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.

Vale of Ammonition acceptance speech at #hbawards

I'd like to thank all the people who've been along for the journey. There's been a lot of people in and out of this band. From Japheth to Zach and so on, who are not with us right now. This is for me and this is for Solomon Dust(?) who slaved over a lot of the material that has sort of propelled us to the main - not really the mainstream; we're still very underground, but um - the stuff that has sort of gotten us to the point in our career where we are actually a force to be reckoned with.

I want to thank our manager Darrell, he's right here with me, he came through. He's sort of helped us to get to a very good point. He's right here.

I want to thank Aaron.

I want to thank Chuck Suo(?), the very first person who released our material on vinyl.

Steve Gene, Ugandan producer and his brother Henry, who recorded our material.

Hueskillz, he showed up for concerts...

I want to thank anyone who has ever lent us gear.

I want to thank Ivan, he lent us gear.

I want to thank Djae of Crystal Axis, he lent us gear.

I am so proud to do this in Nairobi. You guys have always embraced us with open arms. You've always been there for the band. You embraced us way before Uganda embraced us. We're gonna keep on doing what we're doing so thank you very much.

The Right Now and The Other: A Comparison

Kenyan rock band Murfy's Flaw released the music video of their song "The Right Now" on 19/9/19. The song is featured on their most recent album "Nataka Sitaki" which was also released on the same day as the music video.

"The Other” is the first Solitude in Apathy single taken off their debut EP and was "composed spontaneously during a rehearsal". The music video was directed by Gaetano Massa.

Similarities

1. Nature

The setting for "The Right Now" is all outdoors, with plenty of trees, rocks and even a cave.

The opening shot of "The Other" is outdoors, with plenty of trees and a big rock.

2. Slow Motion Walk

There are copious amounts of the slow motion walk in both music videos.

According to The Society of Aerial Cinematography:

"...overcranking makes footage look smoother in addition to slower, so it tends to give the subject a more dramatic, epic, or massive feel." The traditional use of overcranking was "simply to slow down time in a shot in order to convey importance, add suspense, give time for the audience to inspect the frame, or mirror a character’s psychological state."

"The Other" is "about the will to understand the other or simply oneself, reaching its epilogue with the inability to truly do it; the same themes underpin the fascinating video directed by Gaetano Massa."

According to TVtropes.org:

"...in movies featuring Godzilla and similar monsters, overcranking adds a sense of ponderous weight to the monsters' motion."

I wonder, who is the monster/The Other in "The Right Now"?

Differences

1. Light vs Dark

Although lyrically there is a bit of light in "The Other" ("The song...is built around a single sentence “In the other, try to see”), "The Other" is decidedly darker than "The Right Now", at least in terms of the sound of the song and the images of the music video. This is in keeping with the genres that Solitude in Apathy draw their influences from: "...shoegaze to darkwave and alternative rock, with a hint of gothic."

Light saturates the lyrics of "The Right Now":

Far-off streaming lights like a rainbow

Savour the moment while it’s open, and still honest
Don’t fear

...as long as we commit to the right now
That's something we will never regret


But there is also a hint of the underlying darkness in the song:

But you know the stars never cared,
And as we kissed they just callously stared, with their icy glares

2. Band vs No Band

Solitude in Apathy makes an appearance in the music video for "The Other" while in "The Right Now" Murfy's Flaw is no where to be seen, thus joining the long list of rock music videos where the band is not seen.

From the list of ROFFEKE official selections, here are a few of such music videos:

Rita
A bigger man
Cadger
Astronaut

Astronaut in Room 403: When two films talk to each other

As luck (fate?) would have it, Astronaut (directed by Pierre Ponchant) was submitted to ROFFEKE right after Spinoza Hotel: Room 403 (directed by Dr. Robert David Duncan). I usually watch the short films/music videos in the order they were submitted so I couldn't help but immediately notice the similarities between these two works of art. It's like Astronaut is an amplification or continuation of Room 403. But don't just take my word for it; see for yourself how these two films are talking to each other! (The lyrics of Astronaut are in bold while the narration from Room 403 is in italics)

