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Welcome back I'm Brian Sakawa and the joining me right at live in studio with us today is a polo gola We're going to talk about matters the Kenyan film Acting and also that the business as well So if you want to know a few things about the industry he's here to actually paint for us a picture as we also get to know him He's Johnny he has featured in so many films He has had a chance to work with the big works of the film industry as well as many other people that definitely you see on your screen Send your billboards very often. He's here with us and own that note. Good morning to you. Good morning to you Brian Thank you for coming through. Thank you for the invitation. I'm happy to be here. All right We are meeting again Yes Industry small it is I wonder the film industry and the TV industry are they closer Do you do you feel like it's close like people walk in broadcast TV and the film acting as well? No, I I think That they since there are two different mediums. I Rarely meet the film guys, but only on TV TV Right productions like TV TV like what we're doing right now Yeah, like what we do right now in front of the screen or behind the behind the screen So we have presenters who are actually actors Have I met any Nick nearly zone really? Yeah, but he's already a presenter. Yeah, so we haven't met on radio So that's an invitation Nick Yeah, so You know our industry have has a lot of versatile people All right can do radio can do TV So if it's really not a surprise if I meet people who are Film and television bills have to be paid now away through absolutely away from that If you're caught up in a situation or you've been put on a platform and you're told hey describe yourself We are always seeing you Netflix series and now tell us please who you are if you were to actually tell a short story Of who you are how would you not write that short story? Well, I'm a I'm a simple young man very ambitious a huge dreamer and all in all you know a very Prayerful person I really I really like you know Dedicating myself to the most high most excited us and always seek my purpose every time I wake up so that I can execute and you know Just do the right thing or just be good to people just just be a human being so I have these You know I have passion for you know just Doing good and being you know just in everything I touch I have to you know give everything that it requires whether it's you know life I have to leave if it's acting I have if it's Storytelling I have to tell these stories honestly so that it can be impactful to people out there So pretty much. I try to live as honest as possible Well interesting is and I love the fact that you also mentioned you know submitting yourself to The most I guess good now before we get into the film the film making business and acting as well Because you're a professional actor who is already into the mainstream business of it How how is your let's say how is your childhood growing up? Did you like get inspiration from your dad your family? Did you study I might just something that happened to you and you're like yeah I'm gonna be an actor and look here you are. Yeah, so big and you got it all going for you Well long story short in terms of training Huge percentage of it like 80% of it is self-taught because we all know by then by the time I was getting into the professional, you know practice of acting I Would say I couldn't afford some of these you know film schools and I don't think they were even existent in there You know 2007's 2008 So I couldn't afford them and the only thing I could afford was bundles, you know I do know some of these resources that you could get that are printed on books and Some of them are circulating them. So, you know, I'd read about the craft out, you know in these Materials so it's self-taught and then thanks to YouTube University of YouTube That's where I pretty much, you know learned my craft, you know Masterclasses by you know Michael Cain and then, you know all these great coaches acting coaches. I Watched them and you know read about them. I then Crossing I really high school and I worked so hard to it and prayed a lot and you know brought my material together and applied for other masterclasses like Bali Nali, right Bali Nali, which happens in Berlin, right and First attempt I got it Faster term first attempt. I got it. Yeah, that was after Nairobi half-life. So you're at least now Yeah, although you also featured in Nairobi half-life. I think that's what exactly put you on the map and your character was really Conspicuous and we just took a ball of that a little bit before we get to the inspiration behind so Mosey is just like any other young person in in this country was very ambitious and artist He if he wants to be a rapper then that's what he thinks is going to you know get him out to the world That's the the thing is going to use to express himself So he's pretty much looking at you know being a musician, but in between Nairobi happens And you know he has to you know make this quick money