This week, we open up our “Zimbabwean Legend” show with Tapiwa Madovi, our England-based film actor & Producer of the moment. As many may already know, his name has lately been a buzzword in the movie industry. He has demonstrated exceptional talents as a film actor, producer and director. Such jaw-dropping skills deserve accolades as we also realize that he is one of our notable pacesetters from Zimbabwe where the film industry largley remains in its infancy. From our Zimbabwean perspective,
Tapiwa’s film career makes a precedent on the international scene. For that sole reason, he is a Legend.
ZE: We welcome you Tapiwa to our “Remember Your Legends” session. First can you briefly shed some light about yourself and your background?
TM: I relocated from Zimbabwe years ago and have spent some considerable time here in the UK. Both cultures have shaped my current being. Besides the blend, I’m a true and proud Zimbo. Hard maShona type! I am thankful that I had a decent childhood and upbringing. My mum belongs to that old school generation of strict but wise African parents that had focus and vaulting ambition to prepare us for the challenging but brighter future. I am glad that strictness has molded me into this character.
ZE: Who or what inspired you to try the movie industry?
TM: I wouldn’t name anyone. I always had a passion for acting and seemed effortlessly good at it. My earliest experience began in a primary school performance of “Joseph and the Techni-colour Dreamcoat”. All I can still remember is that I felt like the stage was my other home. Later, I took my stage career as a talent awaiting a full swing. To date, I have never looked back on using what God gave me.
ZE: How have you kept nurturing your talent?
TM: Through rehearsals and hard work, I learn, develop and grow. It’s funny because a friend of mine texted me a while ago asking how I was doing and I replied, “I’m trying to keep busy” and that seems to be my standard response. I try to keep myself as busy as I can get! I also try and play diverse characters to discover something new. I have been fortunate enough to work with some amazing directors and actors and I understudy them to copy some tricks.
ZE: Any motivation from your close family, friends or peers?
TM: When I decided to follow this trade, seriously-it was off the back of a convo with a very good friend of mine who is also an actor. Although he is still in denial (i.e. he hasn’t fully committed himself to it). He’s still doing his 9-5 thing (regular job). Don’t get me wrong, we all need steady jobs. I’m proud to be surrounded by a very supportive family and network of friends because they encourage and support me a lot and in case I forget to invite them, they get mad at me.
ZE: Can you name all the shows that you have been in?
TM: Tricky question (chuckles) I genuinely can’t remember them all. At times my folks remind me of stuff I’ve done and I literally go blank for a while.
ZE: Which one do you think was the best? And why?
TM: I did a small independent play a couple of years ago called Ordinary People. To be honest, I don’t remember the plot vividly but a few months ago I met this lady who had watched it and told me the play changed her life as she left the auditorium. That’s completely humbling! I never realized that such a small production could have a profound impact on some folks! From then I do not take my performances for granted. Even if I never get a Bafta, an Emmy, an Oscar or a Moon man… this is the point – to tell stories that motivate and inspire other folks.
ZE: And the worst? Why?
TM: I plead the 5th! (Right to remain silent) (Chuckles) but seriously though, I don’t think there’s been a worst – like I said each has its own unique mix of good and bad.
ZE: Any drawbacks in your career?
TM: Plenty. (Chuckles) You make decisions in the moment which turn out to be the worst once you have the benefit of hindsight. But at the time you made such you were convinced it was the best decision. I can’t dwell much on this. The best is to strive to do better next time.
ZE: And your son is also an actor right?
TM: Yeah.
ZE: How did that come to happen?
TM: That’s such a blessing alighted by a Shakespeare Festival at his school as he played Julius Caesar. He actually killed it!! He completely deaded (sic) it. Apart from some past whacky school appearances, that was the first time I’d really seen him act seriously and shine. Anyway with Shakespeare a lot of people focus on the text and their performances are just unnatural and over the top. (Like, I went to see Macbeth recently and although it was a good production, a lot of it was underwhelming. Ashley Zhangazha was great in it though. He’s another Zim dude that’s doing very big stuff.) When I saw Khalil’s Julius Caesar it made sense. He got it. He was connected. He was using the original language, but he may as well have been speaking modern English. He was at one with it. That’s when I realised there was actually something there. There was a lot there! So how Khalil’s show actually happened… we came across the casting, and when I saw it I knew it was absolutely him. Every so often you get a character breakdown that is just so perfect for someone and I guess this was one of those moments. We got him the audition. He worked really, really hard to prepare for it. He went in and killed it. We heard nothing for a few weeks and thought ‘oh well, never mind’. But then they recalled him- consecutively. I think all in all he had to audition for that role about 5 or 6 times before they finally gave it to him.