Looking at the window, it's another day
Man that sun is a monster
I hate the day
Woke up very tired just like yesterday
The time I spend down here is a necessity
I dress up like man and I take my place
But that's just to keep this body going
Maybe all your dreams will come true
Maybe no one cares about you
I know a guy who knows how

Trains tickets for nowhere on a holiday
My entire place is a radio paradise
Every friday night I play silly games
Most of the time I'm in touch with my brothers in space
I follow the horizon it's the only direction
They orbit and orbit and I orbit with them
There's something wrong in me but I can't think of another way
I can decipher the static and check in with my souls
Maybe all your dreams will come true
Maybe no one cares about you
That's why I had to get to the top floor
Moving closer until I got 403 with the roof access

Up there
I have my foil antenna up there
Everything must
Be so tiny
The foil is as good as a microwave dish
Oh so tiny

One day, you'll see,
I won't come back
One day, you'll see
I'm not coming back tonight
I'm going to convert myself to pure radio emissions
and just upload into space

"Room 403 is another follow-up to the award-winning trio of films. In this one, we meet the Cosmonaut, who operates a network of radios from his room, communicating with lost spirits in space, a place he hopes to transport himself to someday."

"Astronaut is a no budget Space Odyssey, a voyage into the imaginary world of a hero who, night after night, explores the universe seeking for a safe haven."

This Day on Kenya Rocks: December 13th 2004

It's Friday the 13th! What luck that one of the very active members of Kenya Rocks agreed to have some of the messages he posted on the Kenya Rocks Yahoo group reposted on this blog. This is what he wrote on December 13th, fifteen years ago!

My Weekend Rockscapades
MAMBONO Dec 13 9:25 PM
What an event filled weekend, went Sikiliza rock night on Saturday, damn those mud fighters, problem is the bunch of kids around. Come Sunday, The venue was Choices, hooked up with one of my rockfreak pals. We brought the underground sitting area down. We had like this makeshift rock band downstairs, got each of us three straws, one for taking our beers (ohh you don't get that much drunk when you use straws to take your beer, no hangovers... and it's so cooool, come on go ahead next time you are out taking some beer, ask for a straw as well) and two for, guess what....... well for our "drums". LOL I love that. So like I we was three guys, one doing drums at some point and the other two doing the guitars, well you would find that once in a while the numbers interchanged. So we rock down the place, playing each song that comes around apart from the techno stuff(Rasmus, Darude) and that bad rock from Shania Twain and the other "commoner" rock. That's when we would sit down to sip our beers and take a rest from our "busy schedules". Well my two pals were able to hook up with some chics just because of that, other tables started ordering for their own straws and we had some "Battle of the Bands" downstairs, well underground, that's where the whole show was taking place. Don't ask me if I hooked up with any chic, just for the record my Rock does't mix with chics, either one of them will suffer if the other was brought into play, and knowing me as I am, rock makes up half of the primary pillars in my life(comps make the other half), so definitely the chic would have to suffer, so why not save the maiden some heartbreak and concentrate on my drums.

Well all this ended up with some guy who used to play guitars for Hot rod having an interest in us and we got some contacts, the dude's called Leroy like Wheatus' Leroy( Leroy's my mojo man tonight). Oh you don't want to know what I've been planning with my pals for sometime, but you just chill out I will let you in on one of rock's best kept secrets pretty soon.

Well I realised one thing though, Kenyans are not that much into metal or even hard rock, the hardest it's ever gone for them is Bryan Adams and BonJovi. When it goes almost metal, then it's Linkin Park, but you know what, I guess Numb's not yet touched the hearts of many (phew, no more waste at last). Ok I digged my rock all night, till the phuckin DJ started his Techno so I was back to my beer for a while while the tweeps got jumping up and down, until rock was back and I hit the floor running till early morning when we hit out everyone to go home.

