Kawaga addresses film makers in Mbarara recently. PHOTO /JULIUS BYAMUKAMA
Go digital: With the changing times, film makers were urged to move away from stage performances to selling their work on digital platforms so as to tap into wider markets.
Movie actors under their association Western Uganda Film Producers Association (WUFPA) have been advised to adopt a new trend of monetising their content as a way to expand their market and reap from their work. This was during a meeting with digital experts from Yotv, Kibanda Express and Bolingo Extra held last weekend at Four Star Hotel in Mbarara District.
Actors were advised to embrace technology and become digital savvy to sale their work rather than waiting to earn from staged shows. Tamale Kawaga, the brand manager Yotv, Bolingo Extra and Kibanda Express, encouraged actors to submit their work for it to be uploaded on digital apps, noting that this is the only and better way they can earn from their work.
“So many content creators have always waited for stage performances to make money; here is an opportunity where an actor or artiste can make money before they go on stage. Our platform/applications can change one’s life because it is the platform that is going to help actors monetise their content, something that has not been around,” Kawaga said.
Kawaga also urged actors to mobilise their fans and let them know about this in case their content is uploaded, emphasising that this is the only way actors can broaden their market and expose them to other regions and the world at large.
“We know there are people who consume your content and we have a platform on which these movies can be monetized. We want to give a place where you can sell or lease your movies, so look at us like a library,” he added.
George Katabazi, the WUFPA chairperson, welcomed this monetisation deal, urging actors to embrace it and submit their work for uploading. He also asked the government through the National Cultural Forum to streamline the copyright law as a way to save their work from pirates.
“We welcome this monetisation deal and hope this will develop both of us because we have been facing challenges of people accessing our work without any payment, you find people watching your movie somewhere yet you do not have anything in your pocket,” said Mr Katabazi
He added that they also ask for assistance on production equipment so that they can produce standard and quality content.
Tomas Atusasire, a movie director and writer at Tomasa 4WD Films, believes monetising their content will help them earn more.
“I believe we shall benefit from this deal since it is a bigger body going to upload our work, which will help us earn money that we have not been earning and it will be a way of marketing our content,” said Atusasire.
Cyrie Baryabawe, the director Kigezi Universal Drama Actors, said the move will help expand the movie market in the region, especially for producers who have been facing a challenge of finding market for their work.
‘Most producers have content but they have less knowledge on marketing or selling their products on social media. So if producers can be cooperative with Yotv and Kibanda Express, we can earn better,” said Baryahabwe.
William Kamugisha, the chairperson Ibanda Film Productions, said this is the time for them as artistes and actors to reap from their efforts.
“This initiative will develop our industry because actors will start getting money before they go on stage, something which has been rare. I, however, request the government of Uganda to put in much effort and regulate the Copyright Law because people are accessing our content without pay. You find one investing Shs15m to produce a movie and does not get returns in the end, which demotivates us,” said Kamugisha.
WUFPA covers five regions in western Uganda, with representatives from each district in the region.
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