Jenny Muigai: Filmmaking In Her Own Words
- Who is Jenny Muigai?
Such an odd question this. Are you asking me to define or introduce myselfJ? I am just another dreamer with the hope of creating something meaningful.
- How did you get into film making?
I was always intrigued by film and television but it wasn’t a solid career choice till right after high school for me. After I finished my A-levels and got the chance to shadow the great Njeri Karago for a few weeks and locked it in for me. After that I started looking for internships, entry level jobs and started honing my craft.
3. Is the Kenyan film industry lucrative enough to build a career on?
Like with any industry, you can struggle through the film industry if you don’t put in effort to become great amongst your peers.
- How does one support oneself through film making?
Work. You have to put yourself out there, pitch your ideas, create content. As my friend would say “you’ve got to play the game.
- What is your favourite thing about film making?
I love the process of bringing characters to life. Especially when you have a great partner to bounce ideas off of, the character goes from a nondescript name you come up with to a living breathing human being
Being on set for me is like taking a kid to an arcade. It’s very exciting for me.
- You just successfully won the 48Hour film project. How do you feel about that? Was this your first time participating?
My team won, not me. SHOUT OUT TO TEAM LOOK AND FEEL.
I had never participated in a 48Hour film project before but I had heard about it. When Barbara Karuana (Director, Now That You’re Here) asked me I was ready but then I started to realize how grand this undertaking will be. First, you have a cast and most of whom you’ve never worked with. Second, you have 48 hours to put a film together. People have had years and still made a crappy film. I am glad that Barbara put together our team. She strung together the most patient, most dedicated and most creative team.
- If you were not a film maker, what or who would you be?
Granted there are not a lot of things I am exceptionally good at, being a filmmaker doesn’t define me. I’d still be the other things that I am. It’s just an outlet that happens to pay my bills.
- Give us some pros and cons of being a film maker in Kenya
Pros: we have a deep and rich culture to create content from. Both modern and traditional cultures and subcultures are teeming with incredible stories.
Cons: it’s hard to find local funding; people should invest in this industry like they would technology.
- Do you see yourself going global as a film maker?
Of course I do. Who doesn’t want to be Lupita? Having the world’s best recognize you as of them is a dream come true for any one in any field.
- Lastly. Do you have any favourite Kenyan films?
Dangerous affairs, Soul Boy, Pumzi…Now That You’re Here.