As for one of my pals who had hooked up with these chics earlier on, well he was reduced to a chauffer, having to drop all of them at their diggz. SO much for hookin up with a chic in a club, if it's not the beers you buy her, then you drop her home, and if you are not like me, then you might just get lucky and get some One night stand. HAHAHA. I wonder if he had a 5 some or not :-) HAHAHA.

Well there goes the story of my weekend and my rockscapades. Damn what a Sunday night.

ROFFEKE WORLD PHILOSOPHY DAY AND MENTAL HEALTH EVENT: PROGRAMME AND SPEAKERS' BIOS

THEME: Philosophy and Mental Health

VENUE: American Spaces, 5th Floor, Bazaar Plaza (cbd)

TIME: 5PM to 7.30PM

CONTACT PERSON: Mildred Achoch
Whatsapp 0799149677
Email: mildandred@gmail.com
Twitter: @roffeke
Facebook: facebook.com/rffke

HASHTAGS: #worldphilosophyday #mentalphilosophy

PROGRAMME
5:00-5:10pm
Refreshments and Introduction/Welcoming Remarks

5.10-5:15
Speaker Session
Mental Health
Grace Wanjiru
Planning and Coordination Secretary, www.alfajirispace.com

5:15-5:30
Speaker Session
Mental health: Who, What, Where, When, How?
Brian Emmanuel Maina
Mental Health Champion.

5:30-6:00pm
Short Film/Music video Screenings
Red Omen by Ed Roman and N. Diaz
Everyday by Jethro Massey
Souled Out by Stephen Broekhuizen
Spinoza Hotel by Robert David Duncan
140 characters by Dean Winkler

6:00-6:10pm
Speaker Session
Tech and Mental Health - Annmercy Wairimu
- Tech gadgets (mainly smartphone use).
- How you get pulled to the gadget and its effects on mental health.
- Tips for promoting more efficient phone/tech relationships

6.15-6:40pm
Screening
Rock is not an attitude by Xiaoxiao Tang
Be my Rebel by Virgil Widrich
Livin’ Free by Dave Tabar
Pangea by Derek Frey

6.40-6:55pm
Speaker Session
Mental health philosophy: How to manage/deal with patients suffering from mental health illnesses - Dr. Shevvy Mugweru

6:55-7:00 Closing Remarks/Vote of Thanks

7:00-7:30 Networking/One on one Session
Guests/Brian Maina and team.

Read the detailed programme Here.

SPEAKERS BIOS

BRIAN EMMANUEL M. MAINA
Brian is a visual artist and innovator who is passionate about Mental Health Awareness and Anti-stigma campaign. He was diagnosed with Bipolar 2 disorder at 21 years and Clinical Depression at 26 years. He used his lived experience with a mental illness to sensitize people about the importance of mental health and opening up to the conversation so as to challenge stigma. He is now one of the pioneers of a Global Mental Health Anti-stigma Campaign by Time To Change Global here in Kenya and runs an online based safe space for young people and marginalized communities to access information and help in regards to their mental health.

DR. SHEVVY MUGWERU
Dr. 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.

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

GRACE WANJIRU
Grace is the Planning and Coordination Secretary at www.alfajirispace.com

ROFFEKE and LTMHK WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY event - Programme

PROGRAMME

5:00-5:30 Registration, Refreshments, Entertainment (Entertainment by DJ Hueskillz).

5:30-5:35 Introduction/Welcoming Remarks by Mildred Achoch (Founder, ROFFEKE)

5:35-5:45 Speaker Session: "Emotional pain fuels suicide" by James Kinyala Nyiva (Actor and filmmaker)

5:45-5:55 Short Film/Music video Screenings
Wonton Raptor directed by Robert David Duncan
Contagious directed by Neil Haeems and Raviv Haeems
Broken Lullaby directed by Stella Rosen and Bill McGarvey

5.55-6:00 Spoken Word Session by Jefferson Kinuthia (Filmmaker and poet)
A girl commits suicide. Her ghost discovers people’s opinions of the suicide.

