We have held film trainings around the country since 2017, starting with Kabale, under the banner of Mobile Film School, a project run by Dilstories, who in 2023 founded a non-profit organization to continue these trainings. It is a collective for Ugandan filmmakers to network and share expertise and easily produce films. See details on how to join here. In 2024, the collective will conduct film trainings in five districts of Uganda, including in Arua, which will be in partnership with The Kujieleza Wall.
Our partnership with The Kujieleza Wall started in 2022 with an Entrepreneurship in the creative space training workshop. Through the workshop, artists learned hands-on to innovatively turn a piece of writing into a film. After exhaustive evaluation The Kujieleza Wall started the Evolution Academy, a program that aims to cultivate a sustainable structure for professional development for young creatives in the literary, performance and Film industry in West Nile. And it is under this programme that we will hold a 10 months non-residential film fellowship for 17 artists and creatives in Arua. This training is open to anyone interested in film, including beginners. At the end of the ten months, participants will be well rounded filmmakers capable of producing their own films. The main requirement is that you are interested in film, and are already active in the arts industry. You will be required to submit samples or links to your previous works which could be as simple as a blog you write, or poetry, or work you have done in theater or other performing arts and you are looking to transition to or adapt your work to film. Artists who have had experience in film and are looking to refine their skills, or learn a new thing, for example a cinematographer seeking to learn editing are also welcome to apply. Women are particularly encouraged to get into these technical behind-the-camera roles.
This training is open to anyone interested in film, including beginners. At the end of the ten months, you will be a well rounded filmmaker capable of producing your own films, or starting your media business, or employing yourself in sectors like wedding video-photography. At the end of the training, selected participants will win cash grants of up to UGX 1.5M total to produce short films, or a short film, while three some will be taken on as paid interns for a TV Series that Dilstories will produce in Nov-Dec 2024.
Requirements
- A filled application form.
- A letter expressing your interest in the training. Please include your bio and tell us about your experience in the arts.
- A sample of work demonstrating your art. This includes writing, poetry, blogs, podcasts, painting, acting, dance, theatre, photography, videography. We need to know that you are an artist.
How to send your application:
Send your application by email to: kujielezawall@gmail.com
Or call 0777725333
Overview
Every participant will be trained in all the modules of filmmaking, including screenwriting, directing, producing, cinematography, audio recording, and video editing. It is important for even those interested in other categories to participate in each category, for filmmaking is an eco-system and you perform best if you are knowledgeable in what happens outside your area of interest. There will be a special training on pitching and fundraising.
Screenwriting
Participants learn the fundamentals of scriptwriting, including screenplay format, story structure, character development, writing visual scripts (without dialogue), and writing dialogue for the screen.
Resources: Laptops, KIT Scenarist
Directing
You learn the art of telling stories through film, and techniques of script analysis so as to prepare for shooting. Directors will learn how to prepare actors for their roles, and other crew will learn how to interpret the script so as to help the direct realise their vision.
Producing
This will involve learning the basics of film production, including budgets and schedules, to the advanced class of pitching, creating pitch decks, and how to raise money for your productions, as well as how to sell your film.
Sound recording and audio production
Each participant will master the fundamentals of sound. Each will produce a short radio play, or podcast, and participants will learn how to record sound using professional equipment (and your phone!), and to edit this sound using open-source audio editors.
Resources: Tascam DR-60D MKII, Rode NTG-2, Laptops
Cinematography
Here participants learn film language, and how to use the camera to tell a story. Directors will learn how to use shots effectively, how to stage dialogues, blocking scenes, and other techniques necessary to make a great film. Emphasis will be on visual storytelling and participants will be required to make a short film with as little dialogue as possible.
Resources: Smart phones, DSLRs Canon T3i, Canon M50, BlackMagic Pocket 4K with Prime Lenses
Film editing
How exactly do you put together a series of clips to make a great film? Aah, did you know that films are ultimately made (or destroyed!) in the editing room? We shall learn both the creative side of editing (how to edit actor’s performances, how to re-write the story in editing to fix broken stuff, how to put two clips together to make a good film) and the technical stuff, editing audio, colouring the film, a bit of visual effects, rendering….
Resources: Laptops, Gaming PCs, Kdenlive (open-source), Davinci Resolve 17
Schedule
PHASE 1: BASIC TRAINING Here, participants learn the fundamentals of film at an entry level phase. At the end, each participant will a) write a script of under two pages, b) produce a radio play of under three minutes c) produce a scene of a film of under three minutes.
Duration: 15 Days (2nd – 18th April 2024)
PHASE 2: INTERMEDIATE TRAINING In this phase of the film training, each participant will write and produce up to four short films in a real life working environment. The idea is that the more you do, the more you learn.
Duration: 9 Days, spread over six weeks, starting 6th May
PHASE 3: ADVANCED TRAINING Specialization of Class(es)
- July 2024: Scriptwriting and Audio
- August 2024: Camera and Editing
- September – October 2024: Short Film Production
- November – December 2024: Selected participants intern in Kampala
Terms and Conditions
- The Deadline for submitting requested materials is 23rd February 24.
- The workshop runs from 2nd April 2024 and continues for ten months. Participants must be available full time to attend all sessions.
- This is a non-residential workshop to be held in Arua town. Participants will cater for their own transport and accommodation costs.
- Upon selection, participants will pay a registration fee of 50,000/= (one hundred thousand, Ugandan shillings).
- Participants will own all copyright(s) of their works, and works they write or produce must not be in violation of any existing copyright(s) of any individual or organization.
- Participants will grant Sisi Film Collective, Dilstories, The Kujieleza Wall, Stitching DOEN, and all their partners, permission to use photographs, video recordings, and audio recordings bearing the images of the participants for publicity and for fundraising purposes.