Talented and fast-rising film director/cinematographer, Oluwatobi Yusuf Joseph, alias Joe Banks, is a native of Ogun State, Ijebu Ode to be precise, He was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. He started his career officially in 2016, and since then, he has been doing amazingly well in the industry. In this interview with Quadri Akanbi, director Pennyworth reviews the reason why risk-taking is part of his job.
What is the motive behind your name, Joebanks?
I go the name Joe Banks from my very own name, Joseph, and my favorite American rapper back then in the Gunit squad, Lloyd Banks. I just combined both names to make Joe Banks
What is your source of inspiration?
I get inspired most times by the situation around me, and whenever I close my eyes, my brain connects with my sight. From there, the inspiration comes.
How do you select your team for production?
I select my team mostly based on experience and recommendation.
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How do you ensure all of your work gets accomplished in a productive manner?
Like I said earlier, when you have the right team and well-experienced team players in the game, there won’t be any problem with the production.
How do you evaluate your ability to handle conflict?
Hmmm! I don’t think I have had any issue with my fellow directors or filmmakers. We are all talented in different ways, and should incase conflict come up, of course, I’ll handle it maturely.
You are famous in the industry, and you’ve worked with different celebrities, tell us how you found your way in the industry and when did you start directing as a career? Music set when you came to Nigeria?
Hmmm Finding my way into the industry, all thanks to my big boss director, Mattmax. He gave me the platform on video directing and editing, I’ll never forget him in my life because. at first. I never thought I’ll go into music video directing. I saw myself as a screen actor, but you know I met with him and everything changed for good. I started directing professionally in the year 2016.
Do you have a creative mentor?
Yes, of course, Director Mattmax.
How do you describe your directing style?
My directing style goes along with the music on the ground. I like to tell stories a lot if time permits in the video, and I like to translate music into reality with the aid of the video shoot.
What do you think are the most important skills for a good director?
Creativity first. You have to be creative at all costs. You must have the ability to think fast and well, and also have the ability to translate words, sound, and music into an image, and lastly, you have to be unique in your style.
You are a creative person; what is your creative process like?
My creative process still goes along with watching and learning from my creative mentors. I learn new skills and ideas every day.
Would you describe yourself as a risk-taker? Describe some of the risks you have taken as director and the results.
Well, risk-taking is part of the job, so I’m a big risk taker. Sometimes, you have to travel inconveniently just to accomplish a project. I have had to walk alone in the middle of the night, in a thick bush to shoot a video.
Sometimes, shooting on top of the water or on an expressway
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What has been your biggest challenge, and how did you overcome it?
That was the day I had a shoot for two female artists from the USA. Despite my good timing, I had an issue with the camera rentals house the very morning of the shoot, thereby causing some delays to the time of the shooting, and then when I resolved the issue, on my way to the location I met very heavy traffic. I was almost crying because the artistes was already waiting for me at the location. Their manager gave me up to 100 missed calls that day. I had to beg and beg.
Since you’ve been in the industry, how many works have done as a director or shots?
I have shot more than 20 videos, and still counting so far.
Of the lot, which are your favourite and why?
My favourite is the one I shot for the two artists from the USA “The TNT”. The artists’ names are Natasha and Tmamah. It was awesome working with them.
What do you like doing in your free time?
I like listening to music a lot, and you know, sometimes, I just create a video for music in my head. I’m a video game lover as well.
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What is your most embarrassing day as a director?
The same day a camera almost fell inside the water from my hand while trying to hold my feet in the water. I had to fall while holding the camera up.
What is your greatest achievement outside of working as a film director?
I think my greatest achievement has been working as a film director and a cinematographer.
Can you tell us about the most interesting or exciting projects that you are currently working on? How do you think that will benefit people?
Currently, I am working on a commercial project which I believe will impact the younger children and the society
