AFRICAN FILMMAKER AND MEDIA EXPERT OJO OLUWAGBEMIGA, A.K.A. MC BELOVED, IS SET TO RELEASE THE CONTINUATION OF THE VIRAL SHORT FILM “HURDLES.”
Can we meet you, sir? My name is Ojo Oluwagbemiga, but people refer to me as MC Beloved. I’m an African storyteller, filmmaker, and mediaAfrican Filmmaker And Media Expert, OJO OLUWAGBEMIGA [MC BELOVED] Set To Release The Continuation Of The Viral Short Film “Hurdles”
U entrepreneur.
Are you married? Lol… No! It’s complicated. Maybe because a dreamer doesn’t settle down easily. I’m still on the move.
Can you share your experiences and works so far in the movie industry?
By the grace of God, I have produced and directed over 15 films. I have a film company named Media World Films, which consists of a team of talented filmmakers. We have previously collaborated with international filmmakers in New York City. The journey has been tough, to be honest, because nothing good comes easily, especially in the realm of filmmaking. We have faced failures and have movies in our archive, but against all odds, we keep going.
a. What inspired you to create a movie centered on the struggles of young Africans in their pursuit of success?
Allow me to be honest here. “Hurdles” is my own personal story, though many people may find it hard to believe. But that is the truth. One day, I returned home feeling tired and uninspired. I had numerous ideas, dreams, and different goals to achieve, but my 9-to-5 job kept holding me down. I was getting frustrated; the courage to resign wasn’t there, and fear of the unknown had set in. So, I decided to turn it into a movie. I called one of my loyal colleagues, Temi Faniran, an excellent cinematographer and film editor. Together, we created the plot and turned it into a short film. To my surprise, the film went viral, reaching places I had never been before.
b. How did you approach capturing the authentic experiences of young Africans in the film?
As I mentioned, it was a true-life story, my story. So, portraying the role was effortless for me. Additionally, you would agree that this is what the average Nigerian youth is facing. Talented individuals are out there, but they lack the financial means to make their dreams come true. Consequently, they tend to work and gather money to support their dreams. However, the job becomes a burden, holding them back and causing them to forget the initial reason behind their work. If they are not careful, they can become frustrated and lose inspiration, turning their dreams into mere illusionsm.
c. Can you share any specific challenges you faced while directing the movie and how you overcame them?
To be honest, there were only three of us on set that day: myself, Temi Faniran (the cinematographer/editor), and Baba Mr. Rotimi E. Ige. It was quite challenging, but we persisted because we wanted to prove a point. We made the most of the resources available to us.
d. What message or impression did you want the audience to take away from the film’s portrayal of the African struggle for success?
If you want to overcome financial constraints, you cannot afford to neglect your dreams and should instead build a business around them. A salaried job can never make you wealthy. You may appear fine on the surface, but deep down, you will not feel fulfilled because you have been working towards someone else’s goals without paying attention to your own purpose. There is a need for you to become your own CEO.
How did you ensure that the characters and their stories were relatable to both African and global audiences?
The story happened to the main character, which is me. Baba Ige is a talented actor full of wisdom. So, the main character represents a youth full of dreams but feeling uninspired due to circumstantial situations. Baba Ige serves as a solution to the problem at hand.
d. Considering the Man movie’s viral success, how do you plan to continue the story? What can viewers expect in the next project?
Viewers should expect another blockbuster. We have delved into the secrets of how young Africans can become successful in business, secrets they will never hear at seminars. We are ready to unleash them and provide answers to many questions in the minds of youths through our movies.
b. Will there be any new characters introduced in the upcoming continuation?
Yes, we are introducing new characters and expanding our crew with more talented individuals.
a. Given the tremendous impact and viral success of the movie, what opportunities are available for potential partners or sponsors to collaborate and be part of the continued journey of this story? How can they contribute to the expansion and reach of the movie’s message?
I want to take this opportunity to call on business owners and NGOs to partner with us in changing the world together through moving pictures. We are planning to turn “Hurdles” into a series, but we can’t do it alone. We need sponsors to strengthen our finances, and we can assure them of a win-win agreement. Thank you.
WHEN IS “HURDLES PART 2” COMING OUT?
“Hurdles Part 2” is scheduled to be released within the next two months, later this year.
WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL BELIEF ABOUT LIFE?
Life is full of lessons. Learn from them and move on. Do not dwell on your mistakes and pains. Just keep moving forward and strive to become a better version of yourself.
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