Music video director Praise Onyeagwalam, popularly known as Director Pink, has revealed why she gave up on pursuing a career in acting.
The award-winning cinematographer said humiliation and sexual exploitation of aspiring actors made her quit that career path.
In an interview with Hip TV, Director Pink said the experience of standing on long queues at movie auditions and receiving shady calls from male filmmakers inviting her to compromising locations made her decide to become her own boss.
“I wanted to be an actress but the humiliation was too much. Long queues, shady ‘come to this location’ calls. I said ‘No.’ That’s when I chose to be my own boss,” she said.
Director Pink, who has worked with top artistes such as Chike, Davido, Phyno, Burna Boy and Naira Marley, said being a music video director also comes with its challenges, but she is ready to make sacrifices for the career.
She advised upcoming directors to be patient and embrace delayed gratification, noting that those at the top today took years to achieve their success.
Director Pink, who began her journey behind the camera around 2020, gained recognition after directing ‘Running to You’ by Chike featuring Simi in 2021.
She now heads her own production outfit, Pinkline Films, through which she promotes women’s participation in video production.
The filmmaker has since received several award nominations, including The Future Awards Africa – Prize for Film in 2024.
