 How do you feel those loopholes that you have identified? And by the way, how do you identify a niche? That's something you need to learn from my panelists here. I'm speaking to Joan Rispa, film director and Linda Akin, HOD, Arts and Social Sciences, Zitech College. Good morning and welcome to E254. I want to begin with you, Linda. As a film director, Nani, Rispa film director, how did you get yourself where you are today? How did you choose this path I want to take? And whoo, here you are. When I joined Kampas, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. So I just did the arts, what Linda teaches. Then from there it was just natural career progression whereby I started from continuity, then I wanted to try out. Coz film is very wide. I wanted to try out a little bit of assistant directing, script writing and now it just came naturally, it was a natural progression. That's what I'll see. And how was it for you to choose because now there are so many things in art like there's producer script writing and now directing. How did you choose directing the Kosawa? I think it's more of trial and error. Have you tried several? Yeah, I have tried many fields in film. Then now writing and directing came a bit more naturally which the one that comes up with a little bit more is that people feel like oh, when you do this you really are putting out your best work. When you do this on you yourself as a person, as an individual you know you're struggling, but also the audience is like well, we didn't really feel the impact of what you did. So yeah. Kuna pointu na kanyagia nandorataka kumeni ya mbiya. Why did you want to be a director? Bibiya kuona makosaen ya wa twenginewa na make and they're just like I really want control over the whole set. I want to, I want because when you're on set the director's vision is what people follow, their vision is what people end up seeing. So you really just want to control every small element. There you dress, there what's in your background and such things. So I just really wanted to play around with such things We did not have full control over some things but I am not controlling it So the next time I am watching a movie or other thing ... ... I will bring director kiko kway nani bo Ok Linda For me actually I can say to something in me When I was in high school I noted that I was this kind of person who wanted to help my colleagues to understand more of what was being taught. So the issue of teaching, the issue of being a teacher, the little lecturer was it, I never saw it in me, you know when you are going to like out with this or out with this. But I noted when I was in high school, this kind of a person who when he and my friends were like, I didn't understand that thing. And for me, I got it well. So I was like, let's have a small meeting and do it and see whether it's going to work. I remember there was another time in our class we were doing some good discussions and we had teaching practice teachers who came to our school. So during that time we were chosen to go there and present something in front of class. So I went there and there was this topic that I was really breaking it down into bits and all that and everybody was sitting there was like wow we're getting it it's it's it's well it's getting in well and then the tipi teacher was like I think you this you explained that point better than me but it was never in me that I'll become a teacher so after high school I went to campers and it was education so I did the head arts and then geography seari so I was a geography seari teacher then later I noted that most students were not liking geography you know like you would find that a combination of geography history will be a hundred geography will be 20 and I was like this is a diverse subject why is it that people students don't like it so of course there were some gaps I saw and all that and I was like uh let me pursue geography because I looked at it as something that was so diverse if I pursue geography I can be this I can be that I can be so I looked at it as a something that will enable me have a wider field to specialize in and I was like as I was longing to do that I was like also maybe let me change and feel this gap that why would students not really like geography I know even you in school you're like rocks rocks rocks rocks what is it all about why the hand is spherical yes spherical so I can say that um with time I came to understand that uh it was like amidst to them you know you find the previous class it's rock rock rock rock and so it's all about our positivity on whatever was on the subject and also seeing it as something that is not And also, more of note the society is what you want, because that will drive you to even being very innovative and creative in whatever you like doing. That's what I noted. You've mentioned something good which you'll be looking into the innovation and creativity days when it comes to film and art industry. Rizpa, you said you not a control figure. What makes a good director? A good director, I think this is something I have come to learn over the years is you're a collaborative person. One of the things that you have to admit to yourself is that you're not perfect, you're a flawed human being. So even in leading this whole group of people, you have to admit that their input at times will add value to the whole project because everybody there is working towards the success of the project. So I think the biggest takeaway for every director would be, be as collaborative as possible, try and listen to everybody on set because they will feed you just as much as you're feeding them. But they have to be good in colors. So it determines so many things, what do you see on the screens? But you know we have specific departments