Conch Africa catches up with Nollywood producer, Eddy Young…
When Nigerian film producer Eddy Young talks about film, his eyes light up. Here, he shares his thoughts about movie making, the Nigerian film industry he comes from – and why it’s been worthwhile, but one hell of a journey, upping sticks and moving to Wolverhampton, UK…
Hi, Eddy. So tell us, what was your path into film – you got a Bachelor of Science at Uni?!
I started out doing stage plays, in college. I started out wanting to be an actor, you know? So, when I finished, I learned how to use cameras and found myself in production – church production, actually, for TV and radio. Getting into university, I got a job in radio as an on-air personality. So, I’d always loved working in the media. But film is something I’m very passionate about – it’s such an exciting career. From a thought, to creating an incredible work of art.
Your debut was 2019 rom-com Kasanova, wasn’t it?
Yeah… and it’s kind of funny, how Kasanova came about! I was with a friend – who was brought up by a single dad. We got talking and he said, imagine me having to fight my dad… Imagine I ended up fighting my dad for my girlfriend’s love, and one of us had to give way?! I said, wow, that’s an exciting idea for a film, for a rom-com. We laughed about it, but I went home thinking about it… Next day, I got a call from someone looking to invest in film and I thought wow, you called at the right time. It felt divine.
It was a box office smash – did that surprise you?
I was surprised at how well it went down – but either way, no matter how it did, I would have kept going because I knew I’d found my passion.
How did your career evolve…
After Kasanova, I started managing a VOD [Video On Demand] platform company in Lagos, called Fojo TV. So, I started managing video productions and as it was a start-up, I was involved in creating a lot of local content for it. I built a YouTube channel from scratch, and produced a 15, 20-min web series called The Badchelors, then Man Like Jimmy. Yeah, you could say I did a few tings…!
You’re in the UK now, why did you make that move?
Yeah, I’ve been in Wolverhampton since 2021. The honest truth? My fiancée was based here. We’d been together for a couple of years. It was a love thing! I’d just stopped managing the production for the company I’d worked in and was freelancing, so I got this call from a big production company in Africa to help with a couple of Netflix projects – and I was like oh no, I’m leaving guys! But I’d aways wanted to study film and I don’t know, but always wanted to go to Sydney Film School, Australia. Love brought me to the UK instead, so I ended up at Staffordshire Uni, Stoke-on-Trent, studying Film. It’s been good.
Are there enough opportunities for African talent like yourself in Britain?
There are, but it takes a long time. I came here with this idea that, with my level of experience, it was going to be incredible, navigating studios. But it felt like I was starting out again. It reminded me of starting out back home. It takes time to settle, to meet the right people. But you do get there.
And on a personal level, how’s the experience been?
For someone who’s a creative, it’s not an easy time. Your idea of art is normally based on your roots, your upbringing. So even for me – Eddy Young as a film student in the UK, my lecturers had very big expectations as I had a film on Netflix, another on Amazon Prime. I spoke to one of my lecturers and said, one of the biggest challenges here is, everyone else is making films – but as brilliant as they look, I’m not excited about them as they’re not what I’m used to. The approach, the subject matter… it was a big adjustment.
Can you give us an example?
Well, I’m currently working on a documentary which is under-wraps (because of how big it is!) – It’s with a big streaming service, that’s all I can say. So, part of it has been shot in Africa, and they’re coming to the UK to film the concluding part in London, where some of the story takes place.
And I’m communicating with the production company and we’re trying to find some local crew in London. I’m telling them, this is how much a DP, a cinematographer is going to charge in London a day, and the production back home are like, WHAT?! You guys get paid by day?! Back home, you don’t negotiate hours or days – it’s a fee, for the project. That’s strange for me. It’s been tough but brilliant – it’s been a learning curve. Part of what makes you an artist is going to a new place and adapting to that culture.
Is Nigerian film in a healthy place, then?
The Nigerian film industry is in a great way and growing rapidly. In fact, especially with new markets like Netflix, appearing in recent years for Nollywood, it’s showing no signs of stopping. Netflix has an office in Nigeria now, they’ve brought loads of investment to the country’s film industry – and other African countries. When people ask me what Nollywood’s biggest problem is, they expect me to say ‘money!’. I don’t agree. There are investors willing to put millions of naira down on a project. The challenge is, do you have a market for these films? But I think we do.
Monopoly is not a good idea in any business – now in Nollywood we have Amazon Prime and Netflix, it’s like a buffer for content, which is good for producers like me. If I make a film, these streaming giants are coming at me, and I have to make a choice. That’s great for the market. When Black Panther premiered, it was in Nigeria and it was huge. It’s a very healthy scene – it’s actually amazing what’s happening back home.
What do you enjoy about British culture, and what do you not love so much…
OK. I’ll give you the good, the bad and the ugly. The good? In the UK the system, the structures, work. If you are paying your taxes, you can see they’re being used judiciously, and I love that. It’s a good environment for businesses to flourish. I’m coming from a society where we’re seriously struggling with bad governance and leadership. The bad? One of the things you’ll hear immigrants talk about on social media is how ‘lonely’ it can be. If I’d come here as a single man, no relatives, I’d probably be going in and out of depression. Society is not as connected, as community-driven, as it is back home. Back home, you come home from work and you’re greeting literally everyone on your street. Here, you’re lucky if you know your neighbours – I don’t know my neighbour’s name!
If budget and means were no object, what would be your dream project?
That’s a huge question…If I could do what I like, the kind of films I’d be making right now would probably be like Beasts of No Nation (2018). I love it, such a beautiful artistic vision. And if I could get any actor on board, I’d like Daniel Kaluuya. Oh, and Kevin Hart – if I was doing a rom-com!
Other projects by Eddy Young
QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS
Favourite food from back home?
Pounded yam and Egusi soup. I make it here, so I don’t miss home too much!
Music on your stereo right now?
Davido and…for international artist, would have to say Ed Sheeran
Favourite film ever?
That’s tough. But maybe James Cameron’s Titanic. It was romantic, epic, audacious – the amount of people involved.
Biggest celeb crush?
Oh, my days. Rihanna.
