ROFFEKE OFFICIAL SELECTION 2020 (Partial Listing)

A Youtube playlist featuring some of the short films, music videos and rockumentaries submitted to ROFFEKE in 2020. Watch it here.

 'Tis the holiday season, so the first music video is "Just Like Xmas" by Tom Tikka.

The year 2020 has been a bit...much, and the theme and inspiration behind the second music video speaks to this:

"In a divided time, when only the most sensational acts are acknowledged by the public, a shy man longs to be seen and heard. In particular, he seeks the attention of a girl who mesmerizes him and awakens his creative passion, but when he falls prey to the seductions of easy fame, will he pay the price for losing his true self? The 5th chapter, "Woke," from Kenny Cash's iLLustrated Opera (dubbed the iLL Opera) features Jaqx finding the courage to use his voice,  but when he finally protests against the dividing forces that rule his world he is forced to confront his hyped up alter ego.  Musically, "Woke" Blend of punk, funk and jazz fusion w/ aggressive vocals which reflect the battle that ensues."

Director's Statement: " After nearly forty years on the planet without paying much attention to politics, I never imagined a time would come when I had to express my opinion on the political landscape of the world that we live in. But following the 2016 presidential election, not having a political voice seems to have become an impossible task. The world has started to look a bit like a cartoon to me, where interaction doesn’t happen so much face to face, but rather with hyper-caricatures of one another on social media. I had always loved comic books, science fiction, stories of illuminati, and tales of redemption, so voicing myself through an even more caricaturized graphic approach just seemed right. Being a part of social media left me with my own internal struggle, as it is easy to fall prey to its seduction and the pull of media in general. What we see and hear repeatedly tends to shape our thoughts and close our minds to other's perspectives. If, at the core, the majority of humans tend to desire similar things, then why are we so divided in our approach to obtain them? So this is my voice for the new generation: my kids’ generation. Find your voice, use your voice, but always challenge your voice by listening to another’s."

The last music video in this playlist is a rollercoaster romp through an other-worldly reality - sort of like what 2020 felt like. The difference is that this music video is fun to watch, the song is sure to get you moving and the story is captivating:

"The hero breathes a cloud of strange smoke. He bangs a spray paint that turns into a living and dancing cartoon robot in the wall. All over the city, we see graffiti come to life to join our protagonist, who is going to get caught, to end up like a black and white 2D poster on the wall (like JR). Guided by the robot / bomb in the wall, he will meet 3 characters, the freaks of Caravan Palace, scary and crazy, who will first haunt him, pursue him, then finally amuse him to the point of dancing with them in a crazy way." (Director: Béchir "Jiwee" Jouini)

The year 2020 has been a cloud of strange smoke. It has haunted us and pursued us but hopefully, with a bit of friendship, fun and freedom, we can get to the point of dancing with it in a crazy way and ending the year on a high note. Happy holidays everyone!

Review: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Reviewer: Love Kassim

The opening shot seems so familiar; two black boys in period costumes on the run in the forest and it clicks: they must be running away from slavery but then we see that they are running towards something - the music of Ma Rainey (Viola Davis).

She sings the blues, an entirely African American-created art form that brings black people together, though as Ma Rainey later puts it, the music suffering even if it doesn't provide an escape from it.

Black artistry portrayed in this movie comes alive thanks to the powerhouse performance from Levee especially (played by the late Chadwick Boseman in his final role).

Both characters have large personalities but only one of them is actually aware of the White exploitation that is coming for black art. Boseman and Davis are electrifying even if there are times when the film strains against the confines of its stage origins. There is a struggle since the movie was written to be played on stage (August Wilson's play, MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM). The cinematography (George C Wolfe's adaptation) was okay, resulting in the other stuff melting away, like the source material was aimed at the stage rather than the screen

The movie is set in Chicago,1927.Ma knows that she has all the power in these recording sessions but the second her voice is on vinyl, it will be exploited. Tensions rise with the white manager struggling to facilitate a recording session with the dismissive producer. Here we see a portrait of how Black art is valued by its artists and the tragic economic realities that seek to steal art for white audiences.

Fun fact: Denzel Washington serves as a producer in this film.

