Philly filmmaker Walé Oyéjidé captures the beauty of Blackness in his debut feature

No matter the medium, filmmaker Walé Oyéjidé captures the beauty of Blackness in his artistic pursuits, and embraces his Nigerian heritage and wears it for the world to see.

Oyéjidé weaves the threads of his lineage with style as a clothing designer. And as a musician and photographer, he expresses it in song and image. Now, he shines a light on the Black experience and its lyrical allure with his debut feature, Bravo, Burkina!, set to premiere, in-person and online, at the Sundance Film Festival on Tuesday.

Written and directed by Oyéjidé, the film is a story of a Burkinabè boy who flees his village to start anew in a small Italian city, later traveling back in time to regain what he lost from his voyage. Beyond a tale of migration, the project explores love, loss, and discovery, themes Oyéjidé said resonate with people from all walks of life.

“It’s an immigrant story. It’s an outsider story. It’s a love story. It’s got time travel. It’s got a bunch of darts thrown at the board, and I think there’s a lot for people to connect with,” Oyéjidé, a Landsdowne resident, said. “It’s also unabashedly a beautiful African story. As much as you love Martin Scorsese’s fantastic Italian films, there’s room for this, too.”

A still from Bravo, Burkina! by Walé Oyéjidé, an official selection of the NEXT section at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.Jake Saner

A part of his own story brought to the big screen

Like the film’s main character, Aimé, Oyéjidé was born in West Africa and became an immigrant of the world, growing up largely in Nigeria and the Middle East. As a teen, he and his family moved to Atlanta before settling in Philly, where Oyéjidé graduated from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law in 2010.

It’s a story that’s present in all of his work.

“My upbringing as an immigrant to America has informed all of my artwork and the way I see the world,” Oyéjidé said. “I’m always appreciative of the privilege and benefit of moving to this great country. But I’m also aware of the sacrifices many make so they can come here and the many loved ones they leave behind.”

From Philly lawyer to film director

While practicing as a defense litigator, Oyéjidé began exploring his love of menswear, eventually starting his own West African-inspired fashion brand, Ikiré Jones, with long-time collaborator Sam Hubler in 2012. Their eye for couture led to their first foray into the movie industry when Marvel Entertainment tapped the duo to make costumes for 2018′s Black Panther.

“Black Panther was, before this, probably the biggest thing that people would be aware of our work for, and we’re grateful for all the attention and all the opportunities we got,” he said. “It gave me proximity and a chance to do more things.”

That included filmmaking.

“For those of us from immigrant backgrounds, there tends to be a strong emphasis on walking familiar and well-trodden paths — like being a physician or lawyer. Becoming a director wasn’t something I imagined in my youth. But in retrospect, my previous careers as an attorney, a musician, and a designer have all dovetailed here,” he said. “The films have become my arguments. The audience has become my jury.”

Filmmaking as an inevitable path

For the 12-day shoot, Oyéjidé and a small crew flew to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and Bologna, Italy, operating a run-and-gun production with limited resources and an airtight schedule.

“He’s brilliant,” said Hubler, who helmed the audio of the film. “He went in with a pretty set script this time, but he’s also very good at kind of working with what is presented to him — the situation on what’s available on the day and working the story around certain circumstances.”

While the film is a “global effort,” the filmmaker insisted that the production wouldn’t have happened without “the help of Philadelphia’s film community” that supported the film through its production journey.

Giulia Alagna, who worked as a producer on Bravo, Burkina!, said the way Oyéjidé is able to take on other creative mediums is a lost art and reminiscent of iconic artists of the past.

“I always tell him, ‘You’re a real Renaissance man and you’re not even from Italy,’” she said. “Whether it’s poetry, photography, or directing a film, nothing seems unsurmountable to him ... and he conquers them all.”

Oyéjidé believes that it’s important for Black storytellers to showcase the vastness of the Black experience — within U.S. borders and beyond.

“I think the challenge now becomes, if you are choosing to make art that comes from this cultural perspective, we all need to challenge ourselves to just fly higher, be braver, and go to places that we haven’t seen,” he said.

“Bravo, Burkina!” will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 24 and can be streamed online. For information on upcoming screenings, visit bravoburkina.com.

