Training

Beginning in the Fall of 2011, Sandscribe Communications has initiated a series of educational opportunities for aspiring filmmakers in Ethiopia, including script-writing workshops and video/film production. To list some, in collaboration with Oromia's Culture and Tourism Bureau and Mekane-Yesus Seminary, it had conducted a one month workshop on screenwriting by local and international instructors for 50 amateur and professional writers at the end of 2011 and beginning of 2012. In addition, it had conducted rigorous filmmaking workshop for over 60 Ethiopian artists from November 12 - 16, 2012 in the premise of Mekane-Yesus Seminary in Addis Ababa. During the workshop, a team of eight international film professionals from Los Angeles and Washington DC had been engaged by giving lecture & mentoring the trainees on various aspects of filmmaking. The team also lead the production of a short film, 'Yaadanii', written by one of Sandscribe's students. (For more information please refer to Ethiopian Herald November 23, 2012, "Society Section.")

In the Spring Semester 2012, Sandscribe Communication has facilitated an online specialized film analysis class, "Movies, Media, and Global Citizenship", in collaboration with Wagner College based in New York. Through various on-line technologies (WebEx & Moodle), the students in both countries formed a transnational community that will facilitate diverse perspectives and reflect critically about the relationship between civic engagement and artistic mediation in a global context. In addition to building the capacity of the filmmaking workforce through workshops and short term trainings, we are taking our next major step to establish a college level institute that provides comprehensive and integrated study in the theory, creative and technical aspect of filmmaking, Television and performing arts. The Institute is designed with special emphasis on – but not limited to – disadvantaged students with special talent and serious ambitions to excel as creative professionals in the fast growing entertainment industry and the arts.

To eventually self-sustain the institute, we also are planning to establish high quality studios (sound stages) which, in addition to enhancing the quality of local productions, will attract big-budget overseas film and television producers to take advantage of the Ethiopia's diverse & unique locations – as well as low production costs and favorable exchange rate.

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