In Uganda today very many youth want popularity hence putting some of the to join the music industry while others find there way and passion into acting. Uganda is one of the countries that are very competitive in the film industry of AfricaÂwith its wonderful stories despite the visual quality that is poor sometimes, its managed to produce iconic movies like Loukman Ali’s Girl in the Yellow Jumperand Raymond Malinga’s Kizazi Moto The Generation CurseÂanimation that managed to go global.
Every year over 1000 actors join the the film industry in Uganda but before you join be aware of the following
PAYING MONEY TO ACT
Producers and Directors in Uganda today tend to ask money from new ambitious actor claiming that they are giving them opportunities. I witnessed this after receiving a lot of stories about a Video joker and producer known as BUKENYA HABERTalias Vj Moon.ÂThis man calls for auditions and ask every one money to join the auditions and its is non refunded when you fail. Vj Moon goes on and ask for more money to give you a role in the script. He sometimes carry over 3 buses of actors to set with everyone in there paying over 50000ugx to act and sometimes they never even get a chance to act or even to see the projects they have acted in.
As an actor or actress you have to be paid to act not you to pay to act so never and never pay any where, a talent should be paid.
FORCED CONTRACTS
As a new actor you are sometimes desperate to see your self on screen hence becoming your number one weakness. Producers and Directors will use this as an advantage to sign you after seeing something special in you. Some times it is good to have a company but always read through before you sign because a contract can put you into bondage whereby you may not be able to act anywhere else apart from that company you singed to or even having to share money you have got from a gig outside the company and most of the times you may not be on their payroll even
SEXUAL ABUSE
Most of the actresses in Uganda have gone through this, they have been sexually used with a promise of giving then better roles in the projects and after they are dumped, as a new actress please be aware of this.
UNDER OR NO PAYMENT
Since we don’t have a standard payment for actor here in Uganda, most films actors are under paid and most of the times not paid. So if you are expecting to make acting a full time job please just lower your expectations because the percentage of well payed actors is less than 40%