Zimbabwean film lovers are in for a treat with the forthcoming release of a new sitcom titled Salon.Com. REPORT BY BY SILENCE CHARUMBIRA
The 25-minute production will feature some of Zimbabwe’s rising actors, among them Eunice Tava, Nothando Nobengula, Dalma Chiwereva, Spilisiwe Kekani, Teddy Mangava, Chati Butau and Memory Bususu.
Set in a Harare salon, where the-who-is-who of the city drop in on a daily basis, Salon.Com tells the untold stories of the day-to-day dramas that happen in the salon.
The plot is driven by a crazy bunch of salon characters from the crazy barber to the ignorant salon sweeper.
Batsirai Masvinge, the producer of the film told Standardlife&style the comedy is a close-up light portrayal of everyday social issues in a comical tone.
“It is a reflection of the Zimbabwean society through the salon, its hairdressers, barbers, celebrity guests, and ordinary customers,” said Masvinge.
It was written and directed by international award-winning filmmaker Joe Njagu (Best Director, America International Film Festival for the film The Gentleman).
Masvinge said the production is a reflection of the society that allows us to laugh at ourselves and at the same time learn valuable lessons on various social issues of our everyday living as Zimbabwe.
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“The thematic framework is built around universal themes making the sitcom cut across gender, race, ethnicity and other demographic and psychographic factors,” he said.
“What makes Salon.Com a special project is the distribution platform where we have partnered with Jewel Magazine as our sponsors. Under that deal all 20 000 copies of Jewel Magazine will have a free DVD each for the readers.”
He said each DVD will be packaged with four episodes and behind the scenes specials and from month to month readers will get the hilarious stories of Salon.Com.
“After being released in Jewel Magazine, the sitcom will be released on the street model DVD distribution plan, the same method we used on our recent films Lobola and The Gentleman. The Gentleman sold over 80 000 copies in three months,” said Masvinge.
“We have put in place the same distribution plan to take the series to the people and have the capacity to sell over 30 000 copies per month for those who would have missed the month’s DVD in Jewel Magazine.”
He said the production will then hit the African and European television circuit to cater for other Zimbabweans in the Diaspora.
Masvinge said the sitcom would be of great significance in the resuscitation of the local film industry as it has a long term commercial package that will see the 35 member cast and crew being formally employed with constant monthly incomes.
The television series lists Daniel and Tsitsi Mutendi as the Executive Producers through their media houses’ brand, Jewel Magazine.
