Okusaga Adeoluwa, the ex-BBNaija housemate, launched his filmmaking career with the release of his debut movie ‘Falling Notes’. In this exclusive interview with TheCable Lifestyle’s PELUMI BOLAWA, he shares his journey from visual artist to filmmaker and the challenges he faced along the way. Saga discusses his passion for storytelling, his unique approach to blending music and film. He also reflects on the influence of his mother in shaping his artistic identity.
TheCable Lifestyle: I have to mention that you always dress exceptionally. What’s the inspiration behind your fashion sense?
Saga: So, when I was a kid, my mom told me everything I wore fit me. You know, she told me that. My mom told me that if I wore a bag of rice, it would fit me. I am not that wealthy, you know, so I did not know; maybe she was trying to make me feel good about myself, or maybe she was actually telling the truth. But it stuck, and then I just looked stylish. I was raised amongst sisters and aunties, and my mother. They always wanted me to look good, so I always liked to dress well.
TheCable Lifestyle: Wow, interesting! So, what inspired ‘Falling Notes’? What was that spark that made you feel like, ‘Oh, now I want to write this movie?
Saga: So, I started in Nollywood, or I joined Nollywood, in October or November 2023. I have been in Nollywood for about three years now. Since I joined, I always found myself having a thing or two to say to the cameraman, to the producer, to the director.
I always had some insight, you know, something to say to help the shots. I always saw it from the producer and director’s point of view. I started to see that I loved filmmaking. I really love it, I cannot even lie.
I like to picture, when I am given a script, I literally picture the whole film in my head before I step on set. So, it is now, ‘Can they live up to my imagination when I get on set?’ I always knew I was going to get into production. I just needed the right story, the right time, and the right opportunity for everything to align for me to make it there.
For ‘Falling Notes’, I wanted to tell a story and show my talents. I was confused about whether to show my talents as an artist, a visual artist. I felt like maybe that had been overshadowed in Nollywood.
I did not want to go through the route of a visual artist. Then I thought about music. I used to be in the choir back in the day. I used to be in the choir in primary school, secondary school, and even in university. I sang in the Sovereign Army Choir at Redeem back in the university.
So, I thought, let me try music. My cousin, Boyo Okusaga, who happened to be staying with me at the time, said he is a music producer. I went to visit him and said, ‘Can you produce songs for me?’ He said he could do it.
I sat down and started thinking of a story. The story just hit me—it is a love story. I do not want to spoil it here, but it hit me right there on set. I told my writer that night and shared the story, and for two months, we spent time developing the script.
By the time we were done, it was perfect. I showed a couple of my friends the script, my brother-in-law, and my sister. They read it. Anyone who read the script knew it was a fantastic story. When I shared it with the cast, they all called me to applaud my script.
TheCable Lifestyle: How long did it take from conception to gathering the team and production?
Saga: The story came into my head in January this year, believe it or not. I started working on the script immediately in January and finished it around March.
At the same time, I was also working on the songs. My producer and I were writing the songs and developing the music. The songs took from January to sometime May or June before I was even done with them.
Honestly, it was crazy. I finished the script in March and started casting from March to June. I spent the whole of March and June casting, looking for locations, and planning pre-production. From June to July, I was filming for 10 days, day and night. It was crazy.
I recorded my songs in early June after they had been written completely. From July to October, we were in post-production. It has been crazy—colour grading, sound design, music score, everything was done during that timeframe.
So, it took about 10 months for the whole process of making this film.
TheCable Lifestyle: That’s huge! You spoke about the casting process. Was there any challenge in selecting the cast?
Saga: There was no challenge. It was Sosu. Sosu is also a friend. I might do something with Liquorose in the future. Soso is a very close friend of mine, and we share amazing chemistry. We have done a couple of projects together. I just called her, pitched it to her, and she was like, ‘Oh, why not? We are working on it together’.
TheCable Lifestyle: How do you feel now as a producer?
Saga: I feel like a superhero! I am not even going to lie. I feel very good. It’s not been easy. Now I know how things are from the producer’s point of view.
Putting all these things together—funding, financing, all the pressure that comes with it, marketing—it is not easy. But I’m really proud of myself. I feel like I left no stone unturned in making this film.
I can tell you categorically, I was involved in every single stage of producing this film—from writing to directing to producing, songwriting, and editing. I made sure I left no stone unturned to give you a near-perfect film. The picture quality is top-notch. I went a lot for this film, I can’t lie. You know I’m an artist; I’m a visual artist.
TheCable Lifestyle: Can we say now that you are an Afrobeats artiste, R&B artiste, or Afrofusion?
Saga: Well, I mean, I have songs on iTunes and Spotify right now, so you can call me an artistes if you like. You can call me an Afrobeats artiste. It is not too big an issue for me to be here. I have been singing all my life, honestly. I even did a stage play where I sang. I performed at Terra Kulture last year.
The videos on Instagram went deep down. A few of my friends who know me personally know I have been singing long before I started drawing and acting. I was a choir master for a long time in my church at home. You can call me an Afrobeats artiste.
TheCable Lifestyle: Are you investing in a cinema movie in the near future?
Saga: Who knows? Next year, I am already planning in my head. I have an idea for a film next year. It came to me on the drive home last night. The idea just hit me. I am not going to share it with you, but I can tell you it is going to be very, very impressive. I do not know if I am going to put it on Netflix, YouTube, or cinema casting for now, but I am telling you guys, there’s more to come.
TheCable Lifestyle: Should we look forward to an exhibition? Are you still exploring the painting part of your journey?
Saga: Of course. I cannot say when, but I will never stop painting. I am an artist deep down as well. Who knows? It could be me as an artist with an exhibition.
TheCable Lifestyle: You have always spoken about your mom and the bond you shared with her. Are there some memories that you hold dear?
Saga: My mom is—or was, or is, whichever one—my best friend. There are a ton of memories that I hold dear. My mom taught me how to drive from my diploma year till my final year.
That is like six years. She never let me go. Everywhere I drove, she was right behind me, telling me. I was already a professional, but she never let me drive alone. We used to fight on the street. It was amazing with my mom.
Everything that I am today is all because of her. She taught me how to live, how to love, how to laugh, how to be funny, how to be homely, how to be nice, how to be generous, and how to love God—all those good things.
There are a ton of memories. We went to church together, did evangelism together, and helped people. That is why people say I have such a soft heart; it is because of my mom. I would perform for her, as I said—drama, singing, dancing. She was my biggest audience, and I cherish her memory every second.
TheCable Lifestyle: How did you break away from that stereotype of life after BBNaija for ex-housemates?
Saga: For me, I am lucky enough to have a ton of talents. I tell my friends that to whom much is given, much is expected. I just focus on my talent. I am always working. I barely rest; that is the truth. It has not been easy.
Many people see Saga and see the products of what I have done, but I tell you, there is a lot of work happening in the background. I barely rest. I am always thinking of the next idea, the next challenge.
I am constantly working. That is how it has been for me. I keep pushing myself to greater heights. I never lose faith in myself. It has not been easy; it is tough.
There are a lot of depressing moments here and there. You are up there, but you are not really up there. That has been a unique experience. The truth really sets you high, but you have to work your way to that point. For me, it has just been consistent hard work, really.
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