The Gods Must be Crazy is the first film that 24-year-old Daniel Karanja Ng’endo vividly remembers watching. Perhaps it was this film that spearheaded his career in the entertainment industry. This Kenyan filmmaker, who studied Journalism and Communication, believes that he can add uniqueness and creativity to Africa’s video entertainment industry. He draws his inspiration from watching TV programmes such as Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire, as well as the local productions Varshita and Lies that bind.
If he could create a TV show it would tell the stories of ordinary Kenyans – their dreams, aspirations and what makes them tick. “I would tell the kind of stories that aren’t normally told,” he says.
“There are so many good African stories out there waiting to be told and I believe I’m the person to tell them. We need to start telling stories from our own perspective.”
Daniel believes that a lack of finances and resources are some of the biggest challenges in Africa’s creative film and television industry, but hopes that after completing the MultiChoice Talent Factory he will be a well-rounded filmmaker equipped to produce creative films of high quality. This avid soccer fan is also very passionate about collaborating with fellow MTF interns and hopes to pay it forward to future generations, “After receiving the required knowledge, I can start nurturing other passionate filmmakers and involve them in the productions I’m working on,” he says. In this way he has captured the very essence of MTF.