The true story behind Kenyan medical thriller 18 Hours
16/07/2018
SCREEN AFRICA EXCLUSIVE: In 2015 Alex Madaga, a labourer from Nairobi in Kenya, was a victim of a hit and run accident. Madaga was fortunate to survive the incident itself, only to pass away just 18 hours later when the ambulance carrying him was turned away at five different hospitals because he lacked the funds needed to be admitted and treated.
The tragic events that led to Madaga's death and saw Brian Ochieng Odhiambo spend 18 hours in an ambulance attempting to save his life, made news headlines.
-- --
I read the story on the daily newspaper back in 2015 when the story of the late Alex Madaga hit the news. My first impression was, how can this happen in Kenya's capital city? How can an accident victim be denied admission on the basis of lack of money? It felt like a story that needed to be told, to serve as a reminder that such a situation occurred, and it should never occur again. It felt like holding up a mirror for our society and pointing out that there are avenues for change, many opportunities to make things right. expresses Kenyan award-winning filmmaker, Kevin Njue.
Njue was inspired to pen down a film based on the brave paramedic's ordeal, in an effort to inspire debate and seek change in the regulation of Kenya's health system.
Odhiambo, the heroic paramedic, worked as a consultant to Njue during the development stage of the filmmaking process, offering invaluable insight into the life of a paramedic. Additionally, Odhiambo provided intricate detail on the events that cost Madaga his life on that fateful day.
In the film - aptly titled 18 Hours - Zach, played by Nick Ndeda, works for Raven Paramedics Services. While on duty, he receives an emergency call from a witness about an accident that happened along a highway; a pedestrian has been involved in a high-speed hit and run while on his way home from work. Zach then sets out on a rescue mission with his driver Mark, played by Brian Ogola.
Zach and Mark find the injured man bleeding profusely from his head and not moving - they manage to get him into the ambulance. The two men are later joined by the victim's wife Sabina, played by Sue Wanjiru. Together they set out to different hospitals in a race against time to save the victim's life.
Rejected by those who are meant to assist them, Zack makes every effort to keep the man alive. After spending 18 hours in the ambulance attempting to save the man's life, he is finally admitted to a hospital but dies shortly thereafter.
18 Hours - written and directed by Njue - was shot on the Sony A7s, in and around Nairobi and Machakos in Kenya in just 12 days. We filmed on the Sony A7s mainly because of its performance in low light. The camera is tiny compared to others which was a bonus for our handheld style, says Njue. We wanted to achieve an out of body' experience with the feel of the film through our handheld documentary style, he adds. Production and post-production were handled by Rocque Pictures.
18 Hours made its debut in Kenya late last year, which included a marketing campaign with Kenyan athlete, David Rudisha to advocate for better emergency response in the country. The film was also instrumental in pushing for the Kenya Health Act of 2018 which states that health facilities should administer necessary immediate health care to prevent death or worsening of a medical situation.
The highlight of the film so far has been the reception it gets from the audience wherever we have screened. More so, the impact it has had on the health policy push in the country, Njue comments.
The film will kickstart its festival run with the upcoming Zanzibar International Film Festival, which takes place from 7 to 15 July 2018. Zanzibar is the first festival screening. We had to start here because it was where we first screened our first short film back in 2014. It is our second home. As for other festivals, there are several lined up within the year, Njue concluded.
TECH CHECK
EQUIPMENT
Camera: Sony A7
We filmed on the Sony A7s mainly because of its performance in low light. The camera is tiny compared to others which was a bonus for our handheld style.
- Kevin Njue
KEY CREW:
Writer/Director: Kevin Njue
Producer: Phoebe Ruguru.
Editor: Mark Maina
Sound: Ronald Mugambi
-- --
LINK: | http://www.screenafrica.com/2018/07/14/film/film-news/the-true-story-b... |
See more stories from screenafrica |
Most recent headlines
03/06/2024
Dalet and Veritone Reach Agreement to Distribute, Transact and Monetize Media Archives
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
28/04/2024
Mediahaus delivers the first SRT live-streaming sports production over 5G with URSA Broadcast G2
Mediahaus delivers the first SRT live-streaming sports production over 5G with U...
28/03/2024
2024 Big Night In Raises $145k to Support Triangle Arts Councils
Capitol Broadcasting and WRAL-TV once again proudly supported our local arts community with the broadcast of Big Night in for the Arts Thursday, March 7, 2024. ...
28/03/2024
JIC, MRC Announce Accord On Roles In Judging Measurement Companies
With more companies offering different approaches to measuring television viewing and campaign effectiveness, two of the groups that evaluate potential media bu...