and he has these friends around him and boom He he has this group that you know they make quick money by you know getting Carspear parts and selling them to you know wire And you make your money you go about your life, but you know Sick was amazing By any it happened and funny thing that on that film debut I was in high school Look at me now Look at 2012. Yes. I was in high school. I could have been anyways I was in high school long story short. Yeah, but I'm glad that I'm interviewing the person I watched I was in high school Now let's get to inspiration The industry can be really mucky. It's a turbulent field. It's competitive as well You have met people on the international platforms as well that you have managed to work with when that is happening What is going on in your mind and in your life? Are you like God? This is what I wanted I mean, would you say it's because of hard work? Yeah, I mean, it's always about hard work and you know prayers and Not just my prayers, but you know prayers of people who love me. That's Parents, you know grandparents siblings And most of it is pretty much just you know you have you having to do the work. All right. There's no Way around it. You have to do the work and you pretty much have to be very very strategic about how you're doing your Your work which is look can be loosely translated to you know working smart but but I Wish I wish I met some of the people I met later on in their practice Okay, because now I would have known how to you know where to work Where and how to you know apply some skills so that you know it propels you further But again, I appreciate the fact that I took the long route and it is day by day. It's you know Giving me good harvest like the question you've just asked me. How does it make make me feel every time I'm checking You know big achievements it really is like it was worth it. That's the feeling You know it was worth it that I stuck to this craft. I stuck to whatever I believed in such that when I get When I get a booking for a film internationally, I'm like cheese. This is the exact same dream I I heard that I want to be one one Actually the best great actors that these land has ever produced or even one of them And I have to work towards that and that's that has been my goal every time So I keep on when I check these you know these boxes. It's always like my goodness I was right about my dream. So I'm on the right trajectory. So yeah I'm always I'm always just being surprised and and happy and Get a lot of fulfillment when I when you know, I I scored these these goals Yeah, pretty much. So it and the inspiration comes from a very very Naive yet rich Dream, you know, because who knows man. I mean I grew up in Seattle a village Yeah Village called called bugger, right? Very far away from here and and Nairobi first of all was like is like a dream There's a dream, you know for you to even go to Nairobi leave alone think about what you're going to do in Nairobi That's like the Hollywood. Yeah, holy grail of success. Exactly. So if you get Nairobi, that's a tick for you And then you get to do something in Nairobi. Oh my goodness. That's another achievement Oh, so now I've ticked now coming to Nairobi having to do something in Nairobi. What's next? Right? Oh, I have to be the next The big thing in the craft. So now, how do I get them? My goodness? It's a lot of work. When do I start start now? Exactly. Yeah, so so all the way from it's not even he didn't even start in 2007 it started all the way before even in his Joint high school. You said your childhood. Yes. So this is like a vision that was nurtured I'd say yes young Paul. Yes, I grew up. I grew up with it because from primary school I was just you know dancing through these traditional dances, right? There was no acting in my primary school then when I went to high school That's when I met acting professionally for the first time and now I could now articulate what I really want to do right is performing and acting and and and Leaving high school. I knew where I was going which was in Nairobi and the group I was going to join I knew that I'm once I arrived in Nairobi. I'm going to join Galaxy players, which is a church-based acting group in Jericho, St. Phillips Jericho church, right went there and I was welcomed by The then chairman Antoni dongle. He's actually one of the actors on Nairobi half-life. He played waf So, yeah, he welcomed me and he was like come come perform, you know, hone your skills Let's do great things and here we are. Yeah, and I love the fact that you along your journey You want people who have given you opportunities and platforms because it's not easy. It's not There's a lot of people might take even more than the years you took to actually become a person like you Yeah, it's in that field now. Let me just read a little bit of your description You are an award-winning actor a two-time nominated at the International Kalashia Film and TV Awards and recently selected as a genre for the International Emmy Awards 2022 this year and behind the scenes you told me that you'd be