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MultiChoice Botswana hosts local creatives for a Content Creators Workshop
Gaborone, Botswana – May 29, 2023. On May 25, 2023, a day after the exciting launch of Bots Top 5 on Channel O (DStv Channel 320), MultiChoice Botswana organized a Content Creator Workshop at the Avani Conference Center in Gaborone. The workshop, hosted under the MultiChoice Talent Factory initiative, aimed to provide guidance and upskill filmmakers and creatives from across MultiChoice Africa markets, emphasizing the importance of developing content suitable for regional and international consumption.
Facilitated by Melusi Sibisi, Senior Content Strategy for MultiChoice Africa, David Molotlhanyi, Music Programming Manager for M-Net Local Entertainment Channels, and Tebogo Matlawa, Senior Scripted Content for MultiChoice Group, the Content Creators Workshop brought together independent filmmakers and employees from the Department of Broadcasting Services. This collaboration was made possible by the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between MultiChoice Botswana and the Government of Botswana.
During the workshop, Thembile Legwaila, MultiChoice Botswana’s Corporate Affairs Manager, highlighted the importance of working closely with local content creators to increase the presence of Botswana content on international platforms. Legwaila stated, “We at MultiChoice Botswana and the content creators in Botswana have a shared vision of seeing more local stories on DStv. To make this process more beneficial for both parties, we organized this Masterclass to guide and direct the creators as they work on their respective productions.”
The presentations from the three facilitators emphasized the significance of thinking beyond Botswana and striking a delicate balance between telling authentic stories that resonate with international audiences. Tebogo Matlawa expressed, “Regardless of where you are in the world, there are certain universal elements of life that we can all relate to, such as love, betrayal, loss, and family relationships. A story will leave an impact if you can emotionally connect with your audience in a way that relates to them and keeps them engaged.” Matlawa further emphasized the importance of preserving authenticity when producing content, as it is what captivates an audience.
The Masterclass also addressed the needs of many filmmakers in Botswana who aspire to see their stories featured on the pan-African pay-TV service. It provided insights into the content submission process and the criteria MultiChoice considers when commissioning content. Melusi Sibisi explained, “We have streamlined and made the content submission process transparent, while also ensuring the protection of your concepts and intellectual property through our M-Net Submissions portal.”
Filmmakers can submit their content proposals and submissions through the M-Net Corporate Submissions portal, accessible at https://submissions.mnetcorporate.co.za/. The website provides detailed information on the submission process, including review and approval timelines, as well as the available channels for submission.