Regarded as an established actor, filmmaker/producer, Kunle Afolayan shot into public view with his not-so dimunitive role (Aresejabata) in the 1999 Mainframe box office, Saworoide’, after then, many felt he had receded from the public view. Not until few years ago, when he earned our trust with Irapada and then award-winning films, Figurine and Phone swap. Produced from his Golden Effects stables, his movies are not only poles different from the wishy-washy ones which flood the market but they speak lots of volumes in terms of originality, storyline, quality and many more.
There is no gainsay that his recent film, Phone Swap is a Nollywood production with a class, infact the buzz surrounding it is still very intense.
The film had its premiere barely two months in Nigeria and Ghana got four nominations at the recently concluded Africa Movies Academy Awards (AMAA) but claimed the Achievement in Production design prize.In this short interview, he speaks on the secret behind his first-class movies as well as other issues. Enjoy and share!
I ask, what differentiates Kunle Afolayan from other filmmakers?
In a very relaxed mood, the soft-spoken actor didn’t mince words, he exuded a lot of confidence all through.
“I think it is just my work that speaks for me and the fact that my mindset is different from a whole lot of people.” He began.
” I believe anything that is worth doing is worth doing well. I was able to witness the genesis of motion pictures in Nigeria and privileged to see the positivity in it when we started and what austerity and a whole lot of economic issues has done to the industry before it now translated to Nollywood. I felt that there’s a whole lot to be done to revive that vibrant industry, production value was more important than commercial, for me I’ve been able to blend the two together”.
What made Phone Swap a success?
I think it was God that made it so. Then i invested a lot of hardwork into it. The film wasn’t an hurried job, i really took our time. Then. i also had a wonderful cast, working with them was quite easy and enjoyable. Wale Ojo actually got into the cast like 4 Days to the shoot unlike Nse who got the script like a year before the shoot.
Briefly tell us about your company, ‘Golden Effects’.
Basically what we do is audio visuals. We shoot films, commercials and documentaries. We rent out equipments, we do training, act as liaisons for people who come to shoot films in Nigeria. We have different departments, post production, accounts and many more.
How do you monetize your creative content?
One of the channels of distribution available in this country is the theatrical, that is the cinema but we are trying to explore other forms like online streaming. We also extend it to training for other corporate organizations, we hope to sell TV rights much later, a film like Irapada is still making some money through TV rights. I want to believe that the scope is getting bigger.
Your father, ‘Ade Love’ w as a renowned entertainer, do you feel his impacts are really working out for you?
I will say Yes to an extent but the man was long dead before i started learning one or few things not as a filmmaker but rather in the area of film business. I never learnt anything from him creativity wise but i was able to see how they run production companies especially film exhibition and stuffs but most times it opens doors, it is now left for you to utilize that opportunity. For me I’ve been able to build my own image to the extent that it now rubs on easily. If you surf through the internet, most of the things that are being said about him (my Father) are being linked to me or some of my brothers, unfortunately we dont have archives in Nigeria, there are not a lot of things about him online, so children born 20 years time won’t even know anything about him until they search online.
We’ve seen Irapada, Figurine and Phone Swap, what’s next?
The next one is in progress, infact, i started working on it before Phone Swap. It’s in that genre of Figurine. I want to believe it is going to be the biggest.
How do you keep in shape and what are your regular exercises like?
I walk in the morning for one and a half hours, i used to play basketbal every Sunday but I’ve been so busy with work so I’ve not done that in a while now. At least i take a walk around my neighbourhood like three times a week.
What are your challenges, either as a family man or an enterpreneur?
The challenges are enormous, even our day to day activities. As a young enterpreneur, when you’re trying to manage creativity and business, for you to step up your game, you must really be very smart. For me i plan, most times when you employ people to do stuffs for you, they don’t do it to my satisfaction. That alone is challenging. Also, if you’re thinking about a project, there’s no sure avenue to raise money in this country. You have to think and work out how you raise money, that too is a very distracting and exhausting experience.
This environment does not help or encourage filmmakers. There’s usually no light, everything has has to be powered by generators, when you want to push, the light of these obstacles weigh me down, you might not really be at your best. We have been surviving it and our best is yet to come.