Creative Director/Asst. Art Director in the movie “House of Gaa”, Gbemileke Peters, has hinted at the challenges and triumphs of working on the iconic film.
With a background in architecture and environmental design, Peters brought his expertise to the project, which aimed to showcase the beauty of Yoruba culture.
“The entire exercise was a crazy race to the finish line, with less than 10 weeks for both design and construction…we aimed to bring everything we could to the table,” Peters said.
Peters described the experience as “an amazing yet gruesome” one, citing the tight deadline and challenges of working with local artisans and navigating cultural norms. Despite these hurdles, the team succeeded in projecting the beauty of Yoruba culture through subtle visual elements.
“We wished we had more time to fully portray the beauty of the built and material form of Yoruba culture…but we succeeded in projecting the beauty of our norms and customs through the unspoken elements that serve as visual carriers of knowledge for us as a people,” Peters noted.
Peters praised the producer, Bolanle Austen-Peters, and the Terra Kulture team for their exceptional management and empowerment of the production team.
“For a production with so many moving parts, Madam Bolanle Austen-Peters and the Terra Kulture team did an outstanding job managing personnel and empowering individuals to take charge of their respective duties,” Peters said.
He also shared his experience working on other notable projects, including “HILDA BACI’S COOKATHON” and music videos for top artists. “I was the creative director for HILDA BACI’S COOKATHON…I worked on critically acclaimed LOL Naija as a set dresser and construction lead,” Peters mentioned.
Currently, Peters is working on undisclosed projects for major streaming platforms. “Unfortunately, due to the sensitivity of the projects, I won’t be able to name them…however, I can say that they’re all going to be aired on the biggest streaming platform in the world,” Peters hinted.
On the recent growth of Nollywood on the global scene, Peters believes that while there is still room for improvement in project planning and management, the creative side has a rich fabric to draw from in terms of stories, culture, and people. “I believe we still have a long way to go to match the international scene…but on the creative side, we have a rich fabric to draw from,” Peters said.
“Design is an art form that anyone can embark on…break the barriers and explore uncharted paths, and you’ll find yourself achieving the fulfillment many only dream of,” Peters advised.
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