Chuka Ejorh, Founder & CEO at Blink Studios Ltd

Speaker A: Hello, I'm Kerry Wootton, the host of the Media Careers podcast. This is the place where you can hear from people working across the film, TV and broadcast sectors and the stories of how they got into the industry. A huge thanks as always to our partners, Interfilm, supported by the bfi awarding National Lottery funding and a little small request from me this week, please do press that subscribe button so we can reach as many people as possible. Chuka Edjo is the founder and CEO at Blink Studios Ltd. There is no doubt that Chuka had an outstanding education journey from jumping a year ahead at school to focusing solidly on science and maths, to. He could have easily gone down a different path, but storytelling and media were in his heart from a young age and he found himself studying the art of editing as a 16 year old. Interestingly though, through his own education rather than through a university or at a, uh, college, he has since grown an international business, building IP alongside Blink's editing services. And I can only see this growth continuing. I absolutely love talking to Chuka today and I hope you enjoy this episode. I Chukka, welcome to the Media Careers podcast.

Speaker B: Thank you, Carrie. Thank you for having me. I'm quite excited.

Speaker A: Oh, I'm really excited too. Now, uh, we have a very long standing tradition on this podcast where we rewind all the way back to the beginning and find out what you were like as a child and a young person. So could you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Speaker B: Um, yeah. Try to remember much about being a child. Um, I think I was always very inquisitive as a child. My mom actually is the one who has many stories about me, something she remembers very much when she tells people why she knows why I'm in the media industry. She remembers when I was a child, when I was still crawling and, uh, whenever there was this particular TV commercial, or almost any TV commercial on tv, I would just crawl from anywhere I was and just crawl and crawl and crawl and just come and sit in front of the TV to make sure I watched it. Yeah, so that was, that was something. But the other thing I remember as a child was, um, playing. Most of the time I loved to play just, I think just by myself. But then what I would do is I would get a lot of those, um, um, bottle covers. Yeah, A, um, lot of the bottle covers, they're all bent in different shapes and sizes. And then I would create like a whole world. And so there would be the hero, the heroine, the bad guy, the bodyguards, just, you know, make a whole movie just using Them. And just so my mom also said I always just like to play by myself and I would just use all of them and create a whole world and create my whole story doing that. So those were things, I think, uh, you know, as a child, you know, that maybe kind of, um, showed that I was, you know, in some way destined to be a storyteller.

Speaker A: Yeah. To be in the industry and just, I suppose that that sense of imagination as well, isn't it? That actually you could create those worlds and. And create characters and stories from it.

Speaker B: Exactly.

Speaker A: And what was school like for you? Chukka? Was like, were you academic? Did you enjoy school? What was that kind of side of things like for you?

Speaker B: Yeah, so I was, I was quite academic. And this is going to lead to maybe further questions you ask and just the difference in my career path. Um, I was, I was always. I was always fine at school, you know, fine being, you know, I was all. I guess you would say I was always in the top three. You know, just in my classes. Um, you know, um, in. So I did my primary education in Nigeria. In Nigeria, that they had this thing where they, um, would do some examinations. Um, when you were in, um, year four or five and if you like, past the distinction. Yeah, they felt. This is. I think it's a bit weird, but they felt you probably didn't need to do year five and you just go all the way here, six. Because then. Because then, you know, it meant, oh, well, you've learned everything that they're going to teach you in year five, so just move on to year six. And so I skipped one year. And so by the time I got into high school, I was, I think, just about getting it to nine years old in high school. Wow.

Speaker A: Oh my God.

Speaker B: Yeah. Well, I don't know how good that is.

Speaker A: Well, I think pros and cons probably, but I mean, yeah, you obviously had enough intelligence that, you know, and, and as you said, you were academic enough to be able to cope and to progress in that way. And we, you know, and that does happen here as well. Sometimes there are really intelligent kids that then move on. But that, that is. Yeah, you do sometimes skip. I mean, I don't know of anybody that, you know, you hear his stories. But you were obviously really good at school.

Speaker B: I mean. Yeah, I did that. And um, yeah, you know, in high school I represented, um. Because I went to like, what, three different schools just for many different reasons. I didn't like boarding school. At some point I always got sick and moved to another school. And all of that. But anyway, I represented almost all of my schools in both math and English competitions when there were math and English competitions.

Speaker A: So you're really academic then. You're being quite, you're being quite coy about it. But you are actually quite. You are quite studious then and did quite well.

