A new Ethiopian film that has spent four years in the making ‘Nege’ which means tomorrow, has started screening in Addis Ababa at Alem Cinema and Edna Mall. The film is written and directed by Alebachew Arage and produced by Sat Multimedia Training.

Postponed from its original plan the film has been delayed several times due to financial and other setbacks. “We started the film under the impression that we would not need more than 100,000 Birr to make it but it has cost us 430,000 Birr.”

The director told us this week that he has found the whole filmmaking a learning process having written 11 plays in the wollo region while serving in the church as a child.

Alebachew was never new to the story writing. Yet, to direct a feature film has been tasking for him. And he attributes the financial expenses due to the inexperience as well. “We have bought a costume and spent a lot of money on the production which we could have handled differently if we are to do it now. I think we can do it in half the cost if we can do it again.”

Originally entitled Yeminkeratetu Kwakibt (the Wondering stars) the film later has its title changed to Nege (Tomorrow) as the change was demanded by the two cinema halls that it screens recently. “Perhaps they were afraid of the political implication the film might portray. And we were forced to change the ending and the title of the film. “The writer states that original version which was premiered in front of critics a month ago has been controversial.

Nege shows the story of one young woman who has been the black ship of the family.

Born and raised in wollo region this young woman faces the hardship of having to deal with two orphans as her dying mother makes her promises to take care of them before she considers making a living of her own. The young woman is put in a test as she faces lots of temptations in her life after moving to Addis Ababa, started growing up and fall in love. Nege shows the sacrifice that people are made to make when they are deprived.

Despite his disappointment for not maintaing his poetic license, he is happy with the quality of the film. Among the aspects that Alebachew said most Ethiopian films are lacking the story line and the choices of characters are leading. “We have lots of tables and stories it would be a shame to see our films having poor story line.”

The audio aspect of the film is something the director highly commends at Nege and he gives the credit to the editor Daniel Girma. “One full year is dedicated to the audio aspect of the film. I can say for certain that our film is the first to pay this much attention to the sound. We have gone to the extent of using three voices for one single character” Alkebachew added.

Paying attention to detail the film, the editor and cameraman Daniel Girma has made Nege in a Dolby 5.1 surround sound. “We have the lighting equipments made locally improvising with the demanded watt. And we have also spent four months on the color correction.” He said. “ We have made this film to make it fit the international standard in its sound and we have paid due attention making it in the studio.”

The 5.1 Dolby surround sound makes Nege give different sounds played in five surround speakers at the same time as in the case of most Hollywood films. “You can hear the engine in one speaker while listening to the atmosphere another.”

Having worked with his father a photographer for over 30 years, Daniel has had his eyes tuned to the different colors at a young age. Putting his eight years of experience in photography and several more as a cameraman, the editor has experience when it comes to cameras. But the total editing of the film has been educational for him as well. “I have worked in other films as a camera man but in this film I have had the freedom to make my input in the making.”

Abaineh Assefa, Manager of the Sat Multimedia Training on his part stated that the company being owned by the three founders Daniel Girma, Alebachew Arage and himself has given them the freedom to work on the vision they all share. “We have used a means to promote it in a new way the film will be promoted in a photographic exhibition that Perigio (NGO) in Addis Ababa is organizing.” He also stated that they will have a screening in designated hotels for diplomats and investors; they have also started screening the film in front of university students in addition to the cinema halls.

Nega will be screened at Quarter, France, Sweden, France and Italy in one month’s time.

Source: SSI