What's so brilliant about this film defies easy description. Ma is strong but she is clearly exhausted, other times she is bitter but has affection for her family. Boseman consistently elicits our sympathy with every gesture and line. Levee is an astonishing role because you have a character who thinks he knows the score but we are all waiting for the fallout from the harsh lessons he is about to endure. This is acting at its finest and while the supporting cast deserves acclaim for their work, these two performances are what kept me glued to the screen

I felt like this film demands for us to explore how Black art is created then exploited and how we really haven't broken free.

This is a movie about the power of black art and why it must be cherished.

Wine Game: A Metaphor for 2020?

Wine Game is a laugh-out-loud, 4-minute short film that I think could be a metaphor for the year 2020:

00:16 - Pandemic, lockdowns.

00:25 - Quarantined. Forced to look within. What are we carrying?

00:50 - New normal, new opportunities.

1:26 - In the new normal, it is not advisable to put new wine in old wine skins.

Wine "is a powerful literary metaphor used for centuries to refer to everything from love to blood to prosperity...no wonder the Greeks gave birth to the complex myth of Dionysius, a source of joy as well as thoughtless rage."

Some reviewers have likened the Wine Game story to that of the Sisyphus myth. According to Wikipedia:

"In Greek mythology Sisyphus or Sisyphos was the king of Ephyra (now known as Corinth). He was punished for his self-aggrandizing craftiness and deceitfulness by being forced to roll an immense boulder up a hill only for it to roll down every time it neared the top, repeating this action for eternity. Through the classical influence on modern culture, tasks that are both laborious and futile are therefore described as Sisyphean."

Of course, metaphors are subject to breaking down. Still, the beauty of "Wine Game" is that it is open to interpretation. To borrow from Robert Louis Stevenson's quip, "Wine Game is bottled poetry."

“That girl hitting the piñata was an act of resistance” - Review of Rockumentary directed by Nelson Varas-Diaz

 “Can I just say that girl hitting the piñata was an act of resistance?”

So begun Love Kassim’s comments regarding “Acts of Resistance: Heavy Metal Music in Latin America” At first I laughed but after reflecting for a few seconds, I replied:

“Actually your comment is very profound now that I think about it. A few people at the top are holding all the resources. We little people (We are the 99 percent) need to hit that piñata till we can access what is rightfully ours!”

My comment may have been influenced by my week-long, virtual attendance of the Democracy and Rights Festival. For more information about this and to check out my tweets and those of other “keyboard warriors” check out the hashtag #DemocracyAndRightsFestival

Love Kassim agreed with me about the piñata being a metaphor for resources: “It really is. You have to struggle and shake it out from the people on top to get basic needs.”

She went on to comment:

I love this rockumentary. It shows how metal music in Latin America has affected the way people view their history as a country. These bands have challenged me .I now see the world broadly.

Books as entry f(r)ee? Now tell me if that isn't genius. That right there is an act of change and resistance. Metalheads doing concerts to get their friend freed and also educating others? Man oh man. Mind blown.

I always hear Medellin and think of drugs, cartels, death...the concerts and tats...and government actually recognising the fact that these concerts have an impact on not only tourism but that they also bring people of all walks of life together.

And people demanding for their rights in metal music? Phenomenal.

The theme is awareness brought by metal music on resistance and I see how it correlates with our situation [in Kenya]. This country needs an awakening and I'm happy bands here are addressing such situations. Or rather starting to.

Kenyan rock bands such as Rash and Parking Lot Grass have sung against corruption. I replied:

I am so proud of our bands. I think this is the power of rock. You can't ignore the problems in society. Yes, we have fun, but many rockers are always conscious of inequalities and injustice. It's in the DNA of rock ‘n’ roll, it being descended from songs sung by African slaves in America.

Watch "Acts of Resistance: Heavy Metal Music in Latin America" here:

Acts of Resistance: Heavy Metal Music in Latin America (#HumanRightsDay online screening)

 Youtube premiere of "Acts of Resistance: Heavy Metal Music in Latin America" on #HumanRightsDay 10th December 2020, 8am (Kenyan time).

