Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
While all filmmakers in Nigeria strive for revenue with their releases, Biodun Stephen prioritizes creating impactful stories. To solidify her presence in the industry, she analyzed her predecessors’ shortcomings and leveraged them to achieve success.
In an exclusive interview with News Round The Clock (NRTC), Mrs Stephen discussed her journey in the Nigerian film industry. Driven by a desire to tell meaningful stories, she finds inspiration everywhere, from waiting at a bus stop to everyday experiences – potentially harboring an untold narrative.
Mrs Stephen shared with NRTC her lifelong passion for entertainment, which sparked writing at the young age of 14.
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Biodun Stephen, a philosophy graduate from the University of Ife, admitted to once considering theatre arts a waste of time.
“I was a writer and a radio drama actor,” she explained, “which is where I got my start. Right after university, I jumped back into radio as a DJ and then became a news broadcaster.”
Iroko TV, where she served as a commission producer, was the first platform to truly give her a voice. “My fame largely stems from the impact Iroko TV had on me and my films,” she said.
“It was a multi-diaspora platform, which is why I think many people in the diaspora are familiar with my work.”
They essentially answered my call by offering me a platform and making me a commission producer,” she elaborated. “It was almost as if they said, ‘You have a story to tell, and we’re happy to back you with funding.’ We didn’t have the money when we started making the film.”
Raised by a single mother, Biodun Stephen’s films consistently portray strong female characters.
She described her movie as a celebration of her mother’s strength and resilience, featuring female characters overcoming challenges.
In her films, she incorporates fragments of her reality, particularly drawing from her experience of single parenthood and her mother’s struggle to remarry. These narratives reflect broader societal issues faced by women.
Her favorite film, “Joba,” originated from divine inspiration while listening to a radio program. Despite financial constraints, she received unexpected support from a stranger, enabling her to bring the story to life.
Regarding government support for the film industry, she acknowledged existing challenges and emphasized the need for both governmental assistance and self-sufficiency within the industry.
She highlighted the importance of mutual efforts between producers and the government to foster growth while also addressing concerns about taxation and accountability.
She believed the entertainment industry was not a priority for the government because it was built out of pocket— out of a few, we are still all out of pocket.
“There at one time, some funds were injected from the central bank. But again, Nigeria still happens. I hear some people didn’t pay back the loan. You know, so those are the issues that we have. You know, sometimes there’s a particular government that will want to come and do something to aid.
“But we as a producer also need to keep encouraging. So, you know, whilst we’re shouting the government, we also need, we, the producers, also need, we also need to play our part. If something goes in, let that same thing come out. And then so that another thing can go in.
“So everybody has a part to play. We just can’t keep shouting at the government and we’re also all afraid that if the government sees that there’s some money to be made, they will tax the hell out of us. And nobody wants to pay taxes to a government that is not doing anything for a citizen. You know, it’s a lot. A lot is going on.”
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