By Emelda Makos
Francious Truffaut, an icon in the French Film industry once said that, “making a film is like going on a sea voyage. You start out hoping that the journey will be pleasant but you’ll end up simply wishing to survive”. This may be an extreme example but am sure those working behind the scenes in any production project can relate, especially the Assistant Director (AD). Olympia Owira is one such lady who knows the “ins and outs”, the “peculiarities and technicalities” of being in this voyage.
For nearly three years she has been working both as an AD and an actress in a number of well known TV programs. Some of the most notable ones include; Spielworks’ ‘Lies that Bind’, ‘Block D’ and the exhilarating new drama series “Jane and Abel”, showing on Maisha Magic.
Olympia on Lies That Bind season one promo.
With a knowing look she notes that, “Although being an AD is an off-screen job, it is one of the most challenging yet interesting work roles in production. No two days are ever the same”. Each day comes with its own shares of joys and pains. On a typical day Olympia’s work role generally entails working as the right hand person to the Director by planning and organizing everything on set, coordinating the cast and the crew, breaking down the script shot by shot, drawing the shooting schedule and ensuring it is followed to a tee. As simple as this may seem, it is not! It takes a certain level of insight, tact and will power to make it happen. Anything can go wrong on the day of a shoot. An actor or a crew member can suddenly call in to say they won’t make it for the shoot, power can go off in the middle of a shoot (quite a bummer!), a prop needed on set may go missing or the next door neighbours may suddenly decide to build or construct who knows what. Such occurrences can be catastrophic and bring everything to a halt on the day of the shoot. Not to mention, managing different artistic personalities and ideas on set can be quite challenging.
Different faces of pretty Olympia
Amidst all these ticking time bombs, Olympia always manages to make it happen. How does she do it? She always anticipates problems or delays and takes necessary steps in advance to prevent them. She unapologetically admits that she has a good nose for smelling problems even before they arise. Having worked for years both off-screen as an AD and on-screen as an actress, she has gradually developed an unflappable, steady and in control persona such that no matter what goes on, the job will be done at the end of the day and done well. Besides this, working as an AD requires one to be well organised and a good motivator. One’s diplomatic skills also come in handy especially when coordinating the cast and the crew. “You’re buttons will be pushed, once in awhile, you have to exercise patience and always strive to be the bigger person.” Olympia advices. For this phenomenal woman who is committed to her art and always strives to give the best and be the best, it seems like the sky is the only limit.
Olympia busy at work as assistant director [AD] on Jane and Abel set