Nigerian music video director, Director Pink, has opened up about the challenging circumstances that made her decide to forgo her acting ambitions in favour of a career in filmmaking.
The award-winning cinematographer recently told Hip TV that she quit Nollywood after experiencing unwanted approaches, exploitation, and humiliation during her early days of auditioning.
“I wanted to be an actress, but the humiliation was too much. Long queues, shady ‘come to this location’ calls, I said no. That’s when I chose to be my own boss,” she recounted.
According to director Pink, the decision to go from acting to directing was made out of dissatisfaction but ultimately turned out to be a boon. She claims that acting never gave her the creative freedom and self-respect that filmmaking provided.
“I realized I could still be in the entertainment space without compromising my values,” she said. “Directing gave me freedom and respect that acting auditions never offered.”
One of Nigeria’s most sought-after music video filmmakers today, Director Pink is renowned for her colourful images and collaborations with top Afrobeats artists. She encouraged young artists to remain patient and committed to their profession by sharing her tale.
“Success doesn’t come overnight,” she said. “Those who are at the top today went through years of hard work and setbacks. You have to embrace delayed gratification to truly grow.”
“I wanted to be an actress… but the humiliation was too much. Long queues, shady ‘come to this location’ calls. I said NO. That’s when I chose to be my own boss.”
