Episode 59: Bola Ogun

Let's Shoot! with Pete Chatmon

In 2017, Bola wrote, starred in, and directed the short film ‘The Water Phoenix’ which quickly became her calling card. It also helped her identify her voice and tone as a Director. Bola Ogun is a first-generation Nigerian American Director best known for ‘Queen Sugar’, ‘The Witcher’, ‘Raising Dion’, and ‘Are We Good Parents?”. In this episode, Bola and Pete dive into the benefits of shadowing Directors and activating your network, crowdfunding for independent films, understanding the meaning and power of the word “no”, production assistant anecdotes, the importance of raising your words instead of your voice, and more…
(00:00:00 - 00:13:23) -- Podcast Intro And Mail Box Questions
(00:13:23 - 00:21:05) -- Introduction To Storytelling
(00:21:05 - 00:29:30) -- Transitioning Into Film Directing And AFI Workshop
(00:29:30 - 00:33:40) -- Raising Money For ‘The Water Phoenix’
(00:33:40 - 00:35:20) -- Self Discovery From Bali
(00:35:20 - 00:39:20) -- Shadowing Directors And Activating Her Network
(00:39:20 - 00:43:00) -- Directing An Episode Of ’Queen Sugar’
(00:43:00 - 00:46:00) -- Planting Her Feet In Episodic Directing
(00:46:00 - 00:47:30) -- Having A Faithful Approach
(00:47:30 - 00:55:00) -- Production Assistant Anecdotes
(00:55:00 - 01:00:05) -- Director Anecdotes
(01:00:05 - 01:01:20) -- “Transitions: A Director’s Journey And Motivational Handbook” Promo (01:01:20 - 01:04:45) -- Staying True To Your 100% Self
(01:04:45 - 01:12:45) -- The Many Layers Of Filmmaking
(01:12:45 - 01:19:40) -- MidJourney And Strike Hobbies
(01:19:40 - 01:24:00) -- Lightning Round Question
(01:24:00 - 01:26:15) -- Podcast Outro