What does it take to transform dreams into reality? Join us as we reconnect with Alan Black Boy Onyige, a filmmaker and storyteller whose journey from the streets of Port Harcourt to the bustling film industry in Lagos is nothing short of inspirational. As one of my former students in a teen church, Alan and I reminisce about our shared past and the pivotal moments that shaped his career. He talks passionately about his love for documentary storytelling, his dedication to his craft, and the significant milestones that have defined his personal and professional growth.
In our conversation, Alan opens up about overcoming self-doubt to secure a prestigious scholarship that took him across Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya. He shares the invaluable lessons learned under the mentorship of Femi Odubemi and the emotional recognition at the AMVCA awards. This episode is packed with practical advice for young filmmakers and entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of integrity, skill acquisition, and the balance between work and well-being. Don't miss this heartfelt and insightful discussion that offers a roadmap to success and a reminder that with the right mindset, anything is possible.
What does it take to transform dreams into reality? Join us as we reconnect with Alan Black Boy Onyige, a filmmaker and storyteller whose journey from the streets of Port Harcourt to the bustling film industry in Lagos is nothing short of inspirational. As one of my former students in a teen church, Alan and I reminisce about our shared past and the pivotal moments that shaped his career. He talks passionately about his love for documentary storytelling, his dedication to his craft, and the significant milestones that have defined his personal and professional growth.
In our conversation, Alan opens up about overcoming self-doubt to secure a prestigious scholarship that took him across Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya. He shares the invaluable lessons learned under the mentorship of Femi Odubemi and the emotional recognition at the AMVCA awards. This episode is packed with practical advice for young filmmakers and entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of integrity, skill acquisition, and the balance between work and well-being. Don't miss this heartfelt and insightful discussion that offers a roadmap to success and a reminder that with the right mindset, anything is possible.
Hello there, welcome to the World Cafe podcast. This podcast has been designed with created content that centers on the power of words. Can we really do anything without speaking? Can we really do anything without the agency of words? Yes, that is what this podcast is all about, and I am your host, amakri Isubie, your neighborhood word trader. I believe in the power of words, for it is the unit of creation. I trade in words to profit my world.
Speaker 1:
Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, good everything. Yes, back into that space. Ah, guys, it's always exciting. I tell you, each time I come into this space, no matter how tired I am, I just come alive. Why? Because I know you're there, you're listening, and we always come up with amazing stories, topics you know to share with you, and all of that.
Speaker 1:
So, before I go into anything you know how I do it I need to ask you how are you doing For real? I'm asking this. I'm asking this not, uh, rhetorically now, but for real. You know, how are you? How has it been well for me at my end. It's been amazing. Uh, lately it's been raining where I am yes, abuja and somehow there's this change in the atmosphere. We, it used to be pretty hot January, february, march and what have you but now it's somewhat cold, really cold, even beating cold water. Now it's like you have to rethink it. I'm good, yes. So what are we going to be doing today?
Speaker 1:
I have an amazing story and I have an amazing personality to bring. Amazing, in a sense, that I've known this person way back, you know, way, way back. Yes, I don't want to go into the other nitty-gritty, but I've known him way back and I've seen him evolve, grow, you know, and you know, blossom in his craft and his trade and his art, and all of that. He is a movie maker. He goes by the name Alan Black Boy Onyige. Don't worry, you will see his face.
Speaker 1:
He has an amazing story to share with us. I know you want to see him, like I want to. Where is he? And there he is. Hi, alan, hi, good to see you. Good to see you. Before we came on on set, we were just talking behind, uh, the scenes, what it's been like and all that. I know. The last time I saw you in person was 2012 and, uh, I mean, the circumstances that surrounded it had to do with what you're doing today, but in there, I mean, you are now on a larger scale, and all that. So how are you? You, how's it been?
Speaker 2:
I'm fine. I've been great telling stories Before being growing, learning, relearning as well, so it's just been good for me.
Speaker 1:
Beautiful. So what part are you in now? I know you're in Nigeria, somewhere in Nigeria. Where are you again?
