Advert
-->

Hollywood star, Omari trains Ugandan filmmakers

Entertainment -->
Hollywood star, Omari trains Ugandan filmmakers
Omari trains Ugandan filmakers.

Sauti Plus Media Hub and Reach A Hand Uganda(RAHU) in collaboration with the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), hosted an electrifying 'Ikonversation' acting Masterclass that brought together over 200 filmmakers, actors, and actresses in Uganda.

The event, held at UCC House as part of the activities leading up to the prestigious iKON Awards on March 29, 2025, brought together creative minds eager to refine their craft.

The highlight of the masterclass was the presence of Hollywood superstar Omari Morocco, best known for his iconic roles in the Empire, Chicago Fire, Homeland among others.

Omari brought a wealth of knowledge, experience, and inspiration to the attendees, providing them with insights into the art and discipline of acting.

During the session, Omari Morocco emphasized the importance of dedication and creativity, urging young Ugandan filmmakers and actors to take bold steps in exploring their potential.

"Acting is not just about passion; it is an art form that demands discipline, consistency, and a willingness to learn," he stated.

He  encouraged actors and actresses to develop strong listening skills, emphasizing that active listening is essential for actors as it adds depth and authenticity to their performances.

"A great actor/actress is a great listener. Listening is indeed a crucial skill for actors, allowing them to react truthfully in the moment, pick up on subtle cues from scene partners and also bring depth to their performances," he added.

While discussing character development, the Hollywood star emphasized the importance of actors fully immersing themselves in their roles, shedding their own identity. He stated that the audience should see the character, not the actor.

"Acting is cool, don't be caught doing It. To truly bring a character to life, actors must fully embody the role, letting go of their own identity. When done correctly, the audience shouldn't see the actor only the character," he said.

He further stressed the importance of humility for actors, even after achieving stardom, cautioning them against misusing their fame. "Even if you become a star, it is important to stay humble and be human" he added.

Omari revealed a key insight to the participants, explaining that a great actor doesn’t act but reacts, emphasizing that this is what truly makes a performance exceptional.

He encouraged them to persevere despite facing rejection in auditions, urging them to use rejection as a tool to improve their craft.

Omari added that even the greatest actors were once told "no," but what made them stars today was their perseverance.

"Rejection is part of the game, but so is perseverance. Every actor has been told ‘no,’ but that’s not where the story ends. Let us use rejection as a tool to better the craft and fuel determination in this fast pace industry." Omari Morocco said.

Omari taught participants how to approach challenging characters, offering techniques on conveying emotions, body language, and building confidence.

He urged them to always be prepared for any role, but also emphasized that it’s perfectly okay not to take on characters that conflict with their personal values.

Malaika Nyanzi, a renowned Ugandan actor, highlighted the importance of events like the Acting Masterclass, stating that they provide Ugandan filmmakers with valuable opportunities to exchange knowledge with international filmmakers such as Omari Morocco.

"I learned something like change your accent, not necessarily like change your accent, like that. No, maybe I change my accent very quickly, then I've changed my character in speaking. I've now become another person. So little things like that, you start hearing what other people are thinking, and then you can apply to your practice."

Malaika expressed her belief that Ugandan actors don’t need to go to Hollywood, but rather, Hollywood should come to Uganda, asserting that Uganda is a hub of talent.

She praised Omari Morocco for his insightful lessons to young filmmakers, noting that these efforts will undoubtedly yield positive results.

Herman Namanya, a producer at Sauti Plus Media Hub and the head of production for the iKON Awards 2025, stated that in partnership with UCC, they aim to develop and elevate the film industry in Uganda.

He added that by organizing events like the Masterclass, their primary objective is to equip filmmakers with essential skills.

"We are looking at skilling filmmakers, which is one of our primordial objectives is why we are even doing the iKON Awards, giving them diverse skills in acting in production, in script writing, in post production and things like that. So the reason why we do this master classes is to equip them. How do you come up with a better script? How do you act? How do you match your acting with the Hollywood level? So those are the key things that we are always looking at," Herman Namanya said.

Omari Morocco revealed that his visit to Uganda is solely focused on contributing to the growth of the movie industry and promised to launch a project before the end of this year. "

"I think there are some incredible stories that need to be told. We have some ideas that we're cooking up, but, you know, I can just say that there are a lot of writers and directors that I like that I hope we can bring can bring these projects into fruition. So hopefully we'll have something that will shoot, and be ready by the end of this year."

Reader's Comments

RELATED ARTICLES

LATEST STORIES