6.00-6:05 Speaker Session: "Environ-Mental Health" by Emma Ochieng (Founder of “Towards a better earth” initiative)

6.05-6:10 Speaker Session:
Why are suicide cases on the rise among youth?
What are the leading reasons for this increase in suicide cases?
Mitigation?

by Kelvin Mabonga (Founder, Mabbo Creative Ltd, creative director of WATTS-UP magazine)

6.10-6:15 Speaker Session: EMT Experiences by Jacktone Tamba

6.15-6:20 Speaker Session: "Reaching out: Being a friend no matter what"
Mary Kiio, director of Roshani Consultancy Services (Roshani CS) will speak on the impact losing a friend to suicide had on her and what she is doing in her own small way to reach out to others so that no other friend is a suicide statistic. Mary Kiio

6:20-6:40 Short Film Screening
Nevermind directed by Jean-Marc E. Roy
Tap directed by Joseph Ochieng

6:40-6:50 Speaker Session: "Psychological reprieve approach to minimize suicide" by Dr. Shevvy Mugweru (A and E psychiatry/EMT)

6:50-6:59 Short Film Screening
PHAT Girl performed and directed by One Single Rose aka Rosemarie Wilson (Filmmaker/Poet)

7:00-7:25 Panel Session followed by Q and A

7:25-7:30 Vote of Thanks, Speed Networking, Guest leave

Register HERE

ROFFEKE and LTMHK World Suicide Prevention Day Event: Speakers and Panelists Bios

Hiram Chomba is a Psychotherapist working at Befrienders Kenya. He also works as a Suicodologist at Befrienders Kenya. He is a member of the International Association for Suicide Prevention. He is passionate about preventing suicide and raising awareness on mental health.

Keziah Githinji is a PhD film scholar and a film lecturer. She is passionate about dealing with films on maternal health & mental health.

Mary Kiio is the director of Roshani Consultancy Services (Roshani CS). She conducts customized media engagement trainings for journalists and organizations interested in working with the media, and is a communication practitioner. Mary is also a freelance journalist and author of a children's book. She serves as an editorial board member of the Kenya Farmer Journal, a publication of the Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK).

Jefferson Kinuthia is a filmmaker by profession. Poetry is his talent. He loves spending time alone “coz that’s when creative thinking happens.”

James Kinyala Nyiva is a 21 year old award winning actor (MVT Awards). He is a director and a filmmaker but specializes in acting. He loves true stories, which is why he creates films based on true stories. He is a mentor and gives back to society.

Kelvin Mabonga is a graphic designer and a creative director of WATTS-UP Magazine. He holds a degree in communication and graphic design. He is the founder of Mabbo Creative Ltd. He is also an organizing committee member of East Africa Women in Energy Conference and Awards, a council member of FGM to STEM initiative of Women in Energy in partnership with Amref Health Africa. He is passionate about the involvement of youth in the SDGs, communication for development paradigms, climate change, and clean energy.

Doctor 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.

Mwari Muthaura is an independent health practioner and consultant. She graduated from Wheaton Graduate School in Illinois, Chicago with an M.A. in Clinical Psychology. She also holds a B.A. in Social Work.

Emma Ochieng is an environmentalist and the founder of an initiative dubbed “Towards a better earth”. She is also a student pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce degree. Twitter: @emmaochieng5

David Ogot is a published author and multiple award-winning print and electronic journalist who earlier on almost had his career cut short permanently by his now raging disease of alcoholism. He finally managed to end a 27-year drug use and abuse “career” which included several suicide attempts, before founding in February 2001 the goinghomedotcom Trust, a media NGO and an organization of addicts and those affected by addiction. The organization agitates for the rights of addicts, while also carrying out awareness, prevention, counselling, treatment, social reintegration, as well as policy formulation activities. #ulizakiatus

Jacktone Tamba has been in the field of pre-hospital care for 19 years. He has been an EMT for 10 years and has worked with several ambulance providers including Kenya Red Cross. He is currently with Medecins Sans Frontiers.

