WE ALL NEED A REBIRTH IN NIGERIA- PSALM ODERINDE

Part of the strategic objectives of shoots.ng to support the growth of Nigeria’s film industry, is to ensure that, the cinematic efforts from younger generation are pronounced and encouraged. One of those outstanding offerings in the recent times is REBIRTH– a short film that treats the subject of accountability for change.

Shoots.ng team engaged one of the directors of the film in a chat and the budding film director led us into the world of Rebirth. The excerpts

Shoots.ng: Why the choice of the Central Dramatic Problem?

Psalm Oderinde: The major theme for the film is “accountability for change” not only on the part of our political leaders, but also on the part of citizens. Some citizens evade tax, some road users leave the pedestrian bridge to cross the highway, putting their lives at risk. Most people subconsciously have become corrupt and yet they blame the government for the mishaps that happen in the country. We also forgot often times that the government we blame came out from our household and their functionalities are the reflection of who we are at home. These and more are why we decided to focus on accountability for change in all spheres of our endeavor. To sensitize our leaders, and awaken the citizens if we all want to see the change we clamour for, come to play.

 

Shoots.ng: What challenges did you face while shooting?

Psalm Oderinde: We had issues casting Halima Abdul, I wanted a lady with Hausa accent, and a lady who can be manly in her approach. This was a challenge until we found Omowunmi who had to engage her Personal Assistant who fortunately speaks Hausa and helped work out her lines in a way that Hausa diction reflects in Halima’s English language pronunciation.

Another major challenge was area boys. Shooting the ghetto scenes on Lagos Island at 1am was a challenge. We didn’t have it easy with the boys and they almost fought us, for refusing to “bribe” them to shoot in a place that does not belong to them. We also had other minor challenges but I’m glad we were able to pull through, regardless.

 

Shoots.ng: Why this film at this pre- election year?

Psalm Oderinde: This is deliberate. We realized that once elections are approaching, and some politicians suddenly become friends with the masses, the latter forget the suffering of previous years. We made this film at such time to remind the masses about the antics of such politicians. And in the same vein, it is a call to action for politicians to be accountable for change, beyond words of mouth. The film is coming at a pre-election season just so it serves as a tool for calling every compatriot to arise and choose their leaders wisely.

Shoots.ng: Do you have any fear that political elites or/and their thugs could come after you for this cinematic offering?

Psalm Oderinde:   Before principal photography, our script consultants went back and forth filtering what they perceived as harsh as the writers obviously expressed their natural feelings in the piece. As it is now, anyone who has issues against a film that only preaches “accountability for change” must be checked. I mean, we all want it, we all talk about it. Rebirth is only our contribution towards a better society. The character of Mide Alade, (ERU), is a proof that even thugs never wanted to be one. They have dreams too, but the society destroys them. In the bid to find means of livelihood, the big guys in the society entice them with money, using them to carry out deadly acts. In the film, there is an analepsis of Mide (Eru), telling his mother how he wants to get education and have a better life. But the politicians kept offering his poor parents small quantity of rice, depriving the poor boy education. And then in order to make ends meet, he became a political thug.  I once did a survey on some area boys and thugs, it was alarming when some of them told me their story. They had dreams. They are intelligent. But the society deprived them an avenue to actualizing their dreams. I almost cried.

This is not to say that becoming a hoodlum is the only way out of poverty. This was one of the mistakes the character of Mide made in the film and he paid dearly for it. I don’t think this movie causes me to worry about political elites or thugs coming for us, because this film is for them, not against them.

 

Shoots.ng: Who are the brains behind this production?

Psalm Oderinde: Rebirth is a Homevida Productions. Homevida is a platform that offers training for young filmmakers across Nigeria and then provide funds for two most outstanding groups to make films on the theme “accountability for change”. I am forever grateful to them for this opportunity because my team and other applicants were directly mentored by top notch filmmakers like Uncle Izu Ojukwu, Ishaya Bako, Chris Odeh, Ivie Okujaye, and a host of others who fed us to the brim from their wealth of knowledge in both practical and theoretic film production and management. Crew members were mostly my team mates from the competition and they all are amazing young folks who outdid themselves. From Gbenga Adeoti my co-director, Kingsley Okoye Rex the line producer, Damilare Olalude the DP, Faith Duke the production designer and the brilliant writers, the duo of Thecla Uzozie and Dawn Ntekim-Rex. I shared the vision with these guys and they delivered nothing but excellence. I would work with them over again, if I have the opportunity. They made the job easy for me.

Shoots.ng: Who are you targeting with the film?

Psalm Oderinde: Although the film is set in a fictional state of Nigeria, it is targeted at a global audience. Corruption and bad governance are global menace, and the first step towards alleviating it, is if everyone becomes accountable for change. People from all over the world must be an ambassador for change. We can only have a better society if everyone is “accountable” for their erring. We should follow due process in doing things. We should make life a safe haven for ourselves. It begins with me, you, and everyone of us. Rebirth is a film for every race and age.

Enjoy the film REBIRTH here:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juvfWFHE7yM

 

Shoots.ng: How do you stay motivated in this field?
Psalm Oderinde: I stay motivated by seeing movies made by people I look up to, home and abroad. I have this feeling like, if he could do this, I too, can. Music also motivates me. I’m addicted to it. It motivates me to write and whenever I have a script to work on, listening to good music has always and still help me conquer the mightiest of barriers. Another thing that motivates me is money. I mean, I think deeper on how best to deliver any project at hand if the adequate funding is available.

Shoots.ng:  On your past productions, what will you do differently?
Psalm Oderinde: Each time I look at my previous works, I feel like I could have done something in a better way. Though, some of these works garner accolades from people who see them, somewhere in the corners of my head, there is a better way I could have done it and this has become a driving force for me to make better films, compared to the last.

Shoots.ng: How do you ensure effective communication among your crew members
Psalm Oderinde:  Everyone knows what to do, from the professionals to the interns. Before we shoot, I have personal meetings with each member of the crew where I share my vision and style frames with them and listen to their suggestions. Then I bring everyone together to discuss the vision on a broader level. By doing this, the communication is effective among everyone. There would be no need for arguments. We are all on the same page.

Shoots.ng: would you rather miss a deadline but deliver a perfect job or meet a deadline and compromise on the quality of your production?
Psalm Oderinde: Well, as much as I do not like to exceed deadlines, I would rather call off a shoot and plan better to achieve the desired result rather than compromise and deliver something unworthy.
At the end of the day, the effort one invests in a project reflects on it. I like to say this. If one compromises, the result is there and it carries my name. Wasted effort, I say. Why not then take more time even though it may not be convenient at first, to ensure proper planning and a near perfect final product.

Shoots.ng: After shooting, is the final picture the same as you had visualized it?
Psalm Oderinde: It’s tradition for me to shoot and edit in my head before principal photography. From shots to sound design, to mood and tone, and colours. I have them planned out all before the shoots. So if anything seems not right, it’s easy for me to figure out and find ways to fix them. It isn’t always good for the job when the maker overlooks minor errors. At the end of the day, few minor errors become one major error and one major error is capable of tuning the entire effort. Although there are times when I have had to compromise, for progress sake. For instance, a script I worked on sometime ago had two waiters on a scene, the other waiter had no lines but was communicated to by the first waiter and a guest, when the cast did not arrive set in time, I made the two speakers talk to the character off screen, as though she was busy somewhere far from the camera. I think that played out well.

Shoots.ng: Who are you? And what do you do in detail?
Psalm Oderinde: My name is Psalm Oderinde. I am a filmmaker. Although I can function in various sphere of film production, my forte is directing.

 

Picture credits-Homevida Productions