Visser, who is based in Pretoria, told StandardLife&Style in an interview that he was scouting for five talented actors in Bulawayo whom he would take to South Africa for further training. He said he would also get another five actors from Harare.
“I will facilitate that they get acting contracts in South Africa through my casting agency called Rap,” he said.
Visser said he had decided to come to Zimbabwe after realising that there is a lot of untapped talent here.
“I have had opportunities to meet and work with some Zimbabweans in South Africa. They are very talented but lack access to proper facilities. Most end up doing menial jobs such as being waiters at restaurants instead of pursuing their acting and modelling careers,” he said.
Visser said he had come to an agreement with Cont Mhlanga to hold a training workshop at Amakhosi where he would select talented actors and take them to South Africa where the arts industry has a strong backing from the corporate world.
“They will have an opportunity to grace some of the popular soap operas back home,” he said. Some Zimbabweans in South Africa have had opportunities to feature in popular productions. Arnold Chirisa, who is now based in Hollywood, broke onto the international scene through his role in Mr Bones while Leroy Gopal, who was a star in locally-produced feature film, Yellow Card, is also doing well Down South.
Asked if the issue of permits may not scuttle the deal, Visser said that would not be a major challenge as he hashelped other Zimbabweans secure work permits under his casting agency before.
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“I have worked with Simphiwe Nomagugu Sibiya who hails from Bulawayo and she now runs her own production house that focuses on training actors and models. I have also worked with Melgin Tafirenyika from Harare who is now doing well as an actor,” he said.
