Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
AWARD winning music video producer Andy Cutta says when he scooped the Best music video producer award at the Zimbabwe Music Awards, he felt like American actor Leonardo DiCaprio as he had finally been recognised. At this year’s Oscars DiCaprio finally won Best actor after six previous Academy nominations at the prestigious awards.
This for Andy Cutta, real name Andy Sobhuza, felt the same after he had been nominated over six times at Zimas previously. His award is for the video Alleluia by Roki and XQ that has garnered over 150,000 views on YouTube.
He said after being nominated also at the National Arts Merit Awards repeatedly he was now getting discouraged that his works were not winning.
“The win was like a Leonardo DiCaprio situation that finally after all the hard work and sweat I’m recognised. That’s how i felt on the night because my works have been nominated at previous Zimas but have lost on each occasion. So it feels good to be called an award winner,” said Andy Cutta.
He said after winning he had more desire to produce more quality videos in the near future.
“The win has increased my hunger and drive in me to be the best. My whole aim is to take Zimbabwe music to the international market. If you go to South Africa and Botswana the only artistes ordinary people know are Oliver Mtukudzi and maybe Jah Prayzah. It’s only when we support our products to be of international quality that we can force them down to the Channel Os and Mtv Bases to be played,” said Andy Cutta.
The ex-Vainona High School and Midlands State University student said he started producing music videos in 2011 while working in South Africa.
“I began video production in 2011 as a hobby. I’m a self-taught film maker, and through further training and research from my time in South Africa I developed my craft. I can say I’ve generally always been involved in filmmaking for a long time, doing freelancing and assisting institutions with video projects.
“When I came back to settle in Zimbabwe in 2012 that’s when I decided to start commercially producing visual products. So now it’s basically been three years in the game for me.
“So I’m a full time video producer and that’s why I work so hard because that’s where I get my money,” said Andy Cutta.
Some of his productions found on video sharing site YouTube include, MMT’s Zvidhori, Nashie’s Kuchibhorane, Sani Makalima’s Ndipe Rudo, Janet Manyowa’s Ndomira Pamuri, Alaina’s Juice Box and I Candy Main’s I don’t care when I am in love.