| Since getting onto the top of the stage in the movie | | | | celluloid. |
| world with his debut as a Producer/Director with | | | | The Figurine has cost a fortune; millions but it will |
| Irapada, kunle Afolayan has refused to look back. | | | | definitely pay because it is not going to be released on |
| "The Figurine (Araromire) is the latest project he is | | | | DVD/VCD until it has gone to the cinemas all around |
| working on now. According to him “ It is a story I | | | | the world." |
| have been working on for over four years now; even | | | | Just as he harbours no doubt in his mind about the fact |
| before we shot “Irapada” and I think it's high time | | | | that the current film he is working on will definitely sell |
| we started showing better movies. For me, | | | | out, primarily because it is a better story with better |
| “Irapada” was an experiment and we thank | | | | input, so does he believe that what the film is all about |
| God it was well received at home and abroad but | | | | and its thematic preoccupation represents a deviation |
| now “The Figurine” is a better story and it's a | | | | from the norm. For this, he has no apologies to offer |
| much bigger, better project in terms of picture, budget, | | | | anybody. |
| storyline, and everything”. | | | | According to him, it's a breakaway. We are always so |
| The Figurine is the name of statue-like object that he | | | | concerned with morals in our part of the world but for |
| uses to represent the goddess he portrays in the new | | | | him, entertainment is the most essential thing. He thinks |
| film and he seems to take after Tunde Kelani that a | | | | about entertainment solely when writing or working as |
| film does not have a language of its own. He believes | | | | a producer, director and actor. As there are so many |
| it is a universal phenomenon that can be understood at | | | | things around us to show and teach us concerning the |
| the level of worldview. | | | | moral aspects of life, so he feels there must be certain |
| He further adds, "The Figurine is the English name that | | | | elements that would want to make you sit down and |
| has been given to Araromire, which is the name of a | | | | watch |
| goddess although the film is a fictional story and as | | | | An outstanding believer in young and fresh talent, the |
| such, nobody can say we are telling a wrong story. | | | | same route through which he first burst onto the |
| It is a film that tries to highlight the fact that we are the | | | | movie stage, he has kept faith with the young ones |
| cause of our own situation without ascribing too much | | | | and informed that he always announces the auditioning |
| to the gods or God like we always do. It is a film that | | | | sessions. |
| deals with the human belief, the human nature and it is | | | | Among the many notable actors and actresses that |
| going to generate a lot of debate. At the end, it is | | | | feature in The Figurine include Ramsey Nouah, Funlola |
| either you are on one side of the divide or the other." | | | | Aofiyebi-Raimi, Omoni Oboli, Muraino Oyelami, Kate |
| Despite the difficulty in getting financial assistance for | | | | Adepegba, several up and coming acts and Kunle |
| the kind of project he has embarked on, Afolayan has | | | | Afolayan himself. |
| however, brought commendable dynamism into it by | | | | He acknowledged that it is the passion to make better |
| collaborating with corporate organisations like German | | | | movies available for the people who for, so long, have |
| Embassy, Lufthansa, Unilever, GSK, Omatek, and | | | | been short-changed and taken advantage of by many |
| individuals to realise his goals. He further adds | | | | people who call themselves movie producers that |
| “There is a way you work around such | | | | drives him. |
| collaborations”. | | | | Since coming to limelight through “Saworo Ide” in |
| Having shot about 70 per cent, the remaining part of | | | | 1998 and eventually quitting his banking job in 2005 to |
| the movie will be shot in an aircraft and in Germany. | | | | concentrate on where his heart lies, the handsome |
| According to him "We have spent millions of naira on | | | | young man has broken records in Nollywood, even |
| the film. We are hoping to round off shooting in Nigeria, | | | | going as far as directing an all-white cast in a |
| so we can go to Germany and shoot for one week. | | | | Hollywood flick. |
| This is because we are targeting about three major | | | | He is the son of the late Ade Love, one of the |
| film festivals and for us to be part of the festivals, the | | | | pioneers of movie production in Nigeria but |
| film must be ready latest by the end of May." | | | | understands the fact that being the son of anybody |
| When he was asked how good his equipments are, | | | | does not take you anywhere if you are not worth |
| although it is an open secret in the media and movie | | | | your salt. This is the reason he underwent training in |
| circles that he owns the best shooting/movie device in | | | | America in the dynamics of movie production and |
| town, he said: | | | | studied the style of Kelani, an expert in |
| "We are shooting 35mm not celluloid but digital, HD | | | | cinematography. Tade Ogidan and a few others are |
| using 35mm adaptors and film prime lenses. All these | | | | also his mentors as he also adds that he even learns |
| together gives you the same feel, same look of | | | | from their mistakes. |