"Metal music in Latin America is simply unique. It has tackled head-on the ongoing aftermath of coloniality (poverty, dictatorships, neoliberalism) like very few other musical genres. Few people have documented it as consistently as Dr. Nelson Varas-Díaz, a Professor at Florida International University’s Department of Global and Socio-cultural Studies. This documentary film follows him as he continues his trek through Latin America, documenting the varied manifestations of metal music in the region. In this, his fourth film on the subject, he documents how metal fans and musicians use the power of music to change their societies. Whether inspiring support for rural schools in Guatemala, engagement in environmental activism in Ecuador, or work for memory and peace in Colombia, metal music has become a form of decolonial activism in Latin America. This is what happens when the music’s extreme sounds and lyrics are combined with local concerns with un buen vivir (a life well-lived). Metal has taken to the streets, and is a force to be reckoned with beyond the stage."

Youtube link

#aorrockumentary

ROFFEKE World Day for Audio Visual Heritage

 Australia - KING OF MAJESTY

This animated music video for The Marphoi Project's 'King of Majesty' tells the story of a king of a forgotten, alien world as he embarks on a quest for power and knowledge. But the lesson of his journey is not what he expects.

Director Statement

Similar to my earlier 'Ozymandias' animation, this piece examines ideas of pride, hubris and the search for meaning. The stark, alien, desert landscape provides the perfect canvas for illustrating these universal themes. I have also tried to create a dreamscape that marries well with The Marphoi Project's evocative, surreal sounds.

Director Biography

Stephen Hamacek is an Australian filmmaker, animator, actor and musician. He first came to animation at age seven, drawing onto clear 8mm film with OHP pens. He has since directed, animated and composed for numerous short films, including the award-winners, 'The Curse of the Hangman’s Stool', 'Café Noir', and 'Nuggety Bucket'. His 2007 film 'The Messenger' was selected for Tropfest’s “Best of the Rest” Australian screening tour, and more recently, his animated directorial debut 'Quandamooka Dreaming' was selected for the Lines in the Sand Film Festival on Stradbroke Island. This year he completed his Bachelor of Creative Industries (3D Design) and is in preproduction for another major animated short film and writing his first feature film.

Belgium - UFO

Boy meets girl. He turns out to be an alien.

Writer/Director - Kevin MeulDirector

Producer - The Subs (thesubs.be)

Director Biography

Kevin Meul (1979) graduated at the Sint-Lukas Film School in Brussels in 2003. His debut short film The Extraordinary Life of Rocky was selected for over 80 festivals worldwide and has won many awards (including the top prizes at the British Independent Film Festival, the Chicago International Film Festival and the Seattle International Film Festival) and was on the long list for the Academy Awards. - http://www.torinofilmlab.it/people/480-kevin-meul

Brazil - DON’T YOU HAVE A GOOD FEELING?

A young man decides to play a prank on a street cleaner in order to get the attention of a lady. But the lady has a much better idea.

Writer/Director/Producer/Actor - Regis Terencio

Canada - WONTON RAPTOR

Don't just eat the soup of life, be the Wonton Raptor!

Director Statement

I had been quite fascinated with children's chalk drawings for a while and was in the habit of filming them, using the motion of the smartphone to create a sense of movement and animation. I was looking at some of the footage, and suddenly had this image of the shark that gobbles up his soup with such a zest for life that he becomes the "Wonton Raptor." I wrote and recorded a fun voice-over track and bundled it all together into this micro short film.

Director Biography - Robert David Duncan

My core training in acting is from the Stella Adler Studio in New York. I love acting and filmmaking and Vancouver where I now live is a beautiful place to make films. I am interested in the dramas, delights, passions and heartbreaks that take place in everyday interactions (or lack thereof) between ordinary people. Most of my films have dealt with human-scale issues such as tough choices, love, dreams, hope and finding meaning and fun in life. I love an underdog story! My motto is don't let anything get in the way of telling a story that might uplift someone - film it with your smartphone if that's what you have, but get it done and share it with the world.

Finland: THE IMPERSONATORS - RODEO

Writer/Director/Editor: Elina Suominen

"Listening to Spotify one day, I heard the word 'rodeo' used in another song by the same name in exactly the opposite sense. The phrase in the tune was, 'You ain't my first rodeo.' I liked the song and the lyrics a lot but yet, found my mind drifting off to thinking how terrible it feels to go through one's very first relationship rodeo. We've all been there. It's hell and something we'll remember for the rest of our lives.'

"It was in this state of mind that I wrote most of the melody and the words to the chorus. Antti provided the remainder of the lyrics and voila, another Impersonators song was born. Well, not quite...I still had to finish the tune off with my wife Elina Suominen, who wrote the melody to the middle eight and that haunting guitar riff that begins the song. And then as always, I sent the multitrack over to Janne Saksa, who did an outstanding job with the production...just listen to the strings alone and you'll know what I mean.'

