Director talks "Fifty," challenges on set of movie, casting, Nollywood

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December 30, 2015 11:00 AM

"I think in the next 10 – 20 years, there would be movies that have come out of this thing called Nollywood, that would be conquering the world. That would be as good as anything Bollywood or Hollywood is bringing out," Biyi Bandele

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Biyi Bandele directed the much talked about movie "Fifty."

In an exclusive interview with Pulse Nigeria, the filmmaker spoke about the movie, what makes it different from his other works, casting for the movie, his favourite scene, among other interesting topics.

Read excerpts;

On brief summary of "Fifty;"

“Fifty is a week in the lives of four women living in Lagos."

On movie pushing the boundaries of an average Nollywood movie;

“I’m really proud of the movie. I think it has good production values. It’s a tough question, because if I say yes [it pushes the boundaries of an average Nigerian movie] , it makes me sound like I’m boasting. So, it’s a fine movie."

On challenges encountered on set;

"If you are on a film set, you face challenges every day. Every single day unleashes its own unique problems, and your job as a director is to make sure that no matter what, you should absolute everything you have on your shortlist."

On casting;

We auditioned, and for each of the four principle actors, I saw dozens and dozens of actors. And I cast by instinct, but this is instinct that is informed by years of experience. I think that the 99% of a director’s job is done in the casting room, that’s a cliché, but it’s true. If you cast really well, on the set, all you have to do is modulate the actor’s performances. If you cast really bad, then you’re in trouble, because then a shot that should take five minutes, will end up taking hours.

On Nollywood;

I think Nollywood is great. Nollywood started the same way Hollywood started. Hollwood was started by people who didn’t know anything about film. A lot of them were traders, hustlers, they were people looking for a way to make money. And Hollywood developed into this global entertainment giant. The same way with Nollywood, I think in the next 10 – 20 years, there would be movies that have come out of this thing called Nollywood, that would be conquering the world. That would be as good as anything Bollywood or Hollywood is bringing out.

ALSO READ:

The movie which was directed by Biyi Bandele, has emerged the highest ever opening weekend in Nigerian cinema release.

A star studded premiere of held on Sunday, December 13, 2015, at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos Nigeria.

'Fifty' captures a few pivotal days in the lives of four Nigerian women - Tola, Elizabeth, Maria and Kate, who are forced at midlife to take inventory of their personal lives, while juggling careers and family against the sprawling backdrops of the upper middle-class neighbourhoods of Ikoyi and Victoria Island in Lagos.

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Executive produced by MO Abudu, directed by Biyi Bandele, "Fifty" is produced by Tope Oshin Ogun, with Malcom McLean as director of photography.

Watch interview below;

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