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AMASHIWI

"Culture is the heritage of us all. some may be more interested than others in the treasures of the past, but no one can fail to take a pride in his country's participation in the story of mankind, as represented in carvings, sculpture, music, paintings and the other arts. And there is a personal commitment to this, for no man can really say he is alone: we are all joined through our identity, with the cultures which are part of the mainstream of life"
- Simon Kapwepwe, Zambian Independence Freedom Fighter

"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm" - Winston Churchill

"Try to be the rainbow in someone else's cloud" - Maya Angelou

"Your time is limited so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinion drown out your inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition" - Steve Jobs








Thursday 18 September 2014

Things on Thursday: e18hteam Tings

It's been a pretty big week for the film. I am focusing on the positive at the moment: publicity is going well.  The press are starting to report on the documentary and engagement continues to steadily increase on social media.  So the fact that, to date, no Zambian business has contributed to the film which is fine coz we managed without them, but now I have no idea how I am going to host the Premiere, which is expected due to the story being told and it being released a week before our 50th Independence Anniversary.  

It's my job as co-producer to find the money to do things.  Honestly, my passion for the story and the film has not translated to funds beyond what I have been able to scrap together over the years from my own pocket through presenting and social media jobs here in Zambia. This has frustrated me greatly as I have tried several different strategies to no avail.  You'd think that football, Zambia and the glitz of film would be a no brainer here.  I have been proven wrong for the last 2 years.  But as Steve Jobs said "stay hungry, stay foolish".  With a production partner like Juan, who has gone above and beyond to make this film, and has taken on the lion's share of the financial burden, it's not that hard to do that :).  

That is also why I changed the Amashiwi quotes on the blog to include Winston Churchill's "success consists of going from failure to failure without the loss of enthusiasm".  Even if organisations seem to be swayed by the Chipolopolo's performance and every time I need some help they decided to perform abysmally.  I continue support our national team through thick and thin, despite their secret conspiracy to thwart my efforts.  It would have been great if they started their AFCON 2015 qualifying campaign with a bang, rather than fizzling out after being paralysed to a nil draw against Os Mambas (The Black Mamba's aka Mocambique) and the venom taking hold by the time they got to Cape Verde last week, losing 2-1. You see my theory is not wholly unfounded and without merit.

Things are going well in large part due to Samba Yonga of Ku Atenga Media aka Grand Mukhazi in the Ndhlovukazi's matriach's circle aka Purple Tembo Media's publicity team:


She is behind getting this great article written by Leelee Ngwenya about e18hteam features in the September/ October Issue of Proflight's Nkwazi Inflight Magazine. The magazine is FREE, MAHALA, GRATIS so get your copy to see it in all its glory.  Don't worry, if you aren't in Zambia or flying anytime soon I have scanned the article ;}.


Click to embiggen for easier reading :)



Slam Dunk Records TV and Inspire Abantu have posted the press release for the film to help get the word out.

This teaser seems to be the one that everyone who has seen them seems to be the most touched by.  I also think it's the most powerful.  Dennis Liwewe was our most prolific football pundit and a great ambassador for the game and Zambia.  It was an honour to interview him.


If you want to know more about writer, director and producer Juan Rodriguez-Briso, watch this Behind the Scenes video about his passion for football, how inspirational the story of the Chipolopolo is and about how we connected to co-produce e18hteam.


We revealed our official poster for the film yesterday during #DidYouKnoWednesday.  The exact release date is 17th October 2014 so mark your calendars and start saving your ngwees to make up the Kwacha you need for a ticket.

In theatres 17th October 2014 

Chipolopolo ana chimfya: The Chipololopolo triumphed in both Nyanja and Bemba.

To keep up with all things e18hteam, follow the film on Twitter so as not to miss out on weekly #DidYouKnoWednesday event, and like on Facebook for exclusive content only posted there.  You can find all my posts chronically my journey making e18hteam here.




Tuesday 9 September 2014

Twit Tuesday: e18hteam Behind the Scenes Video and #PTHerd Prince chat

As you know I have my reservations about Twitter, but what I love about the social media platform is the ease at which conversation can be fostered.  Hence I am happily a twit now with no regrets, especially as being one has helped me with content for the blog.

This post is dedicated to Sam Ndhlovu.
Right now, Twitter is the primary communication tool with which e18hteam is able to be brought to the masses at no cost, and the ability and ways to provide information to those who want it is unlimited.  Here is a Storify of last week's events on my production company and e18hteam's Twitter pages that revolved around my favourite little ones, Sam Ndhlovu aka the Purple Tembo Herd Prince.


To know more about how to become a part of the Purple Tembo Herd royal family, follow Sam on Twitter and see how it's done. Jedi master must you be.  Only way to Sam defeat.  From this Yoda take it ha ha ha ha.

You can find other storify stories I have published here.

Wednesday 3 September 2014

e18hteam: #PTHerd rewards and #DidYouKnoWednesday

I started writing a coupla weeks ago about the documentary film I am co-producing with Spanish partner-in-crime Juan Rodriguez-Briso.  There I began my impassioned recording of why I started my production company Purple Tembo Media and how the Chipolopolo's AFCON 2012 win was the catalyst to me pursuing that thread of my storytelling dreams. I always knew I would be some kind of filmmaker.  Funnily enough, I became a writer before that, something I never thought I would never have the discipline for.  Blogging started me on a journey when its path had been illuminated in my mind after I decided I wanted to create proudly Zambian and positively African content with mpamvu (literally power, here I mean umph or as MIghTy African would say vim he he he) in 2010 after completing my masters.

So what is the film about?

It is the universal story of the underdog, forever underestimated, but never discourage to achieve the very best when challenged.  Akin to folklore of old, it is a recounting of the age-old message urging us to continue to fight in order to reach the heights of success.  This is an epic sanctioned by divine decree, that ensured nothing would stand in the way of pure intentions, hard work, determination, and ultimately, destiny.  This is the emotional and now legendary football journey of an African nation, spanning five decades.  It is the path taken by a country bound together by a tragedy that shook the nation, which then spurred them to honour their fallen heroes by playing the beautiful game at the highest level.  This is the recounting of Zambia's rich football history, derailed by the tragic plane crash off the coast of Gabon in 1993, only to be triumphant in the same country at the momentus AFCON 2012 tournament.  This is the opportunity to record, preserve and share  this amazing story with the world.  This is the documentary film telling the story of the unrelenting and victorious Chipolopolo: the Copper Bullets aka the Zambian National Football Team.

So you are hooked by my verbose, superfluous and dramatically African introduction eh? Want to know more?

Created by current @PurpleTembo #PTHerd Prince Sam

If you follow these instructions you are not a twit, in fact you are rather smart.  Now you can keep up to date with the film, find out why it is called e18hteam (pronouced eighteam), when it will be released and where it will be showing.  Every hump day you'll enjoy #DidYouKnoWednesday with facts about Zambia, the Chipolopolo, football and of course the documentary.


Go one step further and join the Purple Tembo Herd race and you will be rewarded.  Help spread the word about the film and who knows what royal titles and gifts will be bestowed upon you.


Recap: Like and follow e18hteam, like and follow Purple Tembo.  Good things come to kind people.  Here is a cheat sheet to help you out.


I thank you for liking, commenting, sharing, following, tweeting and retweeting in advance xo