 And if it's Tuesday, it's Entrepreneurship Tuesday at Y254 Channel is where you can find us across all our social media handles. At Michelle Ashira is where you can find me across all my social, in this particular session we dive into an interview that looks at film and photography business. So for many of the guys out there that have actually dive into film and photography, it's more of a passion and it also in different situations, it can always be a tool to change perception around disability. In studio I'm joined by Sean Solomon, he's a freelance film director and photographer. So starting us off here, Sean, how are you doing? I'm good. You're very much welcome to our studio, Zion Y254. How are you feeling? I'm good. You're good? Yeah, I'm good. Probably Sean Solomon's, yeah? Yeah. Probably can tell us a little bit about yourself. Okay, Sean Solomon's a film producer, film director and a photographer, yeah. All right. I normally do freelance photography. Freelance photography, yeah. Okay, so between photography and film, which one came first? Most of film. Film, yeah. Yeah, yeah. How did you get the skills just to learn about film directing and the whole aspect of production? When it comes to photography, that's passion. Okay. But when it comes to film, that's my career. All right. So when did you get the skills when it comes to film? I went to school, yeah. I went to a DMI, yeah, then for four years, diploma, then I did film for the first time with a certain company called Lean Talents, yeah. But for now, I'm just working on my own, yeah. I have my team, my own cameras, yeah. All right. It seemed all like you all planned out and you already, you know, out there actually doing the work. So how long have you been doing this? This is my third year. This is my third year, yeah. Okay, three years down the road. Okay, three years down the road. Yeah. So how did you get the camera gears? Because film is not cheap, you know. It's quite expensive when you look at the whole production aspect of it. So how did you go about just getting the right gears when it comes to acquiring the tools of production? Okay, at first I was still hiring the cameras, yeah. So when I was hiring, I was doing some jobs. So once you do the job you save, then I bought the first one back in 2018, yeah. So this one brought the other two, yeah. So take me through the first project that you did with your team. How was the experience like? The first one was a little bit challenging because I was the director at the same time. I'm the cameraman. Then we are the makeup artist, but we could not find all the resources. So we are like three cameras, but under one person, you see, it's difficult, yeah. Would you say like film and there's actually profit in terms of, if you look at it in a business angle, in the film and photography business for you so far for those three years that you have been into the business? It depends with what you want. If you do it for money, then you won't succeed that fast, yeah. So Alion, allow me to take you back. Alion, you said that you went to school studying, right, to gain the skills. And did you find someone to hold your hand because it's one thing to be in a class to study and actually being out here in the market space, you're actually looking for projects to do. So did you have someone who held your hand along this journey? Yeah, sure. When it comes to photography and film, you can't do it by your own. You need someone to coach you. So I was coached by a certain friend by the name Dante Millen. He's a good film director, yeah. So we used to go on the set with him. He shows me how to shoot, how to communicate with the other clients. It's not just about shooting. It's about communication too, how you relate with the others. So I'd like to find out how accessible is the film industry for people with disability. How was your experience? Just breaking into the market after just being in school and gaining the skills. Once I got the skills on my disability, I was not seeing any disability in me. So I just focused on the job, not my disability. But sometimes you find challenges, people are asking, how will you do this? But I normally just assume them. Then I just shoot. Some ask you, how will you hold the camera? Then I just shoot. Yeah, I normally shoot. I don't care what they say. We don't care. So what are a couple of lessons that you have learnt along the way for those three years when it comes to this particular business? More so patience. You must be so much patient. If you are, then you won't find the good cameras. You won't find good people. Then good relationship with the people. If you find someone for the first time the way you relate with them. Networking. Yeah, network. It gives you networking with other people. So if you go to the shoot, then you're just there. You don't find people, you don't talk to people. Because every day if you go for a shoot, you don't know who you will meet there. You meet different people. Like today I'm here. They brought me here. They were communicating with people. I got the chance. The word