28/03/2024
Hulu Added to Disney Plus App for Bundle Subscribers
The Walt Disney Co. said that it launched Hulu on Disney Plus, which makes Hulu programming available via the Disney Plus app....
28/03/2024
GroupM To Double Ad Spending On Women's Sports Programming
Giant media buyer GroupM said it plans to double its media spending on women's sports....
28/03/2024
Scripps Renews State Farm As Sponsor of Friday Night WNBA on Ion
Scripps Sports said that State Farm has signed a new multi-year agreement to continue as the title sponsor of Ion's Friday night WNBA telecasts....
28/03/2024
Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington Sign On for Imperfect Women' on Apple TV Plus
Elisabeth Moss and Kerry Washington will star in, and executive produce, Imperfe...
28/03/2024
Telemundo Station Group Addresses Climate Change With Month-Long Initiative
Telemundo Station Group launches the month-long climate change initiative Our Planet Thursday, March 28. The multiplatform campaign ends on Earth Day, April 22,...
28/03/2024
Circle City Broadcasting Renews Nielsen Ratings Deal
Nielsen said that Circle City Broadcasting, owner of WISH-TV in Indianapolis, has renewed its local TV measurement deal....
28/03/2024
Lionsgate Extends Deal With Seth Rogen's Point Grey Pictures
Lionsgate Television said it extended its deal with Point Grey Pictures, the production company led by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and James Weaver....
28/03/2024
Ariana DeBose Back as Tonys Host
Ariana DeBose returns as host of the Tony Awards Sunday, June 16, on CBS and Paramount Plus. It is her third consecutive time hosting, and it will be the 77th T...
28/03/2024
The Steve Wilkos Show' Renewed for Season 18
The Steve Wilkos Show has been renewed for its 18th season in national syndication, Tracie Wilson, executive VP, NBCUniversal Syndication Studios & E! News, sai...
28/03/2024
Sinclair Selects Embrace as Its Media Orchestration Engine
PARIS Embrace, a developer of advanced automation and orchestration software solutions, has announced that Sinclair Broadcast Group has selected Embrace's P...
28/03/2024
Nielsen and Circle City Broadcasting Renew Local TV Measurement Deal
NEW YORK Nielsen has a multi-year renewal with Circle City Broadcasting, Indianas only locally owned and operated broadcast and digital news media network, for ...
28/03/2024
JVC to Demo Its First Ever 40x Zoom PTZ Camera Series at 2024 NAB Show
LAS VEGAS JVC Professional Video has announced that it will debut its new KY-PZ540 Series PTZ Cameras with 40x zoom at 2024 NAB Show (Booth C4720)....
28/03/2024
Brightcove Launches Cloud Playout 2.0
BOSTON Brightcove has announced the launch of Cloud Playout 2.0, a platform that the company said will offer customers new ways to create linear channels, monet...
28/03/2024
NBC Sports Chicago to Air First-Ever Animated Real-Time Local Sports Telecast
The Chicago Blackhawks and NBC Sports Chicago have announced a collaboration with the NHL to bring fans the first-ever local animated real-time sports telecast....
28/03/2024
The Best News Coverage is Real, Live, Balanced, Professional
The Best News Coverage is Real, Live, Balanced, Professional Andy Marken March 28, 2024 0 Comments Hero image source News of the World, Perfect Wo...
28/03/2024
Get Cozy With Palia' on GeForce NOW
Ease into spring with the warm, cozy vibes of Palia, coming to the cloud this GFN Thursday. It's part of six new titles joining the GeForce NOW library of ...
28/03/2024
Smoke and Mirrors: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]
Smoke and Mirrors: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The South Af...
28/03/2024
Muvhango: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]
Muvhango: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The South African web...
28/03/2024
Gqeberha: The Empire - Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]
Gqeberha: The Empire - Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The Sout...
28/03/2024
Skeem Saam: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]
Skeem Saam: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch the latest episode of your favourite South African ...
28/03/2024
House of Zwide: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]
House of Zwide: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episode of South African soapie House of Zwide on The South Africa...
28/03/2024
My Brother's Keeper: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]
My Brother's Keeper: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The So...
28/03/2024
Uzalo: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [video]
Uzalo: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [video]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The South African websit...
28/03/2024
Scandal!: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]
Scandal!: Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The South African web...
28/03/2024
Umkhokha: The Curse - Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]
Umkhokha: The Curse - Wednesday's episode, 27 March 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The South...
