Producing a #Fail

There's a movement afoot to embrace failure as a way to collectively learn from mistakes. A good example is Failfaire which looks at failures in the realm of tech (internet, mobile, communication) for development. And the #Fail hashtag is perennially popular on Twitter. So it's in that spirit that I'm announcing that Producing Pamoja is a #Fail...

Don't get me wrong, I'm not taking this lightly. I've always prided myself on perseverance and creative problem-solving. And it goes against my sense of integrity to give up. My heart is heavy knowing that many supporters believed in me and that my friends in Kibera were counting on me. It was only a couple months ago that I was pronouncing I would finish the film "Somehow, Someway." So, what changed? I've come to believe that the challenges are insurmountable.

These are my lessons:

1) Perfect Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance. In the case of Producing Pamoja, I threw caution to the wind and spontaneously embarked on an adventure to capture the making of Togetherness Supreme with less than three weeks to prepare. The truth is that I didn't really know much about the project - only that the story focused on the Post Election Violence that had erupted in Kenya and that the production would employ local youth as cast and crew. When I arrived in Kenya I discovered that many of my assumptions and expectations were false. Do your homework before you start shooting!

2) Money matters. Despite seed funding from Shine Global and the generosity of supporters who contributed via The Point I struggled to capture the footage I needed. I embarked on a wing and a prayer but the project stalled due to lack of resources once I returned from Kenya. While I believe in taking leaps of faith, it helps to have a safety net. Lack of a sound financial foundation can undermine a project.

3) Don't go it alone. Perhaps the biggest challenge I've faced in this endeavor has been not finding a creative partner / team to help sustain the project. Collaboration is a key to success.

To my friends in Kibera: I'm humbled and grateful that you shared your stories with me. I believe in you and your capacity to create a better future in Kenya. Bahati njema!