Speaker 2:
I'm in a place called Aripo, in very close to Lagos, so it's just like the outskirts of Lagos.
Speaker 1:
All right, all right. So let us get to meet you. Then we begin from there. Who is this amazing personality? Alan Blackboy Onyigi, I like that word, blackboy. You tell us how you came about it anyway. So let's get to meet this personality.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, so my name is Alan Uyge. I'm from River State. I'm from Omoch, to be precise, born in Port Harcourt. I was raised in Port Harcourt as well. Left Port Harcourt sometime in 2018 because I wanted something bigger for myself, so that's how I got to Lagos from 2018 up to now. Up until now, I haven't been famous or in the space of filmmaking. So, and up to now, I haven't been famous or in the space of filmmaking. So, yeah, so I am a passionate storyteller, filmmaker. I have passion for documentary storytelling, but I make other form of stories or films, or I would say, business for documentaries. What I do as passion, so, yeah, so that's me. I'm married, I have a beautiful daughter. You know life is what I do as passion. Okay, so, yeah, so that's that's me. I'm married, I have a beautiful daughter. You know, life is what it is life.
Speaker 1:
It is now, guys, I, I, I, I. I opened the show with telling you about this guy, this person. Uh, I've known him for more than I think it should be, more than 20 years now, from my years now. The thing is, I'm a teen church instructor. I teach, you know, I work with teenagers. I've been with teenagers all my life, practically all my life, and alan has, I mean, was one of them, you know, who sat under my tutelage and, uh, when I left, I was in port harcourt for a bit, left port harcourt, walkwise walk, took me out of Port Harcourt and all that.
Speaker 1:
I lost touch with him and the others. So we got to see ourselves again in 2012 with respect to the Abuja National caliber, national caliber and all of that. We've lost touch. But I know before then he's been this guy who loves, you know, like every other teenager I would say, loves the stage, likes dancing, when it comes to acting and all of that. And seeing him now, guys, it's mind blowing and it is, I must tell you, good, it feels good, it gives me that. So I look at myself. I say, ok, good, it feels good, it gives me that. So I look at myself, I say okay. So I mean I'm I mean like any other father would say, I'm a proud dad because I've seen this. So now you left what hackathon? You went to lagos, let us get to know what drove you. Yes, you went to movie making, but what gave you that? Should I? I say, okay, I need something bigger.
Speaker 2:
But I mean, I've always had that in me. I've always wanted a different life, something better. Of course, you know me, I do, I'll throw something in and I'm basically trying to be as real as possible. I wouldn't say I have the best childhood I live, wanting to get better. I always wanted a good life. I used to tell people this right. My life changed somewhat sometime around 2004 when my sister brought me to the Catholic Church. Yeah, we walked down from Bushimi because that's where we used to stay.
Speaker 1:
I know we walked down. I still see you there. I know to stay, I know I still see you there, I know that neighborhood, I know I have that picture way, way back.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, I would trek down to the capital city. I remember that first time we got there and I saw people. I saw people you know discussing about things that I had only seen in movies. Oh, I'm going for this holiday and what is going on. I want this life for myself, you know, and for that. For me, that's like a driving force. I'm like do you know what I'm going to do? Something I'm not going to end up in this emotion that I was raised.
Speaker 2:
I'll make sure that I get, you know, I'll get out of it. So for me, I think it became real sometime around 2013 that you know, I think I met someone who told me the power of skill. You know, if you have a skill right, there's nothing you cannot do. People will look for you, both the mighty and the you know and I'm like, okay, do you know what? Then I need to get a skill. So then that's when I then thought of, you know, you know, funny enough. So my other brother, who was into music at the time, you know he used to make music videos for people and then he asked me okay, what do you think about this song? How can we make? If I want to direct this uh video, what would be the content? And I'll share ideas with him. I did not know that.
Speaker 2:
That was me finding, you know, some kind of uh passion or whatever but it was around 2013 when I wanted to learn the skill and he said you've always been giving me ideas how to make content, so why don't you just try it? I'm like, oh yeah, so let me learn how to make music videos. So that's when I then went to a studio and applied and then they took me in and teaching me. I thought, so interesting then, because I I'm in tcc, you have to serve. We thought this is the power of service and all that. So I thought, okay, I want to serve a choice. So what's the best thing to do? Maybe I should be a cameraman. And that's how I applied to join the p.
