Director, producer and actor KUNLE AFOLAYAN has made three feature films to date – Phone Swap (2012), The Figurine (2009) and Redemption (2006). His work has been recognised at the Afro Hollywood Awards, the Nollywood Awards, the Nigerian Entertainment Awards and the African Movie Academy Awards, among others.
Kunle is a second generation Nigerian filmmaker, the son of the highly respected Adeyemi Afolayan (Ade-Love) and grew up on a steady diet of the performing arts and audio-visual creativity.
HOW DID YOU BECOME A FILMMAKER?
I actually studied digital filmmaking at New York Film Academy (London campus) in 2005, after which I returned to Nigeria to set up a small production company. Golden Effects Pictures now has three feature films and a few television productions to its credit.
DESCRIBE THE FILMMAKING ENVIRONMENT IN NIGERIA. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES?
Filmmaking in Nigeria is totally different to how it happens in other developed countries. An average filmmaker in Nigeria owns a camera and a few bits of other equipment. We shoot mostly on location and not in studios. There are no film funds or grants of any sort in Nigeria, which makes its very difficult for local filmmakers to realise their dream of shooting big budget films. We make do with the few available resources we have.
HOW DO YOU RAISE FINANCE FOR YOUR FILMS?
I raise money mostly from loans, support from family and friends and a bit of sponsorship via product placement and brand support.
WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INSPIRATION FROM?
Inspiration comes from above and through things I see and find around me. Nature plays a key role as I am hardly able to do any scene plotting until I see my location. I learnt a lot from my environment while growing up.
YOUR FILMS PORTRAY A LOT OF THE YORUBA CULTURE AND SPIRITUAL ELEMENTS. WHY DO YOU VALUE THIS PERSPECTIVE?
I am of the Yoruba tribe, born and raised the Yoruba way in the Yoruba environment. Yoruba culture is deep and rooted in so many beliefs, traditions and folk tales. Like I said earlier, I am just making use of what is available to me.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST FESTIVAL / AWARD TRIUMPH?
I’m not really sure what my biggest festival triumph has been as I’m still looking forward to having my film open in an A-list festival and possibly getting nominations or a mention on a high profile award platform. Hopefully that will happen when I conclude a co-production deal with a big fish in the industry.
WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON NIGERIA’S CINEMA CULTURE? IS IT STRONG ENOUGH OR IS THERE MORE WORK TO BE DONE?
Nigeria cinema culture is back and at least it’s better than most African countries where they won’t even watch their own locally made films. Our local films now compete side by side with Hollywood films and more cinemas are springing up in Nigeria.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP THREE FAVOURITE MOVIES AND WHY?
Forest Gump, Apocalypto and Inglourious Basterds. They got me hooked and I use them as case studies in the areas of film dialogue, language and duration.
IN THE FIGURINE THE PROTAGONISTS PICK UP A MYSTICAL WOODEN FIGURINE WHICH GIVES THEM GOOD LUCK FOR SEVEN YEARS, BUT BAD LUCK AFTER THAT. WOULD YOU HAVE PICKED UP THE FIGURINE IF YOU’D FOUND IT?
Why not? It’s good to be adventurous sometimes.
IF YOUR LIFE HAD A SOUNDTRACK, WHAT SONG/S WOULD BE ON IT?
Don’t Worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING FILMMAKERS?
They should learn the hard way and remain focused and persistent.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW?
I’m working on a new feature film which is set in Nigeria in 1960. The working title is October 1. The story revolves around Nigerian police detective, Dan Waziri, who is sent to the trading town of Akote by the British, to solve a series of female murders. He must solve the mystery of these deadly attacks before the British flag is lowered and the Nigerian flag is raised on Independence Day… October 1.
By Chinaka Iwunze
screen africa magazine – march 2013
