You can feel the passion when Kunle Afolayan talks about movies. Son of the legendary film maker Ade Love, Kunle is an actor, producer and director who quit a banking job to pursue his passion.
The man who has two blockbusters under his belt, The Figurine and Phone Swap, is set to unveil a new movie,October 1st, after it debuts at the Berlin Film Festival.
The period piece, which is set on the eve of Nigeria’s independence in 1960, is a murder mystery spiced with political lessons.
Kunle plays Agbekoya, a farmer in a movie that also stars Sadiq Daba of Cock Crow at Dawn fame and marks the movie debut of designer Deola Sagoe who takes her turn as the amazing Funmilayo Ransom Kuti, mother to late Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti.
Kunle released the trailer of the movie at noon on 1 October and then he sat down with Peju Akande and Toni Kan to talk about his movie, how he got the props from all over the world, the political lessons in the movie and his views on the so-called new Nollywood.
Why October 1st?
It's a significant date in Nigeria's history and I'm just a story teller. This movie is set against the background of Nigeria's Independence. There's no way of telling our story without having a feel of that period.
How did you find mixing drama and action into one film?
It's been very difficult. I'm a visionary and once I dream I always try to actualise it. October 1st is a big film. I believe it's going to set a new history in the record of what Nigeria's cinema has ever achieved.
This film did not only deal with Nigeria's history. For the older generation, especially those who were part of independence, they will be able to see themselves in this film. For the younger generation it's a platform - many of them don't know the story of Nigeria or even where we're coming from and how we got here.
October 1st is not just an entertainment film, it's also informative in a way.
Where did you find the props that you used in October 1st?
Most of the props I bought from London and America. They're not available in Nigeria.
I bought a TV from the 1940s and 1950s. We realised that in Nigeria we don't archive things, we've destroyed almost everything we have that is tied to our history.
Luckily there are some people who still have a passion and we managed to get all the props we needed.
A lot went into this film. After seeing a few clips of what we've done, I think it was worth it.
How did the casting of designer Deola Sagoe come about?
After we met, every time I saw her, I would see this round face like the Kuti's.
Everyday day I was researching the Kuti's I would see Deola and then I asked her.
I even put it on Twitter, if anyone looks like Funmilayo Kuti, to come forward. I couldn't find anyone.
It took me weeks to convince Deola to play the role, but honestly, I think she was the best thing to have happened to the role.
You also have a role in October 1st.
Yes, I play the farmer in the movie. He has tribal marks - I had to leave my hair for quite some time so it could just grow.
There are some actors in the film who I asked to leave their hair and beard for almost a year, so they could get in that character. And they did. I think it turned out well.
What will you do with all the props that you bought for the movie?
We will keep all the props. We have a big production company, so we may rent it out to anyone who wants to do a period piece.
We will also have an exhibition during the premiere, so that people can see all the props from the movie.
Brimming with confidence, the man who just stepped off the set of Tunde Kelani’s Dazzling Mirage to attend the second screening of Kenneth Gyang’s Confusion Na Wa at the just concluded Lights Camera Africa declared: "Mark this down. October 1st will set a new history in what Nigerian cinema has achieved.(Source african margic)
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