If you have ever wanted to have an undistilled look at the chaos that is the Kenyan dating scene, Single Kiasi is the film series for you. Single Kiasi is a 13-part Kenyan original series that is showing on Showmax. The series is produced by Insignia Productions and follows three women as they navigate through career upheavals and relationship changes while tethered together by an unshakeable friendship. 

Phillipe Bresson, Insignia’s managing partner came up with the overarching directorial vision and colouring for the film series. He would bring onboard different directors, among them veteran scriptwriter and director Robby Bresson. 

Collaborative effort

“I have worked with my cousin Robby on different projects where I literally lost hair due to his exacting standards. It was only fair that I return the favour,” Phillipe jokes.

Robby lobs back with a deadpan expression claiming that he is now bald after being on the set of Single Kiasi.

Beneath the light banter is a clear dedication to great film work. The two seem unwilling to put out mediocre work. They both agree that they want to produce great work of international standards and not just great Kenyan works.

They share a love for telling great stories about Kenya and Africa through great film work that can rightfully claim its space in the global film arena.

They share how lucky they are to have worked with a cast and crew who share their vision and are willing to push the envelope on what a great film series should look like.

Robby has done formal training in film work. He has a Master’s in Marketing and Advertising from India and is a Maisha Lab alumni.

He shares how most of what he knows about film making is not necessarily informed by formal training, but by being in the field and doing actual film work. He shares how each of his experiences on set has informed how he writes and directs films today.

“I have been a grip guy, a gaffer, an actor, the set runner on different sets of different films, television series and television adverts.

I have worked in both local and international productions. I bring all these to every film that I am part of,” the Simiyu Samurai creator and director shares.

Phillipe reiterates the importance of working in the film field in order to better hone the skill. He is self-taught and has been actively making television series, documentaries, adverts and films for close to a decade and a half now.

“For me, going to school will shave off a year or two that you would have spent learning on the field, but there is nothing that can replace the experience that one learns on the ground.

Film is also a field whose technology evolves fast. The producing software that was in use last year for instance might no longer be in use this year.

The cameras that were in use four years ago are obsolete today. This means that one needs to couple school with working in the field if they want to remain competitive and relevant.

You have to remain driven. I work three times harder since I am self-taught and seek to better my previous output with each new film installation,” the renowned director of Changing Times shares.

Where it began

Phillipe has made great television series, which include Changing Times, Mheshimiwa, Comedy Club, Socialites, My Two Wives, Pieces of Us, Single Kiasi, New Beginnings, which aired on Ebony Life/ETV SA and other international productions for Cartoon Network, Ted Talks among others.

He shares how it all began in the early 2000s. He was working with several musicians who could not afford to make music videos. He offered to make music videos for them at a small fee. He would then ask Robby for equipment as Robby has various cameras being a filmmaker.

He would also ask to hire out Robby’s house at times as a location shoot. Robby indulged him. Phillipe would grow and Robby would hire him in some of his creative projects such as the films Help, and African Herbsman.

“Phillipe has an eye. We act as springboards for each other’s ideas and offer technical support where necessary.

We have only collaborated on a few projects, but we keep in touch in order to keep pushing each other. We aim to keep telling authentic African stories to show people who we really are,” Robby sagely shares.

Phillipe shares how humbled he was to meet students who had started his show Changing Times in their coursework. He aims to keep creating great work in order to inspire the next generation of filmmakers and to push the envelope on what Kenyan stories and films are.