My editing suite

She has been praised by filmmaker Bob Nyanja as one of the top three film editors in Kenya, JOY KAVUGWI LUSIGE talks to KIUNDU WAWERU about her job.

What does film editing entail?

As a film editor, my job starts with the script. If I don’t like the story, there is no way I am going to do it. I then discuss with the director just to get the feel of what he wants. The editing work begins immediately the filming commences. Each scene has several takes and it’s the editor’s work to select and cut. The assistant editor syncs the pictures with the sound for they are shot separately.

It’s also the editors’ work to set the pace, and even create suspense. You just don’t spoon-feed viewers; keep them guessing. This calls for intuitiveness and timing. Sometimes it means cutting entire scenes, which won’t change the flow of the story.

JOY KAVUGWI LUSIGE

Which films have you been involved in?

I have done a short film in Uganda, The Mission. My first major film was Malooned by Bob Nyanja and the latest, The Rugged Priest.  Both have won awards.

Which awards are these?

Malooned, about two strangers, a man and woman trapped in a toilet, won the Silver Dhow, the second largest award at the Zanzibar International Film Festival in 2007. It also scooped the best Kenyan film at Kenya International Film Festival and Best Feature Film, Verona. The Rugged Priest, based on the life of Father John Kaiser, has just won the Golden Dhow, the biggest award at the ZIFF and selected among 193 international films. At the same time, The Rugged Priest took home the Verona Award for the Best African Film.

When you are not doing films, what occupies your time?

I always have work. I think I am a workaholic. I do corporate documentaries and plays, which they use to train their staff. I also do adverts and even TV programmes. For instance, I edited 13 episodes of the first season of The Team.

Currently, I am the stage manager for the gospel reality show, Exodus to Stardom that is airing on KBC. Just recently, I was involved in city logistics, managing locations, for Pekin Express, a Spanish Version of Amazing Race, which filmed in five Kenyan destinations. I studied Environmental Studies but found myself doing film editing when I joined Cinematic Productions and was trained on the job.

You were the Churchill Live editor?

Yes.

I know while recording the show, they film for about two hours, even more. How do you decide what goes on air?

(Laughing) If you are not funny, I cut you out. Vulgarity also goes. The director too, decides on what he wants in the show. Churchill would also pop into the studio and discuss. You find that during the interviews, some people are slurry, and you tighten the scenes to make the show interesting. You see, for a TV programme, especially a comedy at that, you need to make it edgy and interesting. This found me working Wednesday nights, sometimes to the wee hours of the morning depending on how heavy the show was.

What is your greatest production yet?

The Rugged Priest. It was a great film that kept me engaged for more than three months. The shooting had taken one month. But it was also the most challenging. You see, the first cut was about two and a half hours. We need about one and a half hours, so it means one hour had to go. You decide to cut some scenes but the directors don’t want to let go. Also, for actors, they would think they are in the movie, only to find they had been chucked out.

They must love you!

(Laughs) It really is unavoidable. Sometimes even during the shooting, the actresses and actors say that I look at them in a way that suggests I am editing them!