“Getting there….Professional Insights”
Location: St Johns High School
Speaker: Vivian Nchogu
Profession: Film Maker
Date: 2nd October, 2007
This was our third talk of the Nyota getting there…professional insights phase two. We arrived quite early and found the students already assembled in our usual meeting place eagerly waiting for us. I must say this was a very unique session since for the first time we managed to get a film maker. Vivian Nchogu is a Kenyan film maker based in Uganda. She happened to be in the country for the just concluded Kenya International Film Festival. After persuading her she agreed to come and introduce the students to the world of communication and film making.
Present was Angela Kimani, and Isaac Musyoka, all CEK volunteers. After the general introduction, Vivian took to the floor and did a thorough introduction of herself and her career – what she does for a living. Vivian talked about virtually everything in the mass media. She however dwelled more on film production, where she’s an expert. She explained all about film producers to DOP – director of photography!
On the journalism career, she told the students that one needed the passion and conviction that this was his/her career path. She used the famous phrase: “Do not venture into journalism if you can help it” she talked about the ups and downs of the profession: “sometimes you rub people the wrong way and find yourself in the wrong places for the wrong reasons,” Vivian said. For all the aspiring journalists, Vivian also had this to say, “Journalism is not for the fainthearted, and rather it is for the strong willed.”
Vivian explaining what DOP is to the students.
Vivian explaining what DOP is to the students.
Vivian however, did not forget to tell the students how the profession can bring you glory and prestige – but it takes time! She said that as a journalist, you get free entry to high profile meetings, seminars, and you also get to have the chance of interviewing and even covering presidents and high profile personalities – the who is who in the world! She emphasized the importance of consistency and patience in the film industry. She said that you got to be honest and open minded all at the same time as the profession is dynamic.
After such a passionate presentation, the students held her captive to answer a myriad of questions to which she was glad to answer. They were reluctant to let her go – in her they saw a role model, a star who could mentor and bring out the journalism in them. They wanted to know if they could be in some of her productions, and she promised to have them be part of the cast for an upcoming documentary, coming out early next year.
At the end of the session, our mission had been accomplished and more effectively for that matter. Vivian lived up to CE’s Inspire, Engage, Empower, motto and we could not ask for more. It was evident from the students’ questions and comments that all was accomplished – someone somewhere had been mentored!
She came, she saw, she mentored and she did it in style!
After such a passionate presentation, the students held her captive to answer a myriad of questions to which she was glad to answer. They were reluctant to let her go – in her they saw a role model, a star who could mentor and bring out the journalism in them. They wanted to know if they could be in some of her productions, and she promised to have them be part of the cast for an upcoming documentary, coming out early next year.
At the end of the session, our mission had been accomplished and more effectively for that matter. Vivian lived up to CE’s Inspire, Engage, Empower, motto and we could not ask for more. It was evident from the students’ questions and comments that all was accomplished – someone somewhere had been mentored!
She came, she saw, she mentored and she did it in style!
No comments:
Post a Comment