Local filmmakers in limbo as Covid-19 takes toll on the sector
The Covid-19 pandemic has dealt a blow to every sector of the economy, and the creative industry has not been spared either.
Kenyan filmmakers are decrying a slowed down sector, saying the pandemic has had a negative effect on them in that players have to deal with less income, thus reducing their output.
Ivory Media, a video production company in Kenya, has been creating and producing trend-setting shows for more than seven years.
The company has been going head-to-head with production giants such as Insignia Productions and proved that it fits a seat at the big boy's table.
It’s most recent show, Pieces of Us, is about an engaged man who falls madly in love with a woman he doesn’t realise is his house help Sarah—who is a waitress at night and his house help by day.
And as the list of top production companies in the country continues to grow, players say the local film production scene is getting overly competitive.
Phil Bresson is a director at Insignia Productions. He says the demand for content has decreased since restrictions to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 were put in place by the government.
“As a matter of fact we have had to slow down before going back to set, so we can ensure the safety of the actors. We have to plan the scripts in a way we socially distance the actors on set, and use long focal length to have distance between the actors and crew.
“It’s a tricky time and we have to get the right balance between entertaining and safety,” he tells PD Online.
He intimates that production companies in Kenya have pushed up the production values of local tv shows as compared to shows that aired a little over a decade ago.
“This goes to show that soon, film production companies in Kenya will be representing us on global platforms such as Netflix,” adds Phil.
