The working name for our lead character is Pili. We decided on the name after meeting many Pilis from Miono, Bagamoyo and Mbwewe over the last two weeks. We tell the story of the everyday risk of HIV/AIDS through Pili and therefore we have introduced the character to lots of groups of women as we … More ‘Pili is everywhere,’ Cecilia
Hello! Director Leanne here. With the key element of our film being authenticity, I knew early on that I wanted to work with non-actors on this project. I’m not going to pretend that this isn’t a daunting prospect as a director. Getting the performances you want from actors with years of formal training and experience … More Workshopping by Leanne
Care and treatment centres were established across Tanzania as part of the push towards the realisation of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. These centres were established to provide clinics to distribute antiretroviral drugs for people living with HIV/AIDS, counselling and support, and services for mothers and babies. Given these two key services they are … More Staking out the CTC and our first Casting
My Swahili is kidogo sana. My Swahili teacher in 2005, Edith, was entertaining with her tales of Kenyan life, but less of a grammar and vocab disciplinarian. I have all the essentials – I can say please, thank you, can I have a beer, can I have some water, no I don’t love you, sorry … More Lost in Translation
Charles, Leanne and Nkwabi The Tanzania College of Arts was established in Bagamoyo 1981 as a centre of excellence to promote drama, music and dance in Tanzania. Never to overlook a portentous sign, 1981 was also the year I was born so I decided this must be love before I even entered the main building. … More A TaSUBa Gem
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare I was at the office of the Director of Preventive Services, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare at 7.45 this morning. The office secretary beamed ‘we have your letter’ and handed me an envelope, I told her I loved her and gave her some cake to celebrate my 7th … More Can the fun bit start now? Please?
Zephania is Trans Tanz project manager and currently my right hand man for getting to where we need to be over these three weeks of recce/pre-production. Anstey is our translator supremo and a budding human rights lawyer. Both are a welcome tonic to a day of jumping through hoops for a letter. It also helps … More Logistics Dream Team
A 2.45am alarm is no-one’s friend, but after a journey with stop-offs in Zurich and Nairobi I woke up to this not too shabby view of muggy Dar es Salaam. I’ve successfully swallowed a malaria pill without getting dizzy, got cash, and set up two appointments at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to … More Hello Tanzania!
Representations of HIV/AIDS on film have considered the science of disease, the people affected by it, advocacy campaigns for treatment, government failure, social stigma, politics, and personal stories of courage and love. Films such as We Were Here, How to Survive a Plague and Fire in the Blood have had a significant impact on me; … More Where are the women?
Not Another AIDS Film 