I heard about the training on Facebook and I immediately applied when I was told they would waive the fee for me. I traveled to Kabale as soon as I got accepted for it was a once in a lifetime chance for me. I had always wanted to do videography and even become a YouTuber so I could earn a living. I wanted to travel the world and film people and their unique cultures and put these on my channel, but I couldn’t achieve these ambitions because I didn’t know how to film. I couldn’t afford to take a film course at a university. I didn’t have the money. A course would have taken me three years or more. I couldn’t teach myself for lack of necessary equipment like a laptop or a camera. In Kabale, I found good quality equipment to learn with, and the training was very hands on, which made it easy for me to master the concept of filmmaking.
For me, the opportunity to shoot short scripts using all the necessary equipment made learning easier. Not having to worry about costs of hiring equipment or paying actors enabled me to focus on just writing and making films. It was an incredible experience that paved the way for me to join the film industry of Uganda. Shortly after we finished our training, an opportunity came up to work in a TV series as the make-up and costume artist. I had never done any costume and make-up before, but they encouraged me to go for it because I had demonstrated that I was a fast learner. Now that I had the basics of filmmaking, I found it easy to teach myself concepts like make-up for film. I found tutorials online which helped add on what I had been taught, and the producer was so pleased with my progress that he gave me the job. I never thought I’d ever find a job that earns me a regular salary, seeing that I never completed formal education and don’t have academic qualifications, but here I am, with a new skill, working and earning money, and looking forward to a new career as a make-up artist. I’m even saving up to buy my own equipment so I can become an independent film maker, and self-employed.
For me, getting the job has changed my life from one of idleness and endless partying. Unemployment made me idle and free. There were no cages on my life. I could go out in the night and hang out with my friends anytime, but I can’t do this anymore because I have responsibilities on the film set. I miss those days of partying, but I can’t go back to them because now my eyes are set on a new goal in life. I’m focusing on my new career.
Written by Jotia Diana.
Diana was a participant in the 2020 mobile film training in Kabale.