Mercy Murugi: Film-maker with a big vision

She also started the Kibera Film School in 2009, seeking to train kids in the slum to embrace filmmaking. We meet for breakfast the day after she turns 30.

The big three-zero. What did you do last night?

I drank.

Unique.

No. I drank for the first time. I had never drunk alcohol before so I wanted to really get into it because I’ve wondered how it is to have a hangover, how to wake up in the morning and you don’t remember half the things that happened the previous night.

Or, wake up in a strange part of town and wonder how you got there. (Laughs). Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. I drunk whisky, pretty much the whole night and I didn’t get drunk, or rather I didn’t feel drunk at all. (Sighs).

You don’t drink, so what’s your vice?

(Smiles) I smoke.

What, like cigarettes?

(Smiles harder). I smoke. (Pause). I look for, uhm, inspiration. (Laughs).

What’s the one big story that our own filmmakers haven’t explored, or are exploring the wrong way?

(Long pause). I don’t think we have a “one story”. Did you hear Chimamanda’s (the author) TED Talk? She talked of the dangers of a single story, which struck home because nobody has a single story. We have all these diverse experiences and cultures that can be tapped into.

What’s your top five all-time favourite movies?

Zodiac. The Graduate. Gladiator. Brave Heart and Fight Club.

Fight Club was good; Edward Norton is a real sick puppy there, isn’t he?

What about locally, what do you watch?

(Shakes head). There is nothing locally I’m watching.

Why? Nothing is good enough?

(Cautiously) Well, I think there are some notable productions, like Mali and Lies that Bind. I mean, they are okay but I’m not a super fan of soap operas. (Pause). I think the acting in Kenya needs to be less, uhm, didactic –

What does that word mean, didactic?

This means that the shows tell us rather than show us. Take a dialogue that goes something like: “Hi, how are you?” “I’m fine. Thank you.” “Kindly take a seat” “Thank you.” “Would you like some tea?” “Yes, some tea would be nice.” Nobody talks like that in real life.

Look, TV shouldn’t explain to me what I’m already seeing. Our television series tell us which means there is no room to think. I could be in the kitchen and “watch” a TV show by just listening.

Does that speak anything about the intelligence levels of viewers?

Yes, I was going to mention that. Look, people might say, well if local TV is so shallow why don’t you produce a good TV show then? Does that mean that if you listen to a bad song you are required to write and sing a better song? Look at our comedy, like Churchill Live, which happens to be our best comedy show. What does that say about us?

Well, what does it say?

That’s a question for everybody to ponder. (Laughs). We need to ask ourselves if there is a way we can do better humour or drama? How can we make TV shows that make us ponder, and question above the entertainment aspect?

What’s your greatest limitation as a filmmaker?

(Long pause) I’d like to find a fearless filmmaker that pushes boundaries, currently there is no TV show that does that. Maybe I should be the one to change that.

Who are your strongest influences or inspirations?

I don’t have one person that inspires me. I don’t have a Mandela or a Mother Theresa figure that I can say inspires me. Not that they aren’t inspiring, just that I don’t really think inspiration will fall on one person, it’s whom you surround yourself with. The environment you operate in. It could be a book, or a song, or a movie…

Now that you have turned 30, what’s your plan for the next decade?

(Deadpan) Have kids.

You have a man for that job?

(Laughs) Well…there is a guy who I think can make a good husband and father. I sort of have an eye on him.

Sounds like he isn’t in the loop of these grand plans…

(Laughs) Not in its entirety. We are sort of in that zone where we are about to start dating…

Give me your most favourite line in a movie.

“Say hallo to my little friend!”

What movie is that?

I don’t know. It’s the first thing that came to my mind. (Laughs).