– The Philadelphia Inquirer

We asked Shaq about possible 'Steel' remake, and he didn't say no

Before taking the stage Oct. 23 at Circuit of the Americas after the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix, DJ Diesel, better known as the larger-than-life (and just large) Shaquille O'Neal, chatted with the American-Statesman and hinted at a possible remake of the widely panned but beloved superhero flick, "Steel."

Although the 1997 film is considered one of the worst superhero movies of the genre, and a point of laughter for Shaq, who wore the armor of DC Comics character John Henry Irons, the 7-foot-1-inch star said an updated version of the movie might be worth pursuing. Now, is he serious? We have no clue.

"I did that movie right before the special effects took off," Shaq said with a smile. "The (outfit) was like a costume. But if I ever get a chance to redo that movie I'm definitely ... Matter of fact, I'm going to redo 'Steel.' You heard it here first."

Here's a look at the rest of our conversation with the NBA Hall of Famer:

Shaq was pulling for Lewis Hamilton to take first place at Formula One.

Shaq talked about why he was back in Austin for a second year to perform as DJ Diesel after the Formula One race.

"It's great. There are a lot of people here, a lot of fanfare and I'm looking forward to seeing the race again. Hopefully, my guy (Lewis Hamilton) can pull it off, but it's just nice to see beer and sunny Austin, Texas and everybody having a good time. I love being here, it's a great atmosphere."

(Max Verstappen won after a "dynamic duel" with Hamilton.)

Shaq has a deep love for Austin.

Shaq's Big Chicken was at Formula One and has a year-round presence at Austin's Moody Center. He said he knew Austin was an ideal spot for the franchise because of the fond memories he has of visiting the Texas capital.

"Well, I'm from San Antonio. We used to come up to Sixth Street damn near every weekend. I've always loved Austin, and I've always loved Pflugerville. I told myself when I get done, I'll buy about 500 acres out in Pflugerville. But listen, Texas is a great state, Austin is a great city and the people here are (too). I've always done a lot of business here. I used to do business with Dell, so I used to come here a lot and I've always loved the people in Austin. My daughter once attended the University of Texas. ... So I wanted to put the Big Chickens in the cities where I had a presence."

Shaq picks Giannis to win MVP, Golden State to capture back-to-back championships.

With the 2022-2023 NBA season in full swing, Shaq made some early predictions for league MVP and said which team he thinks will hoist the Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy at the end of the season. Spoiler: He didn't pick my Cleveland Cavaliers.

"I thought Joel Embiid was going to come out the MVP, but now he just made it harder with that 0-3 start," he said. "Giannis (Antetokounmpo) is looking really good. Forty-four points in 28 minutes. I'm headed toward Giannis. The guards always get looked at for MVP, but I'll go with Giannis this year. And the (Golden State Warriors) seem to still be the favorite."

So no hope for my Cleveland Cavaliers?

"Cleveland looks good," he said. "They got Donovan Mitchell who's playing well. Cleveland will be good for him. It's a city that's a hard-working city, and they'll let him know when he's out there messing around. I think that will bring the best out of him. The (Utah Jazz) was too 'Aw,' but every now and then you need to look in the stands and see your fans disappointed so you know to step your game up. "

– Austin 360

Nicolas Cage's 'biggest fan' posted flyers across SXSW asking the actor to call. It worked.

Saturday update: Nicolas Cage called!

After printing more than 500 flyers and projecting a building-scaled picture of actor Nicolas Cage against a downtown wall with the message "PLEASE CALL ME" around South by Southwest, superfan Robby Schnetz's wish was granted. 

Schnetz, 31, received a call from the Academy Award-winning actor, known for roles in “Con Air” and “Face/Off,” on Saturday afternoon. And as the Austinite promised he would, Schnetz thanked Cage for the work he’s done in Hollywood and told him that he was, in fact, his biggest admirer.

“I wanted to just thank you so much for everything, all the years of content you’ve put out, all the roles you’ve chosen and the characters you’ve played,“ Schnetz told Cage, who is in Austin for the premiere of his movie "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent." “It’s amazing and I honestly feel like I am your biggest fan. I can’t necessarily prove it, but in my heart of hearts, I really do believe I am.”