Speaker 2:
I remember, yeah, I became a cameraman in tcc and I'll also go to my studio and learn how to make music videos and all that. So after a while I realized that, oh okay, this, this, I can learn and get something out of it. So what I did at the time because music videos weren't coming as much so what we had then were just events, maybe wedding barrier. So what I did was to bring the music video style into weddings. So we just cut something flashy, you know, and nice for one minute or two minutes. So your total event.
Speaker 2:
You can just compress it to like three or four minutes you know, at that time and I was making some kind of money at the time, and then that was when an opportunity opened sometime around 2016. Uh was will be a tv. They were coming to set up their own studio in putakko and they needed a cameraman and all that's not how I applied. I got the job. I was 2016. Yeah, I was then a camera operator and a trackcaster operator.
Speaker 2:
Trackcaster is like a multi-camera and pcro operator and all that yeah, so I was doing all that, but one thing I've always found about myself is I easily get tired of things. I'm always looking for the next thing right.
Speaker 2:
So from my two years yeah, two years into working as it was with our tracker, I was done. I was already tired, I was fed up. I'm like okay, what's the next thing I can do? That was, I don't know how was. I don't know how I stumbled, I don't know how I stumbled into it, but I just realized I wanted to make a short film. How to make a short film? I had no idea. You know anything, so all I did was to go online YouTube and I learned just try to do some self-tutoring, and all that.
Speaker 2:
After a while I then tried to do my own first shot. I did that, which I think is a disaster. Nobody should see it. By the time I was done, somehow I stumbled on a link where there is this opportunity to train 60 Africans on how to be professionals storytellers. I think the training was on film and television production, yeah, so it's called Multi-Choice Talent Factory.
Speaker 1:
Ah, okay, yeah, I remember that.
Speaker 2:
It's across Africa. So I'm like who's going to pick me Far hair. But tack here. But but the good thing about um, the good thing about it is I always reference the bible when it comes to this part there's a part of the bible that says I can't remember the quote that says that god will bless the works of your heart. Yeah, you have to give god something to work with right so I think that was what worked for me with the short film that I made.
Speaker 2:
So I did not know God was pushing me to make that short film because he had a greater plan for me. Even after, when I was done with it, I didn't want to show it to anybody, I just felt like it was a huge disaster and all that. So when they were screening for this scholarship, so I remember the director then asking the person what have you done, have you made a film? Before I said, yeah, I just made a short film. I'm still editing it, you know. Then he was inquisitive. Then he asked a lot of questions around the film and all that and I told him so what?
Speaker 2:
I think he saw then was the zeal for me to wake up and say I don't know how you shot famous me, but I want to make one. Luckily, after a couple of months I got selected. I was among the 60 people selected across Africa to go for this scholarship, one-year paid scholarship. We paid us maybe like $500 or so per month to learn, and they house us as well and give us this travel, take us around and from.
Speaker 1:
This was in South Africa, correct? No they did it in Nigeria. Yes, south Africa.
Speaker 2:
Nigeria and Kenya so.
Speaker 1:
I went to.
Speaker 2:
Uganda. I was in.
Speaker 1:
Uganda and Nigeria as well, so what?
Speaker 2:
What? So I went to Uganda. I was in Uganda, okay, so what so when we got to this point? So my point is what was so fascinating about this is how about 5,000 people applied for this and I was among the 60 who selected it.
Speaker 1:
And I was the only person selected Okay, myself and one other lady who was selected.
Speaker 2:
God bless her. So she's dead now. Her name is Amber, myself and her were selected from Otakus to come to Lagos, australia. So this was when my eyes opened, wow, opened more to the first, of course, the training and knowledge how to learn this craft well. Secondly, to the business part of filmmaking Wow, yes, you know, we had an academy director. His name is Femi Odubemi.
Speaker 1:
Ah, the renowned Femi Odubemi.
