It is very inspiring when I first
time to know how Robert Rodriguez made his El Mariachi film. Soon I became his
"student". I made my movie using tricks I learned from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez and I have the same thing in common; living in a small town, limited
by equipments, has a passion to make feature film and love action genre.
Rodriguez did it in 1992, I did mine in 2010. I'm his junior.
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| Next Robert Rodriguez from Uganda.Source: Isaac Nabwana's facebook album. |
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| Robert Rodriguez. Source: www.fedora.com |
Rodriguez's is legendary cult movie,
but mine is suck...so pathetic :D
It's okay. I've learnt so much from
Rodriguez. While Rodriguez called his style as Mariachi style, I called my
techniques Wlingiwood style...Wlingi is my hometown.
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| Rodriguez was shooting El Mariachi. Source: www.collider.com |
Then in 2014 I found a clip in
youtube. So crazy stuff with freaky shout...TEBAATUSASULA!!! I see crazy kungfu
and crazy action scenes. And what the f...it comes from Uganda. The thing I
know about Uganda is only Idi Amin. I never knew Ugandan make a film so cool
like this. It's cheap, crazy but so awesome stuff.
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| View of a place in Uganda. Source: Isaac Nabwana's facebook album. |
However, this is not the only thing impressed
me. Later I know that this crazy Ugandan made that film in so amazing way...more
badass than Rodriguez did! Amazingly they called their community (or
studio)...Wakaliwood. Wakaliwood? Sounds like Wlingiwood? :D wow! This is cool!
I contacted the guy behind all of
this...Isaac Godfrey Geoffrey or better known as Isaac Nabwana. We chat a little through facebook. Well...I think Isaac
would be my next "Rodriguez" in spirit. His spirit I
think....surpassed my spirit and maybe Rodriguez's also. Imagine! They made it
in Uganda! Very minimum equipments but a lot of potential talents.
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| Isaac Nabwana in action. Source: Isaac Nabwana's facebook album. |
Later in their facebook page, they
offer to interview them for movie blog. I do have a blog about filmmaking (in
Indonesian). So I answer that offer. I sent message to Nabwana and here is the
result. Hope that we, all guerilla filmmakers, get big inspiration from this
badass guy.
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| Talents from Wakaliwood |
Gugun: Hello,
Brother. How are you and Wakaliwood?
Nabwana: Ha ha ha. We are good!
Always working. But now we have new friends in Indonesia, and busy to see how
we can destroy your country in movies. We only do that to friends.
Gugun: It's very
amazing the job you did you know. I instantly become the fans of yours
hahaha...well, Brother...how did this all begin? What inspire you to make a
movie?
Nabwana: Really, it was my older
brother. he would often sneak into video halls, were we watch movies in Uganda.
i was too young but he would go and come back and tell me the stories. movies
with action, stars like Buddy Spencer and Chuck Norris. I loved the way he told
the stories and made me want to make movies.
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| Nabwana writing script. Source: Isaac Nabwana's facebook album. |
Gugun: How do you
learn filmmaking? Who teach you special effects, operating camera, using
softwares etc.?
Nabwana: It is not easy here in
Uganda. Especially 9 years ago when i started. there were very few who had
cameras and can teach. i took one month class in computer repair so i could
build computers for editing, and worked very hard making bricks to afford a
camera. really we taught ourselves. even software like After Effects. internet
was poor so were few tutorials.
Nabwana: that is Dauda Bisaso, an
action movie star here but also head builder. he makes all our guns, dolly,
jibs, etc. we find scrap metal here in the ghettos, and just build. he finds a
design maybe on the internet, and finds a way to make it better.
Gugun: How do you
get your film talents? Do they have the same big passion as you?
Nabwana: we all have passion here.
many come from very far in Ugandan to make action movies with us. not all of us
even speak the same language, but we speak love of film. even Alan Ssali came
from New York City to be part pf Wakaliwood
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| The community. Source: Isaac Nabwana's facebook album. |
Gugun: How do you
all guys learn Kungfu? Who train you? Are you athlete or something coz your
Kungfu looks awesome! I know it because I've ever learn Kungfu also hahaha
Nabwana:Bukenya Charles is
wakaliwood's Master Sifu. He is Bruce U (uganda's Bruce Lee) in Catain Alex,
and Uncle Benon in Return of Uncle Benon (cooming soon). we are childhood
friends and grew up together. but he loved kung fu more and i loved movies. he
also taught himself by watching movies and magazines from China. now he is part
and founder of Uganda's International Kung Fu Team and an action movie star
with Wakaliwood!
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| Wakaliwood kid in action. Source: Isaac Nabwana's facebook album. |
Gugun: What job do
you do to make a living with your family? I know you have been married and have
children. Is it difficult to maintain your filmmaking passion while you have to
feed your family?
Nabwana: Our movies are made with
passion, and vert little money. money is hard to find. for money i sometimes
make music videos for musicians, or shoot a wedding or school graduation. it is
not much money, but we get by. piracy makes selling films difficult here in
Uganda.
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| Ramon Film Productions, owned by Nabwana. Source: Isaac Nabwana's facebook album. |
Gugun: Tell me a
little bit about your recent project and what cool thing you offer in that
film?
Nabwana: hahaha Tebaatusasula: EBOLA
is going to be our 1st international film! we want fans of Wakaliwood and fans
of action from all over the world to be part of the film. you can even be a
ugandan action movie star without leaving home! just shoot yourselves dying and
we put it in the movie. and it is FREE. you can become a Ugandan Action MOvie
Star. in fact, some supa fans from indonesia have sent us themselves dying and
we already are putting in movie. it is great!
Gugun: What is your
goal in the near future? Are you interested in international festival or what?
Nabwana: yes, we are interested in
bringing our films to international, and having people from everywhere come to
us in Uganda. but the challenge is money and a visa. we would like to go with
our films to film festivals, but difficult to get visas, we have been invited,
but so far cannot go.
Gugun: Big thanks,
Brother. Now the last thing...could I, Gugun Ekalaya of Wlingiwood family, get
your special photo. You photo yourself holding a paper with a message written
like this..."From Isaac Nabwana of Wakaliwood to Gugun Ekalaya and
Wlingiwood Filmmakers!" :D It will be my treasure hahaha
Nabwana: No problem!!!! hahhahahaha Commando!
Terjemahan lepas Bahasa Indonesia di sini:
http://gugunekalaya.blogspot.com/2015/03/wawancara-dengan-isaac-nabwana-dari.html
See one of their film trailer here:
http://gugunekalaya.blogspot.com/2015/03/wawancara-dengan-isaac-nabwana-dari.html
See one of their film trailer here:
And this is mini documentary about Isaac Nabwana:
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