Andrew Makumbi is a Ugandan writer, film producer, model and professional actor, he has done a number of television commercials such as the roofings commerical and Pearl Magic’s The Chase, and short films such as Stolen Hearts, Never Run Out and more and is known for having had the cliff-hanger role in the Ugandan Netflix blockbuster film THE GIRL IN THE YELLOW JUMPER, in the past 3 years -often with the help of one of Uganda’s best living directors, Loukman Ali – he’s vision is the growth of the Ugandan film industry and the convergence of Ugandan film from the parodic joke on the globe-wise market to actual respected film.
So you are a Ugandan Actor and model. What movies have you’ve featured on?
I’ve done a few films, mostly short films really,…the first short film I ever did was NEVER RUN OUT written and directed by Loukman Ali…I was not more than 13 or 14 the time we filmed this and I remember I was cast with my brothers Mustafa and Riley to play kids playing soccer and I was only supposed to look up in the plain sky and act like I had seen something extraordinary…if you watch the film you’ll see what it was…I had always wanted to act, I always wanted to be actor but I had no grounds to it,and so my time on the camera came,this was it…they pointed it at me,I wasn’t nervous,somehow it all felt natural you know?,then…action! ,we start playing soccer, I do the hands things and point around to no one so the time to look up comes, and I do the double look…I only did what I thought was natural at the moment so I looked up at the plain sky twice and it was…well I won’t say the best acting ever but it was pretty convincing for a first timer…and these guys directing marveled at it, I didnt make it out to be special or anything I just thought it was…normal and they kept saying it was amazing and amazing and amazing and this ofcourse made me happy…so we filmed…and it was good, it was great, the film was one of those gigs you just come and help out and not get paid,you know, you’re going on TV so that’s already down payment enough but I remember perfect when we were leaving Loukman gave me 10,000…to buy ice cream,and that was my first payment as an actor, and after that he said to me, you did good kid,very good, keep that up…and I’m sure he doesn’t even remember, but that moment mean almost everything to me, it was my defining moment, I said to myself that night, this is what I want to do for the rest of my life, and from then I went and studied film online, till well…now,and during that I did a few commercials,I did another short film called Stolen Hearts which won an award in a short film competition, I did more commercials and grip work, then I had a feature on the girl in the Yellow Jumper, my first feature on a film, and it was great… honestly the journey is too long I cant really finish it, but we’ve always got time for next time😂
What do you think about your future as an actor?
Well, I can’t really see my future I’m not Doctor Strange but, I think…well,I hope I’m doing great things in the time to come, for both the growth of the Ugandan film industry and my family as well
And the future of film, here is most definitely bright, I call that one…yes call me doctor strange, but we have a film on NETFLIX and we’re making so much more, developing, growing, the future of film is bright here that i say.
The Ugandan Film industry is developing at a faster rate, what challenges have you faced as actor in Uganda?
Being an actor in Uganda is quite hard, you can’t be just an actor and do that, for a living and survive you’d die of hunger or something…work is very hard to find, mostly if you set yourself to a certain standard,the pay as well isn’t the best out there,but ofcourse some of us aren’t in this for the money but for the passion, but ofcourse it’s a growing industry so, it will definitely get better, we’ve got time.
You’ve worked with Loukman Ali on more than two projects, he’s currently one of the biggest celebrated film directors in Uganda and Africa as a whole. How can you simply define him?
Andrew reads from a piece of paper he just pulled out of his pocket “Loukman or as we like to call him, “big dick louk” is not just a handsome guy he’s also brilliant and he didn’t ask me to say this”…😂
Do you think you a good actor?
The greatest actor who ever lived, Marlon Brando said, being a good actor is not really about how good you can act, everyone with the right amount of training can do that, but being a good actor is about how many faces you have in you pocket, how many people can you be?…and I like to think that I still have a few faces left in my pocket, I havnt done the most convenient roles in the films I’ve done, so I cant really say. I’m a good actor, I haven’t been really challenged before, but we are about to find out.
In method acting, you become the character and frequently remain in the role for long period. How do you go about the cleansing process as a method actor?
Yes, yes I do, use the method to act…and I’ve learned most of my technique build from probably the greats…the Daniel Day-Lewis’ the Gary Oldmans and mostly from probably the greatest Ugandan actor alive, Micheal Wawuyo Jr…he’s an incredible actor and has been a strong contribution to my growth as an actor, he directed me through how to prepare as a method actor, which is a really long confident process that I’m not ready to share at this time,but soon hopefully, I will tell you about how I go by the process.
