We Are Not The Machine Ventures into Scripted Podcasts with Debut Project 'After The Credits Roll'
Established in 2016, We Are Not The Machine is an independent Kenyan production company that provides creative production, fundraising, and service production support.
Africa – We Are Not The Machine (WANTM), a globally renowned production powerhouse known for its commissioned factual content on platforms like the BBC and ARTE Digital, as well as co-producing the independent documentary "Softie" (Sundance 2020), is now entering the scripted podcast arena, writes Winston Mwale.
Their maiden project, titled 'After The Credits Roll,' was launched on July 9th, 2023, across various audio podcast platforms.
'After The Credits Roll' draws inspiration from the experiences of the protagonist in the award-winning documentary 'I AM SAMUEL' (Hot Docs 2020), particularly during the film's release in Africa.
Production for the podcast was carried out by AMP Studios in Nairobi, a leading sound engineering and production company.
The podcast will debut as a special episode on the popular Kenyan podcast 'Nipe Story,' known for its authentic African short fiction. Subsequently, it will be available worldwide for free on the documentary's website.
Toni Kamau, founder of We Are Not The Machine, a News Emmy-nominated personality, expressed her enthusiasm for the venture: "We are inspired by the incredible and entertaining work of podcasters in Kenya and Africa. The podcast space is becoming an important platform for the inclusion of diverse and exciting voices. The popularity of podcasts is dependent on their ability to be non-traditional, and, thus, radically honest and inventive."
This surge in podcast popularity is not limited to Africa alone; globally, there are approximately 464.7 million podcast listeners engaged in alternative thought.
It is predicted that this number will rise to around 504.9 million podcast listeners worldwide by the end of 2024.
We Are Not The Machine is also in the process of developing a slate of scripted podcasts celebrating the richness of African history and the diverse experiences of young Africans.
They aim to tell stories from various perspectives and are open to collaborating with writers to co-develop projects in this format.
Ms. Kamau adds, "Podcasts are a great place to develop intellectual property and build audiences for scripted African content. The future is thrilling, and it is collaborative."
Alongside the podcast release, a series of short essays, penned by the lyrical writer Kiprop Kimutai and inspired by Samuel's journey from childhood to relocation, will also be unveiled.
These essays, created in collaboration with I AM SAMUEL's director, Pete Murimi, aim to share the lived experiences of this Kenyan man and illustrate the true power of friendship and community, transcending borders.
They will be made available for free on the website and through various social media platforms.
Kamau, a News Emmy, PGA, and Peabody-nominated producer, is the founder of We Are Not The Machine Ltd, a female-led company that tells stories of African outsiders, rebels, and changemakers for global audiences.
Recent projects include the Emmy-nominated, Oscar-qualifying, and multi-award-winning documentaries 'Softie' and 'I am Samuel,' which premiered at BFI LFF 2020 and screened across Africa on AfriDocs in October 2021.
Ms. Kamau is currently in post-production on a feature documentary exploring the impact of climate change in Africa and is involved in various factual and scripted projects.
Established in 2016, We Are Not The Machine is an independent Kenyan production company that provides creative production, fundraising, and service production support.
They regularly collaborate on shorts, feature documentaries, and series with content creators from around the world.