INTERVIEW: Major challenge of being a film director, by Tunde Olaoye

Tunde Olaoye is a visionary director behind critically acclaimed films like ‘Married But Living Single’ and ‘Singleness Is Bliss’. He is also known for his directorial role in Funke Akindele’s ‘Everybody Loves Jenifa’. With over ten years of shaping narratives on screen and stage, he has become a defining voice in Nollywood’s evolution. In this interview with TheCable Lifestyle’s Taiwo Oshunloye, Olaoye opens up about his creative journey, the unsung role of directors, and his hopes for the industry’s next decade.

TheCable Lifestyle: Your films often explore societal themes—was directing always your calling?

Tunde Olaoye: I have always had a predilection for telling stories as far back as my early years. I see it as a gateway of telling the truth to our society directly or indirectly. Growing up and seeing visual storytelling as a great tool in reaching a heterogenous audience, I decided to be a writer or director to effectively capture attention with my stories.

TheCable Lifestyle: Take us back to your directorial debut. What project marked that milestone, and how did it shape you?

Tunde Olaoye: My full directorial debut for a stage play was directing an annual university play for freshers back in the undergraduate days, titled ‘Octo Rush’. The play was written by Barrister Tunji Bamishigbin in 1984 when he was a student of the Performing Arts department of the University of Ilorin.

The play then ran annually to welcome freshmen on campus and give them a full orientation of what campus looks like, using a lot of burlesque scenarios to elicit humour and educate them. I directed the play in 2001.

For TV, I first had the opportunity to direct a few scenes on a TV series titled ‘Sweet Angels,’ which aired on NTA and Silverbird Television around 2024. Later was given the opportunity to fully direct the popular sitcom titled ‘Face 2Face’ that was syndicated on television stations across the Nation. The early years of directing were exciting and fulfilling.

TheCable Lifestyle: Directors are the backbone of films, yet they’re rarely celebrated like actors or producers. Why do you think that is?

Tunde Olaoye: For me, it is fine that directors are not sharing the shine with the actors; it is the life we have chosen. We are not creators because we want to be known; we do it to make an impact and shape society. As long as our names and works are known, we should enjoy the mystery of people not often being able to put a face to the name.

TheCable Lifestyle: What’s the greatest challenge of being a director/steering a production?

Tunde Olaoye: Sensory overload is usually the director’s nightmare. You are wearing too many hats on set as the captain of the ship. You are a creative, an administrator, a mediator, a manager, and many more things.

You must understand every aspect of production, speak to each department in their own register, harmonize the set into an artistic am rhythmic whole. So the director must be prepared and have the bandwidth to withstand all the storms

TheCable Lifestyle: Beyond directing, do you wear other hats—writing, acting, producing?

Tunde Olaoye: I still act on stage, sometimes play cameos on screen, and writing is still my forte. I was first a writer before becoming a director and I still do rewrites for scripts that I am not satisfied with. There were also a couple of times I had to produce and direct at the same time.

TheCable Lifestyle: Nollywood’s growth has been explosive. Where do you see it heading?

Tunde Olaoye: Nollywood has grown in leaps and bounds over the years. Thank God for the continuous advancement in digital technology and how the world is becoming smaller, which makes it possible for us to exhibit our works to the entire world.

We have grown from making movies with thousands of Naira into confidently making films with billions of Naira, and we can currently boast of about $7 billion in revenue. I believe we would continue to raise the standards and get better over the years.

TheCable Lifestyle: How can directors claim more visibility in this booming industry?

Tunde Olaoye: Directors need to create strong digital footprints. Grant interviews, go on podcasts about the industry, and attends workshops and seminars where they should speak and demonstrate expertise on issues concerning the industry.

TheCable Lifestyle: Finally, where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Tunde Olaoye: This is in God’s hands. But by my wishes, I want to be more active in the industry, create platforms for training aspiring filmmakers, and also have international collaborations.