RB’s wife to bring Titanic Star to Zambia
- Thursday, January 28, 2010, 16:18
- Breaking News
- 15 comments
By Kennedy Limwanya in Los Angeles
TITANIC star Billy Zane has expressed eagerness to travel to Zambia with a number of other Hollywood stars to shoot a tourism promotional movie.
This follows a meeting held between Zane and Zambian First Lady Thandiwe Banda who is in the USA on a programme that includes engagements with government, business and civic leaders, and university and health authorities.
Zane, who stars as Cal Hockley in the popular movie Titanic, was approached to help promote Zambian tourism and the national tree-planting programme.
In a meeting held at Beverly Hilton Hotel and attended by Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Catherine Namugala and Association of Zambians in California president Mwelwa Mulenga, the First Lady said there was need to market Zambia to the world as it was an ideal destination for tourism and investment.
“Our country has never been at war. We have many political parties who may differ politically but still agree to preserve Zambia’s peace. So we need to promote Zambia through a movie,” Mrs. Banda said.
She said Zane, who has just released a new movie, Deep End of ABC, would also be the perfect champion of Zambia’s eco-friendly tree-planting programme because of his affinity to environmental issues.
Zane is interested in making a movie depicting Scottish explorer David Livingstone who is recorded as the first European to see and publicise the Victoria Falls.
“I will be more than willing to come. I could be available up to March. I can also bring in more actors. It doesn’t have to be expensive but it has to be a good project,” Zane said.
He explained that it would be important to find initial support from Zambian companies willing to get involved in the project which would be the first of its kind by a globally renowned film star.
“If it is funded a tourism project, this would be very good for Zambia. We could even produce a promo for CNN. It would be a wonderful cultural exchange with Zambia. This will be very exciting, especially that your country has such a rich history of peace,” Zain said.
In Titanic, Zane plays Hockley, the insufferable, snobbish and vindictive fiancé of Kate Winslow character.
And Ms. Namugala said Zambia had what it takes for a viable film industry and that the Government had shown its political will by giving a tax waiver on the importation of equipment intended to promote the industry.
“Zambia is, in actual fact, not only a tourist destination but also an experience. So we are very interested in a movie to promote our tourism. We are trying to attract interest in the film industry. So we would be most grateful if you organized a group of celebrities to come to Zambia and help us in this direction,” Mrs. Namugala said.
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Pliz come ba hocklay, i ll b more than willing 2 carry your bags, kuti ba kupelako ka 2pin yusa!
Um The Eye, be more ambitious then this…becoming a porter for 2 zali usdi? Come now
Life is funny. From fighting rats on a farm in eastern province to brushing shoulders with celebs in Hollywood. The current and past late president were both fished from oblivion on their farms.
Am looking for a farm very far away in my village so that I can be become the next president!!!!
Cogratulations Mrs Banda, clearly all things are possible with faith, Thandiwe make Zambia proud, this is the time to market the country, world up is not so far. Keep going, age is but a number, you can actually achieve much more than the previous first ladies. This is your time.
ok, good development. thandiwe could star in this movie, then maybe RB can feel as if is Sarkozy. but of cause no obscene scenes. when does it premier?
hehehe..women..you managed to pull himover..women for change …lol..
Good one, Thandiwe
oh i wish i was in zambia to witness the coming of tha hollywood stars…well done Thandiwe Banda its good to have u as tha first lady….am sure u knw ur job very well now….have fun Zambians with tree plantin muvi….
Ba Thandiwe baki na “Degree” yabwanji? baoneka baliko nanzelu. Kwabwela ma degrees manje kaya…….
I applaud you Thandi, good work, you have done what a multitude of people have failed to do.
hehehe Pact wansekesha sana.
This is a very wise idea. So many countries benefit from movies shot at location. Australia benefited from the movie Australia, New Zealand from the epic Lord of the rings and so on. It is Zambia’s turn but becareful that the scenes are very well selected. We had ‘A Touch of the Sun’ in late 1970s starring our very own Edwin Manda, filmed on location in Zambia but did not do us much good, albeit, there were the liberation wars going on. This time round we may do better. However, we must realise that Holywood stars are primadonnas and they are very particular about how they are looked after so get plenty of milk and honey for their pampering! (lol)
Ba Watchdog, what makes good journalism among other things is reporting accurately, with the right technique, without fear or favour. You ave a good story here and I know you maybe age-mates or older than Thandiwe Banda, but however, we need to give her the due respect she deserves, whether we like it or not.
I mean, a headline in the Washington Post “Barracks’s Wife Brings…” or better still in England where we have a queen and we say “Elizabeth’s Husband Brings…” does not augur well. Let us be seen to be professional by at least observing all protocol and calling her by her title as First Lady of Zambia. In any case, its just for a few months more.
viva ba black china man sense, WD akwate amano sana.
viva da PACT
Thandi has been conned! Uyu Zane wa fake! I pray she did not pay to meet him. By the way, since they are coming under state house wing pls conduct serious drug seearch pa port of entry balenda ne fima crack cocain abo elyo balasenda weed dobo chamba pa kuya. Ilya iikali iisundilapo imbushi ku ba tonga kaili ekuli ama location balefwaya!