Speaker B: Yeah, I guess. I guess. Yeah. So. So I was, I was fine. And I think my. My mother again, I ment my mother a lot just because, um, growing up I. My. I m. Lost my father at a very young age. So really just had my mom, you know, um, um, um, bringing me up and my oldest older sisters. So anyway, so my mom, I think she was very comfortable in the fact that I was fine at school, you know.

Speaker A: Yeah. Worries more than fine. I would say, like brilliantly. Yeah.

Speaker B: Amazing.

Speaker A: And then. And did you. So I'm not sure the exam system. So when do you finish at school in Nigeria? What age do you finish?

Speaker B: So I finished again just because I go into, um, school just before nine. Right. Finished at 15.

Speaker A: Okay.

Speaker B: Well, just before I turned 15 as well because, you know, was six, um, years. Um, and that was, you know, of course then that's when it's time to do your, you know, GCSEs and you know, get into uni right after. So yeah, at just around 15, I was done with that. And um.

Speaker A: Did you know what you wanted to do at that point, Chuko? Did you have like. Because obviously you were really intelligent and very good at maths and English, which could then have taken you down certain paths. But did you have any idea about careers or what you.

Speaker B: No, I had different ideas, you know, um, growing up. And again, that's one thing I would say again about the education system, um, in Nigeria, because there was again, when. When you are, I guess, really good at school and I know they automatically also kind, um, of just guide you to these sciences and so you learn more of the sciences. And so I was learning more of physics, you know, chemistry, biology and further mathematics. Because then there was this thing and I think it's wrong. But then there was this assumption that the more brilliant you are at school, the more you should do those sciences and the ones who weren't very pretentious to the arts. So I didn't get to do much arts at school yet because of that. Um, yeah. And I think when I again, I mean, of course I passed, you know. Yeah. Doing that. But I didn't feel that they were the thing I wanted to do. And um. Yeah, of course then with African parents. Right. Yeah, you should do computer science. Because computer science is the future. I mean, this was what, like, you know, 20 something years ago? You know computer science? No, no, 30 something years ago.

Speaker A: Don't do the numbers. Don't do the numbers.

Speaker B: Um, you know, and so, you know, it was, oh, uh, this is computer, um, Science is the future. You should study that, you know, And I was like, I don't think this is what I want to do. I know I have a very keen interest in the human mind and why people do the things they do. Again, just in just understanding how humans, you know, act. And again, after some time, right, I got to understand that this is some way me learning, like, back stories of humans, you know, and how to, like, build characters. Right. Um, but again, I was very keen on that. And I said, well, if I'm gonna go to unit, I'm gonna have to study psychology. And I remember, and I remember my mother said, what? No one uses psychology to do anything? And I said, okay, you know what? You know what I would rather than do? Yeah. Is just take some time to figure out what I want to do.

Speaker A: Okay, yeah.

Speaker B: Um, and she agreed.

Speaker A: I was going to say, was she happy with that?

Speaker B: Then again, this is why I give that whole backstory of because I was fine at school. She then said, well, I know it's because you're not scared of, you know, like, classes and you're not scared of, you know, not being able to pass. It's because you're trying to figure it out. So, okay, sure, do that.

Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, well, that makes sense. She knows that you, yes, you said that you, you're more than capable of studying and getting qualifications and passing. So. And you know what, how brilliant, though, because I think, uh, uh, other parents would be like, no, you, you need to crack on. Let's go. So actually giving you the space to work that out is amazing. I love that.

Speaker B: It is, it is. I'm always very grateful to her for that, you know, um, just also that patience she gave me. And, and what then happened, right, was I, I, I was, I, I was able to then read a lot of books. And in just reading a lot of books, I started to discover just the things I was interested in. Yeah. And I remembered just that, my interest in just the media industry, because all of that had gone away, Right. Especially because for the last three years in my senior, um, secondary school, right. It was sciences and sciences and sciences. That was all I was studying and focused on. And so right after school, I was able to just rediscover that. Well, there's arts, there's the media industry, there's making films, there's TV and all of that. And then, you know, I started to then get more books on that. Yeah, um, I, I, I discovered, um, cinematography. And I was like, yeah, I want to be a cinematographer. But really it was just. Because the name just sounded like it was the coolest name in the industry. Cause you're a cinematographer.

Speaker A: Yeah, this sounds really good. Let's do that job. Sounds really good.

