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.
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.
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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