IF you’ve ever wondered why local films rarely feature music done by local artistes, either in the background or as part of the soundtrack, you’re definitely not the only one. Lawrence Thompson, producer of Netflix film ‘Can You See Us’, and president of the Professional Film Producers Guild of Zambia, says local music comes with a hefty price tag that many filmmakers simply can’t afford. Thompson explains that many filmmakers are eager to use local music because it is both high quality and connects well with local audiences. However, when he approaches musicians, they often inflate their prices to such an extent that using international music libraries, sometimes costing less than a dollar, is more cost-effective than engaging local musicians...