Nairobi News

Acclaimed actor, scriptwriter, and director Charles Ouda says it’s difficult to find anything to smile about in the Kenyan film industry as it is badly broken.

While he notes that there are some things that stand out about the industry, such as the growing number of locally produced shows and films, that’s where the problem begins.

“We work in a system that lacks proper protection and benefits for all those who work in our industry. Asking for your fair share in this industry is seen as rebellious. Turn down a low rate and you are called a diva. Ask for your due and for safe working conditions and you will be called difficult. Complain about wasted time and mistreatment and you are blacklisted,” says Ouda.

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The 41-year-old notes that it is these tendencies within and by industry players that are crippling the industry.

“Blacklisting particularly annoys me because unless a person is completely impossible to work with because they don’t share your values or are a danger to the rest of the cast, no one should be backlisted because they are labelled a diva,” he adds.

But in the same breath, Ouda blames his peers for the problems they have faced in the past and are currently facing, claiming that actors lack the unity to push an agenda that would benefit them.

“There have been a number of attempts to bring actors together and get them to speak with one voice, but these attempts have failed miserably. So what can we do differently? How can we stop complaining aimlessly and denigrating each other and instead come up with real solutions?” he wonders.

But he suggests where he thinks the best place to start is.

“We must all unite to rewrite the script of our industry by establishing a strong (Actors Guild) constitution. The call for unity has been ignored for far too long. First, actors need to find a space to speak out and figure out the basics of what unity means. Before we bring the broadcasters, streamers and producers to the table, we have to put aside our nice differences and stand together,” he said.

Otherwise, says Ouda, they will remain where they are: underpaid, overworked, and undervalued.