Omoni Oboli had an interesting chat with Guardian Life on her new film and her Nollywood experience thus far.
How did you decide to start directing?
Back in my secondary school days, I was writing, producing, directing and acting in the school and church plays, even though I didn’t know that was what I was doing back then. So it kind of came naturally to me to take the next step from acting to directing. So I went to take a course in directing at the New York Film Academy (NYFA) in New York and now I’ve written, produced, directed and starred in four of my movies and a series.
How would you describe your experience so far in Nollywood?
Great! I dreamt of this, but I didn’t think we would see Nollywood grow this fast to become a force to reckon with at the cinemas alongside other international movies. It has happened and we are competing with Hollywood and doing even better at the Nigeria cinema box office. I have a good relationship with many of my colleagues who have also come to see that the sky is big enough to accommodate even more than we currently have, and I’m glad.
How has the industry transformed for you over the years?
The international recognition says it all. With the great outing at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) we shone brightly. We now have so many great movie makers, and I’m especially proud of the high number of female filmmakers and producers that have sprung up lately when it was only Amaka Igwe at one time. Nigeria has been the better for it with the influx of employment opportunities and entertainment business doors being flung open. Our movies have grown in production value and the fan base has grown exponentially since I first got in back in 1996.
Nollywood Observer 