for that, we have the set designers who, when you tell them as a director you'll be like, so he's the mood of the field, he's the color palette we're working with, they work with that, they work with people, people also work with that. So it's you as a director again to tell them what's the vision, then you break it down for them. Collaboration. Yes. Alright, so leader when someone like Rispa comes into class and she wants to be a director, as a teacher what do you see in the student? Because most of the times you have people who have gone to school, and they have studied a certain thing but when they come out here, we don't need different. Yeah, as a teacher, I would want teachers to be very, very sensitive in class because it all starts from the class, right from primary, right from high school, and even in the university like up, we really need to be very keen whenever we are handling the students like up. My passion is what I say, I touch a life and transform it. So we should always give attention to the students we are handling because you see, if maybe Rispa was in my class, I guess she'll be this kind of a personal one to always lead. Like when she sees something is not right, she'll be like teacher, I think I can handle this. Teacher, I think I can handle this. Even in a classroom setup, when the desk of a teacher is not well arranged or the class is not in an orderly manner, or at times you have charts put all over and they'll be like, I think I can do this but I think I can. So to begin, like you see when you get into class and you find a student like, how are you, this doesn't look good, can I put it like that. So when you notice such things, it's important to encourage the student. At times have a personal talk because trust me as a teacher, there are those specific things that we notice from students we are handling. So once you notice that you can just call the student and ask like I would have called Rispa, I see very busy wanting to put things in. What is your passion? So even if it's not in what I'm doing or what I know and work for or what I know and work for her, I think I'll encourage her to do that which you work for. Because I might see Rispa as, you can be a very good English teacher. Interesting. So the work of a teacher or a lecturer at that stage is to always look into what this student is all about. Of course you cannot because at times you handle very big classes, so unread, but there's that one that if you pick on, you can really see something in that. Let me just interject. Interestingly our producer has been, the producer I work with has been our lecturer in Moe and we worked closely, we worked closely even in productions when you were still in school. So I think just being able to now do film practically and have this relationship with our lecturers beyond class and into now the professional field really helped to set us on the right track. It seems you've been on the ground for long than being in class. I mean if you're teaching film you have to be as practical as it can come because when I come out into the professional field I won't be asked the theory questions. Most times people want to see my portfolio. My portfolio is what I have done. So really it's not about what are your certificates, did you learn this course, do you know about Aristotle and Plato? They really want to know what is your portfolio. So bridging that gap between class and Nino and the practical, it really helped big time. Before we shift gears, do you think our institutions have done well in instilling practical things when it comes to certain career path people have taken? An example you was? I'll say one of the lucky ones. My classmates and I were lucky enough to get lecturers who went beyond their job description and they took it upon themselves to just see what we were doing with and just naturalize. Unfortunately for some friends of mine who have been in other institutions I cannot say that their path has been the same. So there is definitely a big shift but also as things are changing I think interestingly we are also seeing that shifting gears even in the academics. Alright now speaking of identifying niche and pushing to the limits most of the people have a problem of identifying a problem or identifying there's a gap here we need to feel and how they can feel it. How does one come up with such? It first starts with... That's how the system has put us to be. You really have to be into that which you're trained in or on. But as you choose what between... I know our universities or other systems that once you do your high school you find yourself posted in a certain program that is not of. I think at that particular point you really need to know what you really want to do and what you're passionate about. It's only that at times grades limit you but what always advice my students is if you didn't make it at that level I'll go for something that you know at the end of it will open up a way of what I wanted to do. The grade might not favor you or rather the problem that you've been called to do might not also be very friendly but because they allow changing you're allowed to change. So change into that thing you know that I might do this today but tomorrow it will lead me into what I always wanted to do. That is the advice that I always give. So have that mind whenever you're going for a program or whenever you're calling for a certain program and you feel this is not my way. As you are changing, don't just change because a parent has said or a teacher has said what exactly do you want. Then as you change, change into that you know that at the end of it will lead me to that. Like for me if education was not my thing I did it at undergraduate but what I did I knew that at my master's level I