Director James Omokwe has seen the final cut of ‘Osamede’ more than 35 times. But for him, it wasn’t about spotting errors. It was about chasing a feeling.
“I’m quite obsessive with anything I make, but this film especially,” he told Nollywire.
“Sometimes it’s a tiny change; a second shorter here, a pause trimmed there. Editing is technical, yes, but for me, it’s guided by emotion. I ask myself, how do I feel when this scene plays? If it feels rushed, I cut it. Art is in the feeling.”
The result, Omokwe says, is a film where every moment moves him. “There’s no single scene that stands above the rest. Everything gives me chills,” he said.
‘Osamede’ stars Ivie Okujaye in the title role, supported by Lexan Aisosa Peters, William Benson, Tosin Adeyemi, Alexander Bud, Paul Obazele, and Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, with Lilian Olubi as executive producer.
The film is adapted from Olubi’s stage play, as she explained in our interview, and its first teaser was recently revealed in a Nollywire exclusive. Earlier this year, Omokwe took the project to the Cannes Film Market ahead of its release in the fourth quarter of this year.
As for his favourite moment? He’s keeping that a secret until the Gold Lilies production hits screens. “Maybe when it’s out, I’ll tell you,” he teased.