Popularly known in the showbiz world as Jemedari, Joseph Wambua is a Musician, Elite MC, Voice Artist, Biker, Ad Exec and recently taking on the new challenge of being a Mental Health Champion. He has been vocal in different circuits concerning mental health and uses his experiences of the same to talk about suicide prevention, trigger management and alternative approaches to wellness.

Register HERE

#WSPDrock #WSPD2019

"Mpenzi" by Simply Tomas...in beautiful sign language!

I have always wanted to learn sign language. I think it is so beautiful and graceful. So when I was introduced to someone who knows sign language, I asked her if she could translate the chorus of a Kenyan rock song into sign language. Check out the result:

Review: Sustainable Futures, Survivor Girls

ROFFEKE is honoured to welcome Rahma Rashid as a new intern. She graduated from Egerton University with a Bsc in Natural Resources Management. Rahma's personal statement can be read after her first ROFFEKE review below.

Director: Nicole Watson
Duration: 8 minutes 44 seconds
Location: Kolkata, India.
Reviewer: Rahma Rashid

Sustainable Futures, Survivor Girls is an inspiring story of hope and resilience, directed by Nicole Watson. It focuses on the issue of human trafficking and the contribution that people can make in societal matters.

India is a heavily populated country with not enough consideration on SDG 10 which focuses on equality. Economic status, caste, color etc... inequality in India - just like in many other countries - is a major issue. For a society existing within strong cultural morals, it is indeed a shame that man uses this as an opportunity to sexually exploit the girl child. The most painful bit is that this is done to a minor, using what would seem to be very 'righteous courses'. An 8 year old who has not even attained puberty! It angers me as much as it makes my heart weep.

In Nicole's short documentary, we also get to see how a centre like Sanlaap, commendably contributes to the rehabilitation of these girls and SDG 16. In a world where praise and support is granted to unworthy politicians, people do need to get their priorities straight and show support where it's due.

The film talks about the use of solar power as a form of renewable energy and its advantages, like it's facilitation in the accessibility of clean water, thereby contributing to both SDG 6 and 7. At a time when the world is mourning the loss of the Amazon Forest, it's a good assurance that people are paying attention to the environment. And hey, for anyone who didn't get the science behind the working of solar panels, this is your chance! A briefing of the same is made in the film! You are welcome.

All in all, it is amazing to learn that good still exists in this world. For women like Nicole, Sindhura, Indrani and Priyanka, we learn that aid comes from a single soul. It starts from the little input one gives. Let's not be ignorant of our surroundings. Just like the Survivor Girls, no situation is permanent, we all need a stretched out hand to give us hope where there is none.

***

RAHMA RASHID'S PERSONAL STATEMENT

Rahma is a result oriented female interested and ready to transfer her academic knowledge and professional experience into a challenging work setting while contributing to her own personal growth. She has a background in Natural Resource Management that makes her better understand the principle of sustainability to achieve the set sustainable development goals.

Dr. Robert David Duncan on improv acting, collaborating and giving back

ROFFEKE: This collaboration begun with your status update:

“I like to make myself available as an actor to one or two indie projects in the summers as a way to give back and say thanks for all the support I've enjoyed with my own projects. If you have a part you'd like to write me into or have me consider, do feel free to be in touch and we'll see what can work out. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5399017”

How important is it for actors to “give back” and what are the advantages of doing this?

ROBERT: In the indie no-budget film world, we are almost always begging favours and hoping people can help us, often for free. That's an unfortunate reality of the work, and even if we have a tiny bit of money, we can never pay people what they are worth. So the art of making indie films becomes a lot about trading favours, and that's where "paying it forward" is a good habit to get into. For my part as a producer-director, I can help by giving people a good experience on my films. I try to keep the days short, with an eye to efficiency and respectfulness. I'd like people to go home feeling good about the work so that they will help someone else some day. I can also help by making sure people get IMDb credits right away, and by doing my best to have the films get out into festivals and beyond so our work gets out there. I also like to offer people their "one-up" position as much as possible, which was a piece of advice I got from a director who was very helpful to me early-on. What this means is a supporting or character type actor can get a shot at a lead role, a background actor can try out having some lines for a change, a person who hasn't done sound but wants to learn can hoist a boom and get a bit of field experience with the recording gadgetry; basically it means that people can try out the next level up that they are aspiring to. For this reason, i see my productions as training vehicles for people, and we treat them as educational opportunities, creating a culture of sharing knowledge and taking chances on people so they can grow. So when I look back on all the goodwill people have extended to me, I like to give back by offering to help others when I can. For me, the most fun way to do that is by offering my time as an actor, since it is what I like to do most, and making my own films and being responsible for the work of others can actually take me away from acting for the pure joy of it!