of mouth. So what is your looking back, your highlight moment when it comes to you being a film director and also a photographer? When it comes to film and photography. The highlight moments. I don't regret actually venturing into film and photography. There's some days I've worked with different people. So you find fun moments with other people. Comedians. Like I've done one with Kirunda. Kirunda of Tidia. That guy always gives me fun. So it makes me feel like there's tomorrow when it comes to good film. We are not just doing comedy but in the next generation we'll have another generation of Kenyan doing great film. So he kind of motivates you and inspires you. Let's just shift lanes. I look at photography now. What kind of photographs do you like to take? Different photographers. They are probably into landscape and just nature. Others are into profile. So what type of pictures do you like to take? Mostly I do portraits. I deal with portraits and events. Alright. So I'd like to find out a couple of achievements that you are proud of. And are you mentoring other guys who are coming into this industry? When it comes to mentoring I have a team. I have a team who I'm also coaching on them. I'm teaching them how to use camera. I have business when it comes to editing. So I always teach editing online. I have my YouTube channel. With the name of YouTube channel? Direction. I normally teach every Saturday. So if you want to know how to edit, if you want to know how to shoot, if you want to know how to use camera settings then you just keep in touch every Friday. So guys, earlier on before we went on air we were having a conversation. I was asking about a couple of film productions that have been involved. You said in music, you've been a film director in videography when it comes to music. Probably you could take us through that. When it comes to music, I've done quite three songs. There's another one called Nisi. There's an artist called Nisi from KBC. I've done that with director Dante Millen. And the other one I was in calligraphy. Which song was that? The Selfie song. I was just in town. So which celebrity would you like to work with? Because I've heard you've mentioned a couple who are already in the industry. Which one are you looking at? I would really like to work with that. Probably film director, photographer or anyone else. I don't choose. I don't choose. You don't choose? So for someone who's watching this conversation and they're looking at you, Sean. They're listening to this conversation, you're being a film director, photographer. And probably they're in a situation whereby they feel they're disabled that is. But you know, disability is not inability. So what should be your advice to that particular person? To a person with disability? And they have a particular interest that is. So for a person with disability, it's just a matter of accepting who you are. That's all. If you accept who you are, then there's no one who is normal. Everyone has disability. You might be physically fit, but you have a certain disability in you. Either the way you talk with people, the way you associate with others. It's another disability. So it's just a matter of accepting who you are. Then don't just be there that you are disabled. You just push yourself. So apart from, are you a full-time film director and photographer? I'm a freelancer. Full-time? Full-time. So what does the future look like for sure when it comes to film and also photography? When you come to photography. Let's look at three years down the road. Three years or five years. Five years. I can't promise that. Maybe tomorrow, my blessing is coming tomorrow. God is planning for tomorrow. They are saying five years. You're delaying your progress. You might be saying tomorrow is that. Okay, let's say tomorrow then. Tomorrow. Maybe I'll have my own cameras. I'll buy another one. Now I'm having three. But these three ones are not enough. So also I'm mentoring others. The other ones, I want them to also share my industry. Just to scale up the business that is. How can people find you on social media? Also, you mentioned the YouTube channel where you also train, right? On YouTube, you can find me as director Sean. On IG, you can find me as DS Images Kenya. That's my brand. On Facebook page, DS Images Kenya. Also as director, you'll find me there. Sean, thank you very much for creating time to have this conversation about film and photography. Make sure, okay, tomorrow when the progress, you know, new projects coming up. Tomorrow, not today. Maybe it's really afternoon. Even afternoon. I can't be blessed. Fair enough. So after that happens, new projects, you're always welcome to share your new ideas. Yeah, sure. Okay, so guys, that is Sean Solomon, film director and photographer. So make sure you stay tuned. More coming your way right here on Entrepreneurship Tuesday on Why in the Morning. I try to refer to channels where you can find us across all our social media handles. At Michelle, as Shirai, so you can find me across all my social media. Make sure that we'll be right back.