An interview with actor Silvester Hwenha

Silvester Hwenha is one of the main actors in the film ‘Choice’ about a young affluent Zimbabwean woman who tries to balance the love of her husband and that of her secret lover. 

Journalist Lance Guma spoke to Hwenha about the project and first asked him about the film and his role in it.

Silvester Hwenha: This film is about a successful businessman who is so consumed with his work that he neglects his wife. I play the role of the husband, Morrison Tembo. The wife, played by Rudo Chigogo, tries in vain to get her husband’s attention.

Eventually she gets involved with a young flamboyant entrepreneur (played by Tinashe) who gives her the loving attention she desires. The husband does not even notice as he continues to bury himself in his business.

However, when the husband anonymously receives pictures of his wife with the other man through the post, all hell breaks loose as he tries to untangle the love triangle.

He is so determined and desperate and to catch the wife in the act that he hires two detectives and even goes as far as having a medical procedure done to reconstruct his face to look like her illicit lover. In the end the conformation destroys the lives of all three. 

Guma: How did you get involved in the film? 

Hwenha: It was by chance that Larry Mutasa came across a portrait of me promoting a line of male facial cosmetic products in a pharmacy shop in Harare. The product line was developed and owned by a prominent model turned entrepreneur.

Larry tracked me down and when he found me I told him that I was not an actor. Nevertheless he invited me for auditions for a smaller role in the film. I reluctantly went for the auditions.

I suspect that Larry thought I did well because he then invited me to do an audition for a major part in the film. We started shooting soon after I got the part.

Guma: There is a kissing scene in the movie. Was that uncomfortable for you to act it out? 

Hwenha: Not really, because the scene was not intense I guess. My co-actor, Rudo helped me to prepare for various scenes. She is an excellent actor.

Guma: What sort of feedback have you received from people over the movie?

Hwenha: People I know who have seen the movie were surprised that I got into acting. They were surprised that I could actually act.

So I have received some positive feedback! I have also received some encouraging feedback from the film director to the extent that I have considered taking up acting in a somewhat serious manner.

Guma: Your assessment of the film industry in Zimbabwe?

Hwenha: I believe there is great acting talent in the country but fewer opportunities for exposure and grooming.

The industry is not well developed despite having produced good films in the past such as Neria. This industry is also not well funded. Actors rarely make a living off acting in the country and only achieve fame among the fans.

Guma: What needs to be done to improve it?

Hwenha: There is need to develop the whole industry value chain from talent scouts to acting academies and casting agents. The private sector needs to get involved through investment in promising films and marketing them widely at film festivals in the region and abroad.

Previously, donor funding has played an important role in the film industry but there is need to transition to a situation where the industry becomes competitive thereby attracting funding from investors in the private sector.