So this totally cool promo has been running on NTV.......
Join these cool kids as they learn that some lessons are most certainly not taught in class!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
from the set to the studio to class: extreme HIGHER LEARNING...
Hey guys
So when I participated in a focus group that involving campus students discussing what goes on in university to a bunch of writers late last year, I had no idea that I was going to be on the show they were writing, much less be playing one of the lead characters!!!
After I auditioned and got selected to play the role of “King”, I was both anxious as well as nervous. “King” is more of a politics driven character, has a rocky relationship with his father and quite temperamental (as a result of being a spoilt kid). I found this challenging coz, despite what the director said, I am NOTHING like that in real life. I could care less about politics, have a strong relationship with both parents and couldn’t hurt a fly…unless it tried to sully my fries…or eat my mother! (It could happen)
Landing on set however and meeting talented people my age (Janet Kirina a.k.a. always has her lines as I struggled with mine, the rambunctious Charles J Ouda a.k.a Optimus Prime, Marion, Wanja, Veronica, Betty & Tash) I felt quite at home. We were able to put our best feet forward and make this show a classic.
It was crazy with my schedule. Having to balance daily shooting with my radio show (hotDrive96 on Hot 96 weekdays 3-7pm), evening classes at USIU (still in uni) and basically having a life, all proved to be quite exhausting. I recollect getting to the set at 6am on rainy mornings thinking: “S**t! I have to shoot a million scenes (some topless) a rush to work, make it to class on time and still have enough time to go over tomorrows scenes. It was quite hectic.
Thank goodness the crew was awesome: Director Neil Schell always let us do stuff in the most comfortable manner (and you shall notice that nothing on the show seems forced or like we are doing it for the camera), D.O.P Marius was a great comrade especially during the much needed smoking breaks! The sound crew, art department, wardrobe, and grip all made the set quite fun place especially since we were shooting in the middle of Kenya’s largest university…and classes were in session while shooting went on!!! The extras were also pretty awesome. We really pushed the envelope with Higher Learning. Done some things never seen before on Kenyan TV which is a plus for us coz we made sure we did it RIGHT. It will definitely blow your mind. Check out Higher Learning-it’s gonna be the real craze!!!!!
Get familiar!
Nick Ndeda aka “King”
So when I participated in a focus group that involving campus students discussing what goes on in university to a bunch of writers late last year, I had no idea that I was going to be on the show they were writing, much less be playing one of the lead characters!!!
After I auditioned and got selected to play the role of “King”, I was both anxious as well as nervous. “King” is more of a politics driven character, has a rocky relationship with his father and quite temperamental (as a result of being a spoilt kid). I found this challenging coz, despite what the director said, I am NOTHING like that in real life. I could care less about politics, have a strong relationship with both parents and couldn’t hurt a fly…unless it tried to sully my fries…or eat my mother! (It could happen)
Landing on set however and meeting talented people my age (Janet Kirina a.k.a. always has her lines as I struggled with mine, the rambunctious Charles J Ouda a.k.a Optimus Prime, Marion, Wanja, Veronica, Betty & Tash) I felt quite at home. We were able to put our best feet forward and make this show a classic.
It was crazy with my schedule. Having to balance daily shooting with my radio show (hotDrive96 on Hot 96 weekdays 3-7pm), evening classes at USIU (still in uni) and basically having a life, all proved to be quite exhausting. I recollect getting to the set at 6am on rainy mornings thinking: “S**t! I have to shoot a million scenes (some topless) a rush to work, make it to class on time and still have enough time to go over tomorrows scenes. It was quite hectic.
Thank goodness the crew was awesome: Director Neil Schell always let us do stuff in the most comfortable manner (and you shall notice that nothing on the show seems forced or like we are doing it for the camera), D.O.P Marius was a great comrade especially during the much needed smoking breaks! The sound crew, art department, wardrobe, and grip all made the set quite fun place especially since we were shooting in the middle of Kenya’s largest university…and classes were in session while shooting went on!!! The extras were also pretty awesome. We really pushed the envelope with Higher Learning. Done some things never seen before on Kenyan TV which is a plus for us coz we made sure we did it RIGHT. It will definitely blow your mind. Check out Higher Learning-it’s gonna be the real craze!!!!!