Cage thanked Schnetz for his support, and let him know his outrageously ambitious efforts didn’t go unnoticed. 

“I’m a film enthusiast, too. So anytime somebody is interested in a movie or cinema, I’m always happy to talk, Cage said. “But I just wanted to let you know I got your message and I called you and I wish you the best of luck on all your endeavors.”

Earlier: South by Southwest has long been a festival bursting with super-fandom, with droves of fans pouring into downtown Austin hoping to spot their favorite actors, musicians and influencers.

If you've already made rounds on Day One, you've likely seen one of the biggest signs of fanship floating around this year's festival, the first in-person SXSW in two years. 

Slapped across the columns and walls of the Auston Convention Center are flyers featuring a photo of actor Nicolas Cage with the messages "I'M YOUR BIGGEST FAN" and "PLEASE CALL ME" above a 737 area code phone number. 

The fan responsible is Austinite Robby Schnetz, who printed nearly 500 copies of the flyer in hopes of connecting with the "Face/Off" and "Con Air" actor, whose newest film, "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent," is one of the most anticipated flicks to screen at SXSW. The film plays at 10:30 p.m. Saturday at the Paramount Theatre.

We gave Schnetz, 31, a ring to talk about his admiration for Cage, the bold move of posting his phone number throughout downtown Austin, and the hundreds of calls and texts he's received from impersonators of the Academy Award-winning actor.

Although we were initially sent to his voicemail, where the Plano-native requested a verification selfie in case we were Cage, we finally got a hold of him for a quick Q&A.

This conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity. 

American-Statesman: Out of all the fans of Cage, what makes you the biggest?

Robby Schnetz: I don't know if I could technically prove it because there are so many people, but I know in my heart that I am.

I started younger, man. One of my fondest memories with my parents was when I was super young. We watched "Con Air," and it was funny because he played some guy named Cameron Poe in the movie. The thing was, I had a friend in elementary school named Cameron Poe, and that's why my parents were like, "Hey, let's watch this movie."

They already saw it but they wanted me to see it so that I could go, "Oh hey, there's my friend." But you know, I watched (Cage's movies) throughout the years, and when I got to college, he was the main actor my roommates and I really started to follow.

But now, I got shower curtains, pillows, coasters, even a Nicolas Cage flag. I just know that in my heart of hearts I am his biggest fan. And if he's here in Austin, like, why wouldn't I do this stuff?

What about Cage made you such a massive fan?

I mean, he's been around for so long and he's not like one of these, "Oh, I'm gonna do a couple of blockbusters, get my millions and get out." He's not just doing roles for the box office. He's doing roles for the fans and because he wants to do them.

In his past couple of movies he had little dialogue, and in "Willy's Wonderland" he had no dialogue. He can act without saying a word. And with his upcoming movie, "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent," you can tell he did this for the fans just by looking at the trailer. This is him thanking the fans and really appreciating everything they've done and supported.

I don't know many actors that would do that and go out there and be like, "Yes, I'm going to play myself and give myself to this role." He really loves the fans and is an actual actor. Well, he is more of a thespian than an actor.

Why did you decide to print out the hundreds of flyers?

(Cage) was here a few years ago doing a movie, and I was, you know, a poor college kid. I didn't have the money. I was going around hoping to see him. But at this point, now in my 30s, I got a couple hundred bucks to just say screw it. Why not just try it?

Aren't you afraid you'll get calls and texts from weird strangers?

I've gotten literally hundreds of calls and texts of people pretending to be Nicolas Cage. I guess it's all a part of the process to find him. You have to play to win.

How excited would you be if you actually got a call from him?

I don't get starstruck that often by celebrities and stuff like that, but to actually meet somebody that you admire so much, It's going to get my heart pumping. I just want to thank him for all the content he's put out through the years. I just want to say, "Hey, I appreciate everything you've done artistically." I just appreciate his talent.

If the flyers don't work, anything next?

(I'm) going to see if this digital projection on buildings can get me to meet the legend himself or if it can get me into the movie premiere.

– Austin 360