Omoni Oboli, a popular Nigerian actress and filmmaker, recently spoke about the challenges she faced early in her career. During an interview on Radionow FM, Omoni revealed that she used to exchange her scripts for roles in movies, instead of asking for payment.
At the time, she was just focused on getting more acting opportunities. But as she watched these films, she realized that the final version of the movie was often very different from the vision she had when writing the script. Omoni said, “I write in pictures, so when I watched the movies, they didn’t match what I saw in my head.”
While understanding that no two directors interpret a script the same way, Omoni felt that if she wanted her stories to truly represent her ideas, she would have to direct them herself. Although the thought of becoming a director was scary, Omoni was determined. She reflected on her strength and perseverance, joking, “Warri no dey carry last.”
To achieve her goal, Omoni began observing directors closely while acting on set. She even went a step further by attending a short course at the New York Film Academy to sharpen her directing skills. Today, she has successfully transitioned into a director, bringing her stories to life just the way she envisioned.
