I just had my very first table read for my very first screenplay.
And it moved me in ways I did not expect.
For five years, these characters have lived only in my head — their voices, their pain, their stubborn hope. Yesterday, a room full of incredibly talented actors opened their mouths and breathed life into every single one of them. The energy in that room surged in a way I will never forget.
To make it even more special, this happened at the @filmindependent offices in LA — the same place where I did a residency in 2024 that completely shaped the journey of this script. Without the kind, passionate people at Film Independent, this story would not be what it is today. Full circle doesn’t even begin to describe it.
I’m a self-taught filmmaker from Uganda. No film school. No traditional path. Just YouTube tutorials, trial and error, and a stubborn belief that the stories I carry are worth telling.
This table read told me they are.
More to come. 🎬
Last week, I had the privilege of facilitating a masterclass on emotive documentary filmmaking at the Mastercard Foundation's Pan African Program Communications Partner Convening in Nairobi.
18 years ago, I picked up my first camera in Uganda with no film school to attend and no means to study abroad. Everything I know came from YouTube tutorials, trial and error, and learning from every mistake and misstep along the way. So standing in front of senior communications professionals from 25 countries felt like coming full circle.
These weren't just any participants. They're the storytellers behind organizations advancing prosperity for millions across our continent—people with access to extraordinary stories of resilience, innovation, ingenuity, excellence, and enterprise that deserve to be told with the power they carry.
I shared practical, "go and do this tomorrow" lessons drawn from 18 years and 45+ countries of documentary work. But honestly, I left more inspired than when I arrived. The caliber of this audience, their commitment to impact storytelling, and the potential of what they'll create with these tools—that's what stays with me.
My deepest gratitude to Lizz Ntonjira, Josephine Mwangi, and Tobi Tiyamiyu at the @mastercardfoundation for believing I had something worth sharing. This opportunity meant more to me than you know. To everyone who attended: I can't wait to see the stories you tell.
35 and counting! Thank you, @gladyskalemazikusoka and the entire @ctph_camp , for turning a work trip into a very memorable birthday.
#bwindi #silverback #mountaingorilla #birthday #dji #sonyalpha #cnncalltoearth #cnn #uganda #rainforest
This photograph was taken 12.3 hours before my birthday this year. For a split second, I wasn’t sure I was going to make it to 35 😬. 📸 @nickmigwi #mountaingorilla #silverback #bwindi #birthday
Thank you @stellah_bosire for trusting me and my crew with your AMAZING story. We’re all better humans because of it. Greater Than The Sum Episode 01 drops on @bbcnews this month. #billandmelindagatesfoundation #bbc #blackfemaleentrepreneurs #changemaker #africarising #feminism
October 3rd to 16th, 2023. By far bougiest 3 days of my life yet. My crew and I were working on a special half-hour film for CNN about the most luxurious hotels in Africa. I know, “tough gig 😅.” We produced the segment on Thanda Island. A private island located off the coast of Tanzania. One of the activities guests can get up to is swimming with whale sharks. The water surrounding the island has the highest concentration of whale sharks in the world. I had the incredible privilege of swimming with these gentle giants. I thought trekking gorillas was the most incredibly immersive safari experience. Yo, this was a whole new category of immersive!
I am Incredibly proud of my camera crew @kalphonixmedia and @roland . They took on their phobia of the ocean and went diving for the first time. It honestly wouldn’t have happened without the highly professional, patient, and kind dive masters from Thanda Island. Here’s to taking on more phobias and living a little 🤙🏾
The link to the full episode can be watched on cnn.com - (PS. The Morocco segment features Robert Deniro, for real 😳)
#whalesharks #thandaisland #africanluxury #tanzania #travelafrica #indianocean
And that’s a wrap! The final day of filming in Geneva at the WHO with Dr. Queen Dube. A Bona fide superstar! One of the first eight pediatricians from Malawi. She helped build the country’s newborn healthcare system. Dr. Queen has trained hundreds of pediatric nurses and dozens of pediatric specialist doctors across Africa. I first met her 7 years ago at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Malawi, where she was teaching and saving lives. I was working with @jknyk on a documentary about inspirational pediatricians in Africa for @elmaphilanthropies . Dr Queen was one of our incredibly inspirational characters in that film. So happy to see that she’s continuing to inspire an entire continent with her new role as the Program Lead For Newborn Health at WHO.
#changemaker #femaleblacklead #shero #africatotheworld #elmaphilanthropies
Brother @oboth.isaac , I wish you all the success ahead. I am simply looking forward to our first 🎬🥊project together. God Willing
#OneVision #SportDrama #SportAtHeart
