Kayode Kasum Opens Up About His Filmmaking Journey

Filmmaker, Kayode Kasum, speaks with Pelumi Kazeem about his career and other topics.

What usually draws you to a story?

I always think about why I want to make the film and how I want people to feel. I like to have something to say. Sometimes, it is personal, and sometimes, it comes from my experiences. I want to talk about the Nigerian condition.

As a filmmaker, I focus on what I know. I also want to inspire people. I believe I can deliver, so mostly, I just want to inspire others.

What do you think has changed the most about the way filmmakers tell stories?

Now, we know we have an audience listening to us. Before, we were just trying things out without knowing. Now, we understand our audience better. Cinematography has improved, techniques have changed, and we understand the craft more.

We feel inspired because the audience talks about our films. There is now a connection between the filmmaker and the audience, so we know how to make films better for them. Nigerian stories are being accepted around the world.

We are a growing industry. You cannot compare us to others, especially with the economic challenges we face in filmmaking. Filmmakers are still figuring things out and are committed to telling stories.

How has the growth of streaming platforms affected the way you approach filmmaking?

It has made us produce more films because we now know there are platforms where people want to watch our films. It has also made our films available to a global audience, which is great. Overall, streaming platforms have impacted us positively.

What do you look for when choosing actors to work with?

I look for actors who will support the project because making films is tough. I want actors who believe in my story, help push it, and market it.

I also want actors who understand the script and the world we are creating. It is important to work with actors who are easy to collaborate with and hardworking because making films in Nigeria is challenging. I prefer actors who love storytelling and are not just in it for the money.

As a director, how involved are you in shaping a character beyond what is written in the script?

I am very involved. I work on the story for every film I direct. The story has to be great because if it is not, what am I directing?

A director's job is not only to tell actors, “Action.” You are also a storyteller creating a story. So yes, I craft the characters too. What I want them to do comes from the characters. I tell the story through them.

Part of being a director is being a storyteller, and I take that seriously. I am involved in the story from start to finish, from when we are on set with the characters to post-production, editing the film, and until it is on screen.

What has filmmaking taught you about people and relationships?

I have learned that everyone wants to be seen. People are capable of love and hate. Human beings are emotional, and experiences shape their actions. Everyone has a past.

People can also do things that go beyond themselves. Everyone is in charge of their own lives and decisions.

What has been one of the most challenging projects you’ve worked on?

‘Star Lomo’ was tough because we often had to reshoot. I felt we hadn’t captured the story I envisioned. When you have a strong story and are passionate about it, you go the extra mile to make it work.

Filmmaking is challenging, so I expect difficulties every day and aim to overcome them.

We shot in Lagos and Ibadan, then returned to Lagos. We filmed on the streets of Mainland, Marina, and CMS for days. Shooting in Lagos is not easy. We also had many cast members. Writing the story to get it right was also very challenging.

Is there a genre or story you haven’t explored yet but would really love to?

I have not done any war films, and I would love to. I hope we find the budget for a big war film. That genre is a challenge. I also want to make a football film. I haven’t done either yet, and I really want to.

Is there anything you would approach differently if starting your career today?

Many things. I have learned on the job, so there are several areas I would have approached differently. One would be collaboration. I wish I had started collaborating earlier. There are many things, including how I tell stories and shoot them.

Still, I like my journey to where I am now. There are always ways to improve, maybe with the types of stories I tell, how I release my films, or how I market them.

But I am proud of where we are today and how far we have come in storytelling. If you look back, you can find many things you could have done differently, but I am not ashamed of my journey.

What are you currently working on?

I just made a film with Dare Art Alade and Diekolola Art Alade called ‘University of Side Hustle’. We did it for Livespot360. They will screen it at Entertainment Week Africa in November.

It is a great film. I think it’s unique and one of the biggest films this year. Right now, my focus is on ‘Star Lomo’. At the premiere, people reacted really well, and I can’t wait for the world to see it too.