OMONI OBOLI: I USED TO TRADE MY SCRIPTS FOR ROLES. (PHOTO).

 Omoni Oboli: I used to trade my scripts for roles

Filmmaker and actress Omoni Oboli has shared her inspiring story of transitioning from an actress to a director.

In an interview with Radionow 95.3 FM, Oboli revealed that she initially traded her scripts for roles in films, only to realise that her vision wasn’t being brought to life.

Determined to maintain creative control, Oboli said she decided to take the helm and direct her own projects.

According to him, despite initial apprehensions and self-doubt, she found the courage to pursue her dreams.

Oboli recounted: “I was trading my scripts, I’d say you know what, just take it, and 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.

Oboli’s journey involved understudying directors on set and formal education at the New York Film Academy.

“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. wetin 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.

She said her determination and passion have led to her success as a director, allowing her to bring her unique vision to the screen.