ROFFEKE: The project required you to improvise. How does improvisation help actors to improve their skills/craft?

ROBERT: Improvisation turns accidents into gifts! A table that gets knocked down on stage unintentionally by an actor can turn into a hilarious moment or a great character reveal. It's all in how you handle things. By training in improv, an actor gains a great sense of being present in the moment with maximum flexibility and a willingness to say "yes" to all sorts of things that happen. It creates a great framework for fun story development with a spirit of playfulness. One of the improv games I like is one where an actor says something, and the other actor says "Yes, and..." and then adds another little bit to the story, passing it back or on to someone else who says "Yes, and..." There are various versions of that kind of game, but they all create a sense of positivity that keeps something growing and building, and each person comes to realize that they don't have to say something totally amazing, but rather they just have to be accepting of what is sent their way and build on it a little bit. I love improv and I encourage everyone to try to take a weekend workshop or something if they can or get a book from the library and try it with a few friends, or watch some YouTubes to see some good improv games. It's fun, and will help your acting immensely!

(Robert was gracious enough to avail "The Dance of Collaboration", an excerpt from "Improv to Improve your Business". Interested in checking it out? Send an email to mildandred@gmail.com).

ROFFEKE: In this project, you went the extra mile; researching how we say hi in Sheng, putting the Shenganiguns logo in the background. What are some of the ways that actors can go the extra mile?

This was a fun project! I think it is important for actors to understand some key things, such as where their part fits into the overall story, who their character is and the function of the character in helping get the story across. It's often said there are no small parts, but actually there are, and the size and importance of the role to the story should to some extent guide the actor's preparation. A role like the one I just did for the Shenganiguns was not intended to be a major role or one of the sustaining characters responsible for carrying a lot of the story line. I saw it more as being like a single piano chord: "bom!" and you're out of there as the story moves on. A bit of funny counterpoint to whatever is going on in the main story, perhaps to illustrate the growth of the band's fame and increasing global reach. So for a character like that, I feel it is essential just to hit that one chord and not hold back. So in preparing, what I like to focus on is who the character actually is, in the sense of what type of person. I knew from the production team that he was the president of the Canadian fan club. Given my age and look, I tried to picture this guy - the kind of person who in middle age is a total fanatic for a new band. Once I start picturing the character as a whole being inhabiting my physical self, I try to isolate one main quality or trait the person has. In this case, I decided it was enthusiasm. So that is my main play - enthusiasm. Then I spice it up with a secondary trait, and I settled on fearlessness as in the sense of being without fear of trying new things - the kind of guy who would learn a few words of Sheng and Swahili and just put them out there with a big smile on his face! From that point it gets easier once you have made these first few choices. I then searched out some key phrases in Sheng from the web and lucked into this site ( https://answersafrica.com/kenyan-slangs-meanings.html ) which explained to me what Sheng was and gave me some ideas of a few words I knew I wanted to work into the scene. From that point on, I was confident that this guy's enthusiasm and willingness to try new things would carry the scene. I think that's a good tip to remember - the simpler your make your character in terms of their primary and secondary behavioural traits or makeup, the more straightforward it is to play them and there's less risk of getting bogged-down in over-thinking. Just go in and play your main notes, and play them to win!

