Nigerian comedian, actor, and filmmaker Bright Okpocha,
popularly known as Basketmouth, recently shared insights into his
journey in the world of filmmaking. The comedian, famed for his
sharp wit and creative storytelling, revealed his experiences and
challenges during the making of his debut feature film, A
Ghetto Love Story. His candid revelations have ignited
discussions across the entertainment industry, especially regarding
his initial aspirations to collaborate with Nollywood superstar
Funke Akindele.
Basketmouth’s foray into filmmaking marked a significant shift
in his career, branching out from stand-up comedy to storytelling
on the big screen. In an exclusive interview, he disclosed that his
passion for visual storytelling led him to conceptualize A
Ghetto Love Story, a film deeply rooted in themes of
resilience and community life.
However, the journey was not without its hurdles. Basketmouth
faced logistical challenges, budget constraints, and difficulties
assembling the ideal team for his vision. Yet, one of the most
notable aspects of his narrative was his quest to work with
seasoned industry professionals.
In a candid interview with Arise TV, Basketmouth shared the
challenges he encountered while making his first big film, A Ghetto
Love Story.He revealed that his first choice for a mentor was Funke
Akindele, a prominent Nollywood actress and filmmaker celebrated
for her impactful contributions to the industry. According to him,
Funke’s track record of delivering compelling, relatable stories
made her an ideal guide for his ambitious project.
The two had an initial conversation in August, which Basketmouth
described as vibrant and hopeful. Funke’s enthusiasm gave him a
sense of optimism about the collaboration. However, as time went
on, Basketmouth encountered a surprising turn of events—his calls
and messages went unanswered.
“When I called Funke, she was excited, and that was in August.
But then she never picked up my calls again. Maybe she was busy
with her films or had other commitments. I’ve sent over like 25
messages, but there’s been no response.”
Basketmouth
While this lack of communication presented a setback,
Basketmouth emphasized that he harbored no ill feelings toward
Funke, acknowledging that her silence could be attributed to a
hectic schedule.
In light of the challenges with Funke Akindele, Basketmouth
decided to re-strategize. He turned to Mo Abudu, one of Nigeria’s
leading media executives and a key figure in African storytelling.
Basketmouth described Mo’s willingness to assist as both unexpected
and inspiring.
Mo Abudu’s involvement breathed new life into A Ghetto Love
Story, bringing expertise and industry connections that were
pivotal to the project’s success. Basketmouth expressed his
gratitude for her contributions, highlighting the importance of
collaboration in the film industry.
“Collaboration is the new competition. Sooner or later,
filmmakers in Nigeria will understand this. I reached out to Mo,
and even though it’s not her usual thing, she jumped on board.”
Basketmouth
His words in parts;
“With collaborations with filmmakers, it was dramatic. When
I started calling all these like Mo Abudu and the rest of them, you
know, I had a plan. I was going to start with Funke Akindele, and
just run it all through.
“But when I called Funke, she was excited and that was in
August, and then the next thing, she never picked up my calls
again. But she was making a movie, maybe she was busy, or her phone
is on silent, or maybe the phone got spoilt. But yeah, I hope she
pick up or responds to my messages
“I’ve sent over like 25 messages or whatever, but she didn’t
respond. So I had to change the whole plan and re-strategize. I had
to go to Mo, this and that, but the rest of them came
through.
‘I called Mo and normally she doesn’t do stuff like that,
but she jumped on it. Sooner or later, I believe that filmmakers in
Nigeria will get to understand that collaboration is the new
competition”
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