Storytelling is a powerful aspect of filmmaking, and one that 20-year-old Catherine Zulu of Lusaka, Zambia, absolutely adores.
“Authentic stories told by storytellers, that’s what I really love about Africa’s creative industry,” she says. “In the past decade, there has been a change in the way that African stories are being told and also in the quality of the films being delivered. This is so exciting!”
Given her love for storytelling, it comes as no surprise that Catherine is also interested in journalism, and prefers current affairs TV shows over general entertainment programming.
To this end, if she could create her own TV show, it would be a talk show for teens. “Teenagers today face so many challenges, from peer pressure, depression and drug abuse to teen pregnancies. This TV show would play an educational role, showing teens how to effectively deal with these issues as well as providing them with the opportunity to speak out and not feel alone in their grappling with these challenges,” Catherine explains.
She hopes her time at the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) Academy will augment her skills and knowledge so that she can proactively contribute to the Zambian film sector and the broader African creative industry.
Catherine’s favourite African stars are Cosmas Ng’andwe, Mercy Johnson, Zubby Micheal, Monde Daka and Mwaka Mugala. She most admires Frank Sibbuku not only for his work ethic, but for the way in which he uses his creativity to tell Zambia’s untold stories and put the country on the map.
Wherever her path may take her, Catherine hopes she can one day play a role in providing African creatives with a platform to tell their stories as a way to bring their stories to light.