(Check out how Robert played to win as the president of the official Canadian fan club of The Shenganiguns! Watch here)

For a more complex role, like "Dunc" in the feature film "A Legacy of Whining" my preparation was more involved. The story takes place over a single evening between two former high school friends who haven't seen each other in 30 years. I was given the direction that Dunc's main function was to burst every hopeful balloon that the other main character, Mitch, floated out there. So basically I was to be the permanently mean-spirited downer and pessimist in the face of Mitch's persistent (if unrealistic) hopefulness. But this was a feature-length film and I was one of the lead actors, so how do you sustain that kind of negativity without some kind of internal justification? So the work there became one of creating a believable set of past circumstances, personal history and worldview that would allow me to play this one kind of attitude through the whole film. The secret there was in the back story I created for my character, as to why he was there in the first place and why he is so irritable. I gave him an occupation, a justification for being in town, a triggering incident, and some reasons to be irritable and negative. Having made those private choices for myself, it became a lot more straightforward to play the character in a more textured way without forcing it. I had the luxury of time with that film because we had plenty of time to rehearse and think about things. For many projects you have to move a lot faster, and there isn't enough lead time to do a lot of work, so I focus on that one primary character trait, the one secondary trait and as much backstory as I can quickly put together. It's important, I think, to make those choices quickly and then just start stepping into being the character right away and getting the lines down.

Robert as As the darkly sarcastic Dunc in "A Legacy of Whining"

ROFFEKE: You gave back in this project. Who are some of the people that gave back in your projects and in what ways did they do this?

ROBERT: Wow, so many people have given their time, talent, advice and other support to me over the years I could never thank them all sufficiently. This includes people who catch one of our films at a festival and say good things or people who watch on YouTube or other channels, festival programmers like you, Mildred, and others like my Patreon members, even people who were willing to walk around our little movie sets with a smile. If you check out the cast and crew for "It's About Love" and my other films, you'll see a lot of familiar faces! My successes are the product of a ton of goodwill, and I hope I can give back also through my books, festival, support, time, advice, teaching and other ways. I think it's cool if you look at my IMDb and trace the interrelationships among people and see the many times I have worked with other people, you can definitely get the sense of there being a real film family or families there. As an example, Ross Munro wrote the part of "Dunc" in "A Legacy of Whining" with me in mind, and I then wrote Ross a lead role as "Rick" in "It's About Love" because I enjoyed working with him and knew his work ethic. I met cinematographer Ron Heaps on "A Legacy of Whining" and we have all worked together several times since, and so it goes, spinning this cool web of connectivity, and each person also brings their own network of goodwill with them and it grows. Now I've worked with you, Mildred, and it would be cool to do that again some day!

Robert with co-star Teresa Laverty in the forthcoming movie sequel "Still About Love"

ROFFEKE: Advice for aspiring actors?

ROBERT: Make your own stuff! It's the single best piece of advice I can give to an actor. Turn your smartphone on yourself and speak for a minute on all the frustrations and joys of your day as an actor. Stage a simple scene with a friend that has a funny twist or a cool life lesson. Have fun! If you don't know how to edit video, ask someone who knows editing to help you edit that piece into a one-minute film with beginning and ending titles. Load it up on FilmFreeway or other similar sites and submit it to a festival, or better yet, five festivals. Maybe you'll get into a festival! Eventually, you can put it up on YouTube or Vimeo or similar sites and reach even more people who can see and appreciate your talents. From that point on, you are a creator, instead of being someone who waits to be chosen for a part by someone else. You are now a writer-director-producer who also acts, and that is a much more powerful place to be in your career. As you learn and grow your skills you will get better at all aspects of your craft and your projects will get more complex and interesting. Plus, filmmakers love working with actors who know how to make films, because they bring a lot of knowledge that improves their acting, things like understanding continuity between takes and other insights into the process of filmmaking.The years will pass anyway, and are gone for good, so do you want to spend that time auditioning endlessly for others or making your own stuff? If you keep making stuff and you will stay in the driver's seat of your own career. You can still audition all you want, but you are operating from a position of power, and it is your choice.

