Where did you grow up? I grew up in North Greece in particular in a suburb of Thessaloniki (second bigger city in Greece after Athens) called Kalamaria. So I am a Thessalonian and I support my local football team Apollon Kalamarias.

School life?

I went school in Kalamaria. I never liked traditional schools so the only way to enjoy my days there was to try and create something funny. Either a drawing, a thought, a joke or a prank. I was a bit of a Bart Simpson character! After school and army (is mandatory in Greece) I went to the UK and in particular to the International Film School of Wales in Newport in order to study what I really loved and that is film directing.

How did you begin your journey to film stardom?

I used to be a film buff. I was watching movies on the cinema daily sometimes 2-3 movies a day! But it was until I watched Tim Bartona’s movie “Ed Woodâ€� that I realised that I also want to make films. So I got a camera from my best friend and directed and filmed my first silent short movie using my family and friends for actors! Now this journey continues and has a long way before it meets the stardom!

Tell us something about your company Jitu films.Four years ago Vivid Features (one of the main independent media houses in Kenya) decided to diverse from their traditional services and venture into local feature film production. During this time Vivid managed to produce 24 Kenyan feature films under the name of Jitu Films with different directors.  Jitu Films wants to help to create a dependable market for Kenyan films by helping developing a cinema going and a dvd buying culture for local Kenyan films as well as reaching other audiences outside Africa.

Tell us about the current projects your working on ME MY WIFE AND HER GURU.

SYNOPSIS

Steve (Alexandros Konstantaras) is happily married to Angela (Lizz Njagah), a very successful and upcoming TV presenter. But what happens when his wife starts complaining about his outgoing lifestyle while in the same time she shows unusual interest to a religious Guru (Ian Mbugua) whose P.A. (Millicent Wambui) dances to his flute? To make things worst Steve gets kidnapped by two not very smart thugs...

This movie is completely a labour of love for film making and acting. It was this time that Lizz, Millicent and me were idle for a while so we said “Instead of doing nothing and waiting for others to do movie so we can act let’s do our own movie�. That time the finger of god church was on the news so we got inspired and we wrote a comedy about all these cults and fake pastors. We knew that we could only use a couple of locations and have very few characters so we found a device to make this work by having one of the characters kidnapped, so he is stack in one location, while the rest of the characters are based in the second location (the Guru’s house) and they communicate through a mobile phone. We hope we will be able to sell it and make more movies this way and be creative.

How was it working with the likes of Ian Mbugua, Lizz Njagah, and other Kenyan actors?

Its a privilege to work with such actors. There so many things someone can learn from actors of these experience and talent. I had worked with Ian before in a TV series pilot we did. As for Lizz (although we’ve known each other for a while now) this was my first time to work with her and I really enjoyed it! Same with Millicent Wambui, she really impressed me with her discipline.

Do you think young Kenyans today are looking for Kenyan role models in film?

Not at all. They look everywhere else but the films. Singers, politicians and radio presenters are the ones that Kenyans are looking up to for some strange reason.

What is your favourite Alex Konstantaras production?

I like a lot a short film I made during my MA in Wales called The Spacefish†It’s a mix medium film (animation and live action) and although the animation didn’t come up the way I wanted, the live action is perfect! From Jitu Films I really likeœBwanangu Mureshi for the storyline and strong acting (Mulwa, Muchoki and Gitachu) and Zeinabu Rudi Nyumbani for its simplicity.

Apart from film, have you made any documentaries?

I have done a couple of documentaries for Nairobi Utumishi Rotary Club and their charity work. But in general documentaries are not my cup of tea.

What was the inspiration behind the movie OTTO THE BLOOD BATH, and What was the reaction of people?

OTTO is a true story! It is based on all these local traditions related to funerals that if you dont follow the dead man’s wishes then things start going wrong. We just added a bit more blood to make it more graphic. In Kenya the only people who watched it were the Kenyan Censorship Board and their reaction was to ban it! So I guess they got scared. In Rwanda film festival they gave us the Best East African Movie Award for 2009!

What was your reaction and the reaction of people when Two of Jitu Films productions Chasing Moses and Haunted, were selected for screening in the 19th Pan African Film Festival (PAFF).

I was pleasantly surprised as to be honest when we were producing Jitu Films we never thought of international audiences but only local ones or we never thought about festivals. It was after Thessaloniki film festival in Greece where Chasing Moses was screened that we started receiving invitations to submit our films to other festivals and after a few smaller film festivals we made it to PAFF. People were happy but I am sure they were also a bit surprised as Jitu Films were more linked to a specific local market.

How does Jitu films beat piracy in Kenya?

With the pricing game. We are trying to keep our prices low so it wont be worth pirating it. The normal price is 99 KSH but at the moment we have a special offer till Easter for only 30 KSH! The tricky bit is that we need to sell volumes in order to make a profit but with time this will come too.

Are you planning to relocate back to your home country or your here to stay and build our film industry?

I have been here long enough to consider myself one of the many builders who are helping to build a Kenyan film industry so I would love to be around and see the results of our efforts. Because things will change to the best sooner or later! But having said that I am also writing a script that I would like to produce back home sometime this or next year.

If I gave you an elephant where would you hide it?

I will hang him from my girlfriend’s key ring so she will never lose her keys!

What is your favourite colour of socks to wear?

Funny you asked that as I am obsessed with colourful socks. I have a full collection of different socks. But I think striped ones are my favourite.

Do you enjoy your celebrity star status?

Although the Star System in Kenya when it comes to the film industry is still in very basic levels, I get recognised sometimes in the streets (especially from young kids who recognise me from my movie œR2 Security€� that they love for some reason!) or in parties and yes it can fun. But when paparazzis spot you picking your nose in the middle of Kenyatta Avenue then its not fun anymore!

What's your favourite place to eat?

I like the fish curry in G&R in town and also T spot in Koinange street.

Name one actor/actress you would love to work with?

Internationally I would say Johnny Depp and Hally Berry. In Kenya I was lucky to work with some acting legends like David Mulwa but also younger ones like Lydia Gitachu, Ian Kaburu, Joseph Kinuthia. Still there are some I would like to work like Eddy Kimani, Ken Ambani, Lucy Nyagah and more.

Were you bullied as a kid?

I was actually the one who was teasing the others, calling them nicknames, making pranks etc but not in a bulling/nasty way. But I was also bullied a few of times, especially in high school because I was wearing spects and I remember the feeling was horrible.

If you were given a chance, would you enter Big Brother? And if so, what would be your strategy to win?

I had actually applied once back home and I made it to the final audition where they got someone else with my name (Alexandros) but 15years older than me (I was 20 at that time) he won in the end! Now I dont think I would apply again. But if I did  enter the house my plan would have been that everyday I would do something unexpected and weird so people will keep me in the house so they can see what I would do the following day!

What is your favourite daily wear attire?

I like to wear nice shirts with matching half vests but during the day when the sun is hot that is not a good idea! I also prefer jeans and sharp sneakers. Oh and colourful socks!

Women or Cars?

Cars do nothing to me. They are just for transport. Imagine I had a driving licence for more than 10 years and its only recently that I started driving a car every now and then! While with women you can have coffee and gossip!

Who according to you is the best dressed woman in KENYA?

I like the way Diana Nekoye (Face of Africa 2010) uses fashion in her everyday life, I also like the sharpness of Terryanne Chebet and the stylish dresses of Lizz Njagah.

Who according to you is the worst dressed woman in KENYA?Tough question. Women in Kenya know how to get dressed. Even the old ladies!