"The music video was scripted, directed, filmed and edited by my wife Elina and shooting it was great fun. There are a lot of humorous parts in it that I truly love but my favorite one is where Antti gives me a few flicks with a riding crop. You'll need to see it to believe it!"

https://www.broadwayworld.com/finland/article/The-Impersonators-Release-New-Single-And-Video-Rodeo-20200930

France: SONG NO. 23

Marianne Queval, who was voted Deaf Miss France and runner up for Deaf Miss World in 2013, performs "Il me dit que je suis belle" (He Tells Me I'm Beautiful) by Patricia Kaas, a song about women's desire to believe in men's flattery. The deaf beauty pageant parallels the regular competition but does not benefit from the same media profile.

Director: Céline Trouillet

Director Statement

I’m deaf (partially) and my student videos were mostly about the problem of communication in general and some specifically featured deaf or other handicapped people. At the same time, I grew up in the 1980s when video clips for pop songs were a new thing in France, as was karaoke and the idea that anybody could be a « pop star » (at least for a few minutes in a nightclub). Nowadays this seems to have mutated into a trend for TV talent contests where eveybody can enjoy their Warholian 15 minutes in public.

As a child I wanted to be like Madonna (the singer, not the saint) but soon came to realise that it wasn’t really possible for a deaf person. So maybe making my own videos of other people singing was a way of channeling my frustration at a later date!

The idea of the SONG series is to present a sort of non-scientific cross-section of the society around me through portraits of people I happen to meet by chance in my everyday life (I met one lady in a post office queue, for example). Some of the singers are pro or semi-pro but mostly they are amateurs or not singers at all. The quality of voice is not important. I work with the performers to find the right song that most often relates to their personal history. Otherwise it might refer to a wider social issue. Although the individuals are all quite different from one another, the format of the films is always similar (ie a close-up of a face in a shallow space) and I try to make the background as relevant or meaningful as possible.

Germany: SUPERGIRL

Music video for the song "Supergirl" by Berlin based singer Delphine Maillard.

Director: Alexander Lony

Starring: Delphine Maillard and Jerry Kwarteng.

ALM: The aim of this interview is to focus on Afro-German actors and their experiences. As far as I know, you were born in Hamburg, but your biological parents are from Ghana. Do you feel more German or African and why?

JK: This is not an easy question. First, I feel like I am from Hamburg. This is the city I was born in. As well the most important thing about Hamburg is, that the people accept you as you are.You are seen as a German no matter wherever your roots lie. In my case, I grew up in a German family and not with my Ghanaian parents. So, I feel more German than Ghananian. But, with the years I developed a strong interest in Ghana . It started with interests in Ghanaian food. When I was teenager, I started having contact with my siblings living in Ghana;that also increased my interest. Getting to know them better and getting to know what is important to them. Even though, I have not been to Ghana yet, it is on my wishlist. But Germany is my home and I work hard in the public eye to show that we Afro-Germans are part of Germany too. If you look in the media, people do not know much about Afro-Germans. They do not see us as Germans in the media. We are always foreigner . That is why I work very hard to establish a new definition of the word “German”. I want a definition which includes us and not a definition that only fixates on the colour of our skin. It is getting better in the media, but it is still a long way to go. I believe that the people in Germany, are much more understanding and have accepted that fact long ago. Of course, you have some people who cannot get their head around that fact, but well…. like I said. It is a long way.

Source: https://abylovesblogging.com/2019/03/18/jerry-kwarteng-a-ghanaian-german-in-the-german-film-industry/

Kenya: TAP

Director: Joseph Ochieng Obel

Music: “Aha” by Kenyan rock band Murfy’s Flaw

“Cheating in relationships has been heightened by the advancement of technology. TAP is a drama about how a young couple compromise on their relationship by failing to communicate, instead, each of them is an unfaithful. Official SELECTION by ROFFEKE Film Festival Kenya!”

You can watch all 50 of the featured short films and music videos via the ROFFEKE Audio Visual Heritage Day Youtube Playlist

Review: Nice Shoes - Written and Produced by Tommy Mack, Directed by Jonathan Lawrence

Reviewer: Tetley

This epic music video has a captivating plot, making reference to over 40 popular Sci-fi movies and shows. A guy abducts an alien during its autopsy and takes it back to its mother-ship in an attempt to rescue it. Touching on space exploration and human experience with complex character exploration from the cast.

