JOSEPH BENJAMIN
She is a Computing and Communication Systems Engineering graduate from The University of Manchester and Harvard Business School turned film/movie, director, writer and producer. Jade Osiberu has proven that writting, directing and producing films doesn’t belong to just geniuses in the arts. She opens up about her experience towing this line, sharing her remarkable story on making tough choices and her inspiration behind the movie ‘Isoken’. the film industry is constantly evolving, looking back at when you started did you think you’d come this far, understanding the complications of being a film-maker in the country?
I think the industry is still in it’s infancy and there will be many more greats. The sky is big enough for us all to fly and it’s actually to the benefit of the industry and our audience that there are many great voices telling our stories. I believe if you know your purpose and understand that you’re not competing with anyone but who you were yesterday, there’ll be no room for anxiety. the industry is a multi-billion naira industry and with each passing day, there is a constant rise in figures which makes competition stiffer, how have you been able to carve a niche for your work?
Already Nollywood filmmakers have been making some significant strides in terms of quality. I have a passion for production and costume design and I think that’s one of the things that will set Isoken apart. considering the star-studded cast and the success of your movie, is this your first effort?
This is my first feature length film. However, in 2012, I created an online Tv platform, called NdaniTv, whilst working in Corporate Communications at GTBank. At NdaniTv, I wrote, produced and directed a Tv show called Gidi Up. I also wrote and produced Rumour Has It and Skinny Girl In Transit for Ndani Tv. what inspired the berth of the movie isoken?
Isoken came about from being a cultural anthropologist of sorts. As a culture, individuality isn’t really encouraged. We prefer for people to fit into a mold and into our idea of what the Nigerian identity is or what we consider successful. For women in particular, there’s a lot of pressure to be beautiful, successful in your career or business, married and have well behaved children, all preferably before you turn 30. And the men are not left behind either. They are under pressure to be wealthy, drive expensive cars, live in luxury homes, send their partners on holidays and buy them designer goods. The danger in all of this is that we reduce the human experience to external factors and material things, ultimately setting ourselves up to fail at these ridiculous standards of what leading a successful or meaningful life should be. Film production is not as rosy as perceived, tell us a few of the challenges you faced during the making of your film.
It certainly wasn’t a walk in the park. I wrote the first draft of the script in July 2014 and had expected to be in cinemas in december that year. Little did I know then that it would take three years. From raising the funding for principal photography to getting the right team together to finally getting the resources for publicity, there have been challenges at every turn. I used to joke that people are more willing to fund your wedding reception than they are to fund your start up business. I hope that trend will change over time.