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Who are we?
Spectrum Film School is a training institution in Kenya that offers a filmmaking program. Since 2021, Spectrum Film School has had a strong online presence and has expanded across all social media platforms in Kenya. Spectrum Film School’s focus has shifted over the months from online content creation aimed at filmmaking tutorials to the comprehensive development of a filmmaking program that provides our students with blended hands-on training in both fictional narrative and documentary filmmaking. Our website address is: https://spectrumfilmschool.com. Our vision is to make learning fun. We provide students with an excellent background in both fiction and non-fiction filmmaking. Our method is practical, made possible by the school’s ethos and spirit of community, along with our student-centered approach to instruction and learning. We give students a solid foundation in both fiction and nonfiction filmmaking. Our approach is practical, made possible by the school’s ethos and community spirit, as well as our student-centered approach to instruction and learning. The school is constantly updating its programs, tools, and methods to ensure that students are up to date on the most recent professional practices. Those who benefit from the program will also pass on their knowledge to others who may not have had the opportunity to participate in the training.
This report focuses on the current status of the Kenyan filmmaking industry and, more importantly, attempts to answer questions such as: what are the needs of the industry? What is its potential? The industry is still young, but with a lot of opportunities for job creation and social self-expression. The films produced under this scheme include television commercials, industrial and institutional films, and entertainment. The inspiration for conducting a baseline survey was the need to create a curriculum for filmmaking that bridges the gap between industry needs and what is being taught. This ensures a smooth transition from training into the job market. Filmmaking is one of the key sectors in the creative and entertainment industries in Kenya, with the number of filmmakers increasing, especially within the big cities in Kenya.
Access to technology has also improved the abilities of many creatives to venture into this sector. The report also focuses on the ever growing demand for filmmaking services in the government, private sector, and NGOs, which is further pushing the industry to mature and to be more innovative. The consumption of filmmaking content is also factored into the report. The industry has also attracted various stakeholders who contribute to the sector. These include governments, international agencies, local government bodies, and even the corporate sector, which want to establish a presence through a company film or advertisement.
In Kenya, there are numerous filmmaking schools, including universities, TVET institutions, and other short-term programs that have heavily invested in capacity building in the sector. Certification bodies like CDACC and BTEC have also made significant contributions to the industry. Some higher education institutions, such as the Kenyan-based creative arts institution Ovotox International School (OIS), are planning to collaborate with the New York Film Academy to strengthen media studies in the institution. Some certificate and diploma programs also collaborate with universities internally to ensure a smooth transition into degree programs. The collaboration between ADMI and USIU University in Kenya is an example of this. This report also focuses on the content taught in higher education institutions.
The availability of local and international filmmaking festivals and markets has resulted in opportunities for African market exposure, networking, and income generation. The film industry has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years. The country’s filmmakers took significant risks, and their efforts have paid off, with the rest of the world taking notice. Lupita Nyong’o’s Oscar win drew attention to the Kenyan film industry and has attracted the attention of the global filmmaking community. Some of the films have received critical acclaim and even awards. The report also includes a breakdown of the sector market and a focus on Kenyan investors who have invested locally or internationally in the filmmaking industry. In the report, we also discuss local funding opportunities provided by the Kenyan government, as well as the availability of support from foreign governments aimed at growing the sector. Kenyan filmmakers have also benefited from various exchange and capacity building programs, including workshops and bootcamps, hosted by various Kenyan organizations.
A significant gap in mentorship was also identified; we observed that many filmmaking students drop out of the industry at some point due to the costs of software licenses and the capacity required to launch their careers; we also observed that most filmmakers in the country rely on more than one job for survival. There are also many foreign-owned film production companies in Kenya.
Filmmakers specializing in content creation have flooded the commercial film production market, while the other markets like storyboarding and writing for film are almost non-existent. Local filmmakers are still seeking some of these services from other countries. Big channels such as the Kenyan government have entered into a two-year partnership with Netflix, under which the latter will invest in three Kenyan films in various stages of production. As part of the agreement, Netflix will contribute USD 300,000 (Shs 33 million) to local scholarships for Kenyan creatives in order to support human capital development and, as a result, improve the country’s digital content ecosystem.
