Temi Ojo, a film maker originally from Nigeria has recently received support from L’Atelier BNP Paribas for his film screening and fundraiser that is taking place on September 9th, 2009 in San Francisco, California. In this interview, he talks about his experience and personal motivation involving film.

Could you please present yourself and tell us about your film-screening?

My name is Temi Ojo and I am an independent film Director/Producer based in the San Francisco Bay Area of northern California. Originally from Nigeria, West Africa, I came to California after secondary school at age 15 to enroll in a university where I studied Electrical Engineering. With my education, I worked in Silicon Valley as a semiconductor product engineer for over 7 years, after which I left for graduate school to pursue two concurrent degrees: an MBA (concentrating in Marketing and Entrepreneurship) and an MFA (Master of Fine Arts, in Motion Pictures & Television). I graduated in May/June 2009 with both degrees.

The film screening at L’Atelier presents my MFA thesis short film “Renouncing Angelica” which BNP Paribas and L’Atelier sponsored, along with a collection of other works I have done as a filmmaker. With this event, I hope to raise awareness about social issues such as bone-marrow donation and child abuse (topics featured in my films) and also raise some funds with which to submit Renouncing Angelica into film festivals around the world.

Can you describe your relationship with BNP Paribas?

In the summer of 2007, my MBA marketing class went to Paris to study some French companies. One of them was BNP Paribas. When we visited the headquarters, Dominique Piotet, head of L’Atelier USA, was the one who received us and introduced us to the company. At the end of the semester, the groups in the class had to decide on an American product they would introduce to France and how they would do it. My group chose to introduce an American independent film and one of our strategies was to do so partnering with a well known French brand – BNP Paribas.

The film we presented that evening was not mine; it was my mentor’s feature length film, but still Dominique was impressed with our presentation, and asked that I keep him in mind when I make my own film. So when it came time to make my MFA thesis short film, I connected again with Dominique. With his help, I got sponsorship with L’Atelier BNP Paribas to cover some of the production costs, and now that I am finished with the film, I am back to share it.

What was your personal motivation to get involved with film?

I believe I am naturally an expressive person, but also a thinker. While I always wanted to make films since I was a little boy, my childhood in the 1980s in Nigeria presented no opportunities to realistically pursue it. My interest in film making quickly retreated to fantasy; mere child’s play, one I exercised when I drew my own comic books telling stories I wished were movies. As I grew up studying mathematics, physics and the sciences, and began to excel at them, I tried to connect back to my dream of making movies. I remember trying to build a film projector out of a toy car’s electric motor, some batteries, and a small light bulb. I had drawn my movie frame by frame on a thin strip of paper which I had soaked in oil to make it translucent to help the projection. Somehow, that didn’t work. So, as I grew up, I abandoned the film making dream altogether, choosing instead to study the other wonders engineering and technology can create.

When the opportunity came to school in the US, I did not even consider film making. Coming to California was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I could only imagine spending on a more practical endeavor that could earn me an independent living and H1b sponsorship (visa) by an established company upon graduation. So, I obtained my engineering degree and worked as an engineer. However, all of that changed in 2005 when I experienced the birth of my nephew Seyi. I was in the hospital with my sister and my parents for the 22 hours of labor and the difficult delivery. His birth coincided with a time of high stress and injustice in my work life, and forced me to reconsider what all of my life’s work had amounted to. I asked myself what I would do with my life if I could experience a rebirth in the land of opportunity that I now called my home. Only one thing stood out in my mind – I wanted to make films.

Do your short films cover a specific genre or have a specific style? Are they aimed to change or inspire people?

I don’t think my films are genre specific, but I – and others – notice my tendencies towards relationship dramas. I personally enjoy studying interpersonal relationships – between friends, family, lovers, coworkers, etc – and examining how the development of events, and their timing, affect personal motivations within the pre-established relationships, and how the evolution of the relationships influence people’s perspectives of themselves and those with whom they relate. I believe this is how people live lives, and I want to make films that reflect people’s lives. I aspire to make thought provoking films that raise important questions in the viewer, and play as vehicles for personal introspection. I agree with one of my advisors who says that film makers are indeed philosophers sharing their perspectives. However, others say my films are “too serious”, so I look forward to surprising them with more light hearted material.

How do you see yourself progressing in the future? What are some aspects that need more work?

I seek to expose myself to more pre-written material. I have typically played the role of writer/producer/director on my films, but I am learning to let go of at least one of those hats to make room for more artistic versatility and creativity. So, I am currently sourcing for interesting full feature length movie material to develop. I want to have completed a feature length film by the time my Dad turns 70 years old. One that he can sit through without falling asleep. He turned 67 on September 3rd, 2009.

I am also formalizing a company I started with my partner Vanessa Mariveles called Mariveles+Ojo. Our company brings the power of film to brands to encourage their seamless participation in an engaging story. Stories which the brands may use to target their specific audience.

What are your main needs, being a young film maker?

Exposure and opportunity. I seek more exposure to life to inspire and influence my art. I need more exposure to potential mentors and the larger film industry – in the US and worldwide – to grow my career as a film maker. And then I need opportunity, both finance and forum, to develop more work and showcase my growing talent. I have been fortunate to have BNP Paribas as a partner in this area.

“Renouncing Angelica” Trailer