This interview was conducted via @dahabesha twitter direct message
Just want to know more about you… every time I see your work …I keep saying this guy must me a dope person to have a conversion with
Thank you, let’s have eski! What do u know about me?
I know nothing except few of your works. I’ve seen few of your promotional work…If I have to guess…you did that Teddy Afro’s joint…because it has your touch on it
My Name is Sewmehon Yismaw, I’m an Ethiopian filmmaker originally From Gondar. Yes man; Mar eske Tuwaf was my production and I directed most of Habesha Beer ads .
How did you get into film making?
I was a photographer. When I came to Addis Ababa first it was for University School of Commerce. I studied “Procurement and Supplies Management”. So, because Commerce doesn’t have dormitory, I had to stay at my uncles house who is a photographer and a Captain for the Derg Regime. So I learned photography from him and start working with him on some weddings minamin, but when I was in high school I was so addict to Video houses in Gondar. I spent most of my time there, watching video films. This was my journey to be a filmmaker man.
What was your first video about? The first video you did after your transition to film making.
It was a movie called 8:62. Girum Ermias, Yigerem Dejene and Enkusilase was in it, it was a melodrama.
I will definitely check that. What’s your thought about the current film industry in Ethiopia? Do you have any advice for up and coming film makers?
Ehmmm, first you can’t call it Industry man, it’s just a bunch of young people who make movies, you can’t call it as an industry, we r so far to get there we don’t even have a proper film policy.
But for my follow and upcoming filmmakers here is my advice, do not compromise on your story, do what you know, and try not to be easily replaceable. People must seek you; they need to be worried when you are not around. Do not be an average filmmaker try to be on the top, and do not ever say “you want to be a filmmaker say you are a filmmaker”.
Wise words, for the most part…story telling is based on perspective, right? What’s the best way for you to tell a story? What inspires you? What’s your process like…when you do a project?
My inspiration is the project itself, mostly I’m not into lame projects. I’d like to do something big when it comes to production value. Stories that can inspire people inspire me too, and about my working process always need to be the proper way, I have a very strong crew which always helps me by being by my side. About storytelling, I always believe life is non-linear, so almost all my films are narrated in a non-linear way, it’s so back and forth.
We always see project to the future and analyze our past so I want to get in to that and see the inner part of my characters, acting is my thing next to cinematography, I believe every frame should say something about the story and every scene should serve the whole story.
I’ve talked to few ppl who’s involved in the film industry…I’ve been asked to manage few of them as well…and I always ask them one thing… do you get paid enough? Most of them do it because of their love to the art form. Which brings me to my question…those God Damn YouTube movie channels… do they post it legally or illegally?
I always ask what i deserve and people pay me, and if they can’t afford they will leave, and about the YouTube all my movies were distributed properly, and since I am not too much in to producing so I don’t know too much of the hustle but I heard too.
It’s been a while since I made movies for a proper producer, my last two movies were about illegal migration and was financed by ILO and the other by the guy who owns the story.
“Ewir Amora Kelabi ” was a centerpiece for New York African Film Festive and Dallas International Film Festival. It has been in some festivals in Canada too. The other movie of mine “ Ye Tsehay Mewcha Lijoch ” was at Teselonke and Athens Film Festivals in Greece. Ye Tsehay Mewcha Lijoch was played by Solomon Bogale, Birtukan Befekadu and Girum Ermias.
Awesome. I will Google them and learn more about it. Where can people see your work? How does people reach you to work with you? Please share your contact info website, SM handles, YouTube and everything?
Here in Twitter @somickk and @sewmehon_somick on Instagram. I don’t have FB legizew and no YouTube channel. Will send u my demo reels.
Author: Dahabesha
@dahabesha