‘Why notion that Europeans civilised us should be dropped’

Weekend Magazine: Did you have any specific influences growing up that led you to the film industry?Adeola Adeseun: My decision to venture into film and television came less from a love of filmmaking and more from recognition of the power that media plays in shaping cultural perception and identity.  My parents, through their lifelong example, […]

Weekend Magazine: Did you have any specific influences growing up that led you to the film industry?
Adeola Adeseun: My decision to venture into film and television came less from a love of filmmaking and more from recognition of the power that media plays in shaping cultural perception and identity.  My parents, through their lifelong example, have inspired me to commit myself to the service of Africa and African people, and that is the heart of my work as a producer.
WM: How did producing come about?
Adeseun: For five years or so, my husband and business partner Arias R. Williams, and I, ran a media production company in Los Angeles where we focused on music production and distribution as well as musical theatre.  Our current Nigeria-based film and television production company, Nappy Media, is a natural outgrowth of that and a continuation of our journey as ambassadors of the beauty, complexity, and richness of African culture, which, of course, includes African Americans and others throughout the Diaspora.  
WM: Was your family supportive of you choosing to major in motion pictures?
Adeseun: My decision to transition from being a theatre producer to being a film producer was intertwined with my decision to return home to Nigeria, so my parents were obviously thrilled.  My parents have always supported me, and have provided consistently loving and useful guidance while giving me the space to express myself creatively and pursue my own goals. I am very blessed in that regard.  
WM: Tell us about your first break? How did you get started with your first movie production?
Adeseun: This is it!  ‘ASE’!
WM: What is ‘ASE’ all about and what inspired you to produce it?
Adeseun: ‘ASE’ is a fictional story that is rooted in the history and culture of the Yoruba people.  Set in the mystical world of the ancient Oyo kingdom, the short film available worldwide via YouTube on August 26th, 2014, tells the story of three ordinary teens on an ordinary day, which have a not-so-ordinary run-in with an evil spirit called Elemoso. The short film is a conceptual piece that gives the audience a small taste of what to expect from the television series we are developing.  
The inspiration for the television series came from the realization that many people have little or no knowledge of how African society looked or functioned prior to Western colonization. We want to burst once and for all, the myth that Europeans brought civilization to Africa. My husband is an avid student of African History, and he exposed me to ancient stories of African gods and goddesses, and all the magic and mystery of Yoruba culture, and we just felt strongly that there was a story there that needed to be told. It is important for us to reconnect with an understanding of our cultural legacy, because as Marcus Garvey said a people without history are like a tree without roots.
WM: What were the challenges you faced producing it?
Adeseun: ‘ASE’ is a trans-Atlantic collaboration of artistes and story-tellers from Nigeria as well as the United States, and we filmed in both Abuja and Ogbomoso, so it was quite a logistical undertaking. In addition to that, our production company, Nappy Media is the new kid on the block, so it took some time to develop the necessary relationships and figure out who we wanted to work with. Fortunately, we were to bring a Nigeria-based producer, Olabode Ogundipe, on board early on, and he played a key role in helping us navigate our new environment and maximize our resources to get the job done.
WM: As a female director, do you get looked down on by other members of the casting crew?
Adeseun: I think I can speak on behalf of our female director, Nabila Lester, a seasoned African American director/producer, when I say absolutely not. First of all, Nappy Media is committed to celebrating women both on and off screen, and we have zero tolerance for anyone who fails to respect the critical role that women play on our team. Second, we were blessed to assemble a progressive and professional group of creative minds, and we all worked together harmoniously, both men and women.
WM: What criteria do you use to select a script, screenwriter, director etc.?
Adeseun: We don’t have a rigid process in place for deciding who to collaborate with. Up to this point, we’ve relied on creative synergy, which has worked really well. My husband and I are both writers, so we develop all of our scripts in-house for the time being. Our directors, Nabila Lester and Saddi Khali are good friends who we’ve known for years. We also worked with an amazing director of photography, Shalom Enabulele, who we selected after meeting with several other cinematographers. When we met Shalom, we were immediately impressed with his body of work, but more importantly, we knew he was a good fit because we clicked right away, and we haven’t looked back since.
WM: Producers are risk-takers who see an idea, run with it and convince others to follow them. What risk have you taken that paid off?
Adeseun: Everything in my personal and professional life is a result of the divine spark of inspiration. Over the years, I’ve learned to listen and follow it, and it allows me to feel confident even when I’m doing something that seems objectively risky. Many of our friends in America thought Arias and I were crazy when we told them we were packing up and moving to Nigeria from Los Angeles. Despite all, we did it, and here we are exactly nine months later, about to release our new baby, ‘ASE,’ into the world.
WM: Do you regret taking any risk that went all wrong for a production? If yes, what was it?
Adeseun: No regrets, only learning opportunities.  
WM: Your latest short film, ‘ASE,’ has been getting a lot of reviews and is premiering soon. What does this mean to you?
Adeseun: The vision Arias and I have for ‘ASE’ and for Nappy Media is to be a creative bridge between Africa and the United States, and to bring people together in recognition and celebration of our culture. The fact that people are interested and responding to this project is incredibly exciting. It is a sign that we’re on the right path, and that the ancestors are in our corner.
WM: What does it take to be successful in this field?
Adeseun: I’m far from being able to sit back and call myself a success. Maybe ask me again in five years. But I suspect that success in filmmaking requires the same things as success in any other endeavour: faith, humility, willingness to grow.
WM: With the advances in technology, it seems that nowadays everybody has the means to make a film at their fingertips. In this age of Facebook/YouTube directors, what do you think this will mean for filmmakers in the future? What does this shift mean to you?
Adeseun: I think it is wonderful. Every person alive has a unique story, and the internet provides a platform for connecting these stories. For instance, our short film, ‘ASE,’ is being released worldwide, so people can watch it for free at the same time all over the world. That would never be possible without the internet.
WM: Ever fancy acting or directing yourself?
Adeseun: I love the entire creative process, and I can definitely see myself directing at some point in the future, but I can’t say when. At the moment, I am completely satisfied producing, as my hands are quite full. As for acting, definitely not; the really good actors who make it look natural, so it is easy for people to underestimate the level of focus, preparation, and emotional vulnerability that goes into it.  I’d much rather focus my work behind the scenes, and continue finding ways to give great actors great roles, and pay them what they deserve.  
WM: Where do you hope to see the Nigerian movie industry in the future?
Adeseun: I hope to see increased circulation of financial resources so that filmmakers can invest more into their projects and investors can reap benefit from their investments. I also hope to see continued increase in the diversity of stories being told, specifically more stories depicting traditional African culture and spiritual philosophy in all its complex dimensions, including the positive as well as the negative.  
WM: What advice would you give to anybody wanting to make a living as a film producer?
Adeseun: Probably the same advice I give myself on a regular basis. Follow your heart, be brave, and if you’re going to fall, fall forward.
WM: What’s next, anything else in the works?
Adeseun: We have a number of projects in the vault, but our primary focus right now is ‘ASE.’  We have a long road ahead of us to build on the ‘ASE’ short film, and move forward with the ‘ASE’ television series, currently in development.