About this series: One year ago, we sent six filmmakers to the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah to premiere their short films and ignite conversation around global health issues they’re deeply passionate about. Since then, their films have been shared in social media and viewed online over 300,000,000 times!
As we kick off the 2016 Sundance Film Festival this week, we caught up with Mobolaji Adeolu, to take a look back at his experience directing "Will of Iron" -- as he reflects on what this opportunity meant to him. (Mobolaji spoke on behalf of his co-producer Seyi Fabunmi.)
Mobolaji and his spouse with Erin Fredman, VP of Branded Entertainment at Tongal.
Episode One: Mobolaji Adeolu & Seyi Fabunmi (co-producer): "A Will of Iron"
Tongal: Looking back on your experience, what did the Sundance + Gates Short Film Challenge mean to you? What were some of your favorite moments and memories from your premiere, as well as from the Sundance Film Festival?
Mobolaji: Initially it felt so unreal when I received the mail that our short film won the challenge and would screen at the hallowed Sundance Film Festival where some filmmakers way better than myself have been struggling to get their films into each year. Not until I received my festival badge and saw our film play for the first time to a global audience on a large screen, then I pinched myself and couldn’t believe it was actually happening.
Our film being selected for the challenge made it clear to me that I was on the right path and it killed every fear I had of not being prepared for the global stage. It made me feel confident that I could tell the true African story the way it is in its realest form no matter the audience.
My favorite moments were:
Tongal: How has winning the Sundance Short Film Challenge impacted your life in the past year, both professionally and personally?
Mobolaji: Winning the Sundance Short Film Challenge gave me a huge leap in my career, in the past year I and my co-producer Seyi Fabunmi have produced numerous corporate documentaries and a TV show. Just by googling my name, Sundance showed up which in turn made high profile clients trust me with their work; clients I never imagined would have given me the opportunity to produce their videos did. (Also as a result I received way higher pay than I imagined…lol)
I have done a lot of work with the World Bank Group, DFID, Access Bank Nigeria PLC, Total Group, Sahara Energy and a host of others. Personally, winning the challenge has helped me strive each day to be the best and further fueled the passion I have for telling stories that inspire change.
Tongal: How has your film been received in the past year? Are there any news or updates as they relate to your film or your upcoming projects?
Mobolaji: “A Will of Iron” is still garnering fantastic reviews, we are currently working with our Lead character on a follow up to his story, exploring the other communities within that space and educating the government on the vast economic opportunities that exist within those communities especially the wood village.
Tongal: What are some of your creative goals for 2016? Any new skills, teams or projects you've developed and are excited about?
Mobolaji: This year by God’s grace I will be working on a number of web documentary series, one of the series will be in production from next week with my co-producer Seyi Fabunmi which will be aired on one of the satellite stations in Africa. Also we will be working on the season 2 of an exciting athletics TV show we produced last year. Also I really want to do something I have never tried my hands on which is producing creative commercials for brands, it’s something I have started work on with a play project I made. This year I also hope to study the art of film editing which I plan to go to film-school to study.
