- Funke Akindele, Nollywood actress and filmmaker, shares the inspiration for her dance videos.
- The videos were created as a cost-effective way to promote her films.
- The idea emerged while preparing for the release of her movie “Battle on Buka Street.”
Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has opened up about the inspiration behind the dance videos she frequently shares online, revealing that they were originally created as a low-cost strategy to promote her films.
Speaking during an interview with BellaNaija, Akindele explained that the idea was born while preparing for the release of her movie Battle on Buka Street, at a time when her publicity budget was limited.
According to the award-winning filmmaker, she needed an affordable yet effective way to generate buzz around the project and connect with potential viewers. Rather than spending money on an expensive marketing campaign, she decided to produce engaging dance videos from the comfort of her home.
Akindele noted that while many people assumed the videos were simply for fun, they were actually a carefully planned promotional tool designed to increase awareness of the film.
She disclosed that after completing the production of Battle on Buka Street, there was little money left for publicity. To overcome the challenge, she improvised by setting up a backdrop in her living room and filming the content with the assistance of her cinematographer and her brother, using the resources available to her.
Her words….
“I did Battle on Buka Street and I didn’t have the budget for PR and marketing. So I just did a backdrop in my sitting room in my house and I put the camera there. Stop belittling my work. It’s not dancing. It’s hard work.
“If you don’t feel like you want to jump on it to promote your movie, you’re welcome. But you don’t have to dance. Create your own ideas. Come up with something different.
“I want to build the next generation of female filmmakers. I want them to be audacious. I want them to be hardworking. I want people to look back as, oh, I remember Funke Akindele. She gave us the opportunity to be seen and heard.
“She taught us how to be audacious, to be firm. I was watching the next episode of Ayetoro Town, and I saw a lot of young actors. I’m actually emotional right now. I saw a lot of young talent. And, you know, I saw some of them tired as they’re acting. You know, I saw some discoloration on their skin. And I said, ah, Funke, there was a time you were like this.
“I’m not really making money from it. But I just vowed. I said, God, keep giving me the grace to pull people up. They need to be seen. They need to be heard.”