ZE: Which shows has he been in?
TM: He’s got his own show called The 4 O’Clock Club on BBC in the UK. I believe they are showing it in other countries, but not certain about the networks. I am sure Google or YouTube have leads to that.
ZE: What kind of resources or support do you give him?
TM: Family support and word of mouth marketing have been our tools. We have just been telling anyone and everyone about it, sounding desultory as we drop the issue into conversations that had nothing to do with that whatsoever (Laughs) but the show has grown in leaps and bounds to become the second biggest show on the channel.
ZE: Can you name all the shows that he has been in?
TM: He has been in quite a number only I can’t tell them all right off hand.
ZE: Any awards between you and your son to date?
TM: He was nominated for a Zim Young Achievers award, but didn’t get it. But some of the nominations have awards pending.
ZE: Have you jointly featured in any movies as father and son?
TM: There were a couple of scripts we were meant to work on together. One hasn’t happened yet and we couldn’t do the other one due to calendar date conflicts.
ZE: What’s the latest project (movie) you are working on?
TM: We just recently shot a short film called Kayla in which my daughter actually plays the lead. That’s in post-production as we speak. It was inspired by last year’s London Riots, but looked at the whole thing from a very different, but in many ways familiar perspective. There’s a clue in there! I did a movie last year called Homeboy 2 which is due out anytime now. That one is a ghetto comedy. Absolutely hilarious. I did another one earlier this year called Hunting for Hubbies (H4H) which is due out late this year or early 2013. It’s a Brit/Nigerian film with some Nollywood-esque influences but it’s a really cool flick. That one was really hard work, but I had a great time doing it. I am sure you will agree with me once you watch it. I’m about to start work on a British/Zim film called Triangle in which I play one of the main supporting roles. This one is a really interesting story with a potential to touch many Zimbabwean folks. .
ZE: Have you worked with any box office hit celebrities in this industry? Which ones?
TM: I have worked with a number only that on professional grounds and set conditions I can’t disclose them now.
ZE: What was the experience like?
TM: I don’t really get gassed off ‘celebs’. When we meet ‘at work’, we just work. Of course I’ll show them the love and respect but will maintain professional parameters as we keep it moving. The only person I ever got star-struck with was Lord Sugar, but that’s a complete whole new story.
ZE: Any role models or mentors in the industry?
TM: Not directly. But there are folks that have done great things and opening doors for the rest of us. The likes of Sidney Poitier, Bill Cosby, Cuba Gooding, Denzel, Ice Cube, David Oyelowo, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Chucky Venn, Aml Ameen, Ashley Walters, Noel Clarke, Femi Oyeniran, Adam Deacon, Femi Oguns and of course can’t forget Big Driis (Idris Elba). Tom Hanks, Gary Oldman, Christian Bale those guys are fantastic actors as well. Lucian Msamati – that guy is pretty amazing!!!
ZE: Who would you consider your best actor? And why?
TM: Tricky question. (Chuckles) That answer changes every 5 minutes. Depends what mood I’m in. Tom Hanks is definitely up there, so is Christian Bale, so is Denzel, so is Ruth Wilson, Wunmi Mosaku, Lucian Msamati, Ashley Walters when he has his game face on is ridiculous. Warren Brown, Steven Mackintosh – those guys are intense.
ZE: What’s your best movie and why?
TM: Tough question. But City of God is definitely up there along with Boyz n the Hood & Tsotsi. If you ask me again in 5 minutes I will probably tell you something completely different. Oh yeah, Training Day, Malcolm X. Talk of scatter brain (Chuckles)
ZE: How do you keep your skills and talent polished and updated?
TM: Regular understudying of other folks’ performances and taking constructive criticism
ZE: Any ideas about the film industry in Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe has lots of ideas and stories. A few of us just need to team up and work things out on a grand scale. But it has to be quality though. Unfortunately I didn’t get to see The Gentleman, but I saw the trailer and it looked great.
ZE: Do you plan to perform or shoot any movies in Zimbabwe?
TM: I would absolutely love to. I’ve got plenty of ideas and I’m surrounded with very talented people who carry amazing ideas, so yes definitely if we can get some investment we could definitely do a game-changer.
ZE: Have you worked with any Zimbabwe actors? Which ones?
TM: There’s Tanya Fear, a London-based young Zim actress. We never actually worked together as such, but we had an extensive auditioning process for a project that we aborted due to other commitments. Tanya is a fantastically promising talent. I’m still waiting for Lucian to invite me in for another joint performance. Thandie Newton and Chipo Chung have links to Zimbabwe right? Hopefully we can make something happen very soon. I’m about to start shooting the Zim film in the next few weeks, I don’t know who else is attached, but will definitely be working with Zim actors on that one.
