Mugambi Nthinga: Cedric. An actor who befriends Mwas as they rehearse together for an important play. Cedric takes an immense liking to Mwas, the film's main protagonist.
Nthinga: First thing any actor needs to do is respect his character and bring his all to playing him - no judgments, no embellishments, no prejudice. Once you are able to identify your character as a flawed human being trying to win something, just like you are, then you're ready. I played a conflicted actor with secrets. That was quite the experience.
Nthinga: Has to be the bit where Mwas is carrying all that contraband in the mkokoteni and he tricks the cops on patrol. Parapanda Italia, Parapandaaa... The audience has applauded at every screening I've attended. They're rooting for a thief! The song playing in the background, Just A Band's Ha-He, adds so much more to the scene.
Nthinga: Very good. Particularly Babu. He is one of the best human beings I know - such a good heart and such commitment to his work. It was an honour working with him. I got to hang out with the gang members on the last day of shooting. It is funny how nice they are in real life. Very nice people.
Nthinga: I have been an actor since I was five. I played the little drummer boy in a nursery school Christmas play. My mum and little sister were in the audience. The reviews were amazing.
Nthinga: I have been in a short film called One More Vote For Obama, directed by Senegalese/French director Mama Keita. We shot it in Harlem, New York. It's on YouTube. I also had a background role in Law Abiding Citizen. You would need to pause and squint a bit to see me, though. I am currently working on a short film with a young director and visionary called Jesse Kyalo. I was also on the cast of the M-Net produced, pan-African drama series, Changes.
Nthinga: It is significantly different from the perception of actors from say, 10 years ago. We were considered self-entitled loafers with nothing better to do then. Now our contribution to the arts and people's daily lives is being recognised and appreciated. There's respect for us now. We can strut on the streets and proudly say what we do. We have some way to go before it adds up monetarily, though. They're driving Range Rovers in Nigeria. I want to be able to buy a Range from my earnings as an actor too! I want kids to be able to tell their parents that they want to be actors, and have their parents give them spirited pats on the back and say, That's my baby!
Nthinga: It was a brilliant experience. Brilliant! Without a doubt my highlight of 2010. And now that the film is out and doing so well, even better. We learnt a great deal. We were pushed and pushed. We stretched. We grew. And now people love our work. An actor couldn't ask for more.
Nthinga: The casting director called me and said this would be an exciting project to be on. He pointed out that it wouldn't pay much because it was a workshop film, but it would be an investment for my career. He told that to everyone who was interested in working on the film. And most of us listened. I think Nairobi Half Life has the best collective cast of any film I've seen recently.
Nthinga: I really can't remember any lows. I terribly love acting. The first day on set is always difficult - but it's a nice kind of tough. The only harder day than day one is the day they yell that it's a wrap - that there is the low. We cheer because we are finished, but it is a terrible low.
Nthinga: Everyone involved in this film believed in it. So when I showed up to pick up my script, someone from the production office mentioned that this film was worthy of the Oscars, and it might be submitted. I thought they were being overly optimistic. But here we are. It's surreal. If we get nominated, then, Wow. Wow. That will be - otherworldly. I find it difficult to wrap my head around that. Let's let it happen and see.
Nthinga: Not once, thank God. But when I walked into the audition room and saw Tom Tykwer in there, I almost ran off. I mean, it's Tom Tykwer!!!
Nthinga: We still need a useful sort of recognition. By useful, I mean, we put so much work into our craft, it ought to pay us back accordingly. There's much more affluent people doing much less. That ought to change.
Nthinga: Nothing at all!