Film production

Habari Mwanafunzi! Let's Make Movie Magic!

Have you ever watched a brilliant Kenyan film like Supa Modo or laughed along with a show like Njoro wa Uba and thought, "Wow! How did they even do that?" It's not just magic, though it feels like it! It's a carefully planned process called Film Production. Today, we're going to pull back the curtain and show you exactly how a story goes from a simple idea in someone's head to a movie on your screen. By the end of this lesson, you'll understand the three epic stages of making a film. Tuko tayari? Let's go!

The Three Stages of Bringing a Story to Life

Think of making a film like cooking a delicious meal of ugali and sukuma wiki. You can't just throw everything in the pot at once! You need to plan (buy the ingredients), cook (prepare and cook the food), and finally, serve (present it beautifully). Film production is the same, and we break it down into three main stages.

    Plan      >      Do       >      Finish
      |               |                |
[Pre-Production] -> [Production] -> [Post-Production]

Stage 1: Pre-Production (The Plan - Kupanga ni Kuchagua)

This is the most important stage! A good plan prevents problems later. As the Swahili proverb says, "Kupanga ni kuchagua" (To plan is to choose). This is where you make all the big decisions before a single camera starts rolling.

• The Script: This is your story's blueprint. Every scene, every line of dialogue, every action is written down here.
• Storyboarding: Drawing a comic-book version of your film, shot by shot. It helps the director and cinematographer visualise the scenes.
• Casting: Finding the perfect actors to bring your characters to life. Imagine finding the next Sarah Hassan or Pascal Tokodi for your film!
• Location Scouting: Where will your story happen? In the busy streets of Nairobi CBD? A quiet home in Kisumu? Or the beautiful beaches of Mombasa? You must find and get permission to film in these places.
• Budgeting: The money part! You have to figure out how much everything will cost. Even a small film needs a budget.
• Scheduling: Creating a detailed timetable for when and where you will film each scene.

Example Scenario: Your group wants to film a 2-minute short film about a student who is late for school. In pre-production, you would write a script with the dialogue, scout for a good location near your school, cast your friends as the student and maybe a matatu conductor, and create a simple budget for transport and snacks for the crew.

Image Suggestion: A vibrant, wide-angle shot of a diverse group of young Kenyan filmmakers (the director, writer, producer) huddled over a table in a creative hub in Nairobi. On the table are scripts, storyboards, and a laptop. The mood is energetic, collaborative, and full of potential. The background has colourful graffiti art.

Stage 2: Production (The Action! - Tuko Kazi)

This is the exciting part where you actually film your movie! The cast and crew are on set, and the director is shouting, "Lights, Camera, Action!" Everyone has a specific job to do.

• Director: The captain of the ship, guiding the actors and the crew to bring the vision to life.
• Cinematographer (Director of Photography): The artist who "paints" with the camera. They are in charge of the lighting and camera work to create the right mood.
• Sound Recordist: Their job is crucial! They capture all the dialogue and sounds on set. Bad sound can ruin a great picture.
• Actors: They perform the scenes according to the director's guidance.

A key tool used during production is the Shot List. It's an organised list of every single shot you need to get.

--- SHOT LIST ---
Scene #: 1
Shot #: 3
Location: Bus Stop
Shot Type: Medium Shot (MS)
Angle: Eye-level
Movement: Static
Sound: Dialogue & ambient street noise
Description: Juma anxiously checks his watch as a matatu speeds past.

Image Suggestion: A dynamic, behind-the-scenes shot on a film set in a bustling Kenyan market like Toi Market or Gikomba. A young female director is giving instructions to an actor while the cinematographer adjusts the camera. The background is a colourful blur of people and goods, capturing the authentic energy of the location.

Stage 3: Post-Production (The Magic - Kukamilisha Kazi)

You've filmed everything! But right now, you just have a collection of video clips and audio files. Post-production is where you assemble the puzzle and make it look and sound amazing.

• Video Editing: The editor cuts the best takes, puts them in the correct order, and sets the pace and rhythm of the film. This is where the story truly takes shape.
• Sound Design & Mixing: The sound team cleans up the audio, adds sound effects (like footsteps or a car horn), and mixes in the music.
• Colour Grading: Adjusting the colours to create a specific mood. Do you want your film to feel warm and happy, or cold and mysterious? Colour helps tell that story.
• Visual Effects (VFX): Adding computer-generated images, like removing a wire or adding a special effect (if your budget allows!).

Let's do some simple math. An editor needs to create a final scene that is 30 seconds long. They have three clips:

Clip A: 15 seconds (Good part is from 0:05 to 0:15 = 10s)
Clip B: 20 seconds (Good part is from 0:02 to 0:17 = 15s)
Clip C: 12 seconds (Good part is from 0:00 to 0:05 = 5s)

Total Runtime = (End Time - Start Time) of Clip A + (End Time - Start Time) of Clip B + (End Time - Start Time) of Clip C
Total Runtime = (15s - 5s) + (17s - 2s) + (5s - 0s)
Total Runtime = 10s + 15s + 5s
Total Runtime = 30 seconds

The editor successfully edited the clips to the required length!

Let's Talk Money: A Simple Student Film Budget

You don't need millions of shillings to make a film. Here is a sample budget for a 5-minute short film shot in one day.

--- MY FIRST FILM BUDGET (KES) ---

ITEM                  DESCRIPTION                             COST
---------------------------------------------------------------------
EQUIPMENT
  Camera              Borrow from school / Use a good phone     0.00
  Tripod              Borrow from a friend                      0.00
  Microphone          Borrow a simple lavalier mic            500.00

CAST & CREW (4 people)
  Transport           Matatu fare to location (4x100)         400.00
  Lunch               Sausage, Mandazi & Soda (4x150)        600.00

PROPS & COSTUMES
  Main Prop           A special old book                      200.00
  Costume             Use own clothes                           0.00

CONTINGENCY
  "Just in Case"      10% of total for emergencies            170.00
---------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL ESTIMATED COST:                                       1,870.00

Your Turn to Be the Filmmaker!

You now know the secret recipe for making a film: Pre-production, Production, and Post-production. Remember, the most powerful tool you have is your creativity. Your own phone is a powerful camera waiting to tell a story.

So, here is your challenge: Think of a simple, one-minute story that you could film this weekend with your friends. What story from your community, your school, or your own life is waiting to be told? Write down the idea. That's the first step in pre-production. Sasa, wewe ni film-maker! Go and create!