ZE: Any special word of advice to the documentary and film industry in Zimbabwe?
TM: It sounds like a cliché, but the show must go on. There will always be barriers and difficulties to derail your ambitions but just push through and stay focused. Half bread is better than none.
ZE: So what’s in your pipeline right now?
TM: Right now, I’m just auditioning. I’m shooting a promo clip for a domestic violence charity called DASAC (www.dasac.org.uk) tomorrow, I’m doing some voice over stuff and the film Triangle. Apart from that I’m just auditioning and trying to stay busy. LOL
ZE: Is there a way budding stars can reach you in case they need advice or mentoring?
TM: Not sure if I’m qualified to be an advisor, but I can share the little wisdom I have picked up along the way. I’m on twitter @TapiwaOfficial or FB on /TapiwaMadovi
ZE: What do you consider as the main challenges in this industry today?
TM: Survival. There’s isn’t a lot of money around. The recession is affecting everybody so very few projects are getting financed and some have been shelved. To be honest, many folks are working for free if not for bread crumbs. Those with big screen names continue to scoop the best deals so it’s a matter of patience and perseverance.
ZE: And what are the benefits of the industry as we speak?
TM: There are greater chances to flourish if you work hard and make quality productions. Technology has served us well too. Making movies is relatively cheaper nowadays and the internet catches all the audience you want. But since the markets are flooded, there’s a lot of noise to get through before the proper stuff gets noticed. But I guess that’s great because the competitiveness in the industry promotes better quality features as dross is eliminated and cream rises to the top. Serious actors will hold up as chancers quickly fall off.
ZE: In Zimbabwe, traditional conservatives hold that kids should stick to defined careers like being a nurse, an accountant, doctor, teacher, lawyer, engineer and the like. What’s your special advice or reaction to such conservative mentality that perceives showbiz and film as luxurious pursuits of dreams with insecure career foundations?
TM:I understand the pessimism. Most actors and showbiz folks hardly make it. So it’s important to have a decent career with guaranteed income. The conservatives are afraid of risk as they are guided by how they were raised. I would take good advice, but through a two way conversation. Besides that society should change and embrace anyone’s dreams as read with the prevailing social dynamics. My pastor always says “the evidence of desire is pursuit”. No hard work no glory. If you want to be an athlete; get up and attend training or eat right. Prove your work ethic and inspire your peers to support you. The percentage of professionals in the higher income bracket remains higher than that of showbiz folks. Many assume that showbiz and film are free lunch. That’s not true. It’s a lot of hard work and determination. The best for anyone is to define a dream, a goal and a passion and go hard at it. All of us have unique gifts and talents but we must know where to apply them.
ZE: Many thanks Tapiwa for joining us on this show. We hope we will visit again soon and resume this conversation as fresh events emerge.
TM: Many thanks for having me. I also pray that we can catch up soon.
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10 Replies to “Tapiwa Madovi – A ZIMBABWEAN LEGEND”
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What a beautiful chocolate man!!!
Unowanikwa kupi iwe Tapiwa? Une mukadzi here iwe? Kubva ini ndakuda zvangu iwe. Nhasi pandirikupa baba vekwangu ndichkurangarira mu fantasy. Kana wouya kuzondiona uuye wakapfeka shirt yako iyoyo yawakapfeka pa snap iyo pamsoro ndinoda kuita hondo yemaguvhu newe iwe mupfanha. Undibate tiite zvekushinha zviya zvataimboita kumahumbwe tadzima ma lights emu hedge pandaive mhamha uyu Bruce ari daddy utwu twuna ana Caro na Brian twuri vana vedu.
Tuma munhu nenhamba dzako anosvika achipa foreman kupurrazi kwaGushungo. Kana ndakuenda kuFrance for shopping ndoita hook up newe umbonditinha nayo yagara muchando. Wakanaka mwanakomana ini mai venyika ndada hangu kuinanzva yako igonyatsonditundira. Zvana Bob zvetwunharo mumapepa nemisangano kumba pasina chinoitwa ndaneta nazvo ini Tapiwa.
Bla Miki you makes me laugh kikikikiki.
Wena fake naked fuseki
Lovemore Majaivana, Sandra Ndebele, Job Sikhala the list is endless!
Naked we have legends, what of you?
Madovi, ya ne Machona names n surnames they make me vomit
The guy is so handsome, I am already getting wet around my hole when he talks about whats in the pipeline.
Can not wait to have and watch movies in my house, Taps. Soooo inspirational! Many prayers for your success.