Award-winning filmmaker and artistic entrepreneur Kunle Afolayan has shared particulars of a tense telephone dialog with actress and producer Funke Akindele, following controversy over his remarks on movie promotion methods in Nollywood.
Talking in an interview on ARISE Information on Sunday, Afolayan revealed that Akindele personally reached out after media stories steered he had dismissed colleagues who promote their motion pictures by means of dance-driven campaigns.
“She known as, and she or he mentioned, ‘I do know you don’t like me, however don’t point out my title in your interviews,’ she was yelling, and she or he dropped the telephone after that,” Afolayan mentioned.
He described the accusation as stunning, given their long-standing private {and professional} relationship.
“It was bizarre, and I’m like, the place is that this coming from. She’s like a sister to me. In Unilag, I might go to her hostel, her sister can also be my good friend, so I’m not certain the place that is coming from,” he mentioned.
Afolayan careworn that his feedback had been taken out of context, insisting he by no means criticised Akindele or any filmmaker who adopts aggressive promotional ways.
“I by no means mentioned something was improper with it. For me, it’s draining. I’ve completely nothing towards it. I’m simply saying what I can’t do,” he said.
He defined that his remarks had been made throughout a movie enterprise discussion board attended by cinema operators, the place discussions centered on profitability and sustainability for filmmakers.
“The sincere reality is, it was a discussion board, it was a movie enterprise discussion board, and we had the cinema operators there, and the cinema operators had been asking me, when are you coming again to cinema, and I mentioned, I can’t come to cinema in the event you can not assure that I’ll make substantial cash,” he mentioned.
Addressing Akindele instantly, Afolayan expressed disappointment over the backlash that adopted.
“If for any purpose she feels offended, I’m sorry,” he mentioned. “However one factor she has executed, which I believe is completely improper, and I might by no means do this sort of a factor, is to make use of social media rats to come back after whoever it’s.”
Regardless of the controversy, Afolayan acknowledged Akindele’s success and affect, describing her progress as deliberate and strategic.
“I clearly mentioned to them (younger filmmakers), that if you wish to undertake a mannequin that I believe will give you the results you want
now, then observe Funke Akindele’s mannequin,” he mentioned.
“Funke began at a youthful age, after which she did Jenifa with minimal funds, rolling sources, and from then, have a look at Funke’s model now, she has grown.”
Past the dispute, Afolayan highlighted the sturdy efficiency of Aníkúlápó Season Two on Netflix, revealing the challenge has exceeded expectations.
“Thus far, as of yesterday (Saturday), it’s prime primary in Nigeria. It’s already primary most watched movie after 24 hours,” he mentioned, including that Seasons Two and Three had been shot back-to-back.
He additionally dismissed claims that Netflix had exited Nigeria, clarifying the distinction between commissioning and acquisition.
“Netflix didn’t go anyplace. They stopped commissioning. They didn’t cease buying,” Afolayan mentioned.
“They’re nonetheless shopping for content material. There are movies licensed for ten years.”
Reflecting on his current function curating screenings of his late father Ade Love’s movies for Oyo State’s fiftieth anniversary celebrations, Afolayan described the expertise as deeply emotional.
“For me, it was an emotional celebration. You can’t have a good time Oyo with out celebrating the individuals who began the trade,” he mentioned.
As debates proceed over advertising kinds, cinema economics, and distribution fashions, Afolayan insisted his place was by no means private.
“I’ve completely nothing towards her. She’s my sister. We grew up collectively,” he mentioned
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