Banky W, who caught the attention of the music-loving public with his ‘Ebute Metta’ song based on Rihanna’s popular ‘Umbrella’ in 2008, has said that he considers himself as someone who is creative for a living.
The singer, who has not looked back since he came upon the scene, was speaking after recently directing the television commercial (TVC) for the revamped DStv Compact Bouquet, launched recently.
“I consider myself someone who is creative for a living,” he said. “God blessed me with the talent to be able to write and create… and I’m grateful for that. So whether it’s writing songs, or making motion pictures; whether it’s shaping an artiste or shaping a video or short film… it’s all about being creative.
“Directing, for me, is an extension of who I am and what I do. I enjoy being behind the camera as much as I do being in front of it. It’s a really fulfilling process… from coming up with a concept, to overseeing and managing all the moving parts until it comes to completion.”
Having released some critical-acclaim albums, including Mr. Capable, The W Experience, Back In the Building and R&BW, Banky W seats atop Nigeria’s R&B music industry and owns Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) Record Label.
Born Olubankole Wellington, the America-born singer is no doubt a bundle of talent. But this did not deter him from taking a course in filmmaking at the New York Film Academy last year. He divulged this when asked about his experience prior to directing the TVC.
“I’ve written the screen plays for about 80 to 90 per cent of the music videos that EME has ever put out. I’d also co-directed a major chunk of them as well. However, last year I took some time out to study filmmaking at the New York Film Academy. It was at that point that I took on directing 100 per cent. So I started by directing videos for myself, including ‘Mercy’ and ‘Unborn Child’, and then just grew from there,” he said.
From the look of the new TVC that has been turning heads, Banky W, who wrote, co-produced, and directed it, is onto a great thing.
When he got the call to come and pitch for the TVC, he said he was quite honoured.
“That they even considered giving me a shot at it was a blessing. I know I’m still relatively new in the world of filmmaking, and I never take these things for granted. After that, I wrote my treatment, did up a storyboard, and pitched it. They liked the idea; so once we agreed the terms, my mind went fully into trying to execute it to the best of my ability,” he explained.
Banky W worked with Ivie Okujaye on the TVC and described her as not only very talented and funny but also an absolute pleasure to work with.
The technical crew, he said, was made up of people he had worked with in the past, including Director of Photography (DOP) and Editor, Mattia Palombi; Production Manager, Susan Younis; and a host of others.
Those who have seen the TVC will agree with Banky W that he did not just have a great time at the New York Film Academy, he also gained some very basic technical knowledge about directing and filmmaking invaluable in his line of work.