Speaker B: You know. But then I read some, I was like, no, I don't want to be a cinema, I want to be a director. And so, you know, I read some more books and, um, it told me, well, from many of the books I read two really good paths to being a director way other being an actor. Because then you learn how to, you know, um, work with actors, you understand, you know, what it is to speak to them and how to get the best performances out of them all by being an editor. Because then, you know already how you want to craft your, your film. In the end, I knew I didn't want to be in front of the camera. I didn't want to be famous and all that. So I said, you know what? I'm going to try and be an editor. And that is how I got into Edison.

Speaker A: Wow. So then, I mean, I love that, I love that moment. I mean, all of that I love. But the fact that you did have the time to explore that and just not have the pressure of.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: Choosing something that then wasn't going to be right. Because it sounds, though as much as psychology would have been great and you'd have found it interesting, it probably wasn't the right moment for you to go and study that. So then you decided on editing. So then what were their next steps to kind of learning how to edit? Did you then go on to uni? Did you learn yourself? Like what, what were the kind of steps you took to.

Speaker B: Yeah. Next steps where, um, I, I decided, well, I mean, it's really about doing right. I'm fine. I can just read lots of books and still just learn what I want to learn. And so I, so I was, I was lucky enough that I, I had an uncle who had one of the, it was a pretty, you know, big production company, you know, and I told him, um, well, this is what I want to do. I want to go and just apprentice in various places and learn the craft of editing. Yeah. Because I've read a lot of books now. Because I was reading a lot of books. Because I read a lot of Books. Now I kind of know the theory about making films, you know, the history, all of that. But now I just want to learn, you know, the practicals of it. And he was my mom's cousin. He is my mom's cousin. And so I think that was also maybe strategic because then it was a way of making her comfortable that, you know, what your cousin. I'm gonna work with your cousin.

Speaker A: And he's got a job and is successful.

Speaker B: He's very successful. You know, he had an ad agency and I know, um, and so he was like, okay, well, yeah, come, you know, and, and he assured my mom, yeah, I'm gonna make sure, you know, that I just, you know, like, take care of him and.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: You know. And um, so I, I don't be. To be honest with you, before I went to him, I'd done a couple of apprentices as well as a production assistant, you know, and an intern on, um, various, you know, productions, maybe music videos, you know, um, um, commercials, you know.

Speaker A: So you had been trying to like, look at different.

Speaker B: I had been, you know, just doing that, you know, and I think I'm quite grateful for that experience as well, because as a production assistant, it's very important to be a production assistant, in my opinion, because then you get to just experience the whole nine years. You get to experience everyone's jobs and, um, yeah, you get to interact with everyone. So I did that for, for close to a year before I then, you know, went and joined his thing. And so I kind of gotten into the industry, all of this. I still. My mom at some point was starting to get a bit impatient. When are you going to go to school?

Speaker A: I was gonna say it's about how long did you spend but finishing school and then making a decision. Was it a year or was it a bit longer than that?

Speaker B: It was, it was a year. It was. So with finishing school and then reading and doing some, you know, apprenticing, that was, you know, between, well, just right after I was 15 till just, you know, over 16 years old. Um, at 17 is when I went and joined my, my uncle's company as, again as like a third assistant editor or second assistant editor, I can't remember. But again, just to get into the post production world and um, you know, the rest is history.

Speaker A: So what was, I mean, I love that you, you did that and you took that time. It is, I think it is important to find out what you want, what

Speaker B: you want to do.

Speaker A: What was that like then going to work for your, you know, I'm Trying to work out what relation he is to you. But your. Your uncle. Yeah. What was it like working in that company? And then I'm presuming that when you started in the company, you didn't actually know how to edit. You'd read lots of stuff, but you didn't actually physically know how to edit.

Speaker B: Didn't know how to edit.

Speaker A: Did that feel overwhelming at all? Or were you just so comfortable that you knew enough about the industry?

Speaker B: No, no, it was very overwhelming. Um. Um. And again, why I said I was lucky, right, is because. Because he had a really big company, so it was an international project. Yeah. And so we had lots of, um, internationals as well. Just lots of really highly experienced people. The editor on that, um, project, I guess, took a liking to me, maybe again, because of the keen interest I showed and again, maybe just luck on my part. Right. But then he. He made it like. It almost became like a school where, you know, it was very invaluable for me. I was again, second assistant editor. Right. All I really needed to do was just. I think I was mostly doing like, um, the logging and syncing. Again, this was many, many years ago. We were still using the, um. The, um, beta cam and divcam tapes.

Speaker A: Right.

Speaker B: And so it was all. You had to digitize, watch everything, you know, and then log, you know, it was very, very manual then.

Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker B: Um, and so, um, that. That was also really good. I'm glad I got to experience that. I feel bad for the ones. You know, at this age where everything is digital, you don't really get to know the. The history of many things. Anyway, um, I was lucky. I got to do that. And I was. I mean, I was working. I was just working. This is at 17. I was just working. I was working overnight, you know. I mean, sometimes I'll be there for like, three days, you know, you know, straight. I was just very. Because I was very. Yeah, I was very focused and. And, you know, it was. I had decided rather this was the thing I was going to do.

Speaker A: I had.

Speaker B: I didn't go to school, you know, and so there was no fallback plan. Like, everyone seems right. So I had to. I had to get it right. And I was very passionate about it. Um, and so, you know, he would. Then I started to, you know, even like, cut little, you know, little tiny little scenes or promos. And then, you know, what I would have to do before then was, um, write down, um. I remember what I'd have to write down my reason for wanting to cut this thing. What characters? I want to focus on why I feel this characters are important and then what I want the audience to feel with what I'm calling. With this promo. This was just promos. Write it down first, you know, and then discuss with the editor and then, you know, do it, you know. So it was. I was lucky that, you know, I got that like real, um, um, Training. Yeah. While doing that. And it was. And it was a. It was a TV series. Was, you know, you know, a quite a big TV series. Um. And yeah, I got my training on that.

Speaker A: Yeah, that was your training ground. Right.

Speaker B: So not my training.

Speaker A: So did you ever go to university?

Speaker B: No, I never went to university.

Speaker A: So your mum never got her wish. You never actually went back and studied. I love that.

Speaker B: I will tell you why she decided eventually. Um, it was. So anyway, like, you know, long story short, that happened and, you know, went on for quite a while, you know. And um, again, this is all just weird because I think I learn. I tend to learn really fast and I learned quite fast. The editor had to travel for. For like a few weeks for an emergency. Yeah. And they were. Again, there were more senior editors, you know, around there. Yeah. But then he told the producers, no, no, I want you to be the one to edit while I go again. Of course then it was weird because everybody else around me was like, why this guy?

Speaker A: You know.

Speaker B: But then, yeah, honestly, I then got to be the one cutting, doing the rough, well, the offline edits, you know, while he was away for a while, while there were even many senior guys who had been doing it for like 15 years before me, you know. Um, and then my mom told me this, but she only told me a few years later, my uncle sent her a text message. I think the text message was something about, um, in my. This was at that time, in my over 20 years of doing this thing, I haven't seen someone who had like a natural, you like thing for like this storytelling as Chuka did. So, you know, don't worry, he's fine. And I think from that point she just. She never asked me any more about going to school.

Speaker A: Well, you wouldn't, I don't think if somebody's sending that message in that.

Speaker B: Yeah, yeah.

Speaker A: Wow. How lovely. Well, hey, how lovely that he sent that message. But also so reassuring for your mum, right? That she didn't. She didn't have to worry that actually.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: You know, I think. Because that's quite a jump, isn't it? Going from hardcore, studying sciences and being really good at those subjects. So then Kind of moving into the media industry and doing something completely.

Speaker B: Doing.

Speaker A: Yeah, doing something completely different. It was. And also how lovely that that editor, uh, gave you the responsibility for editing, doing the offline for that program as well. That's.

Speaker B: Oh, yeah, yeah, that. That was. Honestly, that was. That was, yeah, life changing for me because, you know, it was a big break for me, you know, and, yeah, just. I just got to do more and more and more, you know, um. And yeah, of course, just every now and then, right when I would maybe doubt if it was really the thing I was supposed to be doing, I would get things like, you know, like letters from directors I've worked with. I remember this director, this was in my third year or so of editing. And then this, um, director, he wrote me a letter and then sent me a gift. And the gift was, um, a CD of the, um, cellist, Jacqueline Dupre. And he said something about, you know, editing is like music and you do it just so beautiful. Like, Jacqueline, you remind of.

Speaker A: Wow.

Speaker B: Um. That was, you know, I was like, okay, well, I guess this is what I'm supposed to be doing. Maybe I shouldn't even be a director anymore.

Speaker A: Well, yeah, and I was just about to ask you that. When you get that feed, I mean, that's. Well, what. First of all, what a lovely gift for somebody to give to you and lovely feedback. But then did you. While you were kind of progressing in the company and getting all of this amazing feedback, did you. Were you still thinking about directing or was it actually. What, like, how did it.

