Rebecca Amulen is a Ugandan on location sound recordist, pro-boom swinger and post-production sound engineer. She is also a script writer and film director with a profound love for reading, cooking, traveling, talking and teaching. Amulen made history last year by becoming the first female sound recordist to win the Best Sound award at the 2019 Uganda Film Festival Awards for her role in the 2018 all-female crew film ‘Bed of Thorns’.
Career inspiration
I chose to do sound because it was a department known for men. I admired the way my sound mentor looked all geared up with a sound bag, headphones, cables tied on his belt and the best was the boom. Hahahaha for some reasons I felt like sound people were the coolest on set, so I was like why not try a man’s job? And from the word go I have never looked back. It was the best decision ever.
In September I made 4 years in the sound department and I have been able to work on a number of projects like Mira Naire master class, Bed of thorns movie, Kyaddala TV series, Airtel 4g advert(moroto), NIRA radio skits, Film 256 youth for film projects as a sound tutor, among others.
Typical workday
I Wake up at 4:30am so I can be on a film set by 6:00am. Now if I don’t have early breakfast before I leave home it means I’ll eat earliest 11:00am or even have a single meal in the evening. And the earliest I knock off is 9:00pm but at times we go until 3:00am or even 6:00am in the morning. But well you get used and the passion wakes you up because the director also wants you on set as early as possible.
The one thing I wish I would have done differently
I would choose to believe in myself and my craft. I would walk with my head higher despite all the negativity around me. I would choose positive vibes all the way.
Advise to a younger version of myself trying to get where I am in less time
Believe in yourself. Trust your gut. Be positive. Aim higher. Be a man among MEN and while there make sure your shine is even brighter than the ones you found there.
I would never hire a job candidate…
Who is always self-pitying and creating excuses.
On my book shelf
‘The monk who sold his Ferrari’ by Robin Sharma
‘How to Win Friends & Influence People’
by Dale Carnegie
‘Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff’ by Richard Carlson
‘The Richest Man in Babylon’ by George Samuel Clason
‘Stalker’ by Lars Kepler
