For Lucia Hamunghete, the thrill of TV and film production lies as much behind the camera as it does in front of it, which is why the 23-year-old creative director and actress from Windhoek, Namibia has her sights set not only on directing and producing, but presenting too.
“My dream career is to be a movie director and a TV producer. However, I’m equally passionate about TV presenting. If I had the opportunity to create my own TV show, it would be a primetime talk show that I would produce and host myself. The show would feature social commentary on current, cultural and lifestyle topics, as well as entertaining interviews with top local and international celebrities, entertainers, sporting figures and online influencers, because I believe we can all learn so much from each other and other people’s experiences,” says Lucia, who holds a BA in Professional Acting for Camera from City Varsity in Cape Town, South Africa.
She is inspired by South African TV and radio personality, Anele Mdoda; Ghanaian actress, model and film producer, Yvonne Nelson; and South African actresses, Thuso Mbedu and Sindi Dlathu.
Creatively, she draws inspiration from Zimbabwe novelist, playwright and filmmaker, Tsitsi Dangarembga. “I love her work. Tsitsi is a black female writer who is passionate about storytelling and uses it as a powerful tool to connect and engage African people in necessary conversations. I’m hoping my MTF experience will give me the opportunity to network with industry professionals of this calibre who, along with my peers in the programme, will help me develop my skills so I too may grow into as confident a filmmaker.”
Lucia believes filmmaking and TV production in Africa are steadily growing, as filmmakers continue to create content that “we as Africans can relate to, and it’s beautiful!” She adds that it’s incredible to see how African creativity is being shared and celebrated on platforms around the world.