In the heart of Northern Uganda, where the dusty streets of Gulu City whisper tales of resilience, my passion for filmmaking was born. I am commonly known as Doctar Raymond though my name is Ocakacon Raymond. It started when my father wrote a book, “MALAKWANG KA WAC KILIYO.” As a young boy I’d sit by his side, mesmerized as he penned his book. Those moments sparked a fire within me, he always gave me a chance to provide him with my innocent valuable ideas. So, I was passively involved in developing the book.
Growing up I was fascinated by movies and their ability to teach valuable lessons. The Nigerian film “Angela” left an incredible mark on my heart, and I knew I had to create films that confront social injustices and spark a few watercooler debates. My father though initially skeptical, encouraged me to chase my dreams.
I started by learning film basics and eventually joined a youth program on radio talk shows, 89.5 Speak Fm. Our discussions consisted of issues affecting the youth in our community and ways to overcome them. This led to opportunities in radio dramas, scriptwriting, and eventually filmmaking as an organization, Participatory Youth Radio (PYR) liked what we were doing and offered support.
I remember very well It was heading towards Christmas, and on our show, we were supposed to educate people on how to spend the Christmas season. I came up with a story title, “ANGE TYE LIT,” meaning Regrets are painful. Which received positive feedback from listeners. This motivated and inspired me that I kept on writing stories which kept on being aired.
My journey took a significant turn when I joined Maisha Film Lab, where I learned scriptwriting, directing and cinematography, sound recording and finally I wrote my first professional script. “The Friend Request” under the guidance of a mentor Angie Emuron. Although I faced challenges, including a script being reduced from fifty pages to five pages (yeah – the difference is significant) but still I persevered. The most prominent quote I recall from her is, “writing a script is not just about dialogue.”
My first time to direct was during the “Friend Request” shoot. I didn’t know how to talk to actors, how to frame/block actors, everything was new. No knowledge about problem solving on set. And boom – malaria decided to attack me there and then! My assistant director had to continue with the shoot. Students would call it examination fever, what should I call it?
With this little knowledge I obtained from Maisha film lab, I opted to start doing film in my village. I worked on “Mobile Money Stress” and “Wrong Decision,” I even applied for grants, like one from Inplace Of War based in Manchester City, which helped me organize a theater play for persons with disabilities.
Later, I joined a Mobile Film School (now Sisi Film Lab) and worked on various projects including a Tv series “Mama and Me,” “Goro Wic Village.” These experiences honed my skills in editing, directing and scriptwriting. With each success, my confidence grew and so did my passion for storytelling. This is where I met Dilman Dila, this training was his initiative. Here I continued to learn from him. Seeking guidance from him, honing my craft, and learning from my mistakes. I also continued applying for grants with the knowledge I had got from “Inplace Of War” learning to write proposals – yeah, boy from Northern Uganda was now living the film dream, growing as a filmmaker and as a person.
This journey wasn’t easy, at one point I thought I was going to act, the next day I was given a role to slate, in two minutes I was the continuity person. In less than an hour I was in props and set design. Four jobs at a raw – God! Just total confusion! In the midst came a bunch of crews, A and B, given the role of an assistant Director in B, totally five jobs on set. I could do this, forget the other. At one point the director asked me five questions in 3 seconds of Couse I couldn’t answer, I was silent, at a loss of words! I faced self-doubt but I knew I had to continue chasing the Oscar.
In Gulu, I did a short film “Hunger in Africa,” it managed to scoop an award for the Best semifinalist in the student’s world impact film festival (SWIFF) – I was now starting to reap from my hard work and resilience.
Recently, I joined the Sisi Film Collective, a community of passionate filmmakers dedicated to uplifting each other’s careers. Sharing resources and knowledge, together we have developed a mini tv series, “Storm on the Floor” and a short horror film “Tibu.” I encourage my fellow filmmakers to join and collaborate on projects that can make a difference.
My sights are set for the Oscars, I’m reworking on “Awili” a story that has haunted me for years. May his soul rest in peace, the director who began but went too soon and wasn’t able to start his “Awili” project. I’m on a mission to complete it and submit it for the Oscars in 2026. I’m not just chasing dreams, I am driven by a passion for filmmaking and storytelling, telling stories that inspire and educate. I’m excited for what the future holds!