Award-winning music video director Aaronnaire has revealed that one realization changed the trajectory of his career.
Despite already working at Swangz Avenue, Aaronnaire said he reached a point where he understood that talent alone would not take him where he wanted to go.
I realized there was still so much I did not know. Working alongside experienced creatives made me understand that talent alone is not enough. You also need knowledge.
That realisation pushed him to make a decision that would shape the next chapter of his journey.
After his stint at Swangz Avenue between 2017 and 2018, Aaronnaire left for South Africa to study film, hoping to sharpen his skills and gain a deeper understanding of the craft.
The director credited Sasha Vybz with inspiring the move, saying the filmmaker’s growth after studying in South Africa convinced him that formal training could help elevate his own work.
According to Aaronnaire, film school exposed him to the technical side of filmmaking and gave him a better understanding of professional production standards.
The experience also highlighted a challenge that continues to frustrate many creatives in Uganda.
While filmmakers may know exactly how they want to execute a scene, limited budgets often make those ambitions difficult to achieve.
You may know exactly how a scene should be shot, but not every artist can afford expensive cameras, lighting, or equipment like jibs and other professional gear. That forces you to become even more creative.
Aaronnaire said that reality makes comparisons between Uganda and larger entertainment markets such as Nigeria difficult, arguing that the industries operate on vastly different budgets.
Even so, he praised the filmmakers who laid the foundation for Uganda’s music video industry and believes the sector continues to improve with every generation.
We are growing, and every project pushes the standard a little higher.