can divert. So that is always a very important thing that people should never forget. And maybe to go back to what Trispa said when she's thanking our lecturers and all that also remember what you always do like in Zitec what happens is that once you identify a student has this ability we always encourage them we give them resources that they need and you'll find that we allow them to have projects of their own that will give them their own title. So you'll find that out there they win different titles in ICT in media you see. So that's also how to motivate such students. So lecturers or rather their teachers or the trainers really plays a very big role. It's not even the parent actually and I tend to believe that let's come to let us end that issue of I'm doing this because my parent wants it here let us do that which you are passionate about because from that you'll be very creative you'll know this is what I love I can do it like this, I can put it like this that will really help us with the issue of job. Trispa when I was choosing my career at the time there were not so many TV stations there were a few immediately after Nminga media the digital shift. I don't know whether it was my mind or others so when you chose to be a director did you see a niche in the in the space of directors or what you feel even if you want to even if you are 10 million of us it's okay. I didn't know when I was starting out in film that I'll end up a director. So for me it was like a natural progression of things I'll try my hand in continuity be like okay continuity looks like this actually as a director you have to be familiar with all fields so you have to be as a designer you have to have knowledge of every department so that when you're coming to meet your people you already know what it is that they do and you can offer input that is as creative as possible so even if you are 10 million of us then I feel like I'm very confident enough to say that there can only be one RISPA and the way I execute my things is not the way you would execute execute your thing so it's also give it a personal touch don't go trying to copy someone else be yourself, be uniquely you because then that is what we will identify with that is what people will now recognize and be like oh that is a RISPA production oh that is a Linda production because it has a sense of style that is uniquely her and even if anybody else tried to copy it's impossible to get there wow many patia mo tisha 10 million of us out here and we cannot metamak alright with that we will be taking a very short break and when we come back we will look into more of finding a niche and pushing into the limits stay with us and continue sending in your comments to all our social media platforms Y24 channel, Facebook and Twitter as well as Instagram we take a very short break stay with us Y24 break first show matters career right now we are looking into finding the niche and pushing the limits to achieving that and before we took that break RISPA and Linda here Watumifanya ads in the art industry they've been telling me how they choose their career path where they are and how they like about it and now we want to see how do you develop a niche that you have identified or metamak as a director now you found that niche and of course you have decided this is what I want to be whether you are 10 million of you or not how now do you develop that particular choice and make it your brand you compete with yourself that is the one thing that I will tell people you compete with yourself such that every time you are grading yourself you are seeing that your previous movie is better your current movie is better than your previous movie such that for me in my portfolio when I am offering I can now tell people comfortably I started from here this is the natural progression you can see that now the mistakes that I made when I was beginning I now have improved and polished upon myself it's a constant journey of not competing with the other people competing with yourself such that even when you are watching you are watching with peace in mind I made this mistake next time I should look out for this you also pat yourself on the back when you do something nice so while I am congratulating myself and seeing where I have made improvements or where I have failed do I get to a point do I stand a chance of thinking into depression of a guy and I think he will grow if you are setting goals and working consistently towards them then what is limiting you because at the end of the day in every other career you really have to set goals you have to work towards your goals you have to break them down into these are the steps that I want to do so that I can achieve your goal alright Alinda how do I develop my choice I choose to be a presenter you choose to be a presenter of course it's something that you love you're passionate about so while you're there see how different you can make it we have this presenter we have that presenter you are also one of them so how different would you want to be what are some new things that will bring in without diverting from the know so that is what you need to do alone and by that you can do research because I like studying so much find out what's happening where you are out there and even internationally and then think about coming up with something new but not diverting from the know you've seen that I bring it together I am one of them so how do I make this look better or how do I come up with a new idea that you know that if you present it to your boss or if you present it in where you're working it is going to be adapted that's the thing Linda has mentioned of research and someone is interested to know what kind of research you can in your own field interestingly as a