Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Funke Akindele, has identified American filmmaker, Tyler Perry, as her role model, attributing her success and storytelling inspiration to him.
The renowned filmmaker, in a post on X, said that Perry was an early role model whose films she learned a lot from and ultimately shaped her approach to storytelling.
According to her, nothing is wrong with learning from people you admire.
She also said that she built on foundation by attending workshops and gaining experience which helped her develop her own voice.
”I have never been ashamed of my humble beginnings, and I never will be. Tyler Perry is one of my role models and I learnt a lot from watching his films, especially when it came to storytelling and writing.
“There is absolutely nothing wrong with learning from someone you admire. In fact, that’s how many great journeys begin.
”Over the years, I broadened my knowledge, attended workshops, sharpened my craft through experience, and found my own voice. And I am still learning because growth never stops,” she wrote.
The filmmaker further said that she was grateful that upcoming filmmakers cite her work as inspiration, adding that, that was how creativity was passed on.
“Never be ashamed of where you started. Keep learning. Keep growing,” she added.
According to reports, Akindele made Nigerian cinematic history by becoming the first Nollywood filmmaker to surpass both the N2 billion and N2.7 billion box office marks.
Her recent hit, “Behind The Scene” set a new Nation record by grassing over N2.7 billion, outperforming her previous record-holding films “Everybody Loves Jenifa”, “A Tribe Called Judah” and “Battle On Buka Street”.