December kicked in and the holiday/festive season mode was activated pap! As it is a religion in the Kenyan Film Industry, the county government of Machakos organized a film festival – Machawood/Machafest.  Filmmakers are given a theme, make and submit a 7min film to compete against each other for a grand prize.

Last year team Hamba grabbed the grand prize. This year I was honored to be part of Shark Films which took up the challenge by the neck. We took to the road to Machakos. Just like Figure Studios, our location was in the hospital. How beautiful or do you call it coincidence? You be the judge. In the short film Sage, I played a paramedic, and in Mission a year later, I was a nurse. Growth right? Goals I tell you goals!!

The view!!

So the day to roll was here and as usual, we link up at one place in town and then leave as a team. Riding to Machakos provided ample time for the cast and crew to catch up getting to know each other better… you know how things go by the time we are done viola!! time for breakfast. Moments after breakfast the crew had set up in the IDU at Machakos Level 5 Hospital real quick, (that is the experience you get when working with sharks, every mini second counts) cast all dressed up, the director blocking his first scene, and boom! we are rolling. This was my first time working with actors below 18 and I must say I was impressed by their way of asking for clarification, learned how to be patient with them, and above all created a perfect environment for them to deliver.

Ready to roll

I end up learning massive skills about every character I play, from the pre-research personally done to the actual day on set with the original/real doctors in this case. We had a trained doctor from the hospital giving us facts and tips about the life-supporting machine, when to panic, and how to basically operate it.

Rolling

From the first scene to the next until we cleared our call sheet for the day. high five!! It’s a wrap. The road trip back was a memorable one, with everyone throwing shade from every corner as if the bus ceiling wasn’t enough. But why not! the chemicals at the hospital made the chemistry between us work 😉

Mission a Shark Films production is a story well told of two orphaned girls, one suffering from cancer as the other is the backbone of the strength holding them together. An amazing story that out of 71 entries, it emerged top 10. Applause applause!! Amazing team to ever worked with. Humbled.

Official Cover

The journey #EveningWalkWithEuniceAyuma continues see you on the next one. the next one must be a road trip, I promise. Cheers!