What's the Importance of Collaboration in Kenya's Creative Medi…

The Power of Collaboration!

It seems like it was just a few years ago when we had the first Kenyan Film making waves because of a solid plot and amazing cinematography. This is entirely open to debate, but for me, that was Nairobi Half Life. Currently showing on Netflix, it's one of those films that left a lasting impression on me when I first watched it. We actually watched it as a family and were all impressed by the accurate depiction of Nairobi and some of what goes on in the shadows of the capital.

Much more recently, there's been a number of releases, with the one that takes the gold this year being On Air, which I reviewed here. Watching the screening was one of the things that made this a special one for me, but the film also held its own. Now that I'm actively participating in the film and media industry, I'm starting to think that there are many people who would love to participate in the creation and consumption of local media but aren't exactly sure how to do that.

This is where collaboration becomes evidently important, and it's also partly why I'm writing this article. Without the participation of various key players in the entertainment industry, most of what we have would be bland and probably not appealing to the majority of people. That's because art is diverse, and with all the art styles that exist in the world of media and entertainment, you can be sure that there are more than a few that fit perfectly together. Take stop motion, for instance, which is what we were treated to by The Big Sad Nairobi. This calls for a lot of patience from the entire crew, and there's going to be voice actors, lighting and camera, scriptwriters, and a number of other people working on the project.

Once they're done, they might need some good music to back the project and add some soul. There may also be additional professionals that are needed if the project takes on a new form, such as being converted into a comic. This avails it to a much larger crowd, ensuring enjoyment for a much wider audience. The same could go on to become a cartoon, in which case it will call for animators, drawing even more creatives in.

For all of these creatives to be able to come together in the first place and create art, there needs to be a common platform. A commune of sorts where artists, dreamers, and creatives can all come together and interact. These interactions bear amazing results as we all know by now, and that's one of the reasons why Geekspeak exists. We're here to help create a community where creatives are happy and can do their creation with all the freedom that they need.

We hope to foster a space where people interested in music, pop culture, and more can come together and have a great time. In the course of having a great time, we've witnessed greatness happen. Ideas are floated, and sometimes acted on in the moment, creating a video, audio, or even pictures that leave a lasting impression. They also capture the magic that took place when creatives are left to create (which is why I think capitalism is something *unprintable*).

We've also come to this observation as a result of attending the various films and events that we've been invited to this year. The passion with which the creatives, including directors, talk about their work is always the best thing to experience. That's why we keep doing what we do because, in addition to helping push out new media and creative ideas, we also get to enjoy being in the presence of people who love what they do. This gives us the drive that we need to keep doing what we do; going out to events in the rain and sun. Do you feel inspired to walk this path with us? We hope you are, and we promise that you're going to love it if you do!