictment by the U.S. that accused him of a criminal conspiracy which that government called "one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the United States." But beyond the controversies of this moving story, the role of the production crew in capturing every moment in real-time and relaying it to the world is as remarkable as Assange’s strength during this whole ordeal. To remain impartial when framing the story and providing the required detail should indicate the importance of crew development and professional conduct capacitation.

For Botswana practitioners, this remains a challenge which permeates productions. The story telling is challenged and lacks original thought. Yes, it may be blamed on a myriad of reasons including that most productions are agenda driven, however, the framing of the narrative always falls short. Framing a story requires depth, not only in story telling but also in the understanding of minute details like the psychology of a character and their responses to their environment. In Assange’s case all these have been exhausted right through the first time the first cable was published to the present. Each character that was added to his story was followed up with precision. The world even witnessed the transformation of Bradley Manning; who is a former U.S. Army intelligence analyst who had a top-secret security clearance to crack a password on Defense Department computers connected to the Secret Internet Protocol Network in 2010, as he morphed into Chelsea Manning.

But this is not an indictment on Botswana’s production crews per se but it is a reflective moment on the challenges faced by the media, film and digital arts industry in Botswana. So much more still needs to be done. Scenarios like Assange’s gripping case provide an opportunity to reflect on this as the resulting story and its framing are simply a master class for enthusiasts, aspirants and professionals.

That said, Assange’s continued incarceration and now his highly possible extradition, have been vehemently condemned across the world as an attempt to kill and destroy media freedoms, in particular freedoms of speech and the right for citizens to know what their rulers are doing in the dark halls of power. Should he lose his bid to stop the extradition, his first court appearance would be in the Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia., just outside of Washington, D.C. where the case is assigned to District Judge Claude M. Hilton. And should he be convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison for each of the 17 most serious criminal counts against him. It is obvious that his fight has taken a toll on him, his wife Stella and the rest of his family and crew. But, what a hell of a ride it has been following this story though!

Staff Writer
OSADJ Journalism Development Programme

14/06/2022

Call-to-Action
Today, champion the most important cause of action ever taken for Film & Digital Arts. Connect, share, mobilise.

10/06/2022

PROMOTION
To spread film culture takes collaborations, symbiosis and dedicated ambassadors. You hold the power to drive value and make the impossible, possible. All it takes is stepping up. Find out how you can participate every Tuesday & Thursday 🥰

10/06/2022

If you have never put P1 million into a project and lost it all and put another one the next year and lost it all, do not speak hate about Keabetswe “Master Dee’ Sesinyi. Or his project, My Star! A former cop who started as a Reggae artist in the entertainment industry, Sesinyi has endured public ridicule for well over 2 decades. There is criticism and then there is ridicule. He has suffered the latter. Going through comments under a story about his umpteenth attempt to stage a memorable production for the 2022 season, most if not all are bashing the quality of the show including the standard of the judges. He is always apologetic. Wanting people to understand that he is facing challenges. Rubbish! Everyone who has ever dared to do something extraordinary will have to surmount untold challenges. The bigger the prize, the greater the challenge.

Ironically, Sesinyi’s success should not be seen in the quality of his show. His success should be seen in light of the development of the Film & Television industry in Botswana. Over the time he has staged his show; many practitioners, who otherwise would have never set foot on a production set, have. Yes, the musicians are the stars but they are nothing without the tireless work of the crew behind them. These are the bricks and mortar of the entertainment industry. The unsung heroes and heroines who receive no standing ovation long after the show is done and halls and stadiums are empty. Many have retired into oblivion, ravaged by poverty and subjected to sneers. But Botswana television, Gabz-FM, Yarona-FM and Duma-FM would have never stood without them. This is the true success of My Star.

This is not a call for buyer’s remorse; it is simply a catalogue of an industry that has struggled for close to forty years to find itself. Anchor itself. Assert itself. It does not matter whether Sesinyi receives his flowers or not. But it should matter whether ridiculing him adds any value at all to the industry.

Anyway, a plug for the show: My Star was designed to unearth raw musical talent by targeting the youth. The objective was to create an opportunity for these youth to make a living from their craft. The wider intention was to bring families together to connect emotionally around the show. For film and production enthusiasts in white coats and goggles, it is a specimen on a slab. Salut!

Staff Writer
OSADJ Journalism Development Programme

09/06/2022

Yet another successful tour of business offices. We are finding unique ways to engage stakeholders in a dialogue with the intention to realise the growth of film and digital arts in Botswana. While Tuesdays and Thursdays remain weekly focal points for our campaign, you are encouraged not only to support and participate but to every day.

09/06/2022

The President of Botswana Mokgweetsi Masisi has implored the youth of Botswana to harness the opportunity presented by the 4th Industrial Revolution.

He was speaking at the World Economic Forum Post Analysis Seminar held in Gaborone recently.

He said his administration is intent on making sure that opportunities are made available for industry to utilise and create jobs. He told delegates that his meetings with potential development partners are envisioned to benefit Botswana long into the future, inspiring them to participate in the process.

Masisi also touched on the controversial electric car proposal he made during his election campaign for the 2019 general elections saying that, those who deride it are farcical and expose their limited understanding of the industry. He pointed out the potential that is presented by the value chain especially in the components part of the stream. He mentioned two examples; one was of manganese which he said was used in the manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles adding that Botswana has the mineral reserves. The other one was in the solar industry which he said the potential for jobs in the production of electric components was massive.

Botswana youth currently graduate from tertiary institutions with soft skills that position them favourably for the 4th Industrial revolution.

The seminar sort to convene leaders and captains of industry, representatives from public and private sector and members of all media to ensure dialogue and ideation on the tangible outcomes following the Davos meet.

Staff Writer
OSADJ Journalism Development Programme

09/06/2022

You & your colleagues hold the power - take action, drive value, and make every day a BW-FILM DAY 🥰

If we have not visited your office yet, invite us. We bring goodies 😍

03/06/2022

Every Tuesday & Thursday is BW-Film day. Join the excitement. Advance the industry.