Encomium
He’s one of the young producers coming up with great ideas and wonderful stories. Busayo Oyekunle Odu has just devised a means of tackling the menace of piracy ravaging the movie industry. In an interview with ENCOMIUM Weekly recently, he took us through his dream; the birth of a multi million naira movie; Mahuru, ways of making it available in all homes and much more.
Who’s the producer of Mahuru?
To start with, Busayo Oyekunle Odu is the producer of Mahuru and that’s my humble self. I was born to the family of Rev. and Mrs. J.O Odu in Ado-Ekiti. I had my primary and secondary educations in the city of Ado-Ekiti. I studied History and International Studies at the Ekiti State University.
With this, how did movie come in?
I joined the movie industry in September 2011, due to the passion I have for film production. When I realized the problems producers are facing when it comes to the marketing aspect of their productions, I thought of coming up with something great that will be of benefit to all.
Like what?
I pioneered an independent mobile marketing outfit, Integrity Productions and Mobile Marketing Ltd. Presently, Integrity Productions and Mobile Marketing Ltd has spread its tentacles across seven states in Nigeria with over 420 sales representatives and about 25 operational vehicles. This leading mobile marketing company has its branches in six states of the Federation at present. These are Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti.
This business venture would be dealing in what?
There was a purpose we came up with Integrity Productions and Mobile Marketing Ltd. First, the idea was to produce a movie, then having thought of piracy and the evil it does to the entertainment industry, the idea of combating it came. So, Integrity Productions and Mobile Marketing Ltd is solely a marketing outfit and it shall starts its operation with a movie produced my Busayo Odu.
What is the movie all about?
Our new movie is Mahuru. It is a Yoruba word, taken from ki lo n dun Mahuru-mahuru ninu igbo. It simply means, what is that strange thing that torments continuously in the forest…
It is a movie that every household must have, as it touches the very fabric of our living as a people and as individual families.
Mahuru, is a Yoruba movie that is characterized with culture, great lessons and comedy.
It parades the very best of cast and crew in the industry. The movie perfectly blends the modern world with the ancient by the fusion of ancient sub-plot with a major modern storyline.
Who are the cast in the movie?
Ebun Oloyede (Olaiya Igwe), Taiwo Hassan (Ogogo), Bolaji Amusan (Mr. Latin), Aina Gold, Bayo Bankole, Bukola Fagbuyi, Moji Olaiya, Yemi Odunodu, Wale Adebayo etc.
The story centers on a recalcitrant brigadier in the army (played by Taiwo Hassan, Ogogo) who insists his teenage lone daughter, who is still in school, should get married, against her wish. What follows that decision is better imagined than experienced. The brigadier would later learn his lessons the hard way.
I and Femi Fadeyi prepared the movie’s screenplay. The movie effects are perfectly crafted, while the blend and transition between scenes of ancient and modern are quite creative. It was shot in three states: Oyo, Ekiti and Ogun.
On a project of this nature, like how much have you invested?
Whatever is worth doing, to me is worth doing well. I have invested massively in the project to bring out a high quality work to the viewing public. Not less than N6 million was expended on the project.
What are the challenges so far?
It was a tug of war bringing Mahuru to the viewing delight of Nigerians. There was a running battle over the production of this movie. It was the doggedness I put in place that eventually made the dream come true. I also appreciate people like Olaiya Igwe, Asiwaju Dimeji Ijaduade, Banji Adeusi, Tayo Aluko, Afe Babalola Chambers, Copy Right Commission and so on who stood by me during this crisis.
One novel thing about Mahuru is the channel and strategy of marketing I have employed. The film is the first that such strategy would be used to market in the country. It is going to be marketed and distributed in Nigeria by Integrity Productions and Mobile Marketing Limited. Soon, staff of this company will be out with copies of the movie, for sale to Nigerians.
What next after Mahuru?
I am planning to shoot another movie soon and the title is Foforemi. It’s a multi-million project. It is a movie that will change entertainment face in Nigeria. A lot of things in the movie will be real rather than making use of effects. For instance, I am planning to burn a whole house with about two cars.
Your are married?
I have two kids, Heritage and Oluwadarasimi.
How do you plan to sustain your marketing company?
Some producers are already talking to us. They want Integrity Productions and Mobile Marketing Ltd to market their movies as well. It may interest you to know that Aditu (Mistery of Unity), a film produced by Olaiya Igwe will also be marketed by our company, in conjunction with one other marketing firm. Over N50 million was expended on the movie and it took Olaiya over five years to complete it.
The popular marketers in Idumota, do you have any link with them?
I have an uncle who is a marketer in Idumota. But Integrity Productions and Mobile Marketing Ltd is an independent mobile marketing firm and it’s registered to operate independently. We don’t belong to any association. Though we may decide sometime to jointly market our products with the idumota marketers, there’s a great possibility as regards that. Mahuru is jointly distributed with one of the marketers there. So, we are partners in progress.
TADE ASIFAT
