A short film by veteran filmmaker Shemu Joyah Strike A Blow and Die, which tells the story of one of the country’s freedom fighters, Reverend John Chilembwe starts streaming on Iplus on Saturday.
Due to public demand, Joyah has decided to release the film which recently failed to win the Efere Ozako Award for Best Short Film in the Africa Movie Academy Awards (Amaa) held in Nigeria.
The film was nominated alongside movies from other countries with The Last Shoemaker from Uganda claiming the award.
“For those interested in the technical stuff, we shot the film using Sony FX6 and FX3 cameras,” Joyah wrote on social media.
Strike A Blow and Die is a rough cut where Joyah only took two scenes off the yet to be produced Chilembwe feature film and it runs for less than 15 minutes.
The short film produced with funding from Copyright Society of Malawi (Cosoma) through Copyright Fund, has two scenes of young John Chilembwe in 1891.
According to Joyah, the current budget for the full Chilembwe feature film is US$3.5 million approximately K6 billion.
FirstDawn Arts has said that it is working with three budgets for the film curated in US dollars.
“If we are going to do it the way we want it done, US$3.5 million is the first budget with the current rate.
“This is a lot of money but those who understand filmmaking for instance Hollywood and other countries, who are advanced in film, this is nothing but here it will be seen as huge amount which cannot be wasted on a film,” Joyah told The Daily Times last month.
Meanwhile, Dzuwa Arts and Friends for Benefits Arts will tomorrow stage two productions in what is dubbed as a great theatre show at Kamuzu Institute Hall in Lilongwe.
The plays are Sweet and Sour written and directed by Ignatious Kaphinde and Vintage in 90s written by George Billy.
In another development, rapper Tay Grin with his Black Rhyno Entertainment holds another show in United Kingdom tomorrow at Fusion Sports Bar.
The concert will see him sharing the stage with other artists including Hazel Mak of the ‘Liyaya’ fame and Lavida Loca.