There’s nothing fancy about the lyrics. The line,“…At the end of the day, I am everything and I am nothing…” was what saved the otherwise crappy lyrics of the song. Regardless, this epic music video definitely makes your to-watch-before-I-die list.

Reviewer: Love Kassim (June 3rd 2020)

The video is captivating. Definitely in trend considering Space X trials to the moon and over are ongoing. I like the Sci-fi theme, in this case, the shoes being either the aliens or the astronauts. Rammstein meets Limp Bizkit type of vibe. Music is thought provoking; that line "I am everything and I am nothing." 

I love the inclusion of the Star Wars characters. Other Sci-fi references I noticed include Back to the Future, Men In Black, and Terminator.

Note from ROFFEKE: In this poster, there is reference to ET and Lexx. Top left is of course Men In Black. What are the other two Sci-fi shows/movies in this poster? In the music video, the opening is a parody of The Twilight Zone. Check out the whole music video here and see how many Sci-fi references you can list!

World Suicide Prevention Day 2020: Interview with Nikita Litvinov, director of "Elevator to the Top Floor"

My name is Nikita Litvinov, I am from St. Petersburg, Russia. I am the director of the movie "The Elevator to the Top Floor"

ROFFEKE: What do you consider to be success? Litvinov: It is a great success for me that we managed to implement this project. This is my debut film as a fiction director, before that I only shot documentaries. It is important for me that about 20 festivals around the world - from South Korea to the United States and Kenya have agreed to show our film. The most important thing is that the audience is watching it.

ROFFEKE: What challenges did you face as you were directing "Elevator to the top floor"? Litvinov: There were quite a few difficulties. We had little time to shoot (about two days) and a very modest production budget. But thanks to the help of like-minded people and the production company "Potential", we were able to cope with all this. The shooting was not easy due to my inexperience. Many of the things that I wanted to see from the actors didn't get to be fully realized. But I'm not ashamed of the result - it's important.

ROFFEKE: How do you take care of your mental well-being? Litvinov: I still don't know how to stay cool and always be confident in myself. Sometimes I find it difficult to cope with emotions, I am a very expressive director. Maybe with experience I will become calmer, who knows? So far, I think so - you need to constantly shoot something, be in the process. Then your creative energy is always in good shape.

ROFFEKE: Advice for aspiring filmmakers? Litvinov: What advice do I have for aspiring filmmakers? First of all, don't be afraid. Making a movie takes a lot of courage - from start to finish. You must be ready to walk this path. Cinema is always research, you never know what will turn out in the end. But if there is a huge will and desire, you need to rush into it headlong and constantly learn something new. Yes, these are very common words, but something like this, I think, and it works.

ELEVATOR TO THE TOP FLOOR from My Video Pro on Vimeo.

("Elevator to the top floor" will be available online, only on 10th September 2020 during World Suicide Prevention Day, from (Kenyan time) 12:01 am to 11:59pm. You can watch it here: )

Review: The River Don't Care

"Love the video. The unresounding effort of a band to start new somewhere else. LA in this case is very different and welcoming. It shows the lengths bands go to to find a niche even if it means to up and leave. I think they should have played the song not just in the background and then tell their story as cut out excerpts in between the video. The video reminds me of behind the scenes of U2, touring and production of their songs. I generally like the vibe and now I have to Google their complete song and have a listen." - Love Kassim "The part I liked most about this is that everyone has what it takes to be what he/she wants to be in future, as long as you believe in yourself, for everything is possible in a willing heart. Best friends in our lives add more value to our lives as they encourage us on our way to success. The most beautiful message in this is how we can choose our friends and it is not a matter of having many friends but what is important is having valuable friends." - Mereru David Stanley

ROFFEKE Conference: Spotlight on ROFFEKE Interns

Thank you so much Lesley Gakuo, Joseph Ochieng and Josephine Koima. You rock!

Review: Dear John

Reviewer: Mereru David Stanley

Fabulous song and a very beautiful composition by Kristen. Kristen is trying to express her love to John, how she loves him and how she has missed him.I like the content of this song: love is a beautiful bond that brings two souls together and distance does not separate true lovers but what is important is the true love between the two souls.This reminds me of the special person in my life; that distance may separate us now but my true love remains strong.I really love this song so much and the true content in it.

