We were lucky to catch up with Beatrice Funke Ogunmola recently and have shared our conversation below.

Beatrice Funke, appreciate you joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

They raised me! Yes, my parents raised me well.

They raised me to be strong, bold, confident, focused, dedicated to task, among several other values. My dad, of blessed memory, never entertained laziness and procrastination. He was a hard worker himself. Same with my mom. You can’t be uncommitted to task with my parents.
These values have helped me to be a versatile filmmaker. I know my crafts and I can defend my handiwork wherever, whenever, and to whomever.

In 2015, we were filming my third feature film, titled AGELESS WORLD. One of the scenes is a crime scene, involving teenagers fighting and the police intervening to arrest the culprits. We were filming at the community park of my neighborhood in The Woodlands Texas, with two police casts and some teenagers that were acting the fight. We had a car that looked like a police car with flashing lights and sirens. Suddenly we saw police cars speeding into our location with full siren blowing and light flashing. Within a minute, 4 cars already parked at our filming location and the police officers coming out of their cars.

For a second, my brain froze. What in the world was going on? But as my parents had thought me, courage is not lack of fear but the confidence to move on amidst your fear. I walked up to these officers with some of my crew members. The officers asked what we were up to? I told them we are filmmakers shooting a movie titled “Ageless World.” The theme of our film is “Choices” and were letting teenagers and young adults know that the choices they make today determines how their future will be. I told them what was happening in the scene we’re shooting right now.

The police officers were amazed. Apparently, someone had alerted 911 that we’re there beating up a police officer. This was why we received the influx of the police cars. The officers were excited about the project us and showed us great support. They promised to stay with us till we’re done with our shooting of that scene so they could protect us. They told us we can shoot their cars in our movie to make the scenes more real and we can also shoot them in the background.

That was how we had a beautiful crime set with sufficient police presence without paying for such. The last of the police officers left the scene after all our cast and crew had driven off. It was a humbling and an unforgettable experience.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Beatrice Funke Ogunmola, popularly referred to as BFO. I am a Nigerian-American woman, born and breed in Itaogbolu, Akure North in Ondo State Nigeria. My parents are Late Chief Joshua Ologunloye Tinubu and Mrs. Mary Ibitola Tinubu. My dad had 12 children, out of which 6 are my mom’s. I am a second born and first female for both my dad and my mom. I am a filmmaker and a professional Registered Nurse practicing in a hospital in the Houston area of Texas. I am an actress, a screenplay writer, a producer, and a director. My film production company is Hope Studio, and our slogan is “Impacting Generations.” I am married to Victor Ogunmola and we have five children – three biological and two adopted. Our children names are David, Hannah, Daniel, Stephen, and Timmy. Our marriage will be 17 years this September. I relocated from Nigeria at the age of 27.

I got into filmmaking industry by hard work and commitment to task, always wanting to be a better version of myself. I have been telling creative stories since I was young. In my primary (elementary) and secondary (middle and high) school days, I would fabricate stories on the spot and relay it to my siblings as a movie I watched on the TV when they were asleep. Back in those days, we only had two channels on our TV. At 10:30pm daily during the student holidays, Ondo State Radiovision Corporation, OSRC would show a Yoruba movie. We, the children, always liked to stay up to watch this show. Sometimes, my siblings would sleep off before 10:30pm and they would rely on me to relay the movie to them the next day knowing fully well that I would not sleep, I have always loved movies. In the even that I also slept off like everyone else, they won’t belief that I did because, for them, Funke cannot sleep when there was a movie show coming up on the TV. In such situation, I would fabricate a story, gave it a title, and relay it to my siblings as the movie that I saw on the TV. Even when I would eventually tell them it was a fabricated story, my siblings won’t believe me, because of the instantaneity and genuinity of the story.

I was always a member of the drama group of my school and church growing up. I remembered in my higher institution in Nigeria when I wasn’t a drama member due to several other fellowship and school commitments, I was a visiting member for whenever they have major productions or peculiar need for people. My church in America is a vibrant church where members are encouraged and supported to put their talents to use. I was a drama member and was saddled with the responsibility of preparing the children church for their drama presentations. That was when I started writing scripts. Being a hardworking and committed person, I started recording the children’s presentations. That was my beginning of filming. I kept doing it, learning through it, and perfecting my craft. I would attend film trainings and learn from veteran filmmakers. My first feature length screenplay was produced by same church, and I played the lead role. That was what started all that I am today.

Creating intriguing, engaging, entertaining, and impacting films is what I do. Going above and beyond in all I do is my hallmark. I make stories come alive in ways you can’t stop talking about my films. My latest film is titled LOVE CASTLE, I am the Producer and screenplay writer. It was released in all Nigeria cinemas last year September 10th. Love Castle had won several awards in Nigeria, Canada, and USA since it was produced in 2021 till date. It is a film that blends modern and ancient culture interwoven with disability. Love Castle was filmed in Nigeria and USA in the years 2019 and 2020. The film was screened, upon request, at Texas A&M Diaspora Education to celebrate Black History Month this 2022 February. The screening was a huge success. Love Castle is now available on Prime Video for your viewing pleasure. My YouTube channel, BFO TV, is a place you can see some of my movies and shows. Hope Studio films also have a website where you can get more information about me and my work.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Our mission at Hope Studio Films is “Impacting Generations,” and my personal slogan as a filmmaker is “Engage and Impact.” Impact is what drives my creative journey as you can see in these mission statements. Our company goals, team values, and project ethics is clearly stated on Hope Studio Films website. My work must impact my audience, I only must package it in an intriguing, entertaining and engaging way.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect for me is the ability to reach several generations with the same piece of work. Movies made over 25years ago are still making impact today. This is the reason I put my best into any movie I am making either short or feature length. There’s no limit to who will see it. Also, whenever I receive positive feedbacks on the impacts of my films, my heart leaps for joy. It’s making impact as intended.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hopestudiofilms.com
• Instagram: @beatricefunkeogunmola
• Facebook: Beatrice Funke Ogunmola
• Linkedin: Beatrice Funke Ogunmola
• Twitter: @beatriceogunmo1
• Youtube: BFO TV CHANNEL
• Other: WhatsApp: +1 832-716-6710 Email: [email protected] [email protected]