Hyphen8 Media Partners, the Fela Oke Academy – Institute of Creative & Sports Industries (FOA-ICSI), with facilitation Partners PHAT Productions, YAKWETU, and with support from Kenya Film Commission and Africa Digital Media Institute (ADMI), proudly announce the Kenya edition of the Global Entertainment Talent Upskilling Program (GETuP).
This transformative two-week immersive talent upskilling program will take place from 18th to 30th November 2024, at ADMI, Caxton House, Nairobi.
GETuP is designed to empower emerging film and television talent through immersive hands-on practical training, led by industry experts from the UK, USA, the Caribbean and Africa. Following successful editions in Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica and Barbados, GETuP is now available in Kenya.
The Kenyan edition will feature four specialised workshops focusing on screen acting, production anagement, cinematography, and screenwriting.
The key workshop details are as follows:
- Screen acting: 18th-30th November, led by Darren Gordon, a distinguished director, writer, talent agent and acting coach.
- Production management: 18th-23rd November, with the expert to be confirmed.
- Cinematography: 25th-30th November, led by Dominic Jones, a renowned UK-based cinematographer and editor.
- Screenwriting: 25th-30th November, led by Dami Elebe – an award-winning Nigerian writer and actress, known for ‘Skinny Girl in Transit’ (2015), ‘From Lagos with Love’ (2018), ‘Far from Home’ (2022) and five other series & films, since 2015.
For more information on all industry experts, participants will engage in practical workshops, gaining essential skills and insights from seasoned professionals. This initiative is the first in a series of quarterly Workshops, and Virtual Training streams, aimed at training 1,000 creatives across various disciplines, including acting, production, management, cinematography, screenwriting and more.
Why attend GETuP Kenya?
- Expert-led training: Learn from globally-recognised industry experts.
Comprehensive curriculum: Acquire hands-on experience in critical areas of the film & TV industry. - Immediate skill acquisition: Participants will acquire skills they can use immediately in their current projects and roles.
- Job market relevance: Training is aligned with the international industry’s needs, to ensure that participants are job-ready.
- Portfolio building: Opportunities to create or enhance a portfolio with work done during the programme, which can be showcased to potential employers or clients.
- Certificate of completion: For inclusion in resumes and LinkedIn profiles.
- Continued learning: Participants will benefit from a rigorous virtual class schedule, for ongoing education and skills development.
- Networking opportunities: Connect with peers and professionals.
- Free listing on the Hyphen8 global talent database: Accessed by agents and casting agents.
- GETuP output: As part of the GETuP annual targets, talent will have the opportunity to be cast in filmed entertainment produced by Hyohen8 and its partners.
Partnerships and impact
This initiative in collaboration with other facilitation partners – PHAT Productions and YAKWETU, also aims to build and develop local facilitators through our shadow program. By participating in GETuP, they are not only enhancing their skills, but also contributing to the growth of the creative industry in Kenya.
As well as providing practical training, the programme is set to increase content output, create employment opportunities and open doors for co-production ventures.
“We are thrilled to bring GETuP to Kenya, marking our continued investment into the upskilling of creative & entertainment talent across the diaspora and the continent”, said Fela Oke, founder of FOA-ICSI and CEO of Hyphen8 media partners. “This program is a testament to our Commitment to nurturing creative Talent and fostering international collaboration. We believe that the skills and connections made during GETuP Kenya will have a lasting impact on the participants and the broader creative industry in Kenya and beyond.”
During 2023, GETuP in Trinidad & Tobago had an attendance of over 50 adept actors and directors, where four remarkable actors were signed to development agreements from the international talent agency Hyphen8 over the six months following several workshops.
Kenya Film Commission (KFC) is onboard to facilitate mobilisation of participants through its networks. “One of the most commendable aspects of GETuP Kenya is its holistic approach to empowerment. It is not just about teaching technical skills, but also about fostering creativity, encouraging innovation, and building a network of professionals who support and uplift one another,” KFC CEO Timothy Owase said. “It is important to the commission to have continuous upskilling focusing on strengthening local filmmakers’ professional skills and equipping them with information to enable them compete effectively in the local and international industries.”
“In every Project we undertake, we’re always intentional about making a sustainable & transformative impact on the African creative industry. As such, GETuP was a natural fit for us, so we have committed to partnering for the next five years,” PHAT Productions founder and co-founder of YAKWETU Mike Strano said.
GETuP Kenya is a collaboration between Hyphen8, Fela Oke Academy, YAKWETU, MyMovies.Africa and PHAT Productions, supported by Kenya Film Commission, Africa Digital Media Institute (ADMI) and LCD! (Lights, Camera, Diaspora).