Speaker B: I also think I was still thinking about direction. And to be honest with you, Carrie, I was also still thinking about. But at the moment I was thinking about going to film school. And, um. Yeah. And, um, so I'd actually set my sights on NFTs. That was where I wanted to m. Um, go. And so I. I was the constant thinking. It was just, when am I going to do it? You know, how am I going to do it? I. I think like, after a couple of years, I, of course, gotten, like, a good resume that I didn't need to have, um, done a first degree. Just my resume alone could get me in. And so I had interviews, but then every now and then, you know, people I'd work with, like, okay, well, but you're going there to do what you're already doing now.

Speaker A: So were you applying to do editing at NFTs?

Speaker B: I was applying to do editing. I was applying.

Speaker A: I mean, I had a point.

Speaker B: Yeah. I mean, you're going there to learn. I mean, many of the guys who are going to leave there are going to come out and try to get this job that you have. So, you know, why. Yeah, I'll think of that. Uh, well, I guess so. Uh, but I just really want to still, you know. Anyway, time just flew by and I, you know, I guess I realized, you know, I was, I was fine without it, but I wanted to be a director for a while. But all of these things, like those notes, the letters, you know, the text message from my uncle, you know, then made me think, are you trying to be a director really just because I guess everyone else wants to be a director or is it, you know, because it's what you want to do? And I just figured at that period I wanted to. Where I had most of my just joy was in editing, I think. So I thought I don't need to be a director. Uh, it's not my thing, you know. And so I think I just gave that up.

Speaker A: Yeah, that. Well, that's amazing. And I think kind of what I'm gonna see is a jy journey that you went on to get to that point as well. That it obviously was always there in the background and so was obviously going to some kind of film school as well. But actually naturally just played out that then you found you were. You found where you were meant to be. And also when you are getting that amazing feedback, why would you go and do something else? Like it seems I know all those people that were talking to you were right. It seems absolutely bonkers that you would. You would do that. So how long did you say working in your uncle's company for them?

Speaker B: Um, and did you ever want to

Speaker A: go anywhere else as well? I suppose. Like, how did that always.

Speaker B: Well, to be honest with you, um, so I think I was there for about two, three years. Um, again, I think I was just too many people anyway. I was just really good at the thing I was doing. Um, and so I was in very high demand. Um, just again, across Africa and even, you know, in the uk and so, um, I spent quite a bit of time in. In South Africa and a little bit of time in. In the uk in London, but in South Africa I then got to, um, like even go much deeper in my, um, I guess craft as an editor. And so didn't get to spend. Sorry, didn't get to spend that much time in, in Nigeria anymore. Um, once, you know, my career really, um, kicked off again. One of the reasons is, you know, that there aren't, you know, there isn't like a large, you Know like array and options of just certain high end projects and there were, there weren't anywhere at that time.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: Um, and so again, you know, just by way of demand, I got to mostly work in South Africa and you know, briefly in the UK and so. Yeah, yeah. You know, but part of my. Because again, I think I had some sort of leverage, right? So part of my deal, I would always say, well, whatever my deal is, you have to fly me to Nigeria every few months. And they're like, yeah, yeah, sure, of course.

Speaker A: No way. Really? Is that what you said on some of the projects? So what, how did it work then? Were you working on films? Like, is that how it.

Speaker B: So I was mostly working on, um. So after I did some TV series, I then started doing quite a bit of um, it was more reality TV and so more of the, um. At that point there was this thing called Face of Africa. So it was like a, um, uh, what you call it like a model. Model competition.

Speaker A: Okay.

Speaker B: There was Idols, um, there was um, Ms. South Africa, um, and of course there was Big Brother. Um, all of those projects. I, you know.

Speaker A: So you were working on all of them?

Speaker B: I was, I was working on, you know, all of this. It almost like I just then kind of got boxed into um, working on a lot of reality tv. And I think it was also because that period, especially in Africa, right, Reality TV was the biggest thing, you know, film wasn't like, you know, the big thing. It was. Those were the biggest budget projects. Those were, you know, the high end projects because you know, you just get the um, and the franchise. You just got in the franchise from um, what they call it again, um, Fremantle or something. And so, you know, the big budget, those were the. And so that they always pushed um, most people to work on those. So I got to work in a number of those. Across Africa. Yeah, yeah.

Speaker A: And then you, and then as you said then you split your time between Africa and London sometimes and just.

Speaker B: Yes.

