M-Net 2009 Screenwriters Workshop

Hii ni nafasi nzuri sana kwa WaBongo wenye interest na mambo ya screenwriting, utunzi wa filamu...hasa kuandika script. Script ni ramani ya sinema na ni muhimu kwa sinema nzuri. Nimeona sinema/video nyingi za Bongo na kwa kweli ingekuwa vizuri watunzi wakapata training zaidi. Kazi kwenu!

********************************************************************
M-NET ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR 2009 SCREENWRITERS WORKSHOP

With its brand-new local talk show The Patricia Show on air, its hot new drama The Agency about to hit DStv screens across East Africa and its second Kenyan drama Changes heading into production, African entertainment pioneers M-Net are already focusing on 2009. Today the company announced plans for a special 6-day Screen-Writers Workshop to be held in Nairobi in March.

Now calling for interested writers, producers and industry professionals from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to apply for entrance into the fully sponsored event, M-Net is aiming to promote the continued growth of the region’s burgeoning television industry.

By investing in local skills development and by further partnering with the Kenyan Film Commission, M-Net has expanded its ongoing efforts to nurture and foster local talent.

According to recently appointed M-Net Africa Channel Director Biola Adekanbi, the decision to host a Screen-Writers Workshop is a direct result of the enthusiasm and commitment M-Net has found in its partnerships with the local East African film and television community.

"In the last two years M-Net has deeply intensified its efforts across this region and this outreach has been warmly welcomed with positive support across the board. Increasingly the need to tell local stories, promote local stars and holistically involve local crew is becoming paramount to ensuring that good quality, relevant productions are created to meet the demand from millions of DStv viewers for engaging and entertaining content."

She goes on to say, "M-Net is confident that this Screen-Writing Workshop is another step in the right direction, another brick in building on our strong foundations for marketable and relevant programming."

To apply for entrance into the workshop, script-writers from any of the three participating countries must submit a copy of their original script-work completed within the last two years, which is not currently and has never been in production for any commercial television company. The script submitted should be a minimum of 20 pages and a maximum of 30 pages.

In addition, script-writers will also be requested to submit a one-page synopsis, character bible, an updated resume or biography, and a proposal of not more than 1500 words explaining why they would like to attend the workshop.

Thereafter an evaluating committee will shortlist the entrants who will be invited to a one-on-one meeting with M-Net and other stakeholders at which each will be required to write a 10-minute narrative in the format of drama, short story and/or sitcom. Finally, 25 writers will be invited to attend the workshop.

M-Net Program Manager for East Africa Wangeci Murage acknowledges that gaining entrance to the workshop requires entrants to complete a rigorous selection process.

"We’re investing heavily in this initiative and want to ensure we’re able to provide 25 truly determined writers with an innovative and unique opportunity to hone their skills and enhance their talents. For this reason, we want to select candidates who’ll be able to fully maximize on their learnings from this event.

Ultimately, we’d also like to be able identify key partnerships for the future from this process as well as promote greater regional commercial television success."

Comprising lectures and writing exercises, the M-Net Screen-Writers Workshop follows an initiative by M-Net last year in which a contingent of Kenyan filmmakers were sponsored on an all-expenses paid trip to Lagos to share ideas and knowledge with Nigeria’s prolific Nollywood film making community.

This time round, selected participants will workshop on the grammar of film, story development, narrative point of view plus character analysis and scene structure. In addition, it will allow industry professionals from the three countries to network and construct multi-national relationships that they are able to use to their benefit.

Interested persons who wish to apply for the M-Net Screen-Writers Workshop can deliver their proposals to Wangeci Murage (M-Net Kenya, Rahimtulla Tower, 18th Floor, Nairobi);

Ronald Shelukindo (MultiChoice Tanzania, Dar es Salaam)

or

Leonah Mbonimpa (MultiChoice Uganda, Kampala).

The deadline for entries is Friday January 16, 2009.

For further information, please contact M-Net Kenya on email: wangeci.murage@mnet.co.za.