Deyemi Okanlawon, a favourite of both discerning audiences and top-tier producers, has become the toast of movie makers across the continent.
Sharing the experience of featuring in a Japanese feature, Deyemi Okanlawon said the experience remains one of the best of his life.
“Japan was an eye-opening experience. I think every Nigerian, in one way or another, should experience Japan; it would open up our minds to the possibilities of what life can truly be like. Maybe then we’ll take our own country more seriously. Japan works, and it works because of its people. I was privileged to work with one of the biggest agencies there, NHK. The series we shot is in Japanese, but my character speaks English.”
Deyemi Okanlawon
Deyemi also revealed an interesting thing he did for the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria. According to him, he was asked to send a goodwill message to a VIP in Japan for his birthday.
“Turns out, it was for the Emperor. I originally wrote the script in English, but then I translated it into Japanese. I ended up doing a one-minute, thirty-second monologue entirely in Japanese, wishing the Emperor a happy birthday. That moment meant so much to me; it was an incredible experience.”
Deyemi Okanlawon
As for what to expect from him this year, he revealed that the Japanese series should be launching on Netflix and Japanese TV stations by December.
“I also worked last year with my very creative friend, JJC Skillz, on a film titled ‘Seeking Justice’. It should be hitting cinemas within the next month or two. The trailer is beautiful, and I’m honestly in love with that film.
“We’ve all seen amazing trailers that didn’t translate to good films, but this one is different. I’m proud to be part of it. It features some incredible actors, and the story is just superb. It was a tough negotiation, but we pulled through, and I’m glad we did.”
Deyemi Okanlawon
According to him, he’s about to start shooting a project with FAAN, Funke Akindele’s production company, adding that he’s looking forward to that. “Funke is one of my absolute favourites to work with. Beyond that, I have a few ideas I’m developing,” he said.
“We’re looking for the right partners, not just people with money, but people who can also bring exposure, expertise, and experience to bring these ideas to life. There are always talks of creative industry grants and funds going around, but it often feels like no one really knows what’s happening. If and when those meetings are happening, please, they should call us. Let us know. At least involve us. We want to be part of that conversation.”
Deyemi Okanlawon
He further advised every Nigerian youth out there, stating that they should not allow their environment to limit the size of their dreams
Deyemi Okanlawon urged the youth not to look at the state of the country and allow themselves to feel depressed or anxious about whether they have a future. “Stick with your dream, and the God who gave you that dream is the same one who will provide the resources and the people you need to make it happen. Just keep working hard and smart,” he added.
Deyemi Okanlawon on Future of Nigeria’s Film Industry
The Nigerian actor offered a compelling glimpse into the realities and future of Nigeria’s vibrant film industry.
He noted how thankful he is to have come to the industry when he did, adding that right at a turning point.
“Nollywood has always brought joy to Nigerians, but back then, we had issues, not necessarily with storytelling but with production quality and limited budgets. When I joined, people had just started investing more money into films. That shift began to attract talent from outside the traditional thespian space.”
Deyemi Okanlawon
According to him, he wasn’t professionally trained, but rather self-taught, learning from drama groups in school and church, and from people who studied Theatre Arts.
Later, he took a one-month course in “Acting for Film” with the New York Film Academy through Del-York Film Institute, and that completely changed his perception of acting. “It gave me the tools to grow. For the rest of the time, I have been honing my skills,” he said.
“From around 2013 till now, I’ve watched the industry grow in leaps and bounds, thanks to platforms like Africa Magic, Iroko, and a stronger cinema presence. It hasn’t been a smooth ride. We’ve had streaming platforms enter, leave, return again, and now no one’s quite sure what’s happening. But Nigerians are so industrious, and we always find a way. In the next five to 10 years, I believe we’ll see groundbreaking work.
“It’s happening with Afrobeats already. I often say Afrobeats popped before Nollywood because it’s short-form content. It is two to five minutes, and that format goes viral faster. Film is long-form, so it takes more time. It’s like the elephant analogy: the bigger the birth, the longer the gestation. Nollywood is birthing something massive.”
Deyemi Okanlawon
Deyemi mentioned that he has seen a lot of new creatives entering the space recently, people from different walks of life doing amazing things, stating that he believes something monumental is coming out of Nigeria and Nollywood that will shock the world. “That momentum will attract more streaming platforms, as long as we continue to show that we’re ready. Streamers want excellence, and I hope their business model continues to favour those putting in excellence in their craft,” Deyemi Okanlawon added.
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