director it is a constant journey of researching you have to socialize with people because you're making a movie you need to understand what at current times for example right now we have the corona period so how are people relating to this pandemic how people reacting to this so it's when the trends shift you're also shifting with the trends you want to be as relevant as the times are so it's a constant journey of research if I'm making a movie for example about a doctor and their life I really need to research on the field of medicine if I'm making a movie about a mortician but what happens in the mort because at the end of the day this film needs to be as real as possible so research is very key in the film alright speaking of research knowing there can't be another Hillary I can only be Hillary and Hillary alone how amazing bombanding myself with so much information and comparison of this does that the other person does this how do I read from them but not lose myself just as a respass nation it's a journey and it's a lot of patience and as respass say that you're not looking for the best from others you're looking for the best within you so as you're doing all these things it's all about making the best you're passionate about don't look at you see I like the way she does this look you as Hillary what is unique about what you're doing and that will need a lot of patience without looking at wanting to be like the other one it's all about you the moment you start diverting from I want to do the way he does I want to talk the way he does so it's all about developing you what you're passionate about as you bring a new thing in what you're doing so it needs a lot of patience I can see it's a journey it's really a journey like I can talk of myself like when I became a high school teacher and I was geographist here I read there are things that I really wanted to know why does this occur like this why does this occur but that passion of wanting to know why does this occur I decided to do something called hydroclimatology at the University of Nairobi there are some things I wanted to know but I was very patient with the lecturers and the professors involved and I can say it's now 4 years I'm still not yet there but there's something I'm still developing so even if it's not out to the people but within me I see I'm moving a step higher and I know by the time it will be out many people love it it's all about that right, fair enough now investing to your choice speaking of art industry director here, Rispa how investing in your in your career choice as a director in terms of resources and information how does one does the biggest investment any person can ever make in their career dedicate a lot of time such that if in a day we are 24 hours dedicate at least a third of your day to your career not just the formal employment at the 8 to 5 you're going to work just for you personally to build and grow yourself other than that network always acknowledge that you do not know everything so you need to learn and pick up from other people so they can tell you the challenges that they've gone through again keep your networks build a team around you the people who you work with and they feel right such that for example for me the group that I have been working with has been a consistent team for the last couple of years I feel comfortable enough to know that when I express myself they understand the language that I'm speaking without there's no breakdown in communication especially a working relationship na ma introvert suta fanyaji no no no again I think the beauty about my film now as a director is that one of the things is you really have to meet people at their comfort zones such that for example if you are an introvert then I know I need a one on one meeting you and I it's not putting it out there and being like no no no let's meet let's talk to you let's develop a bond whereby now you you're even comfortable putting me because you realize that we have a relationship you and I Linda how does one invest in their career choice and so much to speak of even communication okay there are many ways in which you can invest you see teaching is a different field it's really a different career where the investment is more on the people you are dealing with or the people you are handling like the beauty or the fulfillment of a teacher is seeing that the person who has passed through your hands is doing well that's the most for this thing so I don't mean that you love to live yourself and think about others our greatest fulfillment as teachers as lecturer is seeing the person who went through your hands is doing well and is in a in a better position and while you are doing that it doesn't mean you need to forget about yourself of course teaching also has various ways in which you can earn extra resources you can be having like a different tuition per timing tuition and all that but that can only be maybe for those who are not committed in certain positions but when it comes to investing there is a lot you can do you can like the students especially that maybe that have gone through your hands just as response saying have a network through that network you can do someone like in my field I can count on those students that maybe have passed through my hands and we can decide from groups research groups that are happening we go out there we research we post it we get more funds and as we are doing that you also making them exposed to the different world and to the different people and if in the end of it all you would have made a whole person who is able to interact at different levels and with different people both of you have spoken of having a teamwork and this person as a director I find you hanging out with my engineers to some