By NICHOLAS ANYUOR
Kisumu County
A film project, which will see a section of Kenyan actors bouncing back to the international scene, has been launched amid appeals to the Government to support the industry.
The film, Simbi Nyaima-Abuor, based on the mythical story of how Lake Simbi Nyaima in Homa Bay County was formed, will feature Joseph Olita, known for award-winning film, The Rise and Fall of Idi Amin, and Oliver Litondo.
While presiding over the launch, Olita appealed to the Government to allocate funds and give moral support to the film industry to promote the sector.
"We appeal to our leaders and the media to help in promoting the film industry in the country. We have rich sceneries and talented actors. What we lack is support," he said.
Lack of equipment
Members of the Lake Victoria Basin Film Makers’ Guild said lack of technological equipment and sponsorship has grounded the local film industry and appealed to stakeholders to ensure the industry is revived.
"We have talented artists and we would be happy if the Government would support the sector," he said.
The new film, scripted by Otumba Ouko of Maseno University’s Department of Creative and Performing Arts, will be shot for three months in various locations in Nyanza.
"I intend to make this one of my best works. I am still strong and feel young. I have to work and ensure this is achieved to promote the film industry in the region," Olita said.
Olita, will play the role of Mzee Okech Sogomaitha while Litondo, whose other film is set to premier in Hollywood in the US, will play the role of Rading Awang’mach.
The cast of the film presents unity in diversity, with artists drawn from Turkana, Kitale, Eldoret, Kisii, Nairobi and Nyanza. In the film, an old woman named Adeka who is the daughter of a rainmaker from Gwassi in Suba District asks for foodfrom a wealthy home, which she is denied but a kind woman in the village helps her.
Annoyed, she begs her father, the grand rainmaker to bring rain to destroy Simbi Village as she leaves with the kind woman.
