Gospel Filmmakers’ Children Following Their Parents’ Footsteps (I)

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By Dare Fayemi
 
In time past, it is widely believed among the Africans that an elephant doesn’t trumpet, and it’s calf also trumpet, which literally means that children don’t operate where their parents are operating, but reverse is the case in Nigerian Gospel Film Industry, as the industry is filled of filmmakers’ children who are excelling in the filmmaking world just as their parents are doing. Dare Fayemi, Gospel Film News’ Ibadan Bureau Chief compiles the first list of Gospel Filmmakers’ Children following in their parents’ footsteps:
 
1. Damilola Mike-Bamiloye 
Damilola Mike-Bamiloye is a Nigerian film actor, dramatist, producer and director. He is a drama evangelist, producer and director in Mount Zion Faith Ministries.
He was born on September 16, 1989 as first child of doyens of Christian Drama, Mike Bamiloye and Gloria Bamiloye, founders of Mount Zion Film Ministries. He hails from Ijebu-Jesa in Osun State. His siblings are Joshua Mike-Bamiloye and Darasimi Mike-Bamiloye (now Oyor). He produced his first movie, Youthful Lust, at the age of 15. Damilola Mike-Bamiloye is a graduate of Mass Communication from Bowen University. 
 
After graduation from the University, Damilola was led to serve his father as Personal Assistant. Damilola journey into filmmaking started when he wrote “Youthful Lust” during his childhood days, he got his first opportunity to shoot a film when his family travelled to Australia to shoot a film titled “Harvest of Crisis” in Australia. Damilola Mike-Bamiloye presently shoot majority of Mount Zoin Movies. He has sometimes written and at other times, shot and directed award winning movies like “The Train”, “The Abbatoir”, “The Jailer” and “Legion” which is currently enjoying airplay on YouTube.  
Damilola Mike-Bamiloye is married to Emmanuella Mike-Bamiloye, a medical doctor, writer and actress and they are blessed with a daughter named Gloria.
 
 
2. Dan Ope Makinde:
Daniel Ope Makinde is the first child of Pastor Moses Makinde, a veteran filmmaker who is the foremost National President of All Nigeria Conference of Evangelical Drama Ministers (ANCEDRAM) and is President of Bread of Life Drama Ministry.
Daniel is a graduate of English Language Education from Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu Ode.
 
Daniel, who was born into filmmaking under the tutelage of his father started as a Make-up Artist, then ventured into Sound, then location driving, then to production management, then to script supervisor, then to Gaffer, then to cinematography and then to video editing. 
Dan Ope Makinde has acted in INA AJONIRUN, IKEKUN, and some stage drama ministrations like 11:45, LETA AYO, and and many more. He seldomly acts nowadays but shoot, edit and direct and package movies for self, ministries and professional firms, he has shot to his credit, ASO OGO, MAJEMU ALAJOBI, MAJEMU AGBOGO MI, PLACENTA BONDAGE and also edited BUBEMI THE WARRI GIRL, THE INVISIBLE PRINCE, SERIES OF WEBINARS AND UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT DOCU-DRAMAS AND DOCUMENTARIES. 
Just like his father, Dan Ope Makinde is also a producer and Film Lecturer and he runs a film school in God’s Ordinance and has produced stage plays and films, FRUSTRATED ALIETHIEA, PROTI FORA, TRUNCATED (Feature film), and more.
 
3.   Iyanuoluwa Adebayo:
Iyanuoluwa Adebayo is a cinematographer, drone pilot and audio drama specialist. He was born more than three decades ago into the family of Drama Ministers and member of Mount Zion Faith Ministries, Evangelist nd Mrs Moses Adebayo.  
Iyanuolwa graduated from National Film Institute, Jos in 2011.
While growing up, Iyanuoluwa Adebayo had wanted to be a financial auditor because of his love dealing with big things, big names, big companies, big account, and big money. After going through lot of disappointment gaining admission into university despite passing all exams yet no admission, he was guided by his elder brother, Covenant Oluwatayo Adebayo to go into a month retreat to seek the face of God to discover and step to take into achieving God’s purpose for his life, on the 14th day of the personal retreat, he got the leading to go and study filmmaking and stay in ministry, he tried it ones and he got admission into studying filmmaking at National Film Institute, Jos at his first trial. 
He specializes in Cinematography. 
Projects he has worked on includes: Josephine, Wrong call, Step of anger, Trials, Letter to my father, Dare, One street one sound, My weakness, Confession, Collectors, Fading dreams and many other films.
 