Speaker A: So do you feel as though you've kind of got to where you, you were meant to be in your career now? Is that kind of working on all of those shows and then as you say, so, yeah, go.

Speaker B: No, no. What then happened, right, was after about seven years, um, of um, of doing that, I think I got to a point where I thought, okay, I think I'm kind of done with, with, with this now, uh, with this genre, with this sort of thing. I was very comfortable. I was very comfortable. But I felt I then wanted to do something new and I wanted to, I wanted to Just switch into doing more, um, scripted and just more, you know, like narrative. Yeah. And so I did my first form of schooling in any form. Um, I, I did. It was one, um, course with his legendary editor Barry Vince. He was at the London Film School and was. It was a one week, um, intensive, um, editor Storyteller was the course and it was just very, um, one on one. Uh, I did that just because I wanted to just almost like reset my mind, um, into then like going deeper into storytelling, which is what I really wanted to do. And that was how I started really with the drama and that I was doing. Um, so did that and then decided, all right, it's time for me to go to Nigeria and set up a company. And so end of 2014, I moved to Nigeria and set up the company Blink Studios with m. Just the plan of just the least, at least that I would do is just contribute to creating some form of structure in post production in Nigeria. Um, so that was it. That was then a new journey I took on.

Speaker A: Amazing. Amazing. And with the intention of working on dramas as well, rather than the intention

Speaker B: of working on dramas and film, you know.

Speaker A: So how did that work then? How did you start to build your network in those areas rather than kind of the reality side of things?

Speaker B: Yeah, um, the.

Speaker A: I.

Speaker B: Because I got to go to Nigeria very often, you know, as part of the different deals that I had.

Speaker A: Um, I love that you did that, by the way. I love that. Yeah, I'm going back to Nigeria.

Speaker B: I, I got to see, um, a lot of where the challenges were, but I also got to interact with a lot of people still in the industry. Um, and to be honest with you. Right. Um, there were a number of times that I, or with the companies I would work with in South Africa would need to go to Nigeria to either help with creating some form of, you know, like, um, structure with a project, maybe come there, do the first three weeks or first four weeks, set up, you know, like the post production structure and then, you know, hand it over to the local team to continue, you know. So I used to go to Nigeria also as, as an expatriate, which was very weird. But, um, you know, so I, I already had some form of a network with, you know, the, you know, the major producers in Nigeria.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: And so just communicated to them that I was in Nigeria, got a new company. Yep. So my company, I'm here. I didn't know what was going to happen, but I knew, you know what I'm. This is just gonna be something different. It's gonna be something new. And, and that was that.

Speaker A: Wow. And what's the learning curve been like setting m. Setting up and running a company, I imagine, even though in terms of the craft, you know, what you're doing, but in terms of running a business, that is something different. Right. How has that been for you?

Speaker B: Oh, gosh. Um, wow. Yeah. I mean, and running a company in Nigeria, it's, it teaches you a lot. Um, it was, it was, it was quite, it was quite frustrating for me. The, the first, let's say first year, first two years, um, because then it was almost like a culture shock as well for me because I'd been away from Nigeria for a bit and I hadn't had, I hadn't had, um, my, my adult life in, you know, Nigeria. Right. Because again, I left Nigeria, um, when I was, what, like. Okay. I mean, okay. I guess I was what, about 19, 20. When I was still young.

Speaker A: Right.

Speaker B: Yeah, and I was still young, you know, and so I, I, I always been, you know, shielded and sheltered because I was mostly working, you know, for companies who had had to deal with all of those things. But then I set up a company and then, you know, I was having to, to do that. So it was just, just that culture shock, just that frustration of. I, uh, was used to doing things a certain way, but culturally, right. Things were not necessarily done a certain way. And it was almost like I was trying to force my own way, um, on how things should be done. It doesn't really matter if you think, you know, your ways are better, uh, or they will lead to better outcomes, and m. Maybe they would. Right. But again, just culturally, people are different. And so it took me a while of just maturing and understanding that people are different. If you want to get your message across and get your way across, you're not going to have to fight it. You're going to have to find a way to be like water. Um, like blend into what, how they do their things. Then you're able to get your way across. So it took me about nearly two years to learn that.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: Um, and so I'm very grateful that I got to sell the company because then it was almost like a new phase of my career. Right. I'd done, you know, quite a bit of all of that editing, you know, um, but then it was now two phase where I was doing, I was then working on certain, you know, like, film, and film would take, you know, a while, like two years. You know, you're working on a certain film and also running a business, um, yeah, it was, it was. It was. It was interesting. It was. It was a learning curve. But again, you know, Blink Studios, what we've gotten to do with Blink Studios, I know I tend to use word luck a lot, but we were very lucky. We got, you know, a number of good projects to do. Um, I started off with really just it being myself. Right. And then, you know, we grew to having, you know, 15 people on staff, you know, over, you know, time. Um, um, I would speak about Blink Studios first. Um, no, actually, let me speak about my own, you know, just achievements.

