Kayode Jegede, the scriptwriter of the successful movie “Gang of Lagos,” shares his approach to writing, which heavily involves culture, people, and language. In an interview with Segun Adebayo, he talks about the film’s reception, his inspiration, and future projects.
When asked about the movie’s success, Jegede says that he and Jade Osiberu, his co-writer, aimed to tell an authentic story that would connect with the audience, rather than worry about success. He explains that the negative comments about the Eyo culture portrayed in the film were not entirely negative but rather a testament to how sacred culture, tradition, and mythology are to their people. Jegede hopes that people will see the story for what it is, a depiction of the human spirit’s beauty in its quest to overcome limitations.
Jegede’s passion for writing and obsession with the craft is what prepared him for his successful career. He draws inspiration from everyday conversations, people, culture, and language, all of which he finds beautiful. He also mentions that he has several projects in pre-production and development with Jade, which fans should look out for in the near future.
As a writer, Jegede’s focus is on the thematic elements of the work, and he finds it fun to explore what the story means beneath the plot. Although filmmaking is a complex and collaborative process, Jegede finds that the most challenging aspect is not the writing but rather getting the characters to bring the script to life.
Jegede has never felt the need to act the characters he portrays in his scripts. While he acknowledges that he has been told that he could have had a career in acting, he prefers to focus on writing and other forms of writing like fiction.
In conclusion, Jegede believes that recognition is great, but the biggest award is knowing that his work resonates with people and makes them feel something.
