‘Why people find it very difficult to work with Funke Akindele’


 

Nigerian director, Tunde Olaoye, has opened up on the work antics of popular Nollywood actress cum filmmaker Funke Akindele.

Olaoye, who also co-directed the actress’s latest project, Everybody Loves Jenifa, disclosed in a recent interview with QEDNG that the preparation process for the actress and her cast for the movie was demanding.

According to the director, the cast sacrificed their nights and showed intense commitment to bringing on screen the best performance.

“The producer, Funke Akindele, during the ice-breaking session of the production, told everyone, ‘Guys, we are here to work, and it’s going to be a lot of serious work. It’s going to be a lot of sleepless nights and if it requires reshoots, we just have to do it.’ It was tough, but we cracked it,” he said.

Olaoye, one of the highest-grossing directors with a box office total of N1.125 billion, further described Funke as a relentless creative whose military-style leadership may be challenging for many to handle.

“Funke is like a military commander. She’ll say, ‘We’re going to the mountain today to film this scene,’ and it doesn’t matter if you have a headache or cramps. She doesn’t take excuses when she’s chasing a goal,” he explained.

He added, “Her energy is on another level. A lot of people find it difficult to work with her because she is a restless creative, she has so much energy in her. She’s always looking to up her game and expects those around her to match her energy.”

“If you’re not equally energetic or able to develop strategies to keep going even when exhausted, you might struggle to work with her. Her positivity and enthusiasm radiate through the entire team, inspiring everyone to bring their A-game.”