INTERVIEW: It Is Disheartening That Christian Movie Producers Are Not Getting Enough Support As Expected- Director
Movie productions is a demanding profession which is not as profit oriented as many think, especially the Christian movies. This and some other reasons are why some filmakers opt for other means of survival. In this exclusive interview with Gospel Film News, a movie director and president of Great Grace Drama Ministry, Olusola Duyilemi, said it is disheartening that Christian movie producers are not getting adequate support. He also spoke on where to get edifying movies from Great Grace Drama Ministry, call for support for Christian filmmakers, amongst others. Excerpt:
CAN WE MEET YOU?
My name is Olusola Duyilemi. I’m a child of God, a teacher of the Word and a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). By the special grace of God I’m a drama minister, story/script writer, movie producer & director. I hold a Master degree in English Language from the Premier University, the University of Ibadan. I’m a content creator and an alumnus of Mount Zion Institute of Christian Drama. I have been privileged to feature in movies like Hidden Sin, Can I Make it, Man Down, etc. I equally preside over Redemption Camp Unit of ANCEDRAM. I’m happily married to my beautiful wife, Aanu (also a drama minister). The marriage is blessed with two godly children and we celebrated our 10th anniversary recently.
WHAT DOES YOUR MINISTRY DO?
The name of our ministry is Great Grace Drama Ministry with the mandate to preach the Word via stage drama presentation and movie production. I’m the President/Director of the ministry. I equally manage our YouTube channel.
HOW MANY MOVIES HAVE YOU PRODUCED?
By the special grace of God, we have been privileged to produce short movies like Majemu Iwase, The Sacrifice, Contentious Wife, etc. We produced Eepo with one RCCG church while our first full length movie is titled Ife Baba. The movie featured great vessels of God like Isaac Femi Akintunde, Seyi Pedro-Adetola, Adeoye Omoniyi, Jide Ogunmilade, Adedeji Adekusibe, Femi Sowole, Toyosi Salako, Toluwanimi Ibitoye and a host of others. The story was written and produced by me while Evang Isaac Femi-Akintunde was the director.
HOW CAN PEOPLE ACCESS YOUR MOVIES?
All our movies can be found on our YouTube channel Olusola Duyilemi Gospel TV. We enjoin people to go to this channel to see this movies and be blessed. As you watch kindly endeavour to subscribe to our channel, click on the notification button, like our videos, drop your comments and help share the link(s) with your contacts. Here is link to see all the movies:
https://youtube.com/c/2GTVnigeria
WHEN DID YOUR MINISTRY STARTED AND WHAT ARE THE ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR?
Great Grace Drama Ministry became a full fledge ministry in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between then and now, we have been privileged to minister in churches aside from producing movies. Also, two of our short movies; The Sacrifice and Contentious Wife featured at the first Mount Zion Institute Alumni International Fellowship (MZIAIF) International Christian Film Festival held in January 2021.
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU’VE ENCOUNTERED AS A FILMMAKER?
They are numerous but notable are finance and securing suitable location for production. Making quality movies require good money so having enough to meet our production budget is a huge task. Hiring quality equipment, paying crew and honouring casts aside from production cost at location as well as post-production stage. It is disheartening that we Christian producers are not getting enough support as expected. Many are afraid of releasing their houses for us as location. I therefore appeal to every child of God and churches to rally round Christian movie producers. I also appeal to Christians across the globe to watch more Christian contents. Virtually all gospel producers and production outfits host YouTube channels where they post godly contents. We need people to go online to watch these movies and be blessed. By so doing they are giving us massive support.
HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES
Faithfulness of God has been consistent. He has surrounded us with men and women of God who have been lifting our hands even at short notice. Faithfulness in God is the key to overcoming all challenges.
YOUR ADVISE FOR FILMMAKERS IN NIGERIA
We movie makers, especially those of us in Christian version, should be ready to give our best to God via our productions. A great movie starts with the story which implies our source. God should be our only source. Writing a movie story is like a pastor preparing a message. It is also important to turn the story to a good script. Engaging services of skilful script writer isn’t out of place. We should also have a good budget covering the pre-production, production and post-production stages of the project. Overlooking a stage before going on location is totally wrong. If you aren’t a director, endeavour to engage a competent one and take to his/her advise. You equally need the service of a competent PM. Quality movie requires good finance because it takes good money to get quality equipment, engage spirit filled competent crew and creative cast. Although I strongly agree with the opinion that Christian actors shouldn’t charge for featuring in movies, but producers must make it a point of responsibility to make their casts and crew happy on set and well honoured. Aside from the fact that this brings glory to the name of God and blessing on the producer/production, it is an opportunity to support ministries of these men and women of God. Above all, a producer must endeavour to build relationships with everyone that comes their way within and outside the industry. As gospel movie makers, money and fame shouldn’t be our focus but lifting high the name of God therefore, we must fast, pray and study the Bible. We must also give priority to periodical training in our journey. Reading widely and being ready to support other ministries is also important. Remember always that when you water others, you’ll be watered.