traveling to states for you Right. Yes. Talk about that and how how much it means to you now in your journey as well Yeah, well, it's an it's an honor a huge one to be selected to be 2022 is international Emmy Awards juror The process the person who actually contacted me I had to ask him what how did he how did how did he find me and he from Hollywood Contacted you from hall. Yeah, he nailed easy easy by then. He was in LA in Los Angeles. He's Los Angeles. Yes Yeah, that's where their offices are based. He's from the the host. It's a media house called the African Channel I don't know. Right. Definitely. I've seen it. Yes, so the African Channel one of them being the host They pretty much have to gather all the all the jurors from Africa Europe on the globe. Yes, South Africa. Yeah, so so he pretty much googled All right. Yeah. Yes, top of the top African actors. Yes And he followed that and the universe Yes, so he followed that part and that's how he communicated With me via LinkedIn actually via LinkedIn. Yes, right so So it and I pretty much asked to wait is this is this real and he was like, yeah, he's real So from then we made the communications and even now to start to talk about how Traveling to the to South Africa where the jury duty was happening, right? And I got all the logistics It's a self-sponsored trip. So I I got friends who Yeah, who can just you know, help me take care of you know, some of these logistics even some family members and yeah I traveled I traveled and we did the jury duties and I met all these executives and I was the only actor actually from Kenya No, I was the only actor among the Jurors just jurors. Yes, I was the I was the only actors it was your executives and you know media house owners and we even are some of the People who run multi-choice Disney plus Amazon Prime what class people right? Yeah, these are people are coming from the States You know right for them to be jurors for semi-finals for best actor So it was all jurors for it was jurors from all over the world Okay, so yeah, so I traveled and immediately the senior director for partnership and communication for you know the Academy of Television arts and sciences which is the Emmys. Yeah, he was she was like listen We need you we you must come to the States, you know for the girl and the first of all as a juror and I was like Yeah, when is it happening? It's in November 18th to 21st. Yeah, the girl is on the 21st the first of all 18 18th to 20th. Yeah, and of course a couple of lunches and dinners all my goodness so so so she invited the Academy invited me and I mean in the process of you know, actually just you know reaching out to friends and you know partnerships to pretty much take care of these These these trip because again, it is a self-centered trip But you need money. Yes. It's the Emmys who can miss the aim is just because you You're broke or you don't have money for real. Yeah, so I'm all out. I'm checking I'm really checking people and you know reaching out to you Are you like the first Kenyan to be nominated? Yeah for that first. Yeah, I'm fast Is South African. No, I'm as an actor. Yes To be a juror. Yes, I know you're any other faster. Yes, but there's so many other Kenyans who've featured on Emmys I was nominee nominees. Let's say somebody like a Lupita Sarasana's feature You want to also with her in crime and justice? No, no Sarasana. No, it is a lot in my door Okay, with the feature if I'm not wrong. There's Lupita with another with another of her productions and then My goodness why am I forgetting about them? Yeah, you can take Jerry Mwangi will have with a feature about something to do with babies Yeah, we are like 506 tops who've been you know who've done some something at the Emmys, but as an actor I'm the first one, right? Yeah, I hope you'll meet the likes of Edgar Peggy and also meet Lupita Nyong'o. I'm looking forward to meet all this great Are you allowed to carry your friend? Well, yeah, I Have I've already I've already Through very Lovely people have already secured the ticket and it comes with two complimentary to complimentary. So these two Because you'll fix a selfie by ticket and I'd be looking at you like I don't want to take that L But you know you can play around with it. So these two complimentary tickets it's for One is for a luncheon and the other one is for for the festival. So let's say if I travel with you now, okay That's if KBC takes care of my trip that I can travel with you and then I give you one Complimentary ticket. So you will go in at the festival, but I want I which is okay with me Oh, you'll be okay. Yeah, you can go you can go in for the festival and then because I still have the dinner No, yeah, yeah, I'll just chill in the hotel and maybe you know hang around that place where you are and Yeah, so I'll sit back and Because I have I still have two tickets. I have the main gala ticket, which is now the Emmy award Official, yes the official one and I still have the dinner one. So I'll still mingle with these people So you can have that one. Oh Yeah, and and and how how