WHILE there seems to be a very thin line between acting and music, award-winning afro jazz singer Selmor Mtukudzi continues to show her versatility in the arts, after landing a role in a forthcoming movie called Escape that is currently being filmed.
WINSTONE ANTONIO
The one hour 30-minute long movie, which is set to premier in August, is being co-directed by an award-winning BBC-trained filmmaker, theatre practitioner and academic, Agnieszka Piotrowska and award-winning local producer Joe Njagu.
Selmor, a celebrated musician, has stepped up to take her artistic career to another level by venturing into acting, joining fellow musicians, among them sungura artists Peter Moyo and Dendera ace Sulumani Chimbetu who have featured in a hilarious comedy Bag Rabvaruka Season Two and musician Jah Prayzah, who starred in Bag Remhosva Season 1, produced by Mabla 10.
In this African movie noir, Selmor is playing the character Anna, and joins the cast that includes seasoned actors like Eddie Sandifolo as Munya, Munya Chidzonga as Detective Connor, Steve Chigorimbo and Nothando Nobengula.
Speaking to The Standard Style last week, Selmor said venturing into acting was not just for fun, but for the love of acting, retracing her roots having started acting at a tender age of 10 when she featured in the movie I am the Future, among other local dramas.
“My branching into film just gives me an opportunity to express my artistry in a different way. I am really excited to see where and how far it takes me,” Selmor said.
“This is something I am taking very seriously since I started out acting before I got into music. I will strive to achieve as much as I did in music.”
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Selmor, whose acting is inspired by the likes of Anne Hatheway, Selma Hayak and Jessessi Mungoshi, said acting will not disturb her music diaries as it will only keep her busy when shooting, which is a short period with much of her time spent doing music throughout the year.
Selmor – who has been in the music industry for more than a decade – rose to stardom in 2013 after releasing her album titled Expressions which carried the hit song Nguva Yangu.
The song topped the charts and was later nominated in the song of the year category at the 2013 edition of the National Arts Merit Awards.
Born in 1984 to superstar Oliver Mtukudzi and Melody Murape, Selmor is married to musician Tendai Manatsa – son of legendary Zexie Manatsa.
The synopsis of the movie, which is an original script by Piotrowska, interrogates themes of love, loss, identity and race, and follows the story of a young man who travels to Zimbabwe from London following the death of his mother.
Though his journey begins as a search for his father and other relatives, Charles (played by José Marques) comes to find that there is much to discover about himself along the way.
Piotrowska said she was pleased with the level of talent in the country, but said it lies idle and a lot must be done to expose it.
“I am happy about the progress of the movie as everything is going according to plan. Working with Joe Jangu and some talented actors is just amazing,” Piotrowska said.
Speaking on the current state of the local film industry, Piotrowska said she believes the process of digitisation will uplift the face of the film sector.
Her co-producer Njagu said he was confident and optimistic that the movie would be well received both locally and internationally, adding that working in partnership with Agnieszka brings a new dimension in this production as she brings in her vast experience and expertise in film-making.