Speaker 2:
Yes, he was our director for a year. Oh, you know, yeah, he's my mentor to tomorrow. You know he will always tell for a year. You know, yeah, that we have is my mentor tomorrow you know, he will always tell you that you know you're making this thing. You have to eat from it as well. If you're not comfortable, then you cannot help people, because he's always he's big on helping, yeah, so, um, yeah, that was how I got this training the script.
Speaker 1:
The scripture you reference is deuteronomy 28 12. Let me just read it out for the audience, just in case you know they stumble upon it the lord will open the heavens, the storehouses of his bounty, to send rain on your heart, on your land in season, and to bless all the work of your hands you will lend to many nations that will never borrow from none, you know.
Speaker 1:
So I mean, you're spot on on that. He will bless the works of your hands. If there's nothing, there's nothing, you know, you're not doing anything and you won't got. Ah, so I mean that speaks volume. Now it takes the next question, because the other day this was where it really hit me. Honestly, I've been seeing you do things, yes, on, I see your works on facebook and all of that. You know you sitting on the, the crane, looking through the lens and all. I was like, okay, alan, where are you going with all of this? But, amazing, see, alan, he, alan, he's growing and he's doing that. And I was sitting, I was just sitting in the room with my wife. They were watching TV and she's you know, she paid to AM. I mean AMVCA, is that?
Speaker 2:
the acronym yeah.
Speaker 1:
And they were just, you know, giving their words and all of that. And I saw this individual. You were wearing black that day. Was it black or green? Black, black exactly. And when you took their word and all that, I was like como, sorry, guys, I just spoke English there. Tell me, when we're fascinated in Nigeria, that's what we, you know we go, we just go to default mode. And I was like is that not Alan? And I turned to my wife and I said that's Alan. And I was trying to explain to her. She said Sanaa called your sister's name, you know. She said, oh, that's Rachel's young brother. I said yes, yeah, and I was so elated, I was super excited. Now tell me how the story behind the awards. Tell my audience about it.
Speaker 2:
So this is the second time I've been nominated.
Speaker 1:
All right.
Speaker 2:
The first one. I wasn't even. I didn't stand a chance. Because I was in some category, with some people that I respect so much. That was two years ago, but this one because of what we did with the story. I was certain, somehow not like certain, I was hopeful that we were going to win because the story cuts across the audience would relate to it. So I just I was hopeful that we were going to win.
Speaker 2:
So I keep telling people, even because I left, I was on a film set, even up because I left, I was on this film set that's how I I came to the. I came. I came for the award quite late. I was there five minutes before the quarter oh yeah, yeah, so I hadn't been settled in the call when they called and I and I just rushed down there.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I was blank, but I was there, all I could see, I could only see lights. I did not see anybody, I just went back, yeah.
Speaker 2:
It's good to get some kind of recognition for your work Because, as filmmakers, we especially the guys behind the camera- the guys creating the story. Nobody actually knows, it's just the actors that they know.
Speaker 1:
Exactly. It's good for you to also get some. I can imagine. I can imagine how this has, I mean, comes to like, uh, boost your confidence with respect to what you do, you know and all of that. So what is that thing you want young people this generation to to see and to understand from your perspective? You know, just like when you sit in front of the camera, you look through the lens. There are things you see that even those of us in front of the camera we don't see, and all of that, and you kind of interpret it correctly for the general audience to appreciate. So from where you start now, what's that thing you want young people to know?
Speaker 1:
as a concise filmmaking or life in general life in general, using your filmmaking experience and all of that, your journey. What would you want them to know?
Speaker 2:
So life is a journey right. Life is a journey right. You have to walk each path knowing that there are layers to life as well. So don't don't get to a spot and be too comfortable to be like okay, oh, this is what I have been looking for. I'm here now, so I will just stop aspiring or working, right.
Speaker 2:
So you have to put in the work and you know, get a skill, get a skill. We'll move past this time where you go to school and they will not give you unemployment. I'm saying this because of people, because I run a production company I I run a production company called an economy all right, right when I employ people, I always push them to say do you know what?
