 a very good Tuesday morning to you. You are watching Why in the Morning, your favorite breakfast show. We do this every day between seven and 10 a.m. So as you know, it's Tuesday, it's entrepreneurship Tuesday. And today we feature a number of young people who are pursuing their passions and trying to make ends meet and also turning their passions into checks, you know? So my name is Hilda Wadiddi. Make sure you do stand by. I hope you did catch that interview with one by Moe and Tamasha Pint. Now it's about time we talked to somebody who has found love, who has fallen in love with something that is a lensie. Let me put it lensie related. So he is Jay Ulysses. He's a filmmaker and he's from Desta. And I just, you know, I gotta mention that because you know, I'm always proud of my alumnus, you know? Anyway, please Jay Ulysses, please say good morning to the people. Good morning viewers. I'm Jay Ulysses, you know what I'm saying? Mm-hmm. Karibusana Jay Ulysses. So why did you discover your drive for film? Because I can see you've studied electronic media here. That's kind of broadcast. I think it started when I was young. Mm-hmm. I've been to camera work. Mm-hmm. And film, and more about storytelling. Mm-hmm. Because film is about storytelling, so you have the equipments in the camera, maybe you can show them the whole thing. Mm-hmm. Yeah. When you have the... Hmm. So tell me about your first film before we talk about this one that we've just seen here. Uh, I started by acting. Oh, you started in front of the camera. Oh, okay. They are not in front of the camera, but the skis are in church, and maybe schools, primary school, yeah. Mm-hmm. So what roles were you playing? What is your first role? Because I'm a nice guy. I used to play the nice guy. Okay, so what... I've never been given a bad guy role. And what's a nice guy role? That's a very interesting question to ask. What do you define as a nice guy? Who's the nice guy? A nice guy. Who everyone can relate to. Mm-hmm. Yeah. So if nobody can relate to you, you're a bad guy. Yeah. If a child can look at you and be like, I want to be you then, maybe you're playing the bad guy. Mm-hmm. So tell me about your background. Like, which schools did you go to? I've already mentioned the children's day stuff, but can you tell me about your journey? Even how you landed in Desta? Why did you even choose Desta in the first place? You know? Mm-hmm. First of all, I was really, really into video editing. Mm-hmm. Then I started at Nairobi University, did a PR. Oh! Oh! Mm-hmm. Did PR. Then maybe before I joined Desta for like six months, six, five months, then I joined Z-Tech. Mm-hmm. To maybe perfect some video editing skills, then I went to Desta. Mm-hmm. Yeah. So you've confused me a little bit. University of Nairobi, PR, then Desta, then Z-Tech, then Desta. Mm-hmm. It's more strategizing because Mm-hmm. when you're about into, when you get into the field, Mm-hmm. maybe you'll know how to relate to people, Mm-hmm. talk to people. Mm-hmm. Then maybe you'll do a short course on public relations, something like that. Mm-hmm. If you take a weapon, Mm-hmm. marketing yourself, maybe handling crises in case something goes bad about the film industry. Mm-hmm. Yeah. So tell me about how you get your, how do you do your productions? Where do you get your support from? Like in terms of capital. Mm-hmm. What equipments do you have and where did you get them from? Mm-hmm. Uh, started with phone. Mm-hmm. And, uh, the phone is what I need. Mm-hmm. The black market. Mm-hmm. Equal expensive. Mm-hmm. And then in terms of the equipment, camera, lighting and everything, maybe films about teamwork. Mm-hmm. You know someone who, or sir, maybe a camera. Mm-hmm. Lighting equipment, and then they are laughing at Cambodia. Mm-hmm. Then you do something great. Mm-hmm. But in terms of my own equipments, my parents have brought me those now. Oh, so you did get some support from your parents as well when it came to getting some equipments here? Yeah. And so with other friends here. All right. So as a filmmaker, what kind of films, what would you say are the kind of films that you like to do? Because I can see you have wasted emotions, wasted talent, a lot of waste, waste, waste. So can you please tell me the kind of films and the type of films you like to make? I focus on the, maybe to motivate people. To motivate people. Yeah, to motivate people. Motivational films. Yeah, motivational films. Because a lot of people have their talent, but I'm trying to say I don't have the equipment. Mm-hmm. Maybe you are not believing in yourself. Mm-hmm. So at least those things will push you to believe in yourself and focus on yourself. It may be, it may be put time into your craft. Mm-hmm. Yeah. You take time into your craft and not give up on yourself. Yeah. So tell me about wasted emotions. We've just started we've opened this segment watching an interesting film, very short film there that I can see, let me not say it too many times, but okay. Please tell me what was going on. What was your brain child when it came to this particular project? Wasted emotion. The idea came from a friend of mine. Mm-hmm. Masimaina. Mm-hmm. And