You can’t ignore the rise of content creators online. It’s like the Great Wildebeest Migration in the Serengeti, except it’s a stampede onto digital platforms. Slowly but surely, media houses are making the most of the digital space. Are we doing a “mushe” job here. Or is there some “washaya nonsense” going on.
It would take a good long while to mention all the talk shows, podcasts and comedy sessions available online from Zimbabwe. That by itself is not a bad thing. We sort of created our own “Netflix and chill” off expensive data. Yikes.
Speaking of expensive data; the thought of investing money to buy data to watch a show requires it to stand out like a purple cow and shout “I’m original”. It’s got to stand out from the millions of shows available online.
Not everybody is going to be like Oprah. How many talent shows are done, where the panelists give it their best effort to be Simon Cowell? Their dry humor turns soggy.
The copy-pasting of an existing script to a different set and web address does not count as motivation to spend the data. When the data does become cheaper, then it’ll be a time cost. The battle for people’s time.
Same concepts with a different colour, theme song and face. Having a new show doesn’t mean rebranding an old tv show. Justin Timberlake brought “Sexy back” but we don’t need to bring back “Amai Chisamba”. She had her day.
‘It is better to fail in originality than to succeed at imitation.’ Quote from Herman Meville. That’s a good quote. Maybe one to tweet if you want a bunch of people to say… deep.
In simple terms: we have a million shows online but how many are actually one in a million? Who stands out? Who’s really pushing the boundaries? Who would bootleg a Zim show - and try to sell it in India because of the creative prowess and the depths of ingenuity? Come on. Let’s get our stuff plagiarized!
Are we recreating the same concept of a show that has impressive ratings with a different set and face in the hope of attracting the same ratings?
The excuses of sub-standard shows range from budget constraints and digital inadequacies.
So coming down to it, originality will separate itself from any of the excuses.
It runs on intentionally and being true to yourself. Tweaking it. Failing. Tweaking it again. Getting your friends to give their honest opinion.
Let’s put it like this- would you prefer an original iPhone or an “iPhone” branded iFone? The iFone will work, and might do the trick (for a few months) but there’s so much more value in brand new.
You don’t need a template to create genius. You just need you.