Another USD100,000 will fund scholarships for 30 students at the Kenya Film School and the African Digital Media Institute, with another USD200,000 set aside for aspiring creatives to study at other Kenyan institutions that offer film and television studies. Select Kenyan creatives will be given scholarships to study for a master’s degree in International Screenwriting and Production (MISP) at the University Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, Italy, as part of the agreement. ICT CS Joe Mucheru praised the collaboration for not only facilitating job creation in the country but also opening up training opportunities for screen sector development.
The Covid 19 pandemic has accelerated growth in the online space as a business space; many advertisements and training videos are now produced through filmmaking. This has given a boost to Kenya’s filmmaking industry. Commercial filmmaking, content creation, training, virtual reality, real estate visualization, and festivals are among the key sectors that comprise Kenya’s filmmaking industry. It was noted that few Kenyan filmmakers are currently exploiting the science fiction market.
It was also noted that with the growth in filmmaking equipment in Kenya, approximately 90% of filmmaking work is done with low-end filmmaking gear, while approximately 10% of filmmakers use industry standard filmmaking gear and software, such as cinema cameras and editing suites, which require high license fees. Many filmmakers also use Filmora by Wondershare to kick start their careers because it is free source software.
We also investigated the focus of many training institutions in the Kenyan filmmaking space in this report. Most institutions specialize in developing filmmaking techniques, leaving out key areas such as development, storyboarding, sound, and filmpreneurship. In the filmmaking industry, there is a significant skill gap in areas such as pitching, distribution, and financing, to name a few.
In the report, we also highlight major gaps in filmmaking infrastructure development, such as a lack of proper studios, high license fees, copyright infringement, regulation, and government policies, among other things. With all of our findings about the Kenyan filmmaking industry, we were able to identify training gaps that could be filled so that filmmaking students can transition into the market and monetize their skills.
According to the Kenya 2019 population census report, youth make up more than half of Kenya’s population. Few of them participate in decision-making that affects their lives, desires, interests, and future. Similarly, in today’s fast-paced world, it takes special skills to stand out. To arrive at an innovation, you must be able to concentrate, conceptualize, connect, and synthesize information. This is best realized through creative arts, as well as other initiatives in which youth, among others, can be molded and actively involved in accordance with Kenya Vision 2030 and the AU Agenda 2063. This will ensure that their views are heard and respected in a variety of ways.
This Filmmaking Curriculum is Spectrum Film School’s first program, which is an initiative aimed at addressing skill shortages in the creative industry. Through a series of collaborative filmmaking assignments, this intensive (9) month hands-on program is designed to familiarize students with filmmaking techniques and business skills. The program will give students the opportunity to learn from some of the world’s best filmmaking schools and alumni, including the American Film Institute, Tisch School of the Arts, Los Angeles Film School, Vancouver Film School, London Film School, and Sydney Film School, among others. These schools have established a global standard for practical and professional training in filmmaking, VFX, and virtual production, and many of their alumni are industry leaders worldwide.
The intensive and hands-on program will serve as a platform for identifying and nurturing creative talent, as well as promoting filmmaking in the region. The program will also provide intensive training in various filmmaking techniques to ensure that students acquire the necessary skills and practices. The program aims to improve competencies, innovativeness, and creativity, as well as to address technical skill development in filmmaking. This will be accomplished through the incorporation of technology to meet the demands of the current filmmaking job market as well as the anticipated continued influence of the digital age in filmmaking. Students will be able to tap into their creative talents, gain practical experience in filmpreneurship, and popularize the sector for job creation, particularly among youth who are currently excluded from filmmaking training programs.
The filmmaking sector encompasses many other arts, including writing, design, content creation, real estate visualization, commercials, graphics design, VFX, and performing arts. A variety of resources are also provided in the process, including E Books, blog posts, tutorials, among others. The program will expose learners to all these facets of filmmaking and the wide range of opportunities available in the filmmaking industry.
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