extent it is an idea to find a film engineer but then how choosing the right people for the right purpose of your career path what are you finding because you are in a different field I think even for me as a person my friends are actually in very different fields I need them to watch my movies so it works my benefit but also it's just the people I work with the team that I have built I say networking when I was in university so most of them are my classmates people who were in drama with them my lecturers it's just people who naturally you've worked with and also for me I think the beauty is seeing the growth like Linda said seeing the growth now that we are where we are you can even look back and say as a team we've come this far don't become a star you reject your people and you're just like you cut your people off a lot you go out to a new team to find a new team that you think is better this new team that you think is better has also been someone's work someone who came together put them together so when you go you'll be an outsider so really investing just growing yourself and even the people around you because then it comes more naturally that this person will always be my right hand this person will always even if you guys have an argument even if you guys have a conflict you can resolve it very fast because they are no hard feelings they understand at the end of the day this is what we are trying to achieve no hard feelings because at the beginning we were like why don't you just hang out you will lose each other and then you go solo because you're trying to be the good kid who will hang out in our ending but then choosing the people who will work with you help build you become the better you how do I choose that of course you only have to move those who are willing to move it's important to know the interests you go by commitment and you go by focus so if you have someone who is interested, committed and focused because personally you just present an idea okay, who is interested those who are interested but not committed who is interested who is committed, who is focused are you able to bring a new thing in what you want to do are you able to sacrifice and go by this and all that simple now we are in the COVID-19 pandemic and this is the time I have seen majority of the people have become creative in their own way people who are in the mainstream they have moved to another space digital like I know a good number of their own YouTube channel right now they are making fun there even the comedians have something they are doing you spoke of reinventing and being creative this part this COVID-19 what has it done to you different from what you are used to I think COVID-19 has made us appreciate the aspect of let me even say time we've been very economical with resources that we thought are we did not even think about Kitambo for example now having to think about we are getting all these people and just having to think about bringing all these people on board you have to be mindful not just in the way you were before but now precocious putting all their right measures our marketing has also had to go digital because now you're thinking about we really can't do things the way they were so again it's making taking advantage of what is available to you right now and being as innovative as possible without limiting yourself and seeing that oh we have such a huge problem we really can't do it because COVID it's now starting to look at what are the opportunities that COVID has presented it's given us a global audience right now we are comfortable enough to say we improved our quality so we are confident to say you'll be seeing us in Netflix a lot of Kenyan films have shifted to Netflix so it helps you improve and now start stop competing locally now we are now thinking about competing internationally alright we will be seeing your trailer you will tell me more about the trailer and maybe what was the inspiration behind it as it comes Linda this COVID-19 has helped so many people I don't know you as a person how it has helped you I don't know that kind of a thing how different and impactful has COVID-19 been to you and maybe what is that one idea you came up with and it's a niche feeling COVID-19 actually has made us learn a lot in the sector of education personally I never knew learning would go online purely online you handle students online for a whole term and being able to do exams and you see them doing well you see them having the same challenges like they were on face to face as a tech we had an online teaching that ran through May August it was so interesting to see that you could even do more that you could do face to face because you see here you use YouTube videos there's more explanation there's more time with the students you know like working from home that was the most interesting thing and we noted that there wasn't any big difference in fact when we looked at the advantages of online teaching in face to face we felt like online had a great advantage because students were exposed to various things that you would not do while in class so that was the biggest achievement innovations and being creative I would love us to watch that trailer and then quality and Netflix you will tell us we will boost again Netflix or let's watch and see what happens and now I am not here with you and I am here to tell you that you are not there because we have been waiting for a long time and you want me to help you it's your part That's Trilla Lame right? Yes, Lame what's the inspiration behind it Lame is a movie that had been had been done before by our team but through the Kenya Film Empowerment program the first try allowed We were able to receive a grant whereby we were able now to produce this film. So we were