how has that how how has that Reception of in the recognition been for you. How do you feel like, you know, you are on the map as well Yeah, and you're also the first actor to be, you know being the jury as well. Yeah, I mean Again, it's a mentally as well. Are you excited? I'm very very excited and What really this means to me and and the purpose of of why I do this Again, it's a it's a goal achieved because you know You can imagine me doing this yet. I'm based in Kenya, right? You know, like it's it's one of those extraordinary things that I'm like Yeah, I've really I've really shown to people who are practicing just like me that listen This thing is possible and you can be selected from any anywhere in the world So long as so long as you are doing you're doing it right and you're doing the right thing and you know And you always connecting to them and above you it's Possibility, you know showing showing that possibility has been something that I I hold so dear So even when I get a little some mindset it is it is a very intentional Thing you cannot guess it. It's a very intentional thing that you have to you have to be doing when you're applying for things You know why you you have to get this thing because you know, it's a light you're shining It's a path you're leaving those who are coming behind you, you know So so so for me to for me to have been chosen by God himself To you know, just show this path and walk it slowly but very accurately and I try to every time post Most of these things on my social media so that when you scroll down to the first photo You can see how it starts or how it started John. It is a journey and you can see the trajectory and You can see my story and that's when when you when we meet and you ask me questions Right, I pretty much. I'm tying dots that you've been you've been seeing you've been seeing. Yeah, so so this proof Yes, it is so so so so I really I really encourage so many people who look at my story, too Please when you see my story on social media can just swipe up to the first ever for store Yeah, or photo for of me You know posting and and and get to see who that person it was and just scroll through Poly Poly and try and you know, try and follow the journey. Yeah, it's not magic. It's all there. It's all there Years of you know struggle Trying to connect trying to know people because this is a country of you You need to know someone networking and how it did it work? Did it fail? Those are the questions now I can answer and then and I pretty much I am happy to say that I have answers for all these questions amazing. Yeah, that that this path is so Possible and it is so clear for each and every one of us all it needs its time patience persistence in prayers For peace yeah before before we get to the top films that you have featured in I'll just like you maybe to tell us about the money particles You know a lot of people watching market home that they like hey I want to be an actor Can I just go to K&T right here audition and maybe they'll cast me in the next you know big series Yes, the next big film when it comes to the money everybody is concerned and it's a constant question that I ask my guests on This show is it paying because that's literally the main business when it comes to even talent as well You you don't you don't just want to act you don't want just to be a presenter You want to make money off of it so a lot of pilots would be like hey So I've been giving you fair to go for these auditions where is the money they've paid you yeah And for somebody watching back at home, would you convince them that this thing pays in as much as you know Sometimes it's a little bit convoluted. Yeah, but it has rewards. It does it does have rewards and Before I even explain anything monetary, I just want to advise each and everyone who's out there it is a long game It's a long amp. It is a long game And we are we are very fortunate enough that we can still practice even at 80 years old right and still on Right you get so it's not it's not You're waiting when you're learning. There's a certain Destination where you're going and you'll be checking in, you know, you'll be catching any huge checks It's a long game and and we know very, you know senior people were actually earning huge bucks out of Practicing this craft now the question comes the question that can be posed to the Economically is how do I get there? How do I get to be this this this artist who? Who cashes in you know huge bucks You have to work towards it. You have to have the skills the discipline the The dream the dedication there, you know the patience right the persistence of always being disappointed and be like, you know what Somebody will be disappointed once My goodness even before you get on any platform There's always the nose that comes with that and so many guests that have been on this show Most of them have been headliners and one thing that has been outstanding even from yourself that I'm getting is at some point You're told no Bro and as much as you you feel like you're the star, but you're told no Yeah, I