Film a long way from perfect

A Ugandan film has received six nominations in different categories for the Pearl Awards due in South Africa sometime this year. The categories include best director, leading actor etc. Great news, isn’t it? Although the Ugandan film industry is making such good strides, it is yet to get near the third biggest player in the world, Nigeria.

During a workshop at Kampala Sheraton Hotel on Monday, organised by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), different stakeholders had mixed feelings.
Whereas some sounded misinformed and therefore kind of celebrating ignorance, others wanted their colleagues brought to book.

It was a healthy debate which showed that if we are to get close to Nigeria, a lot of sacrifice and enlightenment has to be done. UCC agreed to hold more of such workshops regularly and at even bigger or cheaper venues like one member recommended.

Rwenzori Ballroom was crowded, as filmmakers, directors, producers, editors, writers, actors and actresses took on each other. UCC should be thanked for bringing aboard, a Nigerian stakeholder to discuss how they have handled their industry.

He spoke of how we need to regularise our copyright issues and paying actors well if we are to take the industry forward. Granted, some Nigerian movies lack a lot when compared with, say, Bollywood and not to mention Hollywood, but credit should be given to them for taking on Africa and the rest of the world. One thing is clear; there is an opportunity for growth of the industry.

UCC hailed this as one of the fastest growing industries alongside music and therefore, a potential revenue source and employment provider as well.

However, like Roger Mugisha, a stakeholder, noted, there are so many associations that lack guidance. “It seems like everyone wants to lead some association of sorts instead of all of us having one uniting body,” he observed.

Too many cooks
Just as he had finished his speech, someone raised his hand saying how he was the chairman of Uganda Video Owners Association. He threw the hall into a bout of laughter. Seriously, we were all taken aback. Video Owners Association? So everyone in possession of a video is under him? A video hall owner, video deck owner and music video producer? I was at pains to grasp what his association stands for. Maybe at another such workshop, I will track him down for an explanation.

As if that wasn’t enough, celebrated video jockey, Jingo, stood up and spoke about VJs and how they now take their children to school because they have invested in buildings and are no longer despised.

He said he has helped many people become employed and that now there are about 70 per cent translated movies in Uganda. Jingo praised himself and chastised the likes of URA and UPRS for “disturbing” him and his people. He was later reminded that the very bodies he was complaining about are actually doing the right thing by tryng to bring him and many VJs of his ilk to book.

VJs are known for translating movies, especially Nigerian and western, without the owners’ permission. It was agreed that copyright law needs to be understood by VJs and others involved in the industry as development cannot take off with ignorance among the main players.

Throughout the different submissions, it was apparent that many in the industry are ignorant of the 2006 copyright law and neighboring rights. Lawyer Fred Muwema observed that without understanding legal implications, many filmmakers are wasting time and therefore making losses.

The UCC was lauded for initiating the workshop and also promising to put in practice what stakeholder Conrad Nkutu tasked them with. Nkutu suggested that UCC be given 90 days for them to address all issues before the next workshop.

Granted, Uganda is making strides in film, but for a unified quality producing industry, a lot still has to be done. With such fora as UCC’s, it is just the beginning of perhaps a good profitable journey.

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