 
4. Esther O’Funmi Bangboje:
Esther O’funmi Bangboje is a screen playwright, cinematographer and director. She is the first child of Drama Ministers and Marriage Counsellor, Mr Ademola and Mrs Remi Bangboje.
She is currently a final year student of Medical physiology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago – Iwoye, Ogun state.
Esther was inspired and initiated into filmmaking by her mother who delights in her children partaking in whatever course she’s taking, either spiritual or secular. She encouraged her to attend drama/filmmaking trainings such as Mount Zion institute of Christian drama in November 2016, Advocate filmmaking institute, Disciples Film and media institute, etc. She is looking forward to attend a full training in filmmaking after her university education.
She has directed some of the movies produced by her and her sisters under DemRuth Sisters’ like; The Message, Facade etc. she is also the production coordinator and Behind the scene (BTS) coordinator of few other film projects which are still in the post production stage.
 
5. Joshua Mike-Bamiloye:
Joshua Mike-Bamiloye popularly known as ‘JayMike’ is a dynamic actor, music producer, cinematographer, editor and creator of popular Drama Skit ‘Jay and Josh’. 
He was born on November 7, 1991 as the second child of Doyen of Christian Drama, Evangelists Mike and Gloria Bamiloye.

He is a graduate of Mass Communication from Bowen University.
Joshua Mike-Bamiloye started Music Scoring for Mount Zion Film Productions at age 14 when his father observed that he is blessed with musical talent. 
Joshua Mike Bamiloye has sang many background music for films like; Finest Wine, Cosuming Fire,  Prodigal Ones, Land of Fury, High Calling, Shackles, Divorce, Heart Pain, The Train, Jailer, Abejoye, The Abbatoir, Legion and many other.
Aside Music Scoring, he has shot films like; Land of Fury, High Calling, The Jailer.
He is married to Tolulope Mike-Bamiloye (Nee Odesola).
 
 
6. Erimipo Segun-Okeowo:
Segun-Okeowo Erimipo Battleaxe is a budding cinematographer and editor. The first child of the popular filmmakers and politician of repute, Evangelist Kolade & Sumbo Segun-Okeowo.
A gradute of applied geophysics from Covenant University and currently doing his masters in Geophysics in Obafemi awolowo University.
Like others, Erimipo was born into filmmaking and had been going on film locations and watching things happening.
While growing up, Erimipo had the opportunity to work under many tutors who gave him little responsibilities that has aided his growth and knowledge in various aspects of filmmaking.
His area of Specialization is Cinematography and Editing.
Erimipo has acted in movies like; when two elephants fight, who is my enemy, the other woman, House on the rock (TV series), The pillars, Atohunrinwa and a few others but he prefers my being behind the camera.
 
As a member of the crew he has worked on a few movie projects like: Needless pain, House on the Rock (TV series), Laide’s Notes, Couple of the year, Daddy wa, Wonuola, Love Bought me, Blames, Welcome Yesterday, The gods are to blame, Saints also cry, Eewo Idolu, Ekun Asundanu, Alone with God, Isise kan, Not without wounds, Beyond repairs, Atohunrinwa, Mi o ni gba.
 
7. Evelyn Oluwadunsin Yusuf: 
Evelyn Oluwadunsin Yusuf is an actress, editor, scriptwriter, script supervisor and makeup artiste. She was born into the family of movie producers, Evangelist Kolawole and Rhoda Yusuf.
She studied French language as first and second degree from the University of Lagos. 
Her mother, Rhoda Yusuf created the platform into film making for her. As a child, she watched as her mother rehearse her lines, even with her sometimes. She followed her to some film locations and she was always given a role as either a cast or a crew.
She has either acted or worked as crew in films like; Ahuva, Good Fight, Edidi Ife, Waiting and wasting, Ayo mi da, No Escape, Expected End and many others.
She is currently the General Secretary of All Nigeria Conference of Evangelical Drama Ministers (ANCEDRAM) Lagos State Chapter.
 