Speaker 2:
in fact, when I employ people and pay them right, there's certain times I pay people and I'm like I'm paying this person this amount of money to do this work, how can I just do pay people? And I'm like I'm paying especially this amount of money to do this work, how can I just do it myself? And I realized I cannot do it. It's a skill, this skill set. So that's why it's ending that much exactly my question is get a skill yeah learn, keep learning more, grow.
Speaker 2:
We understand. Yeah, integrity is the key right. Integrity is what. That's what sets you, that's what gives you the job most times, it's not even your talent, it's integrity, like they say. Talent isn't enough can. I trust, not just when people talk about money, when people talk about integrity. It's not just money it's can. I trust your word if you tell me that on the 15th of you're going to deliver the project. I don't want excuses.
Speaker 1:
However you do it, it's not my business.
Speaker 2:
Just keep doing it, so that thing will set you aside from other people and stay in a space where you can grow. It's like what we do in my own production company. We do a couple of projects in the area. When we do it, we do a couple of projects, two or three major projects. When we do it, we try to um what's it called um?
Speaker 1:
we try to raise people in the sense that, okay, like for instance.
Speaker 2:
So there are different departments. When we're working on the project, there's a lights department there's some students that so if you're an assistant for the for the previous year's project, where we've done and we're working on your new project, we want to elevate you but you have to show it's not like we're not going to push you.
Speaker 2:
You have to you have to show that okay, you're ready for leadership you're pairing it, you know, yeah, and this, this also, this also, you know, it will also affect the pay we're not going to pay you. We'll not pay you what you paid last year, so we've done that for a couple of years now. We started working inside doing that since 2020.
Speaker 2:
wow, so we have a project that we're working on now, this year 2024. I've already picked some guys that were going to, you know, alleviate. Let them grow to be in a space like that where you can go, because that's what they did for us as well. Beautiful, the likes of family.
Speaker 2:
If I would push you and well, at the first time, when I was, I was all about the camera, trying to get camera out, and he told me, man, you weren't born with the camera, don't die with it I can't forget that and I'm like okay, I got things that I can't do and he didn said yeah, and now, now, I'm not just a camera operator, which is a DOP, I'm a director, I'm a director and I'm a story consultant Right, and I also run a production company, which makes me a producer as well. So there, are a lot of things a lot of hats that I can wear, a lot of shoes that I can fill in as well. Yeah, in this world.
Speaker 2:
yeah, so that's like my advice to them generally whoever you're a young person and you want to grow integrity, first learn your job. Yeah, you know and keep it going. Make sure you're in the space where you are. If you're in this place where you don't grow, please leave that space integrity is the word.
Speaker 1:
You know you, you looking at it as in from experience. You know, listening to you, from experience, and all of that. You're just like ticking, or should I say checking, all the boxes and somehow young people just think it happens, just like that. No, there's work to it. There's work to it and, like you said, integrity, you stand. You know you're not tomorrow, fallen today. I know what you said yesterday is what we're seeing today. Not minding the challenges you know you're facing, you're still true to your word, by the grace of God, and all of that, so happy for you. So how do you I always ask this question to my guests on my show when it comes to managing everything, how do you rest? How do you unwind? You unwind in the midst of all of your busy schedules and all of that.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, so my job is kind of planned. If I want to work on things, there's a project. I'm working on now for a couple of months.
Speaker 1:
We already know when we want to film.
Speaker 2:
We want to film by August. What we're doing now is just the initial process, planning and all that. So I know that from August I have like three weeks to film, so I have another project by, I think, october. So in between, because of how I have trained myself, I don't need to be on field from January to February to December, right?
Speaker 1:
because I can fill in different shoes.
Speaker 2:
Right now I'm already creating like two stories for a network, right, and I'm in that space. I can be home. I can do that from my laptop or my desktop or whatever, just create those stories and define them well. So for that time I'm home. I can rest if I have to like now I just came back from a set on Saturday. I've been there for like 5 days, so for me that's work. Now 35 days I'm working, but now I'm home. I'm home till 1st of July before I go for another 6 years.
