Filamu Kenya Issue 2 | Page 4

Editorial: Support the local industry to spur its growth Hollywood did not become a multibillion industry in a day; it took concerted efforts from different people to actualise the dream of building one of the biggest sources of government revenue in the world. Local movie premiers are expensive, there is no doubt about that. We operate by the mantra that “If there’s a chance to get anything for free, we should grab it!” - This is our mindset as we click through those illegal downloading sites, but the real deal is, we lose the chance of gaining knowledge, enthusiasm, and drive to be more appreciative of our culture (speaking for those films based on history). Above all, we lose it when we fail to support our own industries. For the Kenyan industry to get there, there is need for collaboration. There is need for support from the government, private investors and above all, audiences. This is the only way we can make our industry grow and be proud of it. Rome was not built in a day, goes the adage. People behind these films spend months or even years to perfect their research on their script and some other sacrifices just to make the lines more appealing to the various audiences. There is a common delusion that everything foreign is better. We watch too many foreign movies and follow numerous TV shows because we use them as a rate card for our local industry. The film directors, actors, and producers we talked to in this edition have one plea- we need to support our local industry. Hollywood star Edi Gathegi mentioned this during an interview that we managed when The film industry in Kenya is always a fascinating field to talk about. With new movies and TV shows making headlines, what can the various stakeholders do to keep the industry buoyant? he visited Kenya, for the Christmas holidays. The film industry has seen a lot of additions in 2018. From the premiering of Selina, one of the best telenovelas in the country, to the collaboration of Riverwood and Nollywood, we have a lot to offer to our readers. Our February issue has a rich menu of offerings. From news briefings that capture the film industry scene to the trend of adapting movies from books, we have a rich story to share with the rest of the world. We have also introduced a new segment where we are reviewing a music video making headlines in the country. Follow us: @FilamuKenya on Twitter and Instagram | Filamu Kenya on Facebook Filamu Kenya Editor [email protected] James Ndone F i l a m u K e n y a PA G E 4 n o w p l a y i n g