How I Went From Aspiring Actress To Acclaimed Video Director — Pink

Popular award-winning music video director, cinematographer, and filmmaker, PRAISE ONYEAGALAM known professionally as Director Pink, in this exclusive interview with EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN, shares her inspiring journey from aspiring actress to successful director, overcoming the challenges in a male-dominated industry. As the founder of Pinkline Films, a Nigerian  film company, Director Pink has made a significant impact in the industry, directing and shooting numerous popular music videos, including: ‘Dey Your Dey’ by Timaya, ‘Do’ by Phyno ft Burna Boy, ‘Egwu’ by Chike ft Mohbad, ‘Abracadabra’ by Wizkid ft Skiibii, Naira Marley, & Rexxie, ‘Roju’ by Chike and many more. In 2021, she also remade the folklore as a movie, ‘Lady Koi Koi’ (The Arrival), showcasing her versatility and creative expertise. Through her work, Director Pink continues to break barriers and inspire future generations of female filmmakers. Excerpts: 

 Can you tell us about your journey to becoming a video director and what inspired you to pursue that as a career? 

Initially, I always wanted to be an actress before starting my career as a music video director. But it was quite challenging going for auditions and having directors proposition ladies like me. That was when I thought to myself that, what is in directing that I can’t do? Also, I knew that as a director, young ladies like me would also look up to me and get opportunities to feature in anything. 

My first project was with Clarence Peters, and it was the start of an amazing journey for me, which I didn’t expect but was indeed grateful for. 

Why did you choose the name Pink?

 I wanted a name that would depict me as a lady in the film industry, something girlie if I must say, and that once you hear Pink, you know it is a woman. Also, Pink is a catchy colour, and typically because it is assumed that blue is for boys and pink is for girls. 

What are some of the challenges you have faced as a female director in a music industry that is male-dominated? 

Most of the time, people feel I can’t do things because I’m a woman. They feel women are weak. I lost a lot of gigs because they felt a woman couldn’t handle the pressure the project brings, which was also one of the reasons why I chose the name Pink to standout. Nonetheless, I don’t look at any of the things that are supposed to be challenging as a challenge to me, rather I see them as my strength and what makes me better in my field. 

How do you collaborate with choreographers/dancers and stylists to ensure the storytelling aligns with the music? 

I always make sure I get fully integrated with the vision I’m trying to portray. I also make sure to communicate this vision properly and specifically with my crew, including the choreographers and dancers. I pick out styles that I know will align accordingly with the music video as well as the colours with my stylist.

 

On the part of the artistes, how do you ensure that your ideas align with their vision or goal? 

I make sure I am grounded in the music. I listen to it over and over again and try to relate it to myself and literally feel what the artiste was feeling when he sang the song. Basically, I over-familiarise myself with the lyrics, and that way I can get the best out of my ideas. 

Can you tell us about any challenging project you have worked on and how you tackled it? 

There are challenges in all the projects, it’s just how well we’re able to manage it. It is not as if one is more challenging than the other. But I would say, I always make sure that whatever idea I’m putting out there, I already know the techniques I use to achieve or tackle them all. 

You won the Best Video Director Award at the AFRIMA Awards in 2023. How did that feel? 

Winning the AFRIMA Awards 2023 feels super amazing, I feel super blessed and ecstatically happy. It is one of those recognitions that just wants me to keep going and a validation that I have my head on my shoulders. 

What advice would you give to aspiring female directors looking to break into the industry? 

Honestly, for female directors I would tell you to fight hard and believe in yourself because other people might not necessarily believe in you, just keep your head up. Be good at what you’re doing, invest in yourself and knowledge. Also, make sure that you give more value than your counterparts and look at it as a business generally. It’s a competitive market, so grow your brand while you’re trying to beat other brands. This is mainly because your competition is higher because you are a woman. So always make sure you are grounded with your marketing strategies and be good at what you do.

NB: This interview was originally published in The Independent Newspaper on 11th May, 2024.