have to take the L and try again next time in the name of a leader, you know Yeah, I've been I've been I've been told no even this year Okay, bro like two months ago or two weeks ago. Why you auditioning? Yeah, I still go for auditions All right If I'm fortunate and fortunate enough for somebody to reach out to me and tell me a listen Paul We need you in for addition or send us a tape. I do send a tape And I'm told no and I'm like well, it's fine. I'm used to this right when I was big When I when I came to Nairobi, I remember for three good years auditioning audition of rejection in one group One theater group. I wanted to join Heartstrings Kenya But then it was like Yeah, exactly of theater work, right and and and that was like the whole That was like the Hollywood of theaters of theater and yeah, and I have to be here because look on this stage You have done Dumbuki Churchill, right? You have larry a sego. It was a household. Yes. You have Peter Maranghi You have the Aimeonga. So you have Antonin don't know you have mine or Luena the late the lights These are the people you yeah, I really wanted to be on stage with these guys for three good years I went for the auditions and I was always told I was always being told. I will call you next time No, and Victor bear Victor bear used to tell me that Badu you are you are you sit on the bench? So yeah for three years, and it does break you or it encouraged you goodness. Yes at some point It did but it I didn't give up, you know, and I was never even told yes either way I had to I had to force myself in you know, so one day they were performing a show and Within that show, I just went backstage and told the actors listen. I want to create Mini-scene within your scene. I want to enter as a Different car. Yeah, that's an extra. I just want to pass and And you people you can react how you wish and then let's see how it works So now that's after now three years of auditions and I'm now At least I had the opportunity to become a door person, you know welcoming people But I was like I need to be there. So when I went entered that stage on that particular day They the reaction was amazing. The audience loved it and the director was like, I never knew that was that was Something that was missing in that scene. Keep it. And that's how I entered house. Yes That's how I entered heartstrings and up until date. I'm still a member of heartstrings Thanks to excuse me. Thanks to Victor bear and Sammy Mwangi I am who I am because they accepted that this this kid has something and they grew me. They they grew me Do you meant it? Yes. Yes, and that's and here you are here. I'm speaking of that You know facing rejection is it's not a good thing being told no even even the biggest of the singers were told no Yeah, and you know, they managed to hack it now when it comes to even the emotional part the mental well-being of it What exactly was your breaking point that you said because you know we cry we cry in this field you cry We often get used to it. What would you say? This was my breaking point and here as well as like God if this is not gonna work Then I'm done or if it has to work, then I'm ready to put my life on the line as well. Well first of all, I grew up old-school. I grew I grew up in CIA so Hardcore life I don't about hardcore life right and giving up giving up was never an option an option but You can imagine that young person Arriving at you know what maybe it's maybe I'm done Because I really I I got you hit that rock. Yeah after Nairobi half-life You know when when you've been trying and you've been doing things since 2008 and four years later, you know because of our generation quick fix You see you're like oh Nairobi half-life has made huge impact and so so much noise So people watching me out there and I should be you know book in work Two years after Nairobi half-life nothing was happening in my life and I was like yeah, and that's when I was like No, I don't think this thing is for me. So I quit acting you quit. Yes. I did quit acting and and and I went to be a video editor and a voice voice over Artist after I avoid voice over artists So I was the station voice for just behind you guys here media max right K-24 right for like I think a year. Okay, and then of course bills came in again And I have to look for money. So I transferred from media max went to This Kikui station called three stones TV by Roski Kimodo We was the pioneer for media max and worked there for some months if not a year And then moved now to Protel Studios to become a full-fledged video editor So yes, I worked there and acting I was you know, you're like Still going back to hard strings doing my thing and and go back to you know edit because that's Paying my bills and the money and the money sounded reasonable. So I was an eight to five guy Right like for real. That's what I'm going to do until 2014 when Nini Washeer Okay, Nini Washeer who was the casting director the king and side for since eight Reached out to me of an email telling me that listen you we've been looking for you for two Weeks where