I t has always been my dream to blend arts, creativity, talents, and logistics into a single masterpiece. For me it really does not matter what time it is or the kind of weather the day brings, what matters is seeing everything come together to make a production that speaks beauty and articulates a timely message. My wife calls it a job, I call it my first love – not to her hearing though.

From my school years as a dramatic-arts undergraduate and through my theatre-arts postgraduate course, one thought burned within me which was, “How were great movies like Sound of Music and Godfather created and disseminated?”

Over the last 15years, as I learnt from the masters of the craft in Nollywood like Tade Ogidan and studied the Hollywood model, I went on to produce TINSEL, Nigeria’s foremost multi camera studio-based daily TV series which also was the first to be on HD in West Africa. It turned out to be the most watched drama series in Africa. This was followed by the most-watched telenovela on MNET – HOTEL MAJESTIC, and the comedy series – THE JOHNSONS. I also started Africa Magic Original Films, a platform where I produced 180 TV movies for over 3 seasons.

In the course of this journey, I realised that great filmmaking is a fusion of passion and skills; it is having a listening ear and an innovative mind. Every great movie starts first with a dream, then creating that dream and then sustaining it with bridges of integrity, goodwill and making sure that each day ends with a tick of a job well-done. I like the filmmaking culture of painstaking dedication, and I do not mind some sleepless nights too, as long as the end product is beauty and perfection.

One attribute of all legends in this field is the willingness to groom protégés to take over the reins when the need arises and I am consistently seeking opportunities to do this.

If any of my two sons should seek to toe the path of cameras, lights, sounds and well-woven actions, I will tell him to first love this art and its principles, and learn to always think like legendary filmmakers do.

My name is Rogers Ofime.