Entertainment
Omoni Oboli: How I Traded Scripts for Film Roles and Became a Director
Omoni Oboli, a well-known actress and filmmaker, recently shared the story of her early struggles in the Nigerian film industry, revealing how she traded her scripts for acting roles when starting her career.
In a candid interview on Radionow FM, she opened up about the challenges she faced and what eventually inspired her shift from acting to directing.
Omoni explained that in the beginning, she was so eager to be part of the industry that she often accepted acting roles in exchange for her written scripts, instead of being paid.
Reflecting on those early experiences, she shared, “I would offer my scripts in return for a role in the movie.
I would tell them, don’t worry about paying me, just give me a part in the film.”
While this allowed her to secure acting jobs, she soon noticed that the final productions were not aligning with her creative vision.
As a screenwriter, Omoni described how she visualized the stories she wrote in vivid detail.
However, after watching the finished movies, she realized that the films often looked very different from what she had imagined.
She acknowledged that each director has their unique style, saying, “It’s not that the movies weren’t good, but no two directors will bring a script to life in the same way.”
This gap between her vision and the final product fueled her desire to take control of the stories she was creating.
Omoni’s determination to preserve the authenticity of her scripts pushed her to become a director herself.
She realized that the only way to ensure her stories had her personal touch was to oversee the filmmaking process from start to finish.
“If my stories are going to have my DNA, then I have to be the one directing them,” she explained.
Though the thought of transitioning from actress to director was daunting, Omoni’s confidence in her abilities propelled her forward.
She recounted telling herself, “Warri no dey carry last,” a popular saying in Nigerian Pidgin that means people from Warri, her hometown, never back down from a challenge.
This motivated her to believe that she could succeed as a director. Determined to improve her skills, Omoni began studying the directors she worked with while on set, closely observing their techniques.
In addition to learning through observation, she recognized the need for formal training.
To strengthen her craft, Omoni enrolled in a short course at the prestigious New York Film Academy, where she gained deeper insights into the world of directing.
Her journey from trading scripts for acting roles to becoming a successful director is a testament to her resilience and dedication to mastering her craft.
Afrobeats superstar Davido, whose real name is David Adeleke, has advised African-Americans against relocating to Africa in response to Donald Trump’s re-election as President of the United States.
Speaking on the Big Homies House podcast, Davido addressed the growing trend of African-Americans expressing a desire to leave the U.S. following Trump’s political victory.
While acknowledging the appeal of Africa’s rich culture and growing global influence, he cautioned that the realities on the continent might not align with their expectations.
“It’s not cool back home. The economy now is in shambles,” Davido remarked, shedding light on the struggles faced by many African nations.
He pointed out how economic instability, widespread poverty, and limited opportunities make life challenging for millions of people across the continent.
The Nigerian artist, known for using his music to showcase African culture, emphasized that his comments were not intended to discourage interest in Africa.
Instead, he wanted to paint a realistic picture of the current situation.
Davido stressed that entertainment is one of the few sectors making Africa appear more appealing on the global stage.
He explained that music, film, and other creative industries have become a smokescreen, often masking the economic and social challenges facing the continent.
“Entertainment is what’s giving Africa a smokescreen to make it look good,” he noted, noticing the stark contrast between the continent’s vibrant cultural output and its harsh economic realities.
Nigerian Singer, Rema is ste to make his debut performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2025. Apart from Rema other African artists will also perform at the Coachella, Amaarae and Tyla will be at the event.
The Coachella is the world’s biggest music and arts festival and is definitely a huge accomplishment and recognition to the African artists set to perform.
The first Nigerian Artist that performed was Seun Kuti in 2012, followed by Mr Eazi and Burna Boy in 2019 and Ckay in 2022 the finally Tems in 2024.
American Actor Jesse Eisenberg, popularly knows for his role “Now You See Me”, was injured while filming “Now You See Me 3”. The injury was sustained when shooting a complex scene in a rotating hallway.
The actor shared the experience and how he got injured “The movie is truly spectacular,” Eisenberg shared with Variety. “Like, the sets we’ve been on, one of which I just tore a tendon in my finger… a huge hallway. And the hallway turns 360 degrees. This humongous 80 foot, 20 story, 20 foot high hallway.”
Despite the injury the actor remained enthusiastic about the upcoming movie which will premier on 14th of November, 2025.
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