have you been aware why I'm having to be you know returning our email? And I was like I don't check my emails because nothing good is coming from my emails. Okay, listen You need to come to ginger ink and audition for all called Jella in a Series called sense eight going going on Netflix. I didn't know what the hell Netflix was so I went for the auditions and I was told the same thing. I've always been told, you know, we'll call you Right, so I went back to work did my thing and then one got about it. Yeah, I forget about it That's the best way to deal with with these auditions. Do your thing Go back home like do your thing Forget about it. Go back at home. You've already done and done your things, right? So so I went back home and then I got a call back Listen, we need you to come back and you know For our second round of auditions So I went I went out there for second round of auditions and they recorded it sent my tape to the now the main casting and the director and the main actor, right? When they was residing in LA by then, I don't know if he still resides in LA, but yeah sent my tape there and After some days or a week or two. I was confirmed for the wrong It's nothing big for me. You know, I didn't know what Netflix was. I didn't know who was behind this show But just for me to be told right that it was they were Choskis Right the makers of the Matrix, right? Which is actually it was a blockbuster. It is I mean What the makers of the Matrix the Matrix and yeah the Matrix Got everyone believe it. That's when I Psychologically I dropped everything else and came back to my first love which is performance And and and you know invested myself into the character and through Sense it all All these things that have been happening in my life right now is attributed to that breakthrough because it exposed me Yeah, to the world to the world like for real because through the sense a mainstream space Yes, yes, yes, I go to the United States in Hollywood. I was at the one of those studios I made I made agents and they explained to me how they the trade works and and I experienced it how It is very impossible for any almost impossible For an actor Based in Kenya to get work in the United States It is impossible for an actor who goes to the United States without papers And get work, right? Yeah, so so so I all I knew all this I knew all this and where to apply and things to do So that's where I got all this information and I really pay a lot of tribute Sense it and everybody who connected me to the air to that project So it has been a it is a journey that every day. I'm learning something learning something. Yes. Yeah I'm being told that we are out of time, but I love you to just tell people the lesson that you've learned and One thing that literally also keeps you grounded in this journey that anybody back at home who's watching They can look at and embrace and maybe as we expect you to go to the States What are some of the things we might expect after you're done with the Emmys and whatnot? One lesson that you've learned and one thing that keeps you grounded even mentally as well. Well, let me start with What I'm expecting when I'm going to the Emmys I'm expecting to you know Again, make sure I'm told they have five seconds. Okay. They put the stamp to the fact that positive possibilities is possible I've already done it and What I'm looking forward to is No, let me just give it this to the industry listen After the Emmys I'm going to be a juror for the out of Africa I'm going to be a juror for out of Africa film festival submit your your your films go to my Facebook check the link submit the films if you need a promo code, I have it hit my inbox I'll send it to you and what keeps me growing a grind that listen I am a human being I know the journey and I know where I'm going so every day all these are just goals I'm not there yet. So I'm open to keep on working with people and always always Partnership and collaboration. That's the key to you know, just being great. Fantastic social media as we exit Facebook Polo Gola Twitter the actor Paul Instagram P. Dotta Gola. All right. Thank you so much. Paul. I wish you would have had more time But definitely I'll be rooting out for you as you go to the Emmys. Thank you. I don't know if I I don't know we'll talk about that But thank you so much for hanging out with us. Thank you so much for the time and great to meet you once again great pleasure Right, thank you so much. You have been hanging out with us right here on entrepreneurship Tuesday And we are talking about matters they're acting and filmmaking business if you are an aspiring actor back at home Definitely, you have learned something from these gentlemen's story and Johnny You know, somebody I watch those in high school and look, you know miracles do happen But thank you so much find us on Facebook Instagram and Twitter as well is that fighting for channel minds is that Brian? So come on one keep it and you can plug in and continue the conversation offline using the hashtag why in the morning many? Thanks for watching