Saturday, 24 February 2018

PAUL-ESUPOFO ORIADE CALLS FOR SMARTPHONE FILM MAKING AMONG DRAMA MINISTERS.




By Oluwafemi Dosu


The Chancellor of Sword of Excellence Drama University, Evangelist Paul-Esupofo Oriade is calling on drama ministers nationwide to embrace the use of Smartphone to shoot movie because it will ease the burden and hatred. Paul-Esupofo who was speaking during an exclusive interview with Ayanfeoluwa Oladapo, Segun Balogun and Oluwafemi Dosu (members of Lagos ANCEDRAM Publicity Team) at the state congress of All Nigeria Conference of Evangelical Drama Ministers, ANCEDRAM Lagos state chapter  at Ajah today. He also challenged Lagos ANCEDRAM leaders to do more of the good works they are doing, bombard the internet with the correct message, the right message, and biblical message not religious message, also not to preach religion to people saying they should allow people have their own relationship with Jesus, Excerpt:   

Press: Good afternoon sir

Paul-Esupofo: Good afternoon

Press: Can we meet you sir?

Paul-Esupofo: My name is Paul-Esupofo Oriade. I’m the lead instructor of Special Drama Film School Online and the Chancellor of Sword of Excellence Drama-Film University, not yet accredited Chairman Board f Trustee of Sword of Excellence Dunamis Ministry INC. (SEDMI) and a child of God, most importantly.

Press:  Smartphone filmmaking and this era, what’s the benefit?

Paul-Esupofo: I want to believe that having gone through the class that I have given this morning, you will see the essence of Smartphone filmmaking. It is another dimension and alternative to other big cameras and this has not made it lesser in output. It’s just like you are watching cartoon. If you look at cartoon very well you will see the rudiment of film making as long as whatever device you are using in filmmaking is correct and you follow the techniques or rules in film making you are good. So Smartphone filmmaking has come to stay even the professionals have been using it.
Press: What advantage does editing on Smartphone has over editing on system?
Paul-Esupofo Oriade at the Lagos ANCEDRAM congress, Ajah 2018.

Paul-Esupofo: Oh! Beautiful, Wow! we call it ‘on the go’. You tell a story on the go, edit on the go, you are not limited by time, space and locations, and you are not limited by anything, you can even edit on the plane without restrictions unlike using laptops. You will only need the use of power banks such that last for 6hours or I have even seen some that last for 24hours.We travelled one day from Kano; from Kano to Ibadan we finished editing a whole work. The only disadvantage is that your phone can be hot or limited storage; sometimes your fingers might be paining you. Those are the common things apart from the fact that it is a device whether you say desktop, laptop, Smartphone, it’s a device to use so that is just it.

Press: Does shooting on Smartphone reduce expenses in filmmaking?

Paul-Esupofo: yes, it does because it is economical and relatively expensive. It is economical because anybody can shoot on the go. You can shoot one-minute film and upload it right now on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and people will be blessed instead of waiting and spending hours or days without achieving positive result. You can shoot your films anywhere in your office, home etc. asking somebody to hold your phone for you. It all deals with your preparation and creativity.

Press: Recently you posted on social media about film training; can you tell us about it?

Paul-Esupofo: the free training has started for so many years; it started even before we started the school in 2006. The free training started in my living room in ‘Odejayi’ in 1998/1999. It involves making yourself available for people who cannot ordinarily afford you and it has really gone wide. We do Skype training for those outside Nigeria. The first time I did Skype training was in Canada (video training). People can call us as a team; get a venue/ location for us. We can also guide them on how to design (do publicity) and also reach an agreement on certificate of participation and material. No hidden charges.

Press: What can you say about Lagos State ANCEDRAM?

Paul-Esupofo: Well, I thank God for this revival, there was a time I don’t know if they were dying or sleeping or alive but I thank God because since last dispensation I’ve been seeing a kind of revival. The only thing I want to challenge them for is to do more, bombard the internet with the correct message, the right message, and sound biblical message not religious message. Don’t preach religion to people; draw people to have a personal relationship with God. It is only a man that is not complete that compete. Lagos should not compete with anybody, let them just be their selves and do better.

Press: What is the possible challenge Drama Ministers will encounter on location using Smartphone?

Paul-Esupofo: Oh! That is a very fantastic one. We didn’t get here overnight it’s been more than 4 years now. The first time we used a Smartphone on location in November, 2014 we used paper as tripod, it was Iyanu Adebayo that shot it and the title is “Linked with Deity”. You need to prepare because Smartphone requires the same preparation for film making. Using a Smartphone on location doesn’t remove the fact that you are on location, all you needed is to be prepared ahead of time. At times Holy Spirit might minister to you to go and shoot something, with that you can go along with your equipment; with Smartphone you’re good to go. You must make sure your battery is fully charged along with power bank, you must have enough space on your phone, another one is sound, and making sure you move away from noise.

Press: How are you planning to encourage this at the National Level?

Paul-Esupofo: Let me be sincere with you, I’m trusting God to be there at the National level. Just when I started the issue of internet that everybody must be on internet people were looking at me like a strange man. Our ministry has been the pioneer of many new things. As the bible quoted “we are all things to all men.” If we talk about phone, internet, we want to encourage national, it will make our work easier, imagine you want to produce two movies and you’re still waiting for an Editor.  The National should embrace it to solve problem of people being lazy or not fulfilling their purpose, it will also ease the burden. We should all forgive what some Editors have done in the past. We should all work in love. I can tell you a brother was moved with what I did on the internet; he has been releasing film every day since the beginning of this year except for just two days. The name of his ministry is ‘Christ Mirror Drama Ministry,’ and he uses phone to edit. With this we can counter the secular. Especially the comedians releasing nonsensical things to the world, even with just drama skit we can release on our own on YouTube, Dailymotion, et al. If we release Christian films every two weeks we have at least 52 dramas in a year for every week. If each ministry is releasing ten (10) films, ten times ten thousand (10,000); still not enough. With good phone (Smartphone) in your hand all you needed is a good location, fantastic cast, and your crew. The crew could be you and your wife. Look at what Sis Toyin Fatunsin is doing in Spain with her husband. In my home now my wife can light my child can help with the sound. Sometimes I allow them to direct me. With your friends and family you’re good to go. Don’t border to become a professional at the beginning, just aim at quality job and good message. You grow in the work and you learn more in the work.

Press: Any advice for the learners?

Paul-Esupofo: as you know that this is new to many of us, if you are just learning, just take it easy with yourself. Be patient with yourself, be ready to do more, don’t allow people discourage you or shut you down, eschew any form of distractions and any time you are having problems you can call on us we are ready to answer you because we believe Professionalism  plus  anointing equals excellence.



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