she gave me the idea then I brainstormed it. Mm-hmm. Then I came up with how to shoot it. Maybe she actually had the cast. Mm-hmm. Then I focused on the camera and editing part and directed part of the clips. Oh, so she did the casting but you did the technical work. The technical part all of the work. So what was the message? What did you want? What was the purpose? When you guys put your heads together what message would you put across? I think there are two messages into the clip because the first one is like if you are going through depression seek help. Mm-hmm. And then the other one is that if you are in a relationship trust your partner mm-hmm. Because the guy was depressed. Mm-hmm. And then I could seek help from the the chick what they think the other guy the black dude come mm-hmm. Because mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Because they were in a relationship mm-hmm. And then the other guy the other guy was told to come maybe to guide him to open up about what the guy was going through mm-hmm. The the main guy the guy was dating the chick and then he thought that she was there she was cheating on him. Mm-hmm. Yeah. So the first one is that maybe trust your partner mm-hmm. and maybe you are going through stuff it doesn't matter your head seek help. mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Maybe listen to people mm-hmm. or listening to people but you see now that has gotten people here in trouble. mm-hmm. Anyway let's talk about the other one which is what was going on? mm-hmm. It kind of looks more fun. So what was going on? Yeah, I let me start by introducing the guy who is Steven Tango. mm-hmm. He's a photographer. mm-hmm. The other one is Steven Lee. mm-hmm. He's a rapper. The black Pablo. mm-hmm. Those are the other guys are jealous. they are my friends. mm-hmm. So let's talk about maybe the real issues people go through here. mm-hmm. The common thing people are going through. From the grass root. Yeah. I can see you've got few reactions here and there. I really like to hear this. Wester talents is about you as a person not not focusing on your craft. mm-hmm. Maybe seeking help from someone who is maybe trying to do you. mm-hmm. So it's about broadening your mind and focusing on would you have time close to God. The idea identified the strength, weaknesses and opportunities to pursue your craft. mm-hmm. So what does that say about teamwork? Because you've mentioned something very interesting which is sometimes if you're doing the same thing someone else is going to touch. Yeah. Why? Like so how do you trust people the people that you work with if you are doing the same thing? Well I'm a child of God and I believe God will get me in everything I choose. mm-hmm. Because God is going to control everything. Even if someone is playing maybe that's what we talk about in the clip. mm-hmm. So just to say I'm close to God. And we can all win anyway. Yeah. But if you want to play, you can play. mm-hmm. I see that's a very interesting observation but there's also I've noticed you've mentioned you talk about God a lot and in your bio you surprised me I'm a child of God. So what is it about spirituality or spiritualism that has you so grounded? From my mother's side there's a pastor there's a sister there's a couple leaks and from my dad's side there's a cousin there's a man so I was brought up there's I think I'm close to God and I like to interview you. Oh God I like that mm-hmm I feel like saying bless your brother and all that but anyway let's go back to business when you started releasing your films and putting them on YouTube what responses did you get even not just from people outside even What did they say? I think the first thing people say is that it's funny. It's funny? Personally, the first thing I do is create content. Maybe not really to entertain them but to sell and get to from there. But some end up just laughing. I say it's funny, it's a good point. Still entertaining, come on. I say it's entertaining but I wish I could at least get the message. As much as you're trying to entertain us, you don't want the message to fly over our heads. Okay, so tell me about what you plan to diversify into in future. Okay, so what after this? What next? Like what do you plan to do? What are your goals for the next two or three years? I'm not surprised. But I don't mind. What? You've not thought about it yet? Yeah, but maybe starting my own company, I'll have to shoot in any films. At the moment, I have ideas but the budget is tight. Challenges, that's your challenges. The budget is tight. And then sometime you might give someone, someone who's into your craft, the same craft. But if you have an idea, if you have an idea, you can shoot it. So at the moment, I focus more on, I've shown me music videos. But maybe my goals are to be a company which will be shooting maybe adverts, films and everything about visual arts. Alright, so wish you the best of luck with that. When it comes to marketing yourself, now that you've experienced a few challenges here and there, what are some of the tactics that you're using considering you're a student of PR? Social media is everything. I