27/03/2024
UKTV sets up second series of Dream Car Fixers for Yesterday and UKTV Play
Wednesday 27 March 2024 - UKTV has commissioned a second series of Dream Car Fixers (6x60) for leading factual channel Yesterday and free streaming service UKTV...
27/03/2024
Inside the Archives: It's Lights, Curtains, Action When Sundance Films Become Stage Productions
By Jen Scott It's time to unwrap those noisy candies and put your phone on ...
27/03/2024
Paving the Way' for Spotify's NextGen Scholarship Recipients
Spotify is committed to amplifying the voices of underrepresented groups, and that starts with empowering the creators who will shape our industry's future....
27/03/2024
Sencore and Showfer Announce Collaboration at NAB 2024, With a Brand-New Content Management and Distribution Solution
Las Vegas, NV, April 14-17, Booth W2401 Sencore, a leading provider of profess...
27/03/2024
Living Black, the longest-running Indigenous current affairs television program in Australia, returns for its 21st year with new guests
Living Black, the longest-running Indigenous current affairs television program ...
27/03/2024
I Am L3Harris - Sam Bonelli
I'm proud to be a woman in aerospace making an impact on our world and among my peers, team and future generations of women in STEM....
27/03/2024
Bitmovin to Show Live Encoder Running on Akamai Cloud at NAB Show
DENVER Bitmovin has launched its Live Encoder running on the Akamai Cloud Computing, optimizing live streaming and reducing total streaming costs by up to 90%, ...
27/03/2024
Hulu Launches on Disney+
BURBANK, Calif. The Walt Disney Company has officially launched Hulu on Disney+ in the U.S. in a move that brings together the extensive Disney+ and Hulu librar...
27/03/2024
WJLA Studio A Revamp Features Brightline Lighting
WASHINGTON D.C. WJLA, Sinclair Broadcast Group's flagship TV station in the nation's capital, has revamped its Studio A news studio with lighting soluti...
27/03/2024
NCAA: March Madness Sees Strong Audience Growth
The NCAA has released figures showing that the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship and the Division 1 Women's Basketball Championship both saw...
27/03/2024
Mediahaus GmbH Brings SRT Live Streaming to the Mountain Attack with 5G and URSA Broadcast G2
Mediahaus GmbH Brings SRT Live Streaming to the Mountain Attack with 5G and URSA...
27/03/2024
Instant Latte: NVIDIA Gen AI Research Brews 3D Shapes in Under a Second
Instant Latte: NVIDIA Gen AI Research Brews 3D Shapes in Under a Second Isha Salian March 27, 2024 0 Comments The LATTE3D model rapidly transforms tex...
27/03/2024
NAB Show Exhibitor Insight Matrox Video
TV TECH: What do you anticipate will be the most significant technology trends at the 2024 NAB Show? TVT: What will be your most important product news? TVT: Ho...
27/03/2024
I knew there were cameras, lighting, some buttons and microphones involved': How Crew Room Academy is inspiring the next generation
TVBEurope hears from some of the students who took part in Crew Room Academys Sc...
27/03/2024
Adobe reveals Gen AI solutions for content supply chain
Elsewhere, Adobe revealed a new feature in Adobe Firefly, which uses the companys generative AI to easily apply the structure of an existing image to newly gene...
27/03/2024
Best of Show Awards for 2024 NAB Show entries close soon
The awards, from industry-leading brands of Future plc, provide a great opportunity for companies to stand out at one the most attended shows in the industry B...
27/03/2024
Meet the director of IT and operations
By TVBEurope Staff Published: March 27, 2024 CueScript's director of IT and operations, Meghan Tyler, tells TVBEurope about how she started her media c...
27/03/2024
CueScript Poised to Transform the Prompting Experience wi...
CueScript, the leading developer of professional teleprompting solutions, is poised to transform the prompting experience with a line-up comprised of world firs...
27/03/2024
BeckTV to Focus on Systems Integration for Sports Venues...
Visit Beck TV at 2024 NAB Show at Booth C4035 BeckTV, a premier systems integrator for the broadcast media industry, will showcase its facility design, enginee...
27/03/2024
Arkona to Introduce BLADE master Control and Orchestratio...
arkona technologies GmbH, provider of IP core infrastructure solutions for top-tier broadcast productions, is cutting through the complexity of live production ...
27/03/2024
KRK Launches ROKIT Generation Five Studio Monitors
As the unwavering cornerstone of professional audio monitoring for over three decades, KRK earned its reputation through a rich history of innovation and precis...