With the success of “A Tribe Called Judah” raising the bar, Tunde Olaoye, co-director of “Everybody Loves Jenifa”, discusses how the success of Funke Akindele’s previous film influenced the pressure and expectations for their upcoming release.
Pressure of a Billion-Naira Benchmark: Tunde Olaoye Talks About “Everybody Loves Jenifa”
BY Fareedat Taofeeq
November 28, 2024
7:11 am
The success of Funke Akindele’s “A Tribe Called Judah” has set a new financial benchmark for Nigerian films, grossing over a billion naira and reshaping the expectations for Nollywood productions.
As “Everybody Loves Jenifa” (ELJ), directed by Akindele and Tunde Olaoye, prepares for its release on December 13, 2024, many eyes are watching closely to see whether it can live up to the high bar set by its predecessor.
In an exclusive interview with “The Nollywood Reporter”, Olaoye spoke candidly about the pressure that followed Akindele’s previous success. “Obviously, the success of her last film put a bit of pressure on everyone that worked on ELJ,” he acknowledged. “We know that we just have to beat the previous record. The pressure is like a springboard for an opportunity to come up with something great, which I believe we did.”
Despite the weight of expectations, Olaoye emphasized that the team’s primary focus was always on the quality of the work rather than the numbers. “Pressure is like a springboard,” he said, highlighting how it serves as an opportunity to push the team to deliver a compelling film.
The co-director also reflected on how working with Funke Akindele, a director known for her strong artistic vision, helped mitigate the challenges of managing such high expectations. “Funke is your typical auteur director who has most things figured out artistically in her head,” he said. “She’s a great communicator who is able to communicate her thoughts vividly to other creatives she works with.”
As co-director of the film, Olaoye was integral in ensuring that the vision for “Everybody Loves Jenifa” was executed successfully. However, despite the challenges, he expressed confidence in the production, saying, “I knew I had to give it my all in motivating the cast and crew to bring on their A-game. And I believe everyone gave a stellar performance in bringing the script alive to the big screen.”
In the end, while the financial success of “A Tribe Called Judah” has certainly raised the stakes for “Everybody Loves Jenifa”, Olaoye remains focused on what truly matters: creating a film that connects with audiences while delivering on both its entertainment value and storytelling potential.