I MISSED DEADLINES FOR BAMIDURO TO PRODUCE A PERFECT JOB- OLAWALE ABASS

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 rising stars are pronounced and encouraged. One of those outstanding offerings in the recent times is BAMIDURO– a Yoruba language feature length film that treats resilience and perseverance.

Shoots.ng’s Odusanya Omowonuola engaged the producer of the film in a chat and the budding producer cum actor led us into the world of BAMIDURO and more. The excerpts   Shoots.ng: Of all the departments in film production, why did you choose being producer and actor?

Olawale Abass:  Smile. Being a producer and an actor, I believe are the best in any film production. I just want to be responsible for the financial and managerial aspect of filmmaking. Acting on the other hand has been what I wanted to do from the beginning, based on what I studied in the tertiary institution, but sometimes one deviates from the line of studies. Acting also makes one to be reckoned with in the industry and society. It gives fame when you are good at what you do.

Shoots.ng: Have you ever thought you should have opted for another department in film making?

Olawale Abass: Not at all. I love to produce and act.

Shoots.ng:  Do you have formal training in filmmaking and from where?

Olawale Abass: I was trained by a director called Olumide Akinkunmi who is based in Lagos State.

Shoots.ng:  What are the challenges facing your work?

Olawale Abass: The only and main challenge we are facing now is the issue of some of the marketers. You would have spent so much money on a project, to release and get paid become a problem. I still have pending jobs with marketers yet to be released and get paid for, not smiling on this at all.

Shoots.ng:  Can you discuss the process of film production management in details?

Olawale Abass: You must understand what the job entails first. You must look for a very beautiful story that the audience will love. Screenplay follows and this is where the major casts set in. It gives you full details of the basis for a film production. It does not only talk about dialogue spoken by the characters but also a scene -by-scene of the film.

The crew comes in where you have the Director, Continuity Manager, Cameramen, Production Manager, Set Designer, Sound Specialist, Location Driver, Location Manager, Editor, Make-Up, Costumier, Spark, Gaffer, BTS etc. All these crew members make a whole film.

Shoots.ng: How lucrative is filmmaking and what do you value in terms of naira and kobo?

Olawale Abass: Filming is very lucrative when you have a good story line especially when you premiere your film.

 

Shoots.ng: Kindly list and explain the projects you have worked on and identify the challenges of three and the positive testimonies of another three.

Olawale Abass:

I have worked on the following; Painful act, Ida (Sword), Korikosun (Bestie), Ife abi Ago (Love or foolishness), Bamiduro.

As per challenges, Painful act has a lot of challenges. The camera man messed up the whole work for me and till date, I haven’t gotten myself on the job. Korikosun was a very good story line, but like I said earlier, some marketers are not being fair.

I have received positive testimonies on my films. Ife abi Ago sold very well through online platform, Apata TV precisely. I’m presently still placing it on a high level in one of the terrestrial TV stations. Ida got applause too. Although, it was released during the pandemic lockdown.

Shoots.ng:  Which amongst your films was the most tasking and why?

Olawale Abass: The most tasking among my works is Bamiduro. It was in 2 parts. Finding myself doing menial jobs like bus conductor, car washer, mechanic apprentice, etc. A customer slapped me while washing her car. (Laughs) Before I could get a mechanic work, I was drilled by Mr Latin. Finding myself in a shrine, wanting to do money ritual and lots more.

Shoots.ng:  If any of your children volunteers to take up this job from you, what will be your words to him or her?

Olawale Abass: I will encourage him. He should be steadfast, focused. He should always be at alert, he should not rush things.  Surely he will get there.

Shoots.ng: Is there a retirement plan for this job?

Olawale Abass: No retirement plan for this job

Shoots.ng: Have you being worried that as a producer you are not as recognized as the actors, despite the fact that you do a lot behind the scene to project the actors?

Olawale Abass: Yes, I have been worried though, but I don’t give myself unnecessary headache. The known actors would have forgotten that a producer pays their bills but with time, everything will take shape.

