As a lover of cinematography, it’s no wonder that 23-year-old Nigerian Bolaji James is passionate about improving and refine storytelling through film.
“Film is all about storytelling, and everything you put into your film - script, acting, sound and visuals - all communicates something to your audience,” says Bolaji.
As he is a cinematographer, photographer and editor for film and documentary, it is essential to have a discerning eye for the visual aspect of film. This is why he admires Nigerian film creatives such as Yinka Edwards and Tope Oshin, who both handle cinematography and storytelling with a sharp eye.
Bolaji’s favourite film and TV stars include Kayode Aderupoko, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Funke Akindele Bello, Rita Dominic, Ireti Doyle, Kenneth Nkosi, Lupita Nyong’o and
Ramsey Nouah. Like a true Nigerian, his favourite foods include wheat flour and Egusi with vegetable soup. As someone interested in the cinematography and production, he sees a lack of well-equipped studios as Africa’s biggest challenge. He therefore hopes that his time as a student at the MultiChoice Talent Factory Academy will give him the chance to gain enough knowledge in order to improve this.
Working in producing and as a director of photography is his dream job, and this directly reflects in his drive to take what he has learnt to invest in the up and coming generation of filmmakers. This is in order to help Africa’s creative film and TV industry even bigger and better.