Get familiar!
Nick Ndeda aka “King”
Jessica dropping by to say hello...
Hey people.
So this is exciting…I’m excited!!
Higher Learning is as much fun as it is real. Join me and my friends as we make this rough campus ride worth the while.
To me Higher Learning has been a revealing experience, pushing myself harder and experimenting with new ideas that left me feeling that acting is such a powerful tool. Being given the chance to live other people's lives is an honor, seeing the team(cast and crew) give their best makes me say I am proud to be a part of Higher Learning.
Tune in at 8.30pm this Friday 16th April and every Friday thereafter on NTV and journey with us. It will be a fun ride and “Jessica” cannot wait to share her life with you.
xoxo
Janet Kirina aka “Jessica”
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
HIGHER LEARNING is a coming of age story. A 26 part, thirty minute drama series set in The Kilimanjaro University, the harsh realities of identity, life and survival usher 6 young students into adulthood.
There is NICHOLAS “KING” KING’OINA (Nick Ndeda) – a 3rd Year Political Science student who is a rebel without a cause. JESSICA MGAYA (Janet Kirina) - the determined, confident and level headed 2nd Year Medical student whose goal is to graduate top of her class by any means necessary. OPIYO “O.O” OGUTU (Joseph Gitau) is the shrewd 3rd Year, Bachelor of Education student who sees university more of a business opportunity and less of a learning institution. REBECCA “REBA” KIMEI (Wanja Mworia) is the naïve 1st Law student whose dream of joining university quickly turns into a nightmare. ALBERT CHAO (Charles J. Ouda) is the 6th year student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies – a degree that is technically supposed to take only four years to complete but seems to be taking him double the time. Then there is LINAH KANINA (Marion Wambui) the judgmental, self-righteous bible verse quoting 4th year student studying Building Economics whose faith is about to stand the test of time.
At Kilimanjaro University, there is more to learning than lectures, assignments and exams. Students must face the harsh realities of adult life as they question who they are and what they want in life. They must learn to survive or get eaten alive. Here they must learn the hard way that for every action there is a consequence.
Produced jointly by Spielworks Media and NTV, the series was created by Dorothy Ghettuba, Ndanu Kilonzo and Ekwa Msangi-Omari, It was directed by the amazing Neil Schell and shot by the remarkably talented Marius van Graan. HIGHER LEARNING was shot entirely on location at The University of Nairobi.
There is NICHOLAS “KING” KING’OINA (Nick Ndeda) – a 3rd Year Political Science student who is a rebel without a cause. JESSICA MGAYA (Janet Kirina) - the determined, confident and level headed 2nd Year Medical student whose goal is to graduate top of her class by any means necessary. OPIYO “O.O” OGUTU (Joseph Gitau) is the shrewd 3rd Year, Bachelor of Education student who sees university more of a business opportunity and less of a learning institution. REBECCA “REBA” KIMEI (Wanja Mworia) is the naïve 1st Law student whose dream of joining university quickly turns into a nightmare. ALBERT CHAO (Charles J. Ouda) is the 6th year student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies – a degree that is technically supposed to take only four years to complete but seems to be taking him double the time. Then there is LINAH KANINA (Marion Wambui) the judgmental, self-righteous bible verse quoting 4th year student studying Building Economics whose faith is about to stand the test of time.
At Kilimanjaro University, there is more to learning than lectures, assignments and exams. Students must face the harsh realities of adult life as they question who they are and what they want in life. They must learn to survive or get eaten alive. Here they must learn the hard way that for every action there is a consequence.
Produced jointly by Spielworks Media and NTV, the series was created by Dorothy Ghettuba, Ndanu Kilonzo and Ekwa Msangi-Omari, It was directed by the amazing Neil Schell and shot by the remarkably talented Marius van Graan. HIGHER LEARNING was shot entirely on location at The University of Nairobi.
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