Ace cinematographer, Tunde Kelani, is leaving no stone unturned in his quest to produce a quality movie on the late maverick musician, Ayinla Omowura.
Days ago, TK visited the Department of Mass Communication, Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State to explore areas of collaboration with the institution on the project.
The filmmaker and CEO of Mainframe Productions inspected facilities of the Department including graphic design studios, printing press, TV and radio studios, PR and advertising studios.
The multiple award winner also visited with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibraheem Gbajabiamila and the Registrar, Barrister Z.A. Ajibola.
Explaining the purpose of his visit, Kelani disclosed that he was attracted to the institution by its rapidly growing profile.
He further revealed that he came to hire Head, Department of Mass Communication, Dr Kola Adesina as a consultant to the full-length movie on Omowura.
The work, Kelani explained, will revolve around content, culture and communication narratives in indigenous music, with Omowura, also known as Alhaji Costly or Eegun Mogaji, as the focus.
Recall that Kelani, the producer of quality works including ‘O Le Ku’, ‘Thunderbolt’, ‘Maami’, ‘Koseegbe’, ‘Saworo Ide’ and ‘Agogo Eewo’ among others has an affinity with academic dramatists and has a rich history of collaborations with them.
He worked with the late Dr Larinde Akinleye, Professor Akinwumi Isola and Alagba Adebayo Faleti on several productions. He continues to collaborate with others in the University of Ibadan including Drs Tunde Adegbola, Tunde Awosanmi and Yinka Egbokhare whose novel on sickle cell anaemia, ‘Dazzling Mirage’, he turned to an award-winning film. He also experimented with ‘Yeepa!’, the Yoruba adaptation of Professor Femi Osofisan’s ‘Who is Afraid of Solarin’ by Professor Dotun Ogundeji of the Department of Linguistics, UI.
He had earlier in his career co-produced ‘Idamu Paadi Mikailu’ with Faleti and has consistently featured undergraduates who later become stars in his productions.
The cinematographer from Abeokuta, Ogun State, announced late November that production had started on the documentary and feature film projects about his Egba kinsman, Omowura, who died about 40 years ago.
Omowura was a popular musician who ruled the roost at Mushin, Lagos, his native Abeokuta and across the southwest. He was a fan favourite renowned for his acerbic wit.
According to Kelani, the film projects would be ready by May 2020.