post links everywhere. I love to create posters, I print them and then I go. I have a lot of stickers. If you have a sticker, you can use it. I don't have the opportunity to use it but do the same thing. Go and put your... Spray them. Yeah, you're kind of funny. Let me just put it like that. That's a very interesting example to use. But anyways, let's talk about maybe when it comes to films, there are different types of films. And based on the fact that you proclaim that you're very spiritual and you're very religious, are there some films you would never do or some roles you would not take? Because we have issues of homosexuality and all that. What would be your reaction if you ever got somebody who can finance a film and all that but wanted you to make these films? What would you do? It's a big no for me. It's a big no. I think when you're happy, maybe you can watch films when you're happy but at the end of the film, you're going to feel sad. Maybe the emotional connection of the film. It's the same thing with music. We have music videos. By the time you're shooting something, you have to be emotionally stable. You have to be emotionally into the craft. If you have emotions, maybe there's something to be done. Maybe you're conscious of it. Because the peace of mind is the same. If you have peace of mind, then your creativity is the same. If you have peace of mind at the moment, you're okay too. It's the same. It's your level. It's your average level. So you wouldn't compromise at all? No. Okay. So what would you change about the Kenyan film industry? If you could change something, if the government could make your life easier or whatever, what would you want them to do? Maybe we could have more locations to shoot. Because every time we're shooting, maybe in town, there's a good scene when we're shooting. But it's not restricted. It's not to talk to someone, to talk to someone. If you have something to do with the green screen, there's already a green screen. And then maybe parks. When you park, you can shoot romantic movies. You can shoot horror, you can shoot an action movie. You want to shoot horror in the park? I thought you said you were too scared. But it's time. Okay. So what can we look forward to when it comes to what's next for you? What other projects, what other films can we expect you to be releasing? Maybe over the next month or so? I've written a couple of synopsis. But maybe it's sitting down with the scriptwriter to analyze the whole thing. And how long it will be. Maybe if the budget is good, maybe it could be a film. But the budget could be making a 15 to 14-minute initial film. What's the message? Can you give us a taste? What can we expect from this particular film? It's coming. It's one about... Some people say it's a film. And I'm... I'm a bit off-guard. What do you mean? Some people say it's an action film. It's about a guy who is a scientist. I'm an organization. Then it goes to... Maybe I'll find out that the government is an NGO. In Adilna. It developed into a chemical maybe to burn. To clear off maybe a population. Then on finding that, go into home. And put a baby in a kidney pill or something like that. Okay, sounds good. Thank you so much for giving us such small synopsis. But what have you called it? We have to wait for that one also. Ah... Okay, no pressure. I like the fact that you said that you're working with different scriptwriters. Who is it in the film industry that you admire in this country? Who is there anybody you'd like to work with? Even here in Kenya? Abel Mutua. Yeah, I like the guy. Why is it? Because he's funny also. Maybe. Like Paul's attract. Maybe he's infallible. In light skin. Okay, so you like Abel Mutua? Yeah. Alright, so if the fans wanted to get you on social media, where would they get you? J.U.L.C.S. Kilapali. And then my email is at J.U.L.C.S. at gmail.com. So yes, please if you want to find him, please make sure you do check out J.U.L.C.S. But now because in the spirit of inspiring other entrepreneurs outside. Outside the world watching us, other young people. What words of encouragement? Do you have for someone at home who's willing to pursue this line of work? Yeah. I think at the moment, Kilapali is a place. And maybe where you are at the moment, maybe three, five years ago, you prayed to be where you are at the moment. Like you in here, 10 years ago. So believe to like when you achieve people, you achieve people. So I love you. Take a deep breath and relax. Take one step at a time. Yeah. Yeah, it's good to dream big, but take the baby steps. Focus on your next project. Next project. No pressure. One day at a time and you appreciate the process. Because after all, it came so quickly. You might not have appreciated it anyway. So I guess thank you so much for coming to the studio today. I've enjoyed your films. And I hope you have enjoyed them as well at home. Please make sure you do slide into our DM and give us a few comments. On Twitter, the hashtag is 1 in the morning. On Facebook, on Instagram, on YouTube, on DSTV, signet, so make sure you do keep it here. My name is Hilda Wadidi. Don't go anywhere. Enterpreneurship Tuesday goes on shortly.