Kenyan movies are ripe for the global stage

There is a new TV series in town called Sense 8 which has attracted attention locally because Nairobi is one of the eight shooting locations across the globe.

Kenya is featured prominently in the series, which viewers across the globe can watch on Netflix.

The series explores various sub-themes including the subject of homosexuality and one gets a feeling that the script writer is serving the viewers with unnecessary sexual scenes. 

The Kenya Film Classification Board has not said anything. This is the body that has come under fire from Kenyans for banning the screening and sale of various productions in the recent past on grounds of inappropriate content. Hopefully, they will not ban Sense 8 as it will only drive more viewers to the Internet.

As we engage in side shows, our film industry has failed to grow to heights attained by other African giants such as Ghana and Nigeria. Broadcasters are struggling to get sufficient relevant local content for viewers despite there being many youth with under-utilized talent.

The promotion of Nairobi by the hit series is a good for development for local talent.

Congratulations are in order to the Kenya Film Commission for facilitating the series producers, though a lot more needs to be done to develop our industry.

The few movies that have been shot in Kenya to positive global reviews are evidence that the country has what it takes to become a key player in the global movie industry, creating jobs and earning foreign exchange.

UNDERSTAND THEIR FORMULA

Kenya needs to learn from others.

The commission should work on having linkages with film production industries in countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, India, the US, Mexico among others. We need to understand their formula for success.

We have actors with great potential who cannot afford acting classes in high calibre institutions that have propelled many global movie stars including our very own Lupita Nyong’o.

We have many acrobats who could easily become top movie stuntmen. They need sponsorship.

We also need to analyse and capitalise on global movie trends. Hollywood has gone back to re-explore the themes of the eighties and nineties which explains the sudden resurgence of the old generation of Hollywood action stars such as Jean-Claude Van Damme, Ed Harris, Stallone and Schwarzenegger.

Movies such as Out of Africa explored Kenya’s beauty and with the current nostalgic resurgence of the old themes, it is a perfect opportunity to re-tap our natural wonders.

Let us make use of all opportunities to grow our industry.

With Lupita rocking Hollywood, one hopes someone has been mindful enough to ask her to be our ambassador to the billionaires attending the Global Entrepreneurship Summit.

We need to tell them of the investment opportunities in Kenya’s film industry.

Kenya’s star is shining, this is our moment. This is the right time to deliver Kenya’s movie industry to the global stage. 

The Ministry of Sports, Culture and the Arts as well as the Kenya Film Commission should step up to the challenge.

The writer is an auditor with Nation Media Group. [email protected].