Shortage of scriptwriters bad for local film industry

Well-written scripts are what is  required to unlock the massive potential of the local film industry. This was the message experts who spoke at a drama and film teachers’ workshop last week had.

The facilitators decried the low standards of the scripts of most local television productions, citing such hindrances as lack of training, poor pay and multiplicity of roles. 

 In many countries where the film industry is thriving, they said, scriptwriters are respected professionals. However, in Kenya, many scriptwriters also take the roles of directors and actors, thus diluting or concentrating less on their script writing role.

“Scriptwriters should concentrate on writing and leave the other roles, including marketing, to professionals in those fields,” said Ms Doris  Rwito of  Thitani Girls’ High School in Kitui.

Dr Simon Peter Otieno, the co-ordinator of the Kenya National Drama Festivals film initiative, said many good writers of stage plays have problems adapting them for the screen due to lack of exposure and training. 

“As one script writer said, there are three vital elements in a good film: script, script and script,” Dr Otieno told the teachers. 

He added that the teachers needed to master the art of writing for the screen and differentiate it from that of writing stage plays.

The event, held at State House Girls’ High School in Nairobi, was attended by more than 100 drama and film teachers from around the country. The University of Nairobi, Mt Kenya University, Maasai Mara University, Moi University, Maseno University and Kenyatta University were represented.

Facilitation was by Bob Nyanja, a film-maker, Wambui Kairu of One Boy Productions, Moses Wamalwa of Department of Film Services, Evans Mugarizi of Moi University, Odhiambo Oduke of Maseno University, Peter Maina of Blueberg Ltd and Wycliffe Buhere of Kenya Institute of Mass Communication.