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Technically-talented professionals in the film and theatre world are vital participants in the industry, with their skills and creativity an essential ingredient in the mix that results in productions that entertain and motivate audiences.
One such professional is DStv Shark, Mildred Moyo, a Bulawayo-born lighting designer whose input has transformed many theatrical shows into meaningful works that delight the people involved, as well as audience members. With more than 20 years’ experience under her belt, she helps the other professionals behind the scenes and on stage to bring to life theatrical works of many kinds.
She founded Phenomenal Lighting and Power Solutions as a one-stop solution centre for stage lighting and solar power installations. As the only stage lighting company in Zimbabwe owned by a female professional, she’s pleased with the response from everyone who has made use of it. Customers have included leading artistes, prominent venues and a range of festivals in Zimbabwe.
“These have included Oliver Mtukudzi, the EU Film Festival, the popular Shoko and Intwasa festivals, the Zimbabwe Jazz Festival, the Jibilika Dance Festival, the annual Francophone weeks at Alliance Française de Harare, Zimbabwe German Society and German Embassy shows and plays at venues like Reps Theatre,” she said.
Mildred started a series of online masterclasses in 2019, aimed at creating a platform for younger people who aspire to be lighting designers, especially women and girls.
“These masterclasses resulted from a realisation that many aspiring stage lighting designers are in need of professional training, but without access to platforms offering training,” she said.
After starting these, she ran another series of lighting workshops in 2020 as online training sessions featuring lighting professionals from all over the world. In 2021, these developed into in-person sessions called Lights-Out Stage Lighting Training.
The inaugural Lights-Out training was held in Bulawayo in December 2021, with follow-up workshops in other centres taking place throughout 2022. After these sessions, participants should know the basics of stage lighting design and are enabled to design, set up, programme and run a show in a theatre.
Aside from her work, Mildred likes to focus on her family. She’s a single mother of a son aged 14 and a daughter aged five.
“They both love the field of lighting and my son assists me on some of my jobs. I am very impressed with his abilities, so, yes, we are a ‘lighting’ family.
Mildred and her children are keen DStv fans, having first become subscribers in 2014. As a technical person, she is fascinated by the many technological developments in the DStv service over the years.
Now, through the DStv App, she and her children stream favourite shows and live channels, as well as watch Catch Up.
“This we can do on our smartphone, laptop, tablet, computer and smart TV, so it’s versatile and exciting in so many ways,” she said.
Favourite channels in Mildred’s household are such different ones as M-Net movies, the Food Network and TLC.
Mildred has been impressed by the creation and development by MultiChoice of the MultiChoice Talent Factory, which for several years has been training aspiring film-making professionals across Africa.
She is especially impressed by the opportunities this initiative is providing to young Zimbabwean creatives as they explore film-making for their careers, despite being disadvantaged by a weak economic situation and the effects of the reaction to Covid-19.
“The quality of productions by the MTF students is to the world-class training given them by the MTF academies, where they are exposed to the best resources available in the industry,” said Mildred.
“I like it that the ongoing masterclasses being provided by MultiChoice as part of this MTF initiative are open to all aspiring film-makers and existing professionals and I believe they are also going a long way in developing the skills of our filmmakers, even the seasoned ones.
“It goes to show that you never stop learning and all and any ongoing training is necessary, especially with the constant evolution of technology, a phenomenon that will not stop.”