By Yunus S Saliu
The Dynamic Audio Visual Studio in collaboration with the Film Producers Association of The Gambia (FPAG), Saturday, 14 January 2023 held its Speed Roll Networking 2023 at WAII, Kotu.
The classified event described uniquely in the Gambia film industry was attended by different motivational speakers and movie practitioners in the Gambia movies industry.
Among dignitaries and speakers at the Speed Roll Networking 2023, night include KemoBojang representative of the Mayor of KMC, Hassoum Ceesay – Director General of the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC), BaboucarrManka representative of the FPAG President, Liane Sallah-Burger – CEO of African Adventure Tours, Prince AminataSankanu – Deputy Spokesperson at the Office of the President, Ebrima John Jaiteh – president of the Film Actors’ Guild.
In his speech, Sheku S Kamara, the Creative Director of Dynamic Audiovisual Studios, gave a comprehensive background of Dynamic Audiovisual Studios, the evolution, activities, and the emergence of the newly introduced Speed Roll Networking 2023.
He said to foster growth through collaboration, “Dynamic Audiovisual Studio is introducing SRN 2023 as part of its agenda for the new year. We are determined, excited, and focused on continuing our drive in building the capacity of young people in the creative sector,” the Creative Director expressed.
Speed Roll Networking (SRN) 2023, he explained, is meant to create a platform through which filmmakers/artists and stakeholders can meet, greet, network, and forge means of collaboration to help the industry grow.
Among other objectives of the SRN is to create a sustainable partnership with creators and associations, to help enhance and develop the capacity of filmmakers and creative artists in The Gambia.
More so, he highlighted that the introduced SRN will create a network through which creative individuals can relate, debate, network, and develop strategies that could help grow them as individuals and professionals.
“Forging of viable and mutually beneficial network and partnership with FPAG, NCAC, and other creative associations and individuals to showcase creative content produced in the country, to critic and help filmmakers grow in their craft. Also to create effective support for emerging filmmakers as well as established ones in the form of mini-grants,” he added.
Reaching these objectives, he said, requires the collective efforts of stakeholders such as the National Centre for Arts and Culture, partner associations such as FPAG, and every individual that cares about the creative industry.
Among other activities of Dynamic Audiovisual Studios, he said include capacity building for young people, branding and marketing initiatives and strategies, photography and video production, movie production and project management, graphics design, and web developing.
He, therefore, thanked the Film Producers Association of the Gambia (FPAG) for collaborating with Dynamic Audiovisual Studio to have an event of such “and we wish to continue that collaboration,”
In an extension, he applauded all the speakers, government officials, individuals, associations, and among other people that attended the event saying that “we want change to happen now.”
The deliberated topics by various speakers at the event include – the need to support youth in creativity, the emergence of the creative industry in the Gambia; the challenges of filmmaking in the Gambia; the role of actors in nation-building; challenges of women in business and the role of creativity in mitigating those challenges.
The event was marked with the presentation of certificates to some motivational speakers and mini-grants to emerging and established filmmakers determined to make a difference but limited in equipment or resource.