Harare — John  Boylan, a professional film and television trainer based in Toronto, Canada, is in the country conducting workshops in professional film and television production for members of the Zimbabwe Film and Television Union.

The union -- formed in 1997 to serve the interests of professional film and television actors in the country -- is facilitating the workshops, which are running over a two-week period, while the Zimbabwe Culture Fund and the Federation of International Actors (FIA) are the sponsors.

Boylan's visit to Zimbabwe coincides with Ziftau's 10th anniversary. Last week, Boylan held a series of workshops for members of the union based in Bulawayo before moving to Harare early this week. Speaking in Harare yesterday, Boylan said Zimbabwean actors, in spite of the numerous challenges they faced, had the potential to make huge strides on the international film podium, resources permitting. "The actors told me they are lacking a theatre and film school in the country. They have the potential but they have not realised it yet. "I think the development of real training facilities and a national film production programme would make it easy for Zimbabweans to produce their own feature films," he said. Boylan commended the actors' union for striving hard in efforts to improve the skills of their members by engaging professionals such as him. He expressed optimism that the skills that he would impart to the actors would go a long way in orientating them in realistic scriptwriting and acting, and also "produce something that people could relate to under these conditions". Boylan - who first conducted workshops for Ziftau members in 2000 - said the hospitality, warmth and love that the Zimbabwean people showed him was very touching.

"Coming from Canada where it is very advanced economically, I am very humbled by the respect, interest and seriousness that these people have shown. "The way they relate to each other and their pride of place begs the question of who is really advanced. That is what I really liked about coming to Zimbabwe, the warmth and passion of the people," he said. Boylan was also full of praise for the Zimbabwe International Film Festival, which he described as an excellent platform for the development of the local film industry.

He said such kind of programmes were necessary not only for film but also for national development.