Jun 8, 2020
Twenty (20) Questions With Nigerian Producer And Animator, Kanso Ogbolu.
Kanso Ogbolu is an amazing Nigerian Producer and animator. He has aided in the production of great films like FTFO, Gohta Wohta, THERAPIST and many others. We asked for an interview and he gladly accepted.
QUESTION #1:
When and how do you start your day? What do you do to prepare yourself for a day of work and your morning routine?
I start my day around 8 am now. I wake up before then though. Pray and then browse the internet to find out if the world has ended or not. I also get a little inspiration from my favorite creative sites and pages. After that, I get up, exercise a little and then start creating.
QUESTION #2:
What do the day-to-day responsibilities look like to you, would you consider yourself strict or disciplined when it comes to do your duties?
I would consider myself strict and disciplined. I am a note pad, tick all the boxes kind of person when it comes to doing my work. It helps a lot in not only the creative process but also in trying not to wear myself out/pacing myself. There is a time to wake, a time to eat, a time for break times. Of course these times aren't cast in stone depending on the amount of work being done but you get the idea.
QUESTION #3:
How often or how long do you spend in a day preparing for your work and how does it fit into your schedule?
I don't spend a lot of time preparing for work at the start of a day because I would have done that the night before. Like ironing your clothes the night before work. Yea that's my own style. It saves me time the next day. I don't have to plan anything. I just begin.
QUESTION #4:
What is your favorite part about being a producer and animator? Will you continue to pursue this career in the near future or you have other plans?
I think my favorite part is seeing the things you have imagined, come to life. All those sketches, mood boards, dreams, ideas, everything coming together. It's a great feeling. Yes, I definitely will. I may not be the one animating in future but I will definitely manage animators or filmmakers.
QUESTION #5:
How did you discover your passion for filmaking and how long have you been doing it? What benefits have you derived from it?
I don't know exactly when I "discovered" it. I just know I had a thing for carrying a camera and filming. From the days of old phones and cameras till now. Again, it's just the feeling of creating something that drives me. I haven't been making films as long as I have been animating though. I mean, most of what I do is short form content and since I incorporate a lot into a single video, thereby making it as cinematic as possible, it looks like I've been in the game for the longest. But that really isn't the case. I'm still a learner.
QUESTION #6:
Who is your favorite producer and what have you learned from him or her.
Her name is Ada Ereojikwe. She is still new in the game but watch out for her. From her I have learned how to manage people and resources. I have also learnt resilience.
QUESTION #7:What film of yours would you recommend a person who hasn’t heard of you before?
‘Therapist.’ You all should check it out. Also ‘Gohta Wohta’ from my ‘Freak The Fxxk Out series.’
QUESTION #8:
If you were to produce a movie about yourself, what would be the plot?
Haha, I have never thought about this. It would be fiction though. Haha. The plot would probably be, "A young shy boy is left in the forest to die by bullies from his school. A mysterious creature finds and heals him and now he has returned to seek vengeance on those who have wrong him and their families."
Of course I wasn’t bullied but hey, this is a fictional movie about myself so anything goes.
QUESTION #9:
What does your filming process look like and what goes into your physical and mental preparations when you are developing a concept for a movie?
Well, I write down a lot. I make sure everything is in order before I set out. Liaise with everyone involved before anything happens. Sketch, scribble, jot down everything. And then I watch a lot of reference videos. A lot
QUESTION #10:
What was the worst mistake you made in your journey and how will aspiring producers prevent the same from happening to them?
I can’t remember the worst mistake per se. I just know it involved not being on the same page as the client and the project tumbling afterwards. So my advise would be to always make sure you and the client are ON THE VERY SAME LINE. Forget the page. The line is even more important.
QUESTION #11:
What do you look for most in a script and how do you achieve the results you want? What do you consider the most important part of a film?
I’m still a learner o. These questions are making me feel like Spielberg. Haha. The most important part of a film to me is the story. A good story is everything. If you can read the story and it is good enough on paper, without visuals or anything, you can imagine if it gets in the hands of a good director.
Checkout FTFO by Kanso Ogbolu.
QUESTION #12:
Are you happy about where you are as a producer? Do you sometimes want more attention or less?
Naah I don't want more attention personally. I like my work to speak for itself. I'm grateful for where I am today. Definitely.
QUESTION #13:
What was the most exciting and exasperating moment for you in your journey and how have you coped with disappointment?
Well, it would be all the times my work has been selected or won one thing or the other. Good times. Coping with disappointment, I like to vent to 1 or 2 people who "don't fully understand." That way it is just venting and when it is done, I move on. I also use music or just go out and chill with friends.
QUESTION #14:
What does success look like to you in this position? What new projects are you working on and when should we be expecting them?
I cannot mention these projects due to NDAs but they're coming soon. Success? Well I thank God for where I am now. Of course I want more. Who doesn't? But I'm grateful.
QUESTION#15:
What do you see as the most challenging aspect of this job and how do you overcome them?
The most challenging part is clients who can't see your vision with you. So you have to fight tooth and nail to explain, expatiate and defend. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.
QUESTION #16:
When and how did you master the courage to share your skill with the rest of the world and what were the first reactions you received? How do you face the negativity and hate?
I just went ahead and did it. I wasn't doing it for people to come and tell me well done. I was doing it because I felt someone out there would need my services. Money. The accolades are secondary. If you are hungry, you have to put yourself out there. As for negativity and hate, I must confess they don't come often. The times they have come, they have hurt but I don't like trouble so I free, lick my wounds and move on.
QUESTION #17:
How do you manage your social life so it doesn’t get in the way of your personal life?
I found a balance in University after studying Architecture and still finding time to make music and perform. Anyone who knows Architecture knows that that is crazy. I learned from there that you CAN actually create time if you plan properly.
QUESTION #18:
Have you had any issues with people stealing and distributing your work and how did you deal with it?
Yes, I have. it is hard. Especially if they are faceless. Very hard. You can get angry and they won't take it down. The best way is to announce to the general public and seek help or at least prevent people from patronizing the site, page or person. That has been effective so far.
QUESTION #19:
What promotional method or practices did you use to promote your work? Which ones did you find the most useful? How did you get so many people interested in your work?
For my horror series, I used paid ads to get me to a certain level. But for my company, my work has spoken for itself over the years. Word of mouth has gotten me to where I am today and I am thankful because that is one of the best forms of advertising.
QUESTION #20:
Do you ever consider luck, your gender, ethnicity or race as a helping factor in your success?
None of the above. Just sheer grace, hard work and talent maybe.
BONUS QUESTIONS:
QUESTION A:
What was your family’s reaction to your success?
Haha It's success. Of course they are happy. And they encourage me to do more.
QUESTION B:
How do you feel about all the success you have garnered as a filmmaker, Are there any specific people who helped you out and encouraged you on this journey? I'm still learning as I mentioned earlier. I haven't even done half of what I would like to do yet but I'm thankful. There are quite a number to mention but they know themselves so I won't
QUESTION C:
Any advice for the young, doubting or upcoming producer who feels like giving up?
This industry is young and still growing. There's room for everyone. Just keep at it. You will definitely get there.
To know more about this amazing influencer, checkout his movies and follow him on Instagram:
@thesmilinghat. Or click on the link below to view his page:
