I traded scripts for film roles in the past

In a revealing interview with BrainBurst, Omoni Oboli opened up about her journey as a filmmaker, sharing the struggles she faced at the beginning of her career. The talented actress and director revealed that she would often give out her screenplays for free, hoping to get a role in the film. However, she soon realized that her vision wasn’t always translated onto the big screen.

“I was trading my scripts, I’d say you know what, just take it, don’t pay me. Just give me a role in the film. So, I started to do that. But then I’ll watch the film and I realised, Okay it’s not quite what I had in my head when I was writing cos I see what I’m writing, I write in pictures. I see what I’m writing, so when I’m watching the movie it’s so different. Not to say that it wasn’t good because no two directors will direct the same script in the same way. So I said to myself, if my stories are going to have my DNA, then I’m going to have to direct them myself,” she said.

Omoni confessed that she felt apprehensive at the beginning of her directing journey, lacking confidence but eventually finding the courage to pursue her dreams. She stressed that she was scared of being perceived as someone who thought she was above others, but instead, she chose to learn from her mistakes and seek guidance from experienced directors.

“And it was a scary thought, really who do you think you are to come and direct a film? Like who are you again? You know it was so scary, but then I said to myself, Warri no dey carry lass na. Wwetin dem get wey I no get? I was like, I’ll do this thing. So I started understudying directors, like I’m acting on set but I’m watching the director closely. And I said you know what? Maybe I need some formal education on this. So I went to the New York Film Academy for a short course,” she added.

As a testament to her dedication and perseverance, Omoni has built an impressive filmography, including critically acclaimed films like “Moms at War”, “Last Year Single” currently streaming on Netflix, and “The Uprising: Wives on Strike 3”, which is the third installment of the “Wives On Strike” Franchise premiering in cinemas this October.

What’s your take on Omoni’s journey? Share your thoughts in the comments below!