The More Things Change is a fiction anthology feature film from the Nest Collective 2 years in the making, that was released this month and premiered at the NBO Festival. Made in partnership with Forum Civ, as part of the Wajibu Wetu program, it is a unique narrative of exploring political resistance in Kenya through different eras including a speculative future.
Co-directed by Collective members Akati Khasiani and Mars Maasai, the film explores what happens when an ordinary girl takes on a powerful adversary at great personal cost. It stars Nyawara Ndambia (Supa Modo), Melvin Alusa (Mission To Rescue, Crime and Justice, The First Grader, The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind), Bryan Ngatia (Too Early For Birds), Emmanuel Mugo (Sense8, Pillow Talk, This Is Life) and young luminary Stycie Waweru (Supa Modo, Just In Time, Lusala).
Dr. Akati Khasiani is a storyteller and musician. She DJs under the name Atiani, favouring old-skool and throwback mixes. She is one of the lead artists behind Strictly Silk, a unique dance party whose guests, artists and service providers are diverse women and non-binary people only. She has a strong interest in the presence and participation of queer persons and femmes in and around African cultures, communities and spiritualities. Her work has been published at Jalada Africa, and she has been expanding her storytelling practice into film and other genres.
I had a great conversation with Akati on her experience working on this film and why this story was important to tell.
Congratulations on your directorial debut. What was the experience of directing your first feature like?
It was exhilarating. I work mostly as a writer so it was quite something when Jim Chuchu suggested that I and Mars Maasai co-direct this film. My journey into the film industry was accidental. I’m a medical doctor by profession and I left because of the stress from it all and so I pivoted into research. When an opportunity opened up at The Nest Collective, I took it and even though I didn’t have direct experience in the industry, the opportunities to learn and grow have been immense and I am very grateful for them.
You worked on this film during the pandemic. How did you manage the challenges?
The plan was to shoot in March 2020 but we ended up shooting in October because of the pandemic. We had to be innovative in our approach including WhatsApp auditions and limiting unnecessary time on set for cast. We were lucky to have a great crew and we worked to maintain the MoH Covid regulations including having a healthcare worker on set to monitor everyone’s health. It was a lot more to navigate than usual but everyone was a team player and I’m thankful we had no incidents or issues.
The film’s concept is very interesting. What was the ideation process like?
We work as a team at The Collective so concepts are a collaborative effort. We knew it had to be a political story because we had gotten funds from Forum Civ through Wajibu Wetu initiative and we knew we wanted to centre voices that are usually excluded. We ended up with a concept that shows that young Kenyans across different generations have been active in political resistance. We kept the same actor for the protagonist as a way to anchor viewers as the story moved through time.
Your protagonist is a young woman which is generally not the norm for political stories. Why was it important to tell this story this way?
Our work at The Nest Collective is all about centering voices on the margins like women, LGBTQIA+ and young people. It was important to stay true to that in this film.
The Director’s chair is still very male dominated. How do you think we can get more women into directing?
That’s a great question. I think by first making these opportunities available to them. Taking a chance on women. And also funding women. Making a film requires money and a lot of the funds available may not reach marginalized groups who especially want to tell stories that aren’t the norm.
What are your thoughts on the Kenyan TV & Film industry?
I think there’s been a lot of growth. I’m very excited to see all the content that’s coming out on different platforms. I think we have a way to go when it comes to variety of stories and funding, but things look promising.
What are you hoping to accomplish with this film?
Hopefully it’s a conversation starter. We want, especially young Kenyans, to see themselves as leaders and active participants in political resistance.
What has the reception of the film been?
It’s been great. I’ve received a lot of feedback from people who resonated with it. It’s a special feeling when something that you and other people worked hard on is appreciated in that way.
You can watch The More Things Change for free on YouTube.