 
8. Jesutomisin Agboola:
Jesutomisin Agboola is a student of Civil Engineering at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, born into the family of respected gospel filmmakers, Evangelist Shola Mike and Adegbayike Agboola.
He is a rising filmmaker who specializes in Cinematography, Music Score and Continuity.
Jesutomisin foray into filmmaking started in 2020 during COVID-19 lockdown, when there was a short film script titled; “Corked” waiting to be shot, but there was no cinematographer to handle the camera due to restriction of movement. Prior to that time, due to burning passion for cinematography, he has been silently learning about cinematography from veterans in the ministry and from the internet, especially YouTube. So when the need for a cinematographer arises during the lockdown, he had to step up to take the role with the help of his father’s encouragement which  was the beginning of his journey into cinematography, and filmmaking in general. 
He is privileged to have acted on the set of Omije Kikoro, Yipada & Blind but Loved and have shot films like; Hacked, Abandoned, Ha! Village People, Full Cycle Series, It Happened To Me (an interactive show where impactful life testimonies are shared), Corked, which was written by him and screen played by my father. He also had the opportunity of handling the music score for our short movies and two full length movies; Temiyato & Blind but Loved. 
All the movies, he has contributed to, are available on EVOM YouTube Channels.
 
9. Oluwatomipe Oluwaferanmi:
Tomipe Oluwaferanmi is a fast rising cinematographer and editor. Born into the family of veteran drama ministers. Evangelist Solomon & Idowu Oluwaferanmi over two decades ago.
He attended New Life Baptist Nursery & Primary School, Olubadan Estate, Ibadan, Junior Secondary and Government Technical College, Orita Aperin, Ibadan for Secondary Education, He underwent his National Diploma in Animal Health & Production at Oyo State College of Agriculture, Igbo-Ora, Oyo State, after which he proceeded to study Dramatic Arts at the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife with major in Media Art.
Tomipe picked up interest in Motion Pictures and Photography while he was in Government Technical College, Ibadan to study Painting and Decorating. His father assisted in the making his dream a reality by buying him a camera. He has always love camera with the aim of being a DOP, he started professionally when ‘Ere Inu Mi,’ was shot, he learnt from popular cinematographer, Evang. Kunle Adepoju who converted him to a Gaffer.
 He specializes in lighting, editing and visual fx.
He has been privilege of working on both secular and faith-based movies like Ajoche, Chief Daddy, Eboture, King Invisible, Akobi Laroye, The Aftermath, Ayafi, Awon Akoni, Ere Inu Mi, the first he did the lighting officially is ‘When the darkness is too loud.’
 
10. Priscilla Jesugbemisola Bangboje:
Priscilla Jesugbemisola Bangboje is a promising writer and producers of short movies from the stable of DemRuth sisters’ under the treasure in you. She is the second daughter of Drama Ministers and Marriage Counsellor, Mr Ademola & Remi Bangboje.
She is a final year student at National Open University, Nigeria studying Entreprenuership and Business Management 
Priscilla started film making in 2015, when her mother, Remi Bangboje produced her first movie titled, Virtue. She was to do a ‘waka pass’ scene and was so eager to do the scene. She never knew I would start her own Movie Ministry sooner.

As time goes on, she got into writing stories online which motivated people and also, a couple of followers always commented that she should produce those stories as movies.

She knew how much her mom spent on her first movie, so whenever she see those comments, she always laugh thinking it is a dream that can never come to pass which made her to start giving out stories to people to produce as stage drama.

Around 2016,she became her Mommy’s P.A and was following her wherever she goes. To school, work, locations etc. It was from there she got to know a lot of people who are into movie production.Her mummy had the privilege to coordinate the maiden movie project of McPherson University, a university owned by Foursquare Church. The movie titled ‘The Stand’ was premiered during her first convocation in November 2016. She was also one of those casted in the congregation.

She also followed her to Lagos for production of her 2nd and 3rd movie project tiptoed ‘Evil Wind’ and ‘Today’, where she also played a role

People she have never met were commending and telling her that her stories were wonderful.

That was when she sat down and thought of producing a movie, she was privileged to know a few people that handles camera, editing and so on.

Finally, She delved into it. God provided like-minded souls that helped with all they have.

Demruth Sisters’ first production was shot at Redeemers University, Ede titled ‘Parading Preacher’ which was posted on Damilola official Facebook page few weeks ago.

Demruth sisters have produced more than 20 short movies and we are still counting.

Some of the short movies, Priscilla Bangboje wrote and produced and wrote coupled with the help of God in the lives of Demruth sisters are: Parading Preach, Worthless, Time waster ,Little swift ,The Message, Plan B – Sincere Sin – God prophet , Facade – Needles cross, Yourself – Foolish fight ,No more children, No excuse, Sit still, Blind loyalty, 5minutes, It’s business, злой (wickedness), Switch, spirit food , Self punishment- Blind loyalty .

 

3 thoughts on “Gospel Filmmakers’ Children Following Their Parents’ Footsteps (I)

  1. Nice one, it’s always good when you have a shoulder to lean on and a ladder to climb before you. Thanks to their parents who paved way for them.

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