working within renovating and reinventing a previous script that had been done before. But doing it later and to make it a sweet story that is also relevant to the times. It's a story about two young career people who are ambitious. But again they keep colliding into each other and their faith seems intertwined. So they discover that in their personal journey they also have to work with each other. ...and re-invent themselves that they can be able to conquer even the professional field. It's a story about love, it's a story about friendship, it's a story about family, it's really a lot of things. Alright, drop something to do with COVID-19. You feel it's a boost. Not really. I mean, as I know that you also wanted to be a timeless thing. These are issues that love, career, ambitions. These are things that are always there since ages back. So, Dio, in as much as we want to think about COVID-19 and its presence, we also want to think about how long is COVID here. Is it here to stay for the next 20, 30, 40 years? Is it a reality that now we have to live with every other day? And for us, okay, I'm an optimist. So I want to believe that hopefully the vaccines will be out and we'll now be able to continue living normalize. So, again, when you're creating a movie, for example, Titanic, it's a love story that it's back in, it was made like 20 years ago, many, many years ago and it's still relevant till date. So you want a movie that will also be relevant since that when future generations are watching, we can also relate because these are struggles that we've all gone through. I'm sure Linda had struggles in her career path when she was starting out. These are career path. This is a movie that will always be relevant. That's how I feel. Alright, maybe as now we wind up making a mark and becoming that particular person. Linda, you are a teacher today. We speak of so many people who have become an icon in the society. You can say, through so and so I have known this or you know, like in Kenya we speak when it comes to research, we have to speak of Mugenda and Mugenda, you know. So as we wind up, the career path you chose and the niche you decided to fill, what do you speak of it and do you have in mind and maybe years to come, this is what will be spoken of me. Yeah, it has been a journey actually and the path that I've chosen is all about maybe being a teacher or being a lecturer, molding young lives, touching their lives and ensuring that it's transformed. If I was to be known for what I love, I would love to be one of those who did so much in the issue of climate change, not only in East Africa but Africa. My desire has always been to be part of the big panel for the IPCC, it's an international, intergovernmental panel on climate change. They look for members who participate in writing reports, doing research like the issue of law casts and also we can also find the effects of climate on various areas and arenas. So that is my personal dream that one day my name, people there as one of the panelists, it's an international pudding but my greatest achievement will be one day one of those students that have passed through my hands will say somewhere when he or she becomes a great person maybe locally, internationally, or regionally, he'll one day stand and say that if it were not for Madam Linda, I wouldn't have been here and may God bless and such words, that is what I'm waiting, that will be my greatest achievement where students that have passed through my hands or one that I noted was falling off and I brought him on her back and now he's a great person doing well and in how his success he'll be able to mention my name that I remember those of Madam in this university or in this school if it were not for her that would be my greatest achievement. Wow, super director. I don't know what do I want to be remembered for? Communication I think at the end of the day most issues arise from miscommunication so if we are able to find a way to bridge gaps and just amplify the voices of those people who are not heard then I feel like I will have done myself service. Yes. Alright, I have less than a minute do you have your final awards? To young people out there? Before I tell young people anything I'd like to suggest that everybody who has watched this interview who has watched Shorye Tu Leme it's premiering on 11 December Rupa Mall at Eldoret we are grateful that we were able to do such a I'll call it a masterpiece I am very excited for people to see it and I'd really appreciate if people the excitement of a director is when people are able to relate to what you've done I'll be grateful if people came to watch and I'm grateful for this opportunity to young people I'll just tell them just do it whatever it is that you want to do in your life and you're passionate about it it's never too late until you're dead so just do it, you still have time Wow, until you're dead So the young people out there pursue what you're passionate about that will make you be very creative and innovative and do not have issues of joblessness because you'll be able to think about what you love or to make it better and enjoy it and I believe that we have places that offers that opportunity and you can join us in this thank you for the opportunity and I really appreciate, thank you Alright, I need not to say more thank you for your words it's never too late until you're dead if you're going to do it, just do it they have been my guests John Riespa film director and Linda Keene and social science Zitech college thank you so much for coming and speaking to our audience and back home thank you so much for staying with us many misdereva, Hilary will be seeing you again in the evening until then enjoy the rest of our programings good morning and good day