Omoni Oboli’s Path to Directing Blockbuster Movies – How Her Early Struggles Shaped Her Career
Omoni Oboli, a well-established actor, producer, and director, is widely recognized for her work on the ‘Wives on Strike’ series. The Nollywood filmmaker recently revealed that she had to exchange her scripts for acting roles when starting out, which eventually led her to pursue directing.
During an interview with Radionow 95.3 FM, Oboli discussed the challenges she faced early in her career, including giving away her screenplays without compensation in exchange for roles in films. She reflected on her experiences, saying, “I was trading my scripts, telling them to just take it without paying me, as long as I got a part in the movie. But after watching the films, I realized they weren’t what I envisioned. I write with images in my head, and seeing the final product was quite different. While the films were still good, no two directors would interpret the same script in the same way. That’s when I decided that if my stories were going to reflect my vision, I’d have to direct them myself.”
Oboli also admitted that she was initially nervous about stepping into the director’s role. Despite her lack of confidence, she found the courage to pursue her goals. “It was a daunting thought—like, who do you think you are to direct a movie? Who are you again? It was scary, but then I told myself, ‘Warri no dey carry last.’ What do they have that I don’t? So, I began observing directors while acting on set, closely watching their techniques. Eventually, I felt the need for formal education, so I enrolled in a short course at the New York Film Academy,” she recounted.
Oboli has directed numerous films, including Moms at War, Last Year Single (now streaming on Netflix), and The Uprising: Wives on Strike 3, the latest installment in the Wives on Strike franchise, set to premiere in cinemas this October.
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