Speaker A: Right.

Speaker B: In editing, at least. I'm glad I got to do that. Um, I then got to work on, you know, like, a couple of, um, Nigerian. The first Nigerian film that was, um. Um submitted for the. For the Oscars. It's called the Milkmaid. That was a good experience for me. That was good. Um, got to work on quite a number of films, um, as well. Um, and short films, you know, that won a number of awards. And so I, I got to do those. And, yeah, so I guess I achieved the thing I wanted to do. Right, which is, you know, pivot into doing, um, um, narratives and. Yeah, for the company. Right. We, we grew just because, again, it was very much about structure. Yeah, we created, um, a good structure and were able to expand. Um, and, you know, we got to do a lot of major projects in Nigeria. And then, you know, we are Netflix's post partner in Nigeria. Uh, you know, do QC and, um, you know, deliveries for Netflix, you know, content. This is amazing.

Speaker A: That's incredible. Yeah.

Speaker B: Amazon prime, you know, so. Yeah.

Speaker A: How incredible. What an amazing. We keep using this word journey being on, though, to get to come back and go, right, okay, I'm going to set up my company and then to expand it and then be those partners to those major, yeah. Platforms and then also build your team up. Incredible. You must feel very, um, very proud of everything that you've built. That's really quite something. Is there anything, Chuko, that you haven't done that you'd like to do? Is there still something?

Speaker B: Many things. Yeah, yeah, yeah, many things. Um, I would. I would love to, um. Okay, let me. Let me start off with then saying where we're at now, because then. Now we're at a new phase.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: Um, which then, you know, kind of like, um, tells what it is I'm trying to, you know, achieve now. Um, we have been. I know I keep on using this word, but we have been lucky enough again in the last few years to. We got some, um, investors, you know join Blink Studios. Um and that is then allowing us. It has allowed us over the last year and a half, two years to start our expansion. Um and we have then expanded into um almost almost similar to like a studio system where we we we either co found part fund you know or fund certain projects um um secure certain IPs as well still um having our post production facilities. Right. Um but also now in ownership of content and you know acting as a media um company. And so we have also expanded into Houston and Texas mostly because again our investors are um um the head offices in Houston Texas. We have you know a, A a small um outfit in, in the uk but that's also mostly because um my wife and kids are in the UK and so home is really you know, UK and Nigeria.

Speaker A: I'm just you know I've got that sense already. Yeah. Yeah, half and half. Yeah.

Speaker B: Um and so you know we've done quite a bit of all of that expansion. We we have, have been developing. There's, there's some IPs that we recently secured um again just with the massive help of our you know investors. Right. Um for a um some works from old, from an old author in Nigeria right who had like a catalog of you know like um, um um books written you know and they're fantasy books you know like honestly like in just similar to you know the CS Lewis, you know but it was written in, in a local language in Nigeria, the Yoruba language. And so just been expanding on that ip expanding on a couple of other things and you know also recently then um working on the handover uh with from a company scriptcraftworks in the UK as well in just taking over you know the trainings and mentoring sessions being organized by that. So saying that to say wow, so

Speaker A: you've got lots of different arms of your company now.

Speaker B: We, we do now.

Speaker A: Yes.

Speaker B: Saying that to say now what I would love to do is especially because of how I got to get into the industry right. It was very much through mentorship you know and through hands on training. Yes. So I'm very passionate about that. I mean yes, every year I, I definitely give you know um classes. I, I do classes, I give classes, you know but I'm, I want to you know build a, on a larger scale something.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: Uh, that can allow especially talented individuals because I, I know this because I'm one of them. Right. From you know many underrepresented you know communities that don't just have the easy access to, to um tools and to projects yet to have that opportunity to, you know, grow. Because talent, you know, talent, I realized, yeah, is. Is not enough. If it was just really my talent, I would. Yeah, I would get to a certain point, but then there'll be a ceiling. Right? But then having a skill, building skill from your talent, you know, and building structure, you know, um, and expertise, you know, is quite important. Um, and so, yeah, you know, want to build something that, um, that just allows on a larger scale, people to. To, you know, upskill.

