A Filmmaker's Guide to Authenticity with Sele Got

Embracing one’s vision is paramount for filmmakers, as articulated in this episode of the Naija Filmmaker podcast. I delve into the significance of possessing a clear and distinct vision, which serves not only as a guiding compass but also as a differentiating factor in a saturated industry. Each filmmaker, whether they occupy the role of director, cinematographer, or actor, possesses a unique perspective that informs their artistic choices and narrative constructions. I emphasize the necessity of overcoming self-doubt and nurturing one's vision through personal experiences and environmental influences, which ultimately shapes the authenticity of one's work. The episode culminates in a reminder that genuine narratives, derived from individual experiences, resonate more profoundly with audiences, thereby reinforcing the importance of steadfastly protecting one’s creative vision.

In this episode, you will learn the following:

• In the realm of filmmaking, one must possess a clear and compelling vision that guides their creative endeavors and decisions throughout the artistic process.
• A filmmaker's vision is not merely a personal aspiration, but rather a synthesis of their unique experiences, identity, and the socio-cultural environment they inhabit.
• Embracing one's vision is paramount, as it not only distinguishes a filmmaker in a competitive industry but also infuses their work with authenticity and depth.
• The journey of a filmmaker is characterized by the necessity to confront and overcome self-doubt, continuously refining their vision through practice and experiential learning.
• Collaboration is essential in the filmmaking process; however, it is crucial to maintain fidelity to one’s vision to create impactful and resonant narratives.
• Timeless filmmaking emerges from a vision-driven approach, which resists the allure of transient trends and instead focuses on profound storytelling rooted in personal experience.

Resources:

https://www.instagram.com/selegotfilm/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/selegotfilm

Other episodes you'll enjoy:

https://thenaijafilmmaker.com/episode/the-filmmakers-mindset-w-sele-got

https://thenaijafilmmaker.com/episode/nollywoodsuccess

https://thenaijafilmmaker.com/episode/filmfestivals

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Episode Transcript

(00:02):
You're welcome to the NigerFilmmaker, a podcast about Nigerian
filmmakers, their films, andhow we can build a diverse and functional
industry.
I'm your host, Saleh Gott.
On this episode, I'm going tobe talking about embracing your vision.
If you're a new listener,you're welcome and I hope you enjoy.

(00:24):
So a vision is a clear pictureof what you want to do, where you
want to go, or the impact youwant to have.
For every filmmaker, whetherthe director, the cinematographer,
the art director, or theactor, everyone has a vision for
how they want to do aparticular thing of film.

(00:47):
And you know, it can bepersonal and artistic.
And this is the compass thatguides the choices that these filmmakers
make.
And it's informed by, youknow, their unique, their unique
voice and what they have to say.

(01:07):
As a filmmaker, you need totrust your vision because it matters
and it sets you apart in asaturated industry.
So talking about an actor, anactor can, you know, bring their
personal experiences andtheir, you know, abilities to a project
and this definitely will setthem apart.
So whether the, the actor canspeak a foreign language or whether

(01:32):
they have been in thatsituation before, bringing, you know,
that unique voice, that uniqueexperience will set them apart.
So embrace your vision.
You need to overcome selfdoubt and feed this vision with personal
experiences, your uniqueidentity, and then also your environment.

(01:55):
If this vision is not clear,you can find it by practice, failure
and experimentation.
You have to remember that thisis a journey and you need to accept
that the vision can change orgrow without it losing its essence.
Audiences sense genuinenarratives and vision driven work
often resonate deeper becauseit is pulled from the richness of

(02:18):
people's experiences and theirunique makeup.
You can protect your vision asa filmmaker by standing firm in what
you believe, but also collaborating.
Vision driven filmmakers oftencreate timeless work as opposed to
copying passing trends.
In order to keep speaking withyour unique creative vision, you

(02:44):
need to keep comparison at bayas it can dilute your creative direction.
And one thing you owe theworld is your unique perspective.
As a young filmmaking studentin film school, I started writing
before I got into film school.
But in film school, you know,my teachers pushed me to do harder

(03:10):
exercises and you know, writehada scripts and all.
And there was this particularproject, the second project, it was
like a four minute film and itwas actually an eight minute film.
And for a long time thingsweren't so clear in terms of what

(03:32):
I was trying to say with this story.
And for some reason, you know,my, like the script editor, my tutor
told me to, you know, just gohome, think about it and you know,
I guess add to what I'vewritten and you know, when I went
home, I think I deleted mostof what I had already done and there

(03:54):
was just this burst ofcreative energy.
And when I was done with it,it was totally unrecognizable.
And when I showed my teacher,he was really impressed.
From then on, you know, healways kind of reminded me that,
you know, I'm capable of great things.
And for me, you know, allthese years after film school, it's

(04:17):
always a reminder about whatI'm capable of doing.
And even when things getdifficult, I always hold on to this
encouragement because, youknow, there are times that for me
as a director or maybe as awriter, I won't feel like I have

(04:38):
anything unique to say.
But, you know, things are not straightforward.
You have to go through thatwhole creative process and, you know,
refine the idea it is that youhave and at the end of the day you
have something to say.
So, yeah, don't be discouragedif anybody has ever advised you or

(05:03):
like, maybe you've met a fanand they told you how, you know,
your film changed their life.
You know, hold on to that anduse it as a reminder to always kind
of stand up for what it is youwant to say, what it is that you
believe in.
So as you work on your nextproject, I hope you quieten the self
doubt and amplify what it isthat you have to say to the work.

(05:27):
We have come to the end ofthis episode.
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Have a good one.