I Build My Set By Myself, I Don’t Go To People’s Houses To Shoot, I Create My Set Myself–Akindele

Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has disclosed that her 2024 blockbuster comedy-drama, Everybody Loves Jenifa, is the most expensive movie she has produced, attributing the high production cost to extensive logistics, transportation and set construction.

According to a report by The Nation, the filmmaker made this revelation during an interview with CNN International correspondent Larry Madowo, where she discussed her career and the financial demands of bringing the movie to life.

Akindele explained that shooting the film across different locations in Nigeria and Ghana required considerable financial commitment, particularly in moving the cast and crew between the two countries.

She noted that transporting a large production team to Ghana, alongside providing accommodation and handling other logistical arrangements, significantly increased the project’s budget.

The filmmaker identified Safari Valley Resort in Ghana as one of the locations featured in the movie, explaining that filming outside Nigeria came with additional expenses that had to be factored into the production.

According to her, coordinating a large cast and crew across multiple locations required careful planning and substantial resources to ensure that filming proceeded smoothly.

Beyond transportation and logistics, Akindele identified set construction as another major factor contributing to the movie’s production expenses.

She explained that she prefers creating customised filming environments rather than depending on private residences or asking homeowners to make their properties available for movie production.

The actress revealed that her usual practice involves securing a suitable property through renting or outright purchase before transforming it into a set that meets the creative and technical demands of the project.

She said this approach gives her production team greater control over filming locations and makes it easier to arrange the environment according to the requirements of particular scenes.

Although building customised sets requires additional funding, Akindele considers it an essential part of achieving the production quality she desires.

She further explained that the decision to create dedicated filming spaces allows her to make necessary adjustments without being restricted by the limitations of existing residential properties.

Speaking about her approach to set construction during the interview, the filmmaker said:

“I build my set by myself. I don’t go to people’s houses to shoot. I create my set myself. I would rent out a place, or buy a place and start constructing my set there.”

Her comments shed light on the considerable financial and organisational demands behind Everybody Loves Jenifa, particularly the decision to film in multiple locations and develop customised sets.

The disclosure also highlights Akindele’s production philosophy, which places considerable emphasis on planning, creative control and investing in the facilities required to bring her stories to the screen.

By combining international filming locations with specially developed sets, the filmmaker explained why the comedy-drama required a larger financial commitment than her previous productions.