A brand’s potential to become successful may just be one flick away. Everyone needs a creative and result-driven visual storyteller that can change life’s dream from reels to reality. The CEO, Motionere, Lanre Olupona reveals to Yinka Olatunbosun how his filmmaking company is on the mission to transform people, brands and businesses into success stories using great cinematography.
When and how was the idea of Motionere Studios conceived?
The idea for Motioniere Studios has been with me since my undergraduate days at Obafemi Awolowo University, where I studied Dramatic Arts. Immersed in a vibrant community of students and practitioners, I was constantly exposed to the mechanics of storytelling and the art of performance. This experience fascinated me and planted the seed of a business built around stories.
The name “Motioniere” first appeared as a label for a short film I made as part of my final year practical project, marking the beginning of a journey that would become Motioniere Studios. Over time, the vision took a more concrete shape as I progressed in my professional career in Nigeria’s film industry, enriching my understanding of what makes a story resonate with audiences.
In December 2023, I formally registered Motioniere Studios as a business, and we officially began operations in June 2024. Since then, Motioniere Studios has aimed to bring stories to life in ways that foster genuine connections and engagement, helping businesses and individuals communicate meaningfully through visual narratives.
Why is visual storytelling a crucial medium of communication in this highly digitalised world?
Storytelling is fundamental to how we understand the world and connect with each other. It’s how we create meaning, foster empathy, and share experiences. In our highly digitalised world, technologies like social media and mass communication platforms have opened vast new possibilities for human connection, but they’ve also intensified the demand for stories that resonate on a deeper level.
With approximately 3.9 billion videos on YouTube alone, the digital landscape has become overwhelmingly crowded. Today, it’s not just about producing content but about cutting through the noise to reach and truly engage an audience. In this sea of content, what stands out are the stories that feel authentic and meaningful—those that build a sense of community and connection.
Visual storytelling is uniquely powerful in this context. It allows us to communicate complex emotions and ideas quickly and memorably, appealing directly to an audience’s senses and emotions. Mastering the art of visual narrative gives brands, creators, and organizations a way to create impactful content that earns attention and builds loyalty amid the digital noise. By focusing on connections rather than sheer output, storytellers can engage audiences in meaningful ways that keep them coming back.
Kindly describe how your team ensures that a brand story is well told.
Our team is very intentional about ensuring that every brand story we tell is impactful and connects meaningfully with its target audience. We begin by understanding the audience deeply—what are they looking for, what emotions are driving their desires, and how does the brand align with or answer these needs? This foundational insight is essential because it’s not just about delivering a message; it’s about creating a journey that resonates with real human motivations.
Once we’ve identified these audience aspirations, we map out where they are in their journey and position the brand as an ally or guide that can help them achieve their goals. This approach involves more than just storytelling; it’s about strategically designing narratives that connect with an audience’s values, aspirations, and pain points. By positioning the brand as a trusted partner in their journey, we build stories that are not only compelling but that also foster loyalty and engagement.
What’s your projection for Motionere Studios?
My vision for Motioniere Studios is to scale our services, enabling us to connect with and support a growing number of businesses in telling their unique stories. We aim to harness the vast opportunities provided by technology to reach beyond Nigeria and serve clients globally, offering them powerful, culturally resonant storytelling that drives connection across diverse markets.
We’re building Motioniere Studios to be a global force in visual storytelling. We envision Motioniere Studios as a bridge between brands and audiences worldwide, helping each business we work with to make meaningful, lasting impressions on those they hope to reach.
What goals do you have ahead of you at Motionere Studios?
Our primary goal is to help businesses grow by creating powerful connections that drive sales through storytelling. We aim to achieve this by crafting narratives that go beyond mere advertising to genuinely engage audiences and foster trust.
How does Motionere Studios help to contribute to rebuilding Nigeria’s fragile economy?
On the set of The Man Died production where Olupona worked as the Assistant Director
At Motioniere Studios, we believe that Nigeria’s economic strength is closely linked to the success and resilience of its MSMEs. By helping companies tell their stories in compelling ways, we support their ability to connect with customers and drive sales, which are key components for sustaining growth and profitability.
When businesses thrive, they contribute to job creation and ultimately strengthen the broader economy. By empowering brands to reach their audience effectively and generate revenue, we’re playing a role in supporting the stability and growth of Nigeria’s economy, one story at a time.
Who are the major influences for this video production field that you have worked in for 14 years?
Tunde Kelani is one of my earliest and most significant influences. Growing up, I watched several of his films in the late 90s and early 2000s, but ‘The white Handkerchief’ and ‘Saworoide’ left a particular impression on me. I remember reading the DVD jacket of Saworoide and noticing the term “cinematographer” next to Tunde Kelani’s name. That discovery sparked a desire to meet him, and eventually, I did. Meeting Tunde Kelani was pivotal – it offered me clarity on cinematography as a career path and ignited my dedication to visual storytelling.
Later, my time at the New York Film Academy introduced me to Ahmet Sesigurgil, a lecturer who deeply influenced my technical understanding of cinematography. Ahmet’s insights into the craft gave me the tools to approach filmmaking with confidence and a deeper sense of purpose.
During my undergraduate days at Obafemi Awolowo University, Tosin Odubela and Ahmed Jaiyeola also played crucial roles in my development.
Would you say that your background in Dramatic Arts gave you a good footing in your career pursuit?
My background in Dramatic Arts definitely provided a strong foundation for my journey into filmmaking. Interestingly, I initially chose to study Dramatic Arts because it was the closest program to filmmaking available locally; my parents weren’t comfortable with me going all the way to Jos to study film at the Nigerian Film Institute. Looking back, I see it as a fortunate choice.
Studying Dramatic Arts opened me up to a broad spectrum of arts and humanities—literature, performance, cultural studies, and more – that have enriched my understanding of storytelling in ways a strictly film-focused curriculum might not have.
Have you benefited from mentors in any way?
Mentorship has been invaluable to my growth as a filmmaker, and I continue to benefit from it today. Femi Odugbemi, in particular, has been a long-standing mentor whose guidance has significantly shaped my career. His insights and expertise have helped me navigate the industry, while his support has given me numerous platforms to hone my skills and showcase my work.
Do you have an apprenticeship programme to build a younger generation of filmmakers?
At this time, we don’t have a formal apprenticeship program at Motioniere Studios. However, I’ve had the privilege of working with and coaching many up-and-coming filmmakers on various projects over the years. Through these experiences, I’ve been able to pass on practical skills, share industry insights, and help younger talents develop their own voices in filmmaking.
Looking ahead, I’m excited about the prospect of establishing a structured apprenticeship program at Motioniere Studios. My goal is to create a dedicated pathway for aspiring filmmakers to learn, grow, and gain hands-on experience in a professional setting, building a new generation of storytellers equipped to shape the future of visual storytelling in Nigeria and beyond.
Audience. Let’s talk about your target audience. Most of your videos are available on YouTube. This points to the role that internet technology has played in widening the meaning of the audience. Who then is your target background given the nature of your content distribution?
A cross section of the production team
An interesting aspect of creating corporate videos for businesses is that the content ultimately belongs to the client, and they control its distribution based on their goals and strategies. As a result, our target audience isn’t the general public but businesses that aim to maintain connections with their customers through engaging visual storytelling.
With internet technology making it easier than ever to reach diverse audiences, our role is to equip these businesses with impactful, memorable stories that resonate in today’s fast-paced digital landscape, whether the content is shared on YouTube, social media, or other digital platforms.