Shoots.ng: What do you think government at all levels can do to assist your industry?

Olawale Abass: Even before I joined the industry in 2019, government haven’t done anything tangible in the industry, aside the national theater at Orile Iganmu. The Government can still build more of the film theaters. Also, governments at all levels should provide funding.

Shoots.ng: What do you have to tell the younger generations as far as your field is concerned?

Olawale Abass: The younger ones should always be focused, steadfast and be prayerful. They must not go for money first, be famous and money will definitely look for you.

Shoots.ng: Have you or project(s) you have worked on being awarded?

Olawale Abass: Yes, Ida got me an award as the best producer of the year 2019/2020 and that award was Yoruba Music and Film Award (YOMAFA).

Shoots.ng: How do you stay motivated in this field?

Olawale Abass: Sometimes, I will feel like quitting the job, but when I still see some great actors like Odunlade Adekola, Ibrahim Chatta, Femi Adebayo, Joseph Momodu, Ninolowo Bolanle, Muyiwa Ademola, Lateef Adedimeji, to mention but a few, then I get motivated.

Shoots.ng:  What will you do differently on your past productions ?

Olawale Abass: Nothing than to use solid casts, your camera men must be very good, great director, your production manager etc. These are the people that make a film solid.

Shoots.ng: How do you ensure effective communication among your crew members?

Olawale Abass: Effective communication must always take place in the field. Basically it’s the job of a Production Manager to make sure everything is in place.

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?

Olawale Abass: Yes, I will rather miss a deadline and deliver a perfect job. In fact, I missed the deadline of my upcoming project just for me to deliver a perfect job.

Shoots.ng: After filming, is the final picture the same as you had visualized during the ideation?

Olawale Abass: Yes, the final picture is the same but don’t also forget that, this is the job of an editor to make corrections after he must have perused the job. He is the final man in every production. All the corrections are made with the professional guide of the Director.

Shoots.ng: What film production are you currently working on?

Olawale Abass: My current film production will be out any moment from now. Bamiduro is the title and it teaches a lot of lessons, much suspense, very intriguing etc.

Shoots.ng: Kindly tell us, what’s new that should be expected in your upcoming production?

Olawale Abass: Well, nothing much than to say, I haven’t done a major and tasking role like that before, and this is what people would see and get in Bamiduro. They shall see Whalesman in another dimension.

Shoots.ng: What does your new film Bamiduro seek to address in our society?

Olawale Abass: Bamiduro is a very touching story, very emotional too. It teaches us to always be patient in life, no one should be in a haste to make money because of suffering. It portrays virtue and morality. It is a story of resilience and perseverance. There are lots of suspense in the film, until people  watch it, then they would understand the suspense.

Shoots.ng: What’s the stage of Bamiduro as of now?

Olawale Abass: Bamiduro is in a stage to be released by the marketer, but both parties still need to negotiate.

Shoots.ng: Where and when can people access the film once it starts rolling out.

Olawale Abass: People can access it via YouTube, this is the first stage, I am sure of DVD later too.

Shoots.ng: Share a bit of the intrigues embedded in the in the film.

Olawale Abass: Bamiduro is a story of a struggling and hardworking young man who thinks his suffering is over when he is offered a job at a car wash center.  But his problem starts afresh when a vulcanizer friend of his removes the lifting-jack from a female customer’s car without informing him. All efforts for him to secure an apprentice slot at a nearby road side mechanic workshop as an alternative prove abortive. The events that follow his struggles for life and prevailing scenarios are better imagined. You just have to watch this film and learn huge lessons of life.

Shoots.ng: Who are you and what do you do in detail?

Olawale Abass: Olawale Abass is my name and my stage name goes by Whalesman. My primary job is Oil and Gas, working with Mobil Oil Nigeria PLC as the depot supervisor in NNPC depot, Suleja, Niger state. Making movies is my second line of job.