It started when my ship crashed on earth after my home planet exploded,..lol , I’m a humongous nerd that started as a bookworm, at one point I thought I was going to be a novelist, but later on discovered it was actually films I was interested in writing, because that’s how I pictured the world of my books. I have worked as a staff writer and freelance writer on tv shows (The Station, Edge of Paradise, The Johnson’s) as well as a producer on talents shows and director of several short films.
The Films of Writer/Director Olu Yomi Ososanya https://t.co/timcw5tJuX #indie #films #director #filmMaker
— Olu Yomi Ososanya (@oludascribe) June 18, 2016
How would you describe your work as a director
Taking the script and creating a world in which the audience is pulled in. Telling the story in a way that is captivating without being indulgent.
How did you become a director
I had always been interested in storytelling. I was quite the bookworm so it eventually lead to an interest in writing. I wrote a lot of short stories in prose form, and always imagined they would become film, I’d see myself on set with the characters, but I never really quite made the connection to filmMaking , or that I could actually do it, till much later. Back in the 90’s film directing not a viable career, not like now.
How do you choose a project to direct
It has to be a story I’m either interested in, or one that I feel I can do something with.
Briefly describe in a few words wrong impressions actors, writers,and directors have about directing
People think it’s all about yelling action and framing shots. But it’s more than that, it’s about crafting a story, taking the viewer on a journey. To do that you have to decide how to approach the script, in terms of tone, palete, style of cinematography and so much more.
Do you take courses to increase you craft
Been to some Raindance courses , look thorough the trades, instructional videos, watch director interviews to find out their process and the psychological aspect of filmmaking. There are a lot of video essays that are brilliantly insightful and educational.
HONEY – Teaser – A SMAT Media Production from Olu Yomi Ososanya on Vimeo.
What books do you read
Gotham Writers Workshop: Writing Movies, Directing by Michael Rabiger, Hitchcock/Truffaut by Francois Truffaut, Purple Cow by Seth Godin
Why will you choose an actor, writer or producer. What do you look for
A writer would be based on either previous work or what a particular project entails and if I feel we can work together to achieve it.
When you’re offered a project, what things do you put in place to deliver a great job
Put in place a team that has your back, and you can rely on.
Briefly explain your latest work
My latest work is a set of short films actually filmed back to back for logistics reasons. All tonally different and of three different genres which was quite interesting.
What thing/situation helps you during production
A team that is on the same page about the film we are making. Nothing is more important that than this. It doesn’t matter if you have the most talented actor, cinematographer and brilliant script. If you are all on different frequencies about the film you are making, as we say in Nigeria, Yawa dey.
Explain a creative choice you took on set on a recent production
The location i had for a shoot was different from the one i had in mind when writing, cos that fell out. So as i was blocking and setting up shots, so setting up a shot, the camera was angled on an uneven platform, forming a dutch tilt, which coincidentally worked for the scene, i kept it that way and it totally worked in setting up the tone i was going for.
How do you advise directors to find projects
It all depends on the type of director you want to be and what you want for your body of work. There are writer/directors like Tarantino or Edgar Wright who want writing input and so far have not directed anything they didn’t write. You then have people like David Fincher who doesn’t write but his unique stamp is on the film as if he did. These guys are very particular about their body of work and chose their projects very carefully. Then you have someone like DJ Caruso who is basically a gun for hire. So it really depends on what kind of director you want to be.
How can filmmakers finance projects
Well, we don’t have a studio system here, so this can be complicated. There’s no one way, but a lot of people self finance, or get friends and family to help out. Those with a track record can usually find investors.
What do you want from an actor in production
Study the script , and seek how to dig into the character and bring a level of depth to make it a rich performance.
How do you prefer to work with a producer during a production
Trust me to do the job. Nothing worse than a producer that second guesses all your moves or tries to micro manage your process, it can be really debilitating.
What do you think a director can do to get into the film industry
Do something that will grab attention, short films, or a low-budget feature that really stands out . It’s much harder to do this these days with so much content out there, so the more idiosyncratic your film can be the better. Don’t be afraid to be “weird”, it can be the very thing that makes you stand out from the 10 other directors whose films that financier may have watched.
Who is your favorite director
Can’t say I have a particular favorite. I have different things i like from different directors. From Edgar Wright to Guy Ritchie to Alfred Hitchcock, Robert Zemeckis, I’ve taken something different from all of them.
Why this director
Guy Ritchie has a sense of humour (his early work) that I like very much, Edgar Wright too but in a different way. Hitchcock and his understanding of film form and the psychology of audiences, i learned a fair amount from him because he always had the audience in mind with every choice he made from shot choices, to the cut to whom he cast and how it affected the perception to the audience as they watched the story unfold. Andrew Dosunmu is a guy I also find interesting because of how beautifully he shoots and how he tells African stories. His visual style appeals to me very much.
What advice would you give to directors around the world
Study the classics. Study the masters. Study how they block, light,construct a scene and let their scenes unfold. Ask yourself why they chose to do things this way, and you can actually find out why, if you watch it with the Director’s Commentary on. DVD extras are a treasure box of information that can teach so much to aspiring filmmakers.
Briefly write about your career
I started as a staff writer on a show sponsored by an NGO, but what i really wanted to do was learn how to actually make films. I eventually did that, getting behind the camera and learning how to tell stories visually . I haven’t discovered any talents yet, if star making is what you mean, but I’m yet to start making feature films, so let’s see what the future holds.
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