BY JABBES MVULA, SUNDANCE INSTITUTE, UTAH — If I was asked to describe my Executive Producer Cyndi Greening in only one word, I would say she is the most "CRAZY" person that I have worked with in a long time. If you are planning to work with her in the near future, my advice to you is you have to be prepared to run along in order to catch up with her.

In the next 10 days, we start shooting the first feature film in Zambia BAD T!MING. The documentary, VOICE OF AN AFRICAN NATION is already well under way as of now. The past months have been very hectic for both Cyndi and I, including the several other people that have been working on the projects. Now that the filming is just around the corner, I would love to very briefly share with you how I feel.

I should admit that am very nervous, and the thought that everyone on the set will be looking at me as the Director, sometimes sends a ripple in my stomach. Please get me right on this one, am not worried about director the film, rather, am worried about what my Executive Producer has done. Am currently attending the Sundance Independent Producers' Conference, and I just could not believe the level of appreciation professionals in the industry have for this film being produced and directed by first timers.

I've had the rare opportunity of meeting with both established and newcomers in the industry, and most of the people I met here at Sundance, seem to have been well informed about the project and they approached me with so much admiration. I will not pre-empt my interactions with other fellow professionals today, I will leave that for my post tomorrow, but the only point that I wish to state is that people are not expecting a film from a first time Director or Producer, but a professional film.

Am not scared of this fact because I have gone through a thorough drill to prepare me for the task from script development to the final stage, but my worry is whether everyone involved, from the cast to the crew, who all happen to be first timers, are ready for this challenge to be undertaken in ONLY three weeks. At first I thought I will be directing a first time film, but now I realize that people will be expecting a professional film from us. Thank God I came here, coz am now fully prepared.

Working with Cyndi is like the film SPEED (starring Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves), in which when the bus attains full speed, there is no slowing down, otherwise you end up crashing. One thing I have learnt with admiration is the way she has prepared everyone involved in the project, and as for me, well am also getting crazy.