Reviewer: Love Kassim

I like the song. Vocals are not up there but it's a decent song. From what I gathered, the theme is loss. A lover or family who left them behind. Seems like there wasn't any closure.

They have dragged the song especially since the rapper comes in late and if someone was looking forward to that part, they'd have tuned out. The rapper should have had a longer part though coz them alone is just blunt.

Nice aesthetics!

"Kristen Karma explores the pain of loss with “Dear John (Feat. Marian Hann, Mr. ATP)”. Lyricism possesses a keen anguish for it explores the feeling of losing a parent."

"Dedicated to the memory of her father, with “Dear John” Kristen Karma gives us a thematic song that warms the heart and pulls at the strings of our deepest feelings.The result of her collaboration with emerging artist Marian Hanna and rap artist Mr. ATP, “Dear John” is a song with warm and colloquial lyrics. The theme of the track brings a moving message that melts hearts, to which anyone who has ever lost a loved one can relate ...."

ROFFEKE UNIVERSITY: Lessons 1 - Slave Trade, The Blues and Rock 'n' Roll

“The history of rock and roll is a history of race, of gender, of class, of protest, and it is tied deeply into the structure and struggles that underlie society's foundations. From the protest music of the Vietnam War era to the boundary-pushing sexuality of David Bowie in the 70s to the dirty urban angst of the 90s, chronologically tracing the turning points in rock music is not so different than flipping through the pages of a textbook.” - Jeva Lange, “The most important class I ever took: Rock-and-roll history” #roffekeuniversity

Review: Pagando al Barquero (Pay the Ferryman)

Reviewer: Love Kassim

"Logline: Before the terminal boat ride, an old punk rocker travels back in space and time to try to make his life count."

Love the theme... music is great

Sultans, Pharaos, Caesars, Mandarins
all lusted for what Faust once tasted
but neither soothsayers, magicians
or monuments of blood
ever managed to move Caron.
They all sought special treatment,
to be placed above good or evil,
but whether Whores, Queens or Panhandlers,
we must all pay the ferryman

Concept is a tadbit confusing... did the lady pay the tribute to the ferryman? and is that tribute the kid? Who has grown to be that vocalist...

"Synopsis: On his final journey, the ferryman presents an old punk rocker with one ultimate ordeal. Judgement, symbolized in the figure of his young daughter, is held hostage while he chases death in a nightmare run through a tunnel which transports him instantly to the Madrid of his youth."

I see it's a going back in time kind of thing but one wouldn't get it if they have never seen similar themes.

"Shedding off the years and old age as he runs, he tries desperately to pass the trial and pay for the continuity of his child, before his own blood runs the last few drops of his existence through the hourglass of eternity."

The video reminds me of the supposed molten sulphur river where grim reaper sails you across to meet your doom.


Disrobe of your name and unmask your face,
where you're going you won’t be needing them
for as tears in rain your memories dissolve
in the voices of an immortal stream.
Your deadline is now being met,
you had your time to learn the lesson:
you only take what you leave behind,
once you pay the ferryman

I love the quality of the video.

Check out stills from the music video as you listen to an audio review by Winnie Miriti:

ROFFEKE Happiness Day, Corona Virus, Social Distancing and Staying Connected

20th March is International Day of Happiness. ROFFEKE had planned to commemorate this day with a physical meeting, screenings and talks but in light of current happenings, it is prudent not to meet physically. But that doesn't mean we can't meet online! The event will take place online with speakers, watch parties and discussions. Stay safe AND stay connected. ROFFEKE's motto remains Friendship, Fun, Freedom. Join us on Facebook:
https://web.facebook.com/events/213263963212200/

VIDEO POSTER OF THE EVENT

Centric Air Ambulance represented at ROFFEKE #edumental #EducationDay event

Victor Mumo represented Centric Air Ambulance at the ROFFEKE International Education Day event which was commemorated on January 24th 2020. Below is a transcription of his presentation:

The company is called Centric Air Ambluance. We are a medical evacuation business. We offer services such as ground rescue, air evacuation, medical escort, hospital transfers and others. We have membership products in such a way that you can access all these services for free, for a period of one year.

