{"id":2579,"date":"2014-04-03T15:34:28","date_gmt":"2014-04-03T22:34:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogschapman.wpenginepowered.com\/alumni\/2014\/04\/03\/filmmaker-jillian-arnold\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T06:43:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T06:43:23","slug":"filmmaker-jillian-arnold","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/alumni\/2014\/04\/03\/filmmaker-jillian-arnold\/","title":{"rendered":"Filmmaker Jillian Arnold (MFA '07) uses her talent and education to shed light on nonprofit in Nairobi"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n\"jillian-arnold-blog-2\"
\nJillian A<\/b>rnold<\/b>
\n, MFA film production \u201907, has been on the move since her graduation from Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. In 2012, Jillian was featured in Happenings for her work as a\u00a0cinematographer for NASA.<\/a>\u00a0She was even selected to serve as\u00a0lead operator during the 2012 Curiosity Mars landing.\u00a0<\/span>
\nToday, she\u2019s focusing her energy on a new documentary project. Read on to learn more about about Jillian and find out what advice she has for aspiring filmmakers.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/b>Tell us about Badala<\/em> \u2013 how did the project start and how did you get involved?
\n<\/b>Badala<\/i> is the story of four ambitious and determined women who overcome great odds in an impossible environment. Monica, Lillian, Beaty and Helen are four senior members of the Badala non-profit organization located in Nairobi, Kenya.\u00a0 The film focuses on where these women came from, what lead to their life in the slums, and how they came together to turn their lives around.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Badala non-profit is the setting for their emotional and financial recovery. Not only are these women gainfully employed, they are required to have a savings account for a future investment of their choice. Each woman, upon acceptance into the program, must create financial and business goals.\u00a0 The organization creates workshops to educate these women on how to run a small business. When they have reached their savings goal, they can graduate from the program and start their future ventures. Badala is about empowering women to create a sustainable future.<\/p>\n

More so, the organization is actually a trauma support group for the women. Since there is no avenue for traditional therapy in Kibera, Badala is a means of group therapy. Women can share their past and current issues and work collectively to solve them.<\/p>\n

Joelle McNamara, Badala\u2019s founder, started the non-profit at 17. Joelle is a family member of mine. After an evening of her sharing Monica and Lillian\u2019s story with me, I was instantly hooked on the idea of making a documentary.<\/p>\n

“I am a story teller. I love human interest stories. Specifically, journeys of people with unfathomable circumstances that make something of themselves.\u00a0 I find that most people concentrate on the end result of a situation, but I find the process of getting there to be the most interesting.\u00a0 The true test of strength is when you put a heroine or character in hot water, and see how they manage to survive. I have a great amount of respect for each Badala lady and I think their stories could inspire others.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The
\nBadala<\/i>
\ndocumentary will explore the transitional state that the non-profit is undergoing as senior members graduate and new members are accepted.\u00a0 Furthermore, we will give an intimate account of each senior member\u2019s journey from extreme poverty, and starvation, to the successes they are trying to achieve now.\u00a0 My hope is that Americans will watch the documentary and be inspired to reach higher in our land of plenty.<\/p>\n

I took a trip to Kenya, this past January to research the story idea and pin down logistics.\u00a0 I spent 8 days living with our documentary\u2019s main heroine, Monica and her family. It was the most unique experience one could ask for, especially when researching for a story. I grew very close to the family and they opened up in a way that I could never have imagined one would in such a short time.<\/p>\n

We are currently in the fundraising stage of our documentary and hope to reach our goal on the crowd-funding platform,
\nKickstarter<\/a>
\n.<\/p>\n

What insight would you give to current students and alumni who are aspiring filmmakers?
\n<\/b>
\nWe have not started principal photography. We plan to do so in July if we reach our goal on Kickstarter. I did take a trip to Kenya in January for research and logistics. This response may change but here is my advice at the moment:<\/p>\n