Netflix Creative Equity Scholarship Fund Workshop!
We were delighted to organize a dynamic two-day workshop series at the Africa Digital Media Institute (ADMI) last week, exclusively tailored for our beneficiaries of the Netflix Creative Equity Scholarship. This workshop served as an invaluable enhancement, allowing our beneficiaries to engage and learn from prominent industry practitioners.
On day 1, Millicent Ogutu, a distinguished advocate and producer, alongside the accomplished writer and director, Brian Munene, led a lively writing session. They delved into the intricacies of multidimensional storytelling, constructing narratives, and how to authentically convey African stories. In the afternoon, Millicent together with producer Carol Kioko, led an interesting conversation on the production department's pivotal role in film sets. This included crafting budgets, highlighting the significance of comprehensive pre-production, and exploring various critical aspects of film and film sets.
On day 2, we were privileged to engage with Eugene Mbugua and Caroline Ngunjiri from D&R Studios. Moderated by our very own George Gachara, they generously shared profound insights into film distribution, third-party licensing intricacies, monetizing content, and strategies for networking within the film industry. The workshop concluded on a high note with George Gachara, Mars Maasai, and Njeri Gitungo from Heva, who expertly guided our beneficiaries through navigating platforms for securing film funding and setting up a beginner's rate card in the industry.
We are grateful to ADMI for hosting us during the two days and to all the practitioners who came and shared their journey with us. The collective wisdom shared during these two days was truly inspiring, enriching our beneficiaries' perspectives and equipping them with invaluable tools to thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of filmmaking.
Here are a few takeaways from the beneficiaries on what they learned from the workshop and will apply on their film-making journey:
My biggest takeaway was that the process and business of filmmaking are journeys. And as I embark on the journey, I should build healthy and long-term relationships with people. As Caroline stated, "She works with people rather than projects." I should start small while I work my way up and keep in mind that money is not the only form of payment.
The workshop was amazing, it was a class away from our normal theory classes. My takeaway was those who do more get more therefore I will do more content with quality and increase my quantity.
Pieces of advice that were truly insightful like Brian's advice of "write what you know" and have a writer's room no matter the project.
The workshop was an eye-opener for me. I learned to never start working before signing a contract.
I learned so many things but the biggest one that stood out for me was how to monetize filmmaking will be of great help in my career