We have different packages. One package is called Centric Resident. With this package, you will get unlimited ground rescue, that is, you can be air evacuated anywhere depending with the area you are covered in. You will get services such as: unlimited ground rescue, unlimited air evacuation and unlimited hospital transfers. This cover only goes for Kshs 2463, paid once a year. Just in case of any emergency, you will be evacuated within 8 to 15 minutes and either taken to the nearest hospital or even the hospital of your choice.

Why should you choose Centric Air Ambulance? First, we are affordable. We reach all classess of people. We are available any time. Whenever you need us, we will be there for you. Within Kenya, in case you are air evacuated, it will cost between $2500-10,000. When you have the cover, it will only cost Kshs 2463.

Check out the different Centric packages here.

And in keeping with the theme of education, check out the Centric Scholar package below:

#Edumental #EducationDay ROFFEKE Event: Speakers Bios and Quotes

"I love teaching children. They are my joy. You may go to work feeling down and a child will say "Hi teacher!" And you forget all about your problems. As an ECD teacher, we go through a lot; from the administration, from the parents and even from the neighbours. Getting underpaid is the biggest issue. ECD teachers are the most underpaid teachers in the country. When I started teaching, my first salary was Ksh 2000. And my boss by then would not even pay me that Ksh 2000. He would stay with it for 3 months. One time he told me: "You do the least work." I had 35 pupils in my class, all below 5 years. If you want to start a family, you may not get maternity leave. Right now, the school year ends in October. No pay in November and December and sometimes even in October." - Grace Gicheru.

Grace Gicheru is a 25 year old teacher with four years experience. She has a diploma in ECDE.

"There is a myth that the human brain stops developing at a certain age. In 2005, new information emerged that the brain develops continuously. There is a higher potential for the human brain than we thought. And even those who have mental challenges still have a great potential. Like in the movie "A Beautiful Mind", the character had mental challenges but he became a Nobel Laureate." -Dr. Hussein.

Dr. Hussein is a Medical Doctor that’s amazed by humanity’s potential. Specialized in Clinical Psychiatry, probing Mental Health and Wellness, seeking to puzzle out what makes us tick and how by far we uniquely respond.

Wangari Kabiru is a consultant and Champion for YEES! Program Africa, an education leadership program that delivers an enterprise education curriculum to school kids. She serves as a dispute neutral (CPM). Wangari is a fan of technology, game thinking, entrepreneurship and travel.

"Whenever we address mental health, we need to first address the society. Secondly, we need to address education. How are we taking care of our kids who are thinking outside (of the standard design of the) education system? We are channeled into one system of thinking where you have to get a white collar job. We are quick to judge people rather than first understand them." - Dr. Shevvy Mugweru.

Dr. Shevvy Mugweru is a medic with eight years experience, he has worked at KENWA, Aphia plus, Nairobi Hospital, D.O.D and now works in a private practice. He specializes in A and E Psychiatry and EMT.

"In whatever field you are in, you will interact with some legality. Two issues are very important to mental health: human rights and Intellectual Property rights especially since the latter has everything to do with creative arts which is an element that is sometime displayed by mental health victims. There are laws that protect you when you create something on your own volition and/or when you are employed. Our education system, especially at the higher level, needs to introduce teaching of basic law to all for the betterment and benefit of society in general." - Njoroge Mwaura.

Njoroge Mwaura is a laywer practicing in Nairobi with the firm BMN Advocates. Focusing on general legal consultancy, real estate, criminal litigation and intellectual property rights. When not lawyering his interests are in creative art, writing, performance and sports.

"Environ-Mental. Mental health and the environment are two sides of the same coin. I think children should be taught about the environment so that as they grow up, they are aware that whatever they do will either have a negative or positive effect on the environment and by extension, on their mental health and the mental health of others." -Emma Ochieng,

Emma Ochieng is the Founder of Towards a Better Earth Initiative. Twitter: @TBEi

"Where do children seek affirmation? What defines them as human? Are they defined by their gadgets? If they don't get (social media) "likes", do they get depressed? Do they have FOMO - Fear Of Missing Out? Have important values been addressed?" - Annmercy Wairimu.

Annmercy Wairimu is a tech enthusiast with a special interest in user experience design and cyber security of our devices.