Speaker A: Amazing. I love that. Oh, uh, extraordinary. What a journey you've had from kind of leaving school a year ahead of time through to where you are now. Building a major comp. A global company. I know you said it's only small, but it is a global company. You've got offices in three locations. Building a company that's got several different chapters across the media supply chain. That's extraordinary. Really, really amazing. What is it, Chuka, that keeps you working in this industry? What is it that you love so much?

Speaker B: Um, in this phase. Yeah, what it is that I love much because, and I mentioned to you earlier that it was a lot of ups and downs, especially running a business in Nigeria. Especially running a business, not just living in Nigeria, but especially running a business. Especially running a business in, you know, in the media industry. Um. Ah, you know, yeah, there'll always be those highs of working on, you know, those projects that would, you know, win awards or, you know, have this massive buzz or do this major things. But then after that high, right, you're off to the next thing and m. The next one and the next one. And so what I have then realized over time is as much as I enjoy, you know, working on those projects, of course one sad thing is I. I don't get to do much editing anymore. If I don't get to say, you

Speaker A: run a business right, you're expanding everywhere.

Speaker B: I don't get to, you know, do that, which, you know, I miss a lot. But again, if I got to do that, then a lot more things will suffer. And so it's not about me anymore. And. But what I. I have realized that is the thing that kind of keeps me going and is the thing that has been my metric of success. Yeah. Especially at those times when I would. Because I had. I questioned myself so many times, I wonder, what am I doing here? I had a great job. I could just go back to where I was going from what am I doing here? You know, but every time, yeah. Um, what has kept me going and what has made me feel like, you know, what I'm at least doing something really good is singing. A number of people who have. Quite a lot of people have come through us right, in the last 11 years now, but a number of people who have come through us with no knowledge or experience in anything in the film industry and now are, like, highly experienced individuals working in Canada, in, in the uk, in America, in Nigeria, in South Africa. Um, that, that has just at least kept me going, just knowing, you know, that at least we've done that, you know, like.

Speaker A: We have.

Speaker B: We have. Yeah.

Speaker A: Yeah. You've changed lives. You've changed lives.

Speaker B: I mean. Yeah, I guess. I guess so, you know.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: So. So that, that is the one thing that keeps me going.

Speaker A: Yes, I love that.

Speaker B: The impact on people. Yeah, people's lives and careers.

Speaker A: Yeah, extraordinary. And then telling stories as well, which is telling stories. Yeah. That have impact too, chica. Kind of final question. If there's anybody listening to this that would like to get into editing and that they think that that might be their path, what advice do you have for them now?

Speaker B: Um, read. Read a lot of stuff. Study. I shouldn't just keep it down to read. Just study. Um, yeah, it's, it was helpful for me, right, to, you know, do the practical work, but then studying, you know, I, I, maybe I should even, like, make it even, like, much broader. Educate yourself. Yeah, yeah. I mean, I, I got education. It wasn't formal education, but I definitely got education. So education is very important because that is what, um, first of all sets you apart, but then also makes you ask the why question. If you're not asking the why question in the work that you're doing, especially when it has to do with, um, work that is, you know, subjective, you know, or, you know, a craft or something, yet you are then just going to be a robot, you know, who's just going to be doing things just as they are. You're not going to, um, have an impact on it. You're not going to, you know, put your own imprint on it. It's only when you ask why. And so when you educate yourself, you then know the history of things. You know why certain things are the way they are, whether you agree with them or not. You're able to then change certain things, change the status quo. So educate yourself, um, by reading books, uh, listening. Nowadays, I guess you listen. You can listen to lots of podcasts on, you know, how people, um, worked on certain projects, you know, the challenges they faced and all of that. But it's very important to educate yourself, um, because that, that is what is going to give you. It's going to help you transform or. Or evolve your talent into real valuable skill. Talent is. Is not enough. Talent is talent. It's. It's just there waiting to be, you know, evolved. You have to evolve that talent.

Speaker A: I love that. Um, Chihuahua. It's been amazing chatting to you today. Thank you so much for joining us. Congratulations on an extraordinary career and a story. Good luck with the company and all of its expansion and the work that it will continue to do. And. Yeah. And thank you so much for joining me.

Speaker B: Thank you so much, Carrie. It's been great being on here, and I hope it does something for someone out there. So thank you.

Speaker A: I'm sure it will. I'm sure it will.

Speaker B: Thank you.

Speaker A: Thanks.