We've got a special guest on the spot today. His name is Akin Alabi and he is one of the most prolific video directors we have around here but hey, there is more to him.This interview session gives a peep into Mr. Alabi's other passions and view on video/movie making. He also gave a call out for script writers with good stories to reach him if they have one for him to shoot.
He has shot some of the best gospel videos that has been on your screens. A journalist once said "Unlike some of his contemporaries, who rode on the back of the media to fame, Akin Alabi is quiet, gifted and not given to cheap publicity. He is one cinematographer, who will rather allow his work to speak for him". Okay, we got him right here in the spot.
Its quite a read. Dig in and enjoy!
Hello Akin, good to have you here. For the benefit of our readers, especially the foreign ones, can you tell us briefly about you?
My name is Akin Alabi. I am the only son out of 4children. I hail from Ekiti state. I am a graduate of Business Admin from University of Ilorin. I am also a video director, photographer and musician
Okay. So which came first? Directing, photography or music?
Art, then graphic designing, followed by music, then came directing, photography is d last born.
[LAUGHTER]
Okay. So when and how did it all start for you?
It all started with fine art in secondary School and was encouraged by my parents. In university, I discovered my talent for songwriting and I released an album in 1999. By 2002, I was a music producer, artiste and web designer.
A lot of people get surprised when they find out that d Akin Alabi that directs videos also sings. What do you have to say about that?
Wanting to do a video for my song led me to aspiring to be a video director. I decided to be a fulltime video director while abandoning my other passions like music, graphics and web designing. That was how I got into video directing. I started with animation and video editing before eventually evolving to a cinematographer
Oh ok…
It amuses me because its good people see that there could be different sides to one person. There are so many things I do that I can't reveal right away because people will be shocked. So I took my time to reveal the music part of me slowly to d public. Most people don't even know that I produced most of TIV's song including d hit song, Komole.
Okay, that's an eye popper. Obviously, you have multiple layers of skills…Care to shock us some more with a few revelations?
I designed Julius Awgu's first website. I play drums and the keyboard. I wrote and published my first book in 1999 titled The Pursuit of Destiny
That puts 'author' on your resum'e. Tell us about TIV. Not many people know much about TIV...
T.I.V is a group made up of my wife and I. Our first single was Komole in 2011. Many people have tried to define our music but what we stand for is to push out positive music that carries in d values of our faith in Christ.
Okay. We heard and saw the video for 'Komole' as well as d remix and it keep getting spins. You have any particular reason for making the song the way it is?
What way is it?
Bouncy. Different. It has a cross-appeal.
I don't think it’s different. Our praise songs in church are very bouncy too using your words. For me coming from an indigenous church background where local instruments like agogo, talking drum, conga and your hands are used in making music it naturally influenced d kind of sound u hear in our music.
The gospel is not the gospel if it’s not crossing over. You need to understand d language of your audience to be able to communicate effectively with them. Jesus preached in parables using examples dat people on d street cud relate with and that’s what T.I.V is trying to do.
Don't get me wrong, you know we are the media and we ask questions the public will like to know the answers to…
No offense at all. Feel free…
Alright. Let's look at video directing in Nigeria…What's your appraisal of the scene at the moment?
Quality wise it has improved dramatically but content wise I won't say we are original in most of our concepts and ideas.
Obviously, we need more originality. Have you done films/movies?
Yes. I produced a TV drama series in 2011 titled Ring of Fire. I also helped in shooting some gospel movies too. I directed a TV drama titled Road to Stardom this year and it’s running on air.
I have it in mind to do a movie but I don't know what the story will be yet. I am looking for the right story to make a good movie on.
Cool. So is the option open for good writers to send in stories to you?
Yes
Any criteria for submission?
The story has to be heart-moving and inspirational.
Okay
Met one guy in a cafe and he was asking me almost all the questions you’ve asked me. He also asked: Why am I doing gospel instead of secular? Why can't I advise gospel artiste to step up their game? I was shocked.
So what was your reply?
Well, there is a vacuum and nobody is filling it up so I need to step into it and make gospel music heard everywhere, anytime without any limitation. Video directing is my job, T.I.V is my ministry.
The guy asked why you can't advise gospel artistes to step up their game...so what's your response in that regard?
I actually advise a lot and also help in terms of quality of their video production but there is a limit to what I can do music-wise because I usually get to hear the finished product when they come to me for videos.
My advice to them is this; now and study your target audience. Research how to reach them instead of just doing what comes to your mind and believing everyone will accept it. Know who you are sent to. Know your strength
Let's get back to the movies, what's your view and assessment of the Nigeria movie scene?
Mixed reaction. Some people are doing great like Kunle Afolayan, Izu Ojukwu while the mediocre Nollywood movies are still there. So on one part, some ar stepping up while some are still doing the regular nollywood movies while on the other, people are stepping their games up.
THE END
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