VIDEO PROGRAMME OF THE EVENT

VIDEO POSTER OF THE EVENT

Interview: Abbie Hills - Writer, Director, Producer and Art Director of Texas Radio

"Its 1972, 4 outcasts from Texas follow their favourite band on a psychedelic trip across America."

ROFFEKE: Period pieces pose many potential problems. What challenges did you face in the making of this short film set in 1972?

Abbie: Most if not all of my films up until now have been period pieces, I love creating something in tribute to a particular decade and do my best to evoke authenticity with costume, set design and even the dialogue and story. With this piece in particular the most difficult part was finding the van that the kids steal. Unfortunately, we weren't successful in getting an actual 70's van but I think we made a good go with what we have.

ROFFEKE: You were the writer, director and producer of Texas Radio. Which of those three roles would you say was the easiest for you and why? Which of the three was the hardest and why?

Abbie: The short film was actually taken from a feature film script that I had written while at university, so it was difficult to choose which parts to include in the short, so I decided just to show a 'through the keyhole' experience of the whole road trip. In reality, the kids actually travel from Texas to San Francisco and encounter many problems and parties throughout, but I just couldn't show it all in the short.

The directing was super fun and enjoyable as I had such a clear vision, fortunately I had a wonderful crew who shared that vision with me, so that part was probably the easiest. That would leave producing being the hardest part, there were so many little things to remember at all times, not to mention all of the paperwork, permission to film, making sure everyone was in the right place at the right time..... It's a very stressful process but still so fun!

ROFFEKE: Writer. Director. Producer. Art Director. How did you not go crazy during the making of this film? :-) In more diplomatic terms, how did you maintain your mental health? What self-care strategies do you use as a filmmaker to maintain your equilibrium?

Abbie: I think I did go crazy to some extent, but then... so do all filmmakers i guess. With this film I did a great deal of planning in advance and had different stages to the pre production. As i said before, I already had the script written so it wasn't a totally new idea. I'm a very visual person so would scribble and doodle pretty much everything, including the characters and their outfits. In terms of art direction, I am a bit of a hoarder and love a jumble sale, so some of the props and costume I had collected over time. I think one of the best self care strategies I had on this film was the wonderful team around me, by the end of the week we were all like a big family. Sometimes when you are so invested in something you lose sight of looking after yourself, that's where we all took the time to look after each other - you don't get that with big productions usually.

ROFFEKE: As a female filmmaker, what unique perspective did you bring in the writing, directing and producing of Texas Radio?

Abbie: I'm not sure if being a female made any difference to me creating the story, more my love for the culture of the decade, the music and fashion etc.

ROFFEKE: What was your role in the song "Getaway Roy"?

One of the main things I wanted to create for this film was an original soundtrack. I had never written a song before, but I had an idea for an album for this film, and the story of what each song would be about. For Getaway Roy, I wanted a happy - sad country song about a boy that runs away from home. I wrote the lyrics, with no idea how to make it into a song and I gathered the musicians who were already involved in the film and said 'help me make this into a song.' they did a fantastic job over a jam session, and then we took it to the studio.

ROFFEKE: If you could do this all over again, what one thing would you do differently?

Abbie: Shoot it over more time, definitely!

ROFFEKE: Advice for female filmmakers?

Abbie: I would give the same advice to all filmmakers, regardless of their gender. Keep creating, find a crew that you love to work with - and keep working!

Watch Texas Radio here

Abbie Hills is the Company Director and Talent Scout at The Dazey Hills Company
facebook.com/thedazeyhillsco
instagram.com/thedazeyhillsco

Remembering Nikola Tesla

Tomorrow is the 77th death anniversary of one of the greatest scientists that many people do not know about. Attempts to cover up, destroy, ignore or belittle the achievements of Nikola Tesla largely succeeded, although in recent years, more and more people have become aware of the great contribution that this genius made.

The global rock 'n' roll community has done its part to shed light on the genius of this man who we should spare a thought for when we switch on the lights:

Tesla

Brought the X-ray photo to the world

Brought the AC power to the world

From They Might Be Giants, to Math Rock band Jardin de la Croix to the band that was renamed Tesla, rock bands have not shied away from paying tribute to Nikola Tesla.

He was electromagnetic, completely kinetic,

"New Wizard of the West."

But they swindled and whined that he wasn't our kind,

And said Edison knew best.

In 2017, on his 161st birthday, ROFFEKE did its small part to celebrate Nikola Tesla. Read the blog post here.