This morning I met with a member of the Kenya Film Commission and we had a wonderful hour-long discussion about WSO’s hopes, and KFC’s desire for film education.

I recorded the discussion and have much to pore over in formulating a report for my Board of Directors. I also hope to use this report as a piece in my PhD applications as an example of my “scholarly pursuits,” among other things.

My new KFC friend, Tichi, is putting together a letter for WSO to use when fundraising and finding donors of computers, cameras, etc. Here is one of my favorite quotes from the day:

“You can tell your Board we are 100% willing to work with you because it is the only way this industry will be developed. We don’t get training and we don’t get any support, unfortunately for us we will be left behind.”

She also spoke of the need for storytelling training - screenwriting in particular. It’s true that they have the technology and technical know-how to shoot and light a scene, etc., but the creative storytelling aspect is lacking with no formal training available in Kenya.

She also said a Dr. Fielder from the University of Southern California (a school I am applying to) came this summer and taught screenwriting workshops in the slums that has born much fruit for those that could partake.

Wish I would have known she was coming, I would have loved to have met her and shaken hands, and gotten me a nice connection at USC!

So where does WSO go from here?

I would like to put some curriculum into practice while I am here. I’m hoping to set up my own screenwriting workshop - with KFC providing students.

I’d like to document this workshop (or more) for a future fundraising media package for WSO, getting pictures, video, quotes and sample work from students, etc.

All of these will be invaluable in the coming years of fundraising to build an official School of Excellence in Film Production, something KFC has been actively discussing as recently as this past month. Imagine that, and I just so happen to be here!

I am also getting in touch with Dr. Fielder from USC, as she has done exactly what WSO hopes to do on a bigger scale.

So it has been an exciting day of progress! I am very glad to have made this connection. There is no way WSO can do anything without KFC’s partnership.

In other news, I am also trying to meet with Kentucky Fried Chicken in my quest to partner with every KFC in the entire universe.

It’s Monthly Donate To Justin Day! (Kumi Na Tano = 15, as in, the date!)

Supporters, Partners, Friends, Family, Acquaintances, Strangers:

Here we go! August! Halfway through! I hope you have had a happy summer! Progress is underway in Kenya, both with the bridge in Galana and with World Story!

Our steel contract has been signed and the plan hope goal dream expectation is to have our huge towers up in 6 weeks! This is excellent news and a big step forward.

Also, I’ve got a meeting with the Kenya Film Commission next week to discuss the potential for partnering to build a film school here! That is also excellent news, especially since I’ve been trying for 4 months to get in touch with them!

It’s Kumi Na Tano, so here is the reminder that I rely on faithful supporters who can’t be here with me (but still want to vicariously be a part of things with a tiny part of their income each month).

So, go for it! Use the big DONATE button or you can send checks to the WSO office:

World Story Organization
1156 Dakota Court
Bowling Green, OH 43402

If you have already sent stuff my way this month, rock on! I appreciate you remembering me! If you have not sent your August support yet, you should do so now! Thanks!

10 new okay pics on the Flickr

Fake HDR

I’ve got a dozen or so nice pictures from the bridge recently but haven’t found good internet to get them uploaded. I’m glad to even get this small version uploaded after 20 minutes. I’ll let you know when I succeed.

In the meantime, anyone catching Olympics? I saw the USA fencing women sweep here at Bar Bar, which has been getting busier! Tourist season is officially upon Malindi.

Monday we’re supposed to head to Mombasa to pick up a cement mixer and some other supplies. Then we will hopefully start making some headway for the big towers to come in sooner than later!

I’m feeling a little beatnikish today, so I took some portraits of my recently furnished cottage. To see them in color you’ll have to come visit!

Karibu sana!

Soon my parents shall sit here for a picture.

This is where I lay my head. The fan keeps bugs at bay.

Where I work/eat/record/edit.

Where I “do” bills.

Where I relax, played emulated Genesis, and watch movies.

Where I attempt to make food for myself.

And my personal favorite shot of the day:

My neighbor, whose house is more extraordinary every day.

Actual screen shot from the Safaricom-packaged modem monitoring software

See that 3.7kb/s as the top rate? That means your favorite 400kb photo on my Flickr page that takes you 1 second to load takes me: 108 seconds.

Oh right, but that’s at the top rate, which is much higher than the current average of:

33 bytes.

Yes. We’re back to 1982 when we measured size in bytes. That picture actually takes me over 12,000 seconds to load.

200 minutes. More than 3 hours. One picture!

Anyone feel like they are in the Colon Blow commercial and Phil Hartman is here?