Kenyan-Naija blend

Caro Nguta of Dream House Productions is an upcoming Kenyan film producer credited for forging a first time collabo between Kenya and Nigeria on the big screen. ‘Shattered’ stars Nigerian movie star, Rita Dominic. She tells Shirley Genga what inspired the move

How did you manage to convince a big name like Rita Dominic to act in your film Shattered?

I have always been a huge fan of Rita. So after finishing writing the script for Shattered in February, I was convinced nobody else could execute the star role like her. So I flew to Nigeria in June last year, to track her down even though I had never been there before. Luckily, through my contacts things worked out and I met her and sold the idea to her. She immediately loved the script and agreed to be part of the movie. She came to Kenya in July last year for the shoot which started in August.

What is Shattered about?

It is the story of a woman whose traumatic childhood in a seemingly ideal middle class family haunts her through her teenage and adulthood. She goes through a life of turmoil, depression and self-destruction. The story is inspired by several true-life stories. Rita Dominic plays the lead role as Keziah Njema and she is brilliant, she knows how to draw in the audience and to keep them captivated from the beginning to the end.

Will the film be in the cinemas any time soon?

We decided to take a different approach and to instead take the movie to the people. We will be taking the film to schools, universities, corporates and other institutions. We want to partner with various companies to sponsor the viewing in schools and various institutions. Our intention is to sensitise the masses on the ills that affect our society and how to bring change. We will also be touring South Sudan, Nigeria and Europe.

Tell us more about your childhood.

I am the first born and only girl in a family of three. Growing up, I was dad’s girl and often got what I wanted from him. I grew up in Nairobi and attended Loreto Convent Valley Road and Limuru Girls. My dream was to be a musician, lawyer or psychologist. After finishing high school, my parents enrolled me for a computer science course at a polytechnic but I had no interest. I dropped the course and joined Utalii College for a travel operations course. After college, I worked at KLM and Dutch Airline on the reservation department. In 1995, I got pregnant with my first child and then resigned in 1996. I got married and decided that it was time to take a break to look after my family.

How was it taking a long break from work?

It was not easy to leave work especially because I have always been a career girl. But it was worth it because I got to spend time with my children at their tender age. I was able to home school them and teach them good values.

This move turned out to be the best thing for me because it helped me reconnect and to nurture my talents. My childhood love for the arts and theatre was rekindled. This lead me to form a group called Beauty for Ashes in 2000. We sang, danced and acted. We wrote and staged plays like, Go Grow, Glow Girl and Women of Substance. The purpose of our group was to encourage women to grow into their full potential. It is never too late to use your talents. We stayed together for about five years before we all went in different ways. So I found myself solo again. At that time all my children were in school and I had lots of time on my hands.

How did you utilise this new found freedom?

In 2005, I went through some crisis in my life. I found myself at a point where I was empty without direction and purpose. So I flew to the United States for six weeks to reflect and clear my mind. My husband supported the idea. After six weeks I came back home with a clear focus. I immediately started Dreamline Productions with the help of my brother-in-law. I sourced for funds and by October 2007 we staged my first play at Braeburn Theatre. It was my first solo production and it was a learning experience.

How did the audience receive the production?

Although we got good support, we did not get good returns. So I found myself asking God what next?

So between 2007 and 2009 I was at home again. But at the end of 2009 I got an opportunity to stage a play at the French Cultural Centre called Africa Arise, it is Your Time Now. The play was challenging this notion of Africa being a dark continent.

Why did you switch from plays to movies?

In 2010, we realised we were putting a lot of money into quality play productions but we were not getting back our money and our reach was limited.

I realised with movies, we could reach a bigger audience. That is what inspired me to write Shattered.

I did not want to do any type of movie, but a film that would address issues affecting youth like alcohol, drugs, sexual abuse and conflict in the family.

I talked to women who had been sexually abused and afterwards began to write the script.

With the help of Gilbert Lukalia I was able to put everything together and we were done by February 2011. Afterwards we held auditions and we began shooting in June last year. It was a huge and ambitious venture, Shattered is the first collaboration between Kenyan and Nigerian cinema.

Funding a movie like this one is an expensive venture. How did you do it?

I always say, follow your passion and money will follow you. If you wait to have enough to follow your passion nothing will come. We were able to get funding from Investec Ltd.

Instinct-

Parting shot...

I want my life to be a message of hope to other women, I want them to know your never too old to follow your dreams.