Nigerian content expert, Ladun Awobokun, believes that with the right positioning, Nigerians will embrace all kinds of content.
Awobokun is the Chief Content Officer for FilmOne Entertainment.
FilmOne Entertainment, an independent entertainment firm, specializes in both the distribution and production of film content from Nigeria for a global audience. The company handles a diverse portfolio, including both international and local films, and has established significant partnerships with global studios and distributors.
During a discussion with Pulse, Awobokun highlighted the abundance of untapped stories available for Nigerian filmmakers to explore.
“There are so many existing stories that haven’t even come on screen. For a long time, we’ve always thought that we have to create stories but there are lots of stories already that need to be told,” she commented.
Awobokun underlined the idea that there is a film for everyone, and following a proper production process can make any film likely to receive a positive reception.
“If you position any film as a film to watch that should be watched, the Nigerian audience will watch it. They’re coming out for different types of films. They are coming out to watch these films in their numbers. There are so many, folks are coming out for biopic, romance, and epic and they’re doing great numbers. If you do the work, people will come out to see it. People are now asking questions. Because of that, you have to pay more attention to what you’re doing. How is it shot, what does it look like, and how was it produced,” she explained.
“We have an in-house standard and checklist and that’s how we select films we are picking for distribution. We distribute both for streaming platforms and cinemas. For cinemas, I need to have the dates. But that still can change. We consider seasons as well and quality of production, and timing too is a factor,” Awobokun added.
She also mentioned that films that do not perform well financially in cinemas might be promoted on other platforms.
“It’s a reason why you have to look for other channels. At least to break even and make a little money. If it’s a story we believe in, then we look for other platforms to reach out to,” she noted.