Robert on the set of "Spinoza Hotel". Learn more about this fascinating experimental short film here


Links:

IMDb page: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5399017
Patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/robertdavidduncan
Udemy course "Acting Skills for a Better Life" https://www.udemy.com/acting-skills-for-a-better-life/
Udemy course: "How to Make a Feature Film with No Money and No Car" https://www.udemy.com/how-to-make-a-feature-film-with-no-money-and-no-car/
YouTube link to "It's About Love" full movie https://youtu.be/VSSO1VjdHA8
IMDb for "A Legacy of Whining" with trailer https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3766040

Review: Songs of Injustice

Reviewer: Mutendei Writes

Songs of Injustice is a film that can be summed up through an anecdote of my own creation; “a seed planted in soil produces a plant that blooms in accordance with the properties and characteristics of the soil it germinates in.”

Songs of Injustice is a film that captures the emergence of Rock music or Metal within South America, focusing on the organic adaption of a foreign musical genre, and its transformation into an independent art form with a unique purpose and significance to the people of Latin America.

Every art form and artist seeks to establish an independent identity and Metal in Latin America is no exception. However as Songs of Injustice narrates it’s about the journey and not the destination.

Metal in Latin America is undoubtedly a tool of resistance against decades of past and ongoing political oppression, marginalization and dictatorship, the very soil in which Metal, planted as a seed grew into something organic and independent of its point of origin.
This by itself is a success in its own right when evaluated on the basis of the opening credits quote from Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the 1982 Nobel Prize winner for literature.

“The interpretation of our reality through patterns not our own, serves only to make us ever more unknown ever less free, ever more solitary.”
Metal is not constrained by the original valueless form of rock, inapplicable to the environment of Latin America. A fact that the documentary film alludes to, highlighting the reality that music cannot be removed from the life it exists in.

The style and tempo of the documentary focuses more on the reasons and motivation behind the music and adopts a mostly historical focus when discussing the featured musicians throughout the featured Latin countries, Peru, Mexico, Argentina and Chile.

This focus, while positive is also a bit of a downside as it doesn’t showcase the artistic development of the groups, their background and personal bios and with them the organic music within Latin America, outside of the messages around which their music is constructed.
How they came together and how they began to associate are vital segments that the film misses and either excludes intentional or unintentionally.

Because of this the film beyond the halfway mark of its one hour and thirty minutes run time starts to feel very repetitive. In addition, Songs of Injustice as a documentary film would have been better segmented, by clearer demarcation between the switch of focus from country to country, perhaps by use of the different names of counties or their flags as a transition.

It’s clear that Metal is to Latin America what Reggae is to Jamaicans, however it also misses the opportunity to get the reaction of the fans to the music and provide a perspective on the inspirational aspect to everyday persons, who are not musicians; everyday persons living in the environment that the music and its messages stems from and seeks to create awareness and historical education.

Given that the term “Aguante” which characterizes the musicians’ motivation to create metal, stands for “strength, resistance, support”, and a “yes we can” attitude, songs of resistance fails to provide a voice to the fans who the music is made for and sung to.

Despite missing this segment, the documentary film Songs of Injustice is a body of work that cannot be overlooked when seeing to understand the purpose an value of Metal within Latin America and the heavy history it is tied to.

The film closes smartly with a call to attention encouraging people to be aware or by modern lingo, “woke” to the reality that there is a vital need to pay attention to and embrace Metal as a form of resistance and means to be in tune with the reality of the day.

(Written in March 2019).

Mutendei Bio

Mutendei Writes (Elias Nabutete) a Kenyan writer, with Kenyan & Canadian life experiences, writes & performs under the penname Mutendei Writes. As an artistic writer, using original, creative & structured writing, covering unique, genre inspired material, moving beyond the limiting modern day mainstream spectrum of content has been Mutendei Writes. Interweaving modern & cultural inclinations, with vivid storylines, Mutendei Writes artistically creates written & Spoken Word Poetry, along with short stories. With four unique books; The Poetry Express, The IdeaBankisms, Shadow Walkers & Everything Mutendei. Mutendei Writes has also maintained monthly website releases on mutendeiwrites.wordpress.com, adding to his works, while enabling others to pursue their literary goals.