By Benjamin Njoku
Prolific film producer and CEO of EbonyLife Group, Mo Abudu is about to see one of her cherished dreams come true.
Starting late August 2022, she will direct two short films, and be in charge of the whole film making process for the very first time. Since her first full-length feature, ‘Fifty’, in 2015, she has guided the storytelling process as an executive producer and visionary. Besides, she always sought experienced directors to helm each project.
Abudu trained at London Film School in 2017 and completed the course in directing, with the aim of improving her film-making skills. However, she enjoyed the experience so much that she decided she would direct when the time was right.
In her words, “I believe in learning and understanding any major assignment I undertake. Directing is an art that takes years to master, so I’m beginning with baby steps. I have written two short films that I will be directing, “Her Perfect Life and Iyawo Mi (My Wife)”, a predominantly Yoruba language film.
Her Perfect Life stars Pearl Thusi and Joseph Benjamin, supported by Omawunmi Dada, Uzo Osimpka, Christian Paul and Mary Lazarus. The cast of Iyawo Mi (My Wife) includes Adedimeji Lateef, Bolaji Ogunmola, Segun Arinze and Jude Chukwuka.
For both films, Mo Abudu, Bola Atta, Wale Tinubu, Shola Akinlade, Pearl Thusi and Nonos Okpala are the Executive Producers, with Heidi Uys as Supervising Producer, These projects are supported by The British High Commission and the French Embassy in Lagos. Sponsors of these projects include: UBA Foundation, Wale Tinubu, Artsplit Limited and Sporting Lagos.