Intellectual Scum is a 2015 Kenyan short film directed by Njue Kevin. Produced by Rocque Pictures, the film is an adaptation of the controversial article 'You Lazy (Intellectual) African Scum!'[1] by Field Ruwe, a Zambian-American writer.
On board a commercial airplane, an African intellectual (Field Ruwe), sits next to a white man (Walter). In their conversation, which is utterly brutal, honest and to some racist, Walter blames the ‘Intellectuals’ for the deplorable state Africa was in.[2]
Principal photography on the film began on 15 November 2015 and ended on 20 November 2015. The plane sequence on the film was shot on an actual plane at Wilson airport as opposed to creating a set on a sound stage.
The director, Njue Kevin, on this decision said, "We would have used twice the budget on a set other than the actual airport. When on a shoestring budget, you have to do what you have to do."
Accolades
Intellectual Scum has been met with widespread critical acclaim. Screening in three continents across the globe, critics across the east African region plod it as being the most successful short film in the history of film in Kenya.
It has screened at the following festivals thus far:
Slum Film festival, 2015. Kenya - Judges Choice Awards -*Winner-[4]
Golden Diana awards, 2015. Austria
Kalasha Film and Television awards 2015, Kenya.-Best Feature by a student- Nominated [5]
History
Field Ruwe
"Hunt for Successor 8: Zambian Intellectuals are Lazy"[6] was a controversial article written by Field Ruwe, a Zambian-American writer. It was published on January 13, 2012 and subsequently updated on January 16, 2012 on UKZAMBIANS, a Zambian news and lifestyle magazine.[6] It tells the story of a conversation between an African man and a Caucasian man on board a commercial aircraft. In their conversation, Walter blames the "intellectuals" for the deplorable state of Africa.
It was later retitled "You Lazy (Intellectual) African Scum!"[1] by Ghanaian-American novelist and blogger Malaka Grant,[7] appearing in her blog "Mind of Malaka" on 18 January 2012, and subsequently went viral, being re-posted on other blogs and online forums.[8][9][10]
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