Speaker 2:
So from now till I first I have to read and walk on top stuff at home. From first of july to like 20th I'm busy, you know. I come back 21st that I rest, I go back, you know. So I still have time to catch up with family and create some other stuff.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, okay, I see a structure there because it's well structured, itructured. It's not like work, work, work and all of that. You create that time for family also to give that balance and all of that. It's amazing. Guys, we've been discussing with Black Boy Allen, or Allen Black Boy Oyege, I love that. When you coined that word, I said, yes, you're accepting who you are, you're not running away from it. And I I mean guys, he, he has an amazing story. I want us to go on. Let's get the title of that, the, the one you got the award for what? The title again.
Speaker 2:
Yorakiruraya. Yorakiruraya Now speaking yeah my wife is Yoruba, so I'm learning.
Speaker 1:
Ah, yes, I know, I know, I know, yes, I know. So, guys, go go look for that, go look for that piece he won an award for it, you know. And then, obviously, for him to, for his to win that award and they did a good job there and let us support, let us support our own. You're a young person out there you're feeling like, ah, nothing is there for me and all that allen black boy is a story you need to follow. There's a lot for you out there. There's a lot for all of us you know to become, and all of that, yes, before I let you go, allen, before I let you go what's that word? I want you to give my audience one word, to inspire them by.
Speaker 2:
I don't know what to say. I'm also looking for my own path.
Speaker 1:
Go ahead.
Speaker 2:
If there's anything, it's just my life, my life it's. I would say, it's a testimony. Yeah, Generally where I was born and where, yeah, generally where I was born and where I'm at now, where I'm headed. You know, sometimes I, when I walk, especially when I walk with some Europeans, you know, and they say things like oh you're a brilliant filmmaker, oh, I like working with you, and all that when they say all those things.
Speaker 2:
It just reminds me of where I'm coming from and everything for me. What I was saying is the catch word would be that I had a dream. Seriously, I had a dream that this capital street was going to be like. Sir, please, let me just share go ahead the first time for me to join aeroplane, I was probably 27 years old. I was 26 years old, 26 years old. My daughter is not up to 1. She has probably joined more than you know what I mean it's not her fault.
Speaker 2:
So my point is you know where I'm coming from. I had that dream of not staying there, so that propelled me into wanting more and learning meeting people. I think one thing I also need to advise people is the kind of friendship you keep the company friendship is an investment you need to invest in the right sort of people and let them invest in you as well. So please, while you're keeping friends, make sure that you know the ones that you can help and that can also help you because that's what we're all.
Speaker 1:
We're all helped by humans, yeah yes, yes, true guys you heard it dream it work with the right company, then ask for help. Because the truth is these three things, they are super ingredients for success and it clearly shows in the life of Alan. You know I'm super excited. Don't mind him calling me uncle, he has a reason. You hear that. You hear that I am and I'm excited. He's one of so many young people I've worked with over the years and seeing them grow and become something that I can point to, even let my children see. I said, see that guy, say yes, daddy, who is he? And I give them a backstory. Say daddy really said yes, so it's possible.
Speaker 1:
Thank you so much for taking out this time. I mean to come on the World Cafe. I mean, I'm sure, to share your story and also to inspire my audience and the world at large. I am so glad, guys, I have to let him go now, but you know how we do it on the show. This is the space where we come in to lean on one another, others experience, to forge a positive path, and you know how we say it on the show till I come your way again. Bye for now, alan thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1:
Thank you for having me welcome, god bless awesome time it has been with you on the World Cafe podcast today. Thank you for being there. You can catch me up on my social media handles Twitter, facebook, linkedin and Instagram, all at Amakri Isoboye. Also, you can get copies of my books A Cocktail of Words, the Color of Words by H Aaron Notebook and Hocus Pocus on God on Amazon and Roving Heights online bookstores. You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel at the same address at Amakri Issawe. I love to hear from you and how this podcast has impacted you. You can leave me a message at my email address at macrigaribaldi at gmailcom. That is A-M-A-C-H-R-E-E-E-G-A-R-I-B-A-L-D-I. Yes, till I come your way again. Bye for now. You.
