Multi-talented & Creative Samuel (EI Especial) Fakile,,,

Quest: Briefly tell (talk to) Me about Samuel (EI Especial) Fakile with regard to who he is and what he does as a creative person?

Quest: You are a MUSIC PRODUCER | SOUND DESIGNER FOR FILM/COMMERCIALS | GRAPHIC DESIGNER | CONTENT CREATOR | VIDEOGRAPHER | ART ILLUSTRATOR, which role best describes you here, and why?

Ans: I will say content creator best describes me, for as long as I can remember creating magical content is what I have always loved to do, back when I was a kid in high school, I started out creating my own comic books, I went from creating artworks and dived into music, started out as a gospel rap artiste before I added graphic design, music production, video editing & film sound to my skill set. I have always had and still have the zeal for creating content.

Quest: How did you get here or what made you to focus on the above (what you do as an artist) as since you have qualifications in Bsc. Ed in Accounting from Ekiti State University?

Ans:  Since I was young, I have always been passionate about audio & visual Arts, I studied accounting because it was what my parents wanted for me at the time. I worked for a little while as an accountant until I decided to go into the media production industry, because I’ll rather be doing what I am most passionate about which is media and entertainment.

Quest: Can you briefly tell us about your job (role) as a “Musician and an Actor” at the same time?

Ans: I’m a gospel rap artist, I was active as an artiste up till 2018/2019 before I fully decided to focus on production, mixing & sound for film and music, I still rap, it’s not that I have dropped it completely, it’s not just as much as I used to. As For Acting, that’s something new I’m exploring, everybody keeps saying I look like an actor when they see me on set & discover I’m into sound, so I decided to give it a try recently, I’ve done a couple of auditions but haven’t landed a role yet.

Quest: You are involved at Sound Haven Studios, at which level or role and for how long have you been with them?

Ans: I’m actually a co-founder of sound haven studio, I’m also the lead sound engineer/mixer at the studio and I have been active there since 2019.

Quest: Briefly talk to me about your new position as “A tale to Freedom” Short-Film at ZHI Media (Your role please!!!)

Ans: A tale to freedom is a short film I worked on which was shot on an iPhone, I collaborated with Zhi-Media to bring to life the journey of Chuks, a budding creative whose life and career choices seem to be a choice of everyone else but His own. I played the role of cinematographer, director and sound editor on this project.

Quest: It is good to hear that the film which you created the audio/visuals and content is on YouTube and Instagram, what is the title of the film and when was it created?

Ans: The short films I’ve worked on which are now online are : Last Ride( A short film about human trafficking), A tale to freedom (the journey of Chuks, a budding creative whose life/career choices are decided by everyone else but him), Ogun (A short horror film about a spirit who haunts anyone that tries to take his inheritance), Stupid Finder( A Good Samaritan who returns lost/stolen items back to their owner), Clippers (A film about a barber who must choose between saving her shop & saving a stranger). There are others which are still to be completed, but these ones I listed are online currently. They were all created this year, except for the sound design of “A tale to freedom”, did that in 2021.

Quest: You are a Certified Music Producer, Sound Producer/Designer and Recordist for Film with multiple awards, can you take us through those awards and how it came to be that you won them (those AWARDS):

• Excellence Award.
• Ebony Life Award, and
• Best Final Mix Award

Ans: When I finished from Ebony life creative academy, I was awarded with the “ Ebony life Excellence award in location sound and final mix” for my hard work and dedication during our final projects, I and my team did our best to get a good location sound from set which allowed the post production to go smoothly without us having to solve major issues in post-production, this gave me more chances to explore my creativity in post-production.

I was also awarded “Best Final Mix “ for the short film “ Stupid Finder”. I critically followed the due procedure and techniques when it came down to mixing all the film elements together and I also had a very good partner who was just as determined and dedicated as I am to the task when I finished from Ebony life creative academy, I was awarded with the “ Ebony life Excellence award in location sound and final mix” for my hard work and dedication during our final projects, I and my team did our best to get a good location sound from set which allowed the post production to go smoothly without us having to solve major issues in post-production, this gave me more chances to explore my creativity in post-production.

I was also awarded “Best Final Mix” for the short film “Stupid Finder”. I critically followed the due procedure and techniques when it came down to mixing all the film elements together and I also had a very good partner who was just as determined and dedicated as I am to the task.

Quest: Can you briefly give us summaries of the following films you worked on: (i) Last Ride (ii) Imperfectly Perfect?

Ans: “Last Ride” is a film about human trafficking.  A young lady named Ani is kidnapped along with a group of girls, her loved one’s search for her with no knowledge of where she is, she tries to escape her captors before they send her to Italy for prostitution, but she was killed before that could happen. Imperfectly perfect is about two married couples with a not so perfect marriage, but they are both committed to making it work because they love each other.

Quest: Can you talk to me about your motivation and or inspiration in what keeps you going? What skills do one requires to be able to work effectively and efficiently in all the roles you occupied?

Ans: The passion & love I have for what I do is what keeps me going, there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing. I always tell people, there’s nothing better than doing what you love to do, “If you truly love what you do you will be able to face and overcome the challenges that come along the way”.

To be able to work as a film sound editor you should be skilled in the use of Protools, you should be creative, have knowledge of the techniques and procedures used in sound recording/production & mixing for film. As a music producer you should know & understand music theory, know how to use a digital audio work station to create music, as a mixing engineer for music & film you should have a critical listening ear for different sound frequencies, have good knowledge of the different processors used in making the audio better & to sit well in the mix, be knowledgeable about room acoustics and so on. Oh! and again, be creative. As a graphic designer you should be skilled in the use of apps like photoshop, Canvas etc. As a Videographer/Cinematographer you should know many camera handling techniques that are used in the field, how to use a tripod, gimbal, dolly etc., you should be familiar with the various terms & shots used on set, and so on.

Quest: How long have you been a creative person, and when did you learn that your passion is in it?

Ans: I’ve learnt that I’m passionate about creating magic since my teen years. I’ve been a creative person for 10+ years.

Quest: You did not mention anything about your place of birth as well as your current location, can you tell our readers about your place of birth and your current location.

Ans: I was born & brought up in Lagos State, Nigeria. Which is where I currently reside.

Quest: Who are you collaborating with (on personal projects) and what do you stand to benefit in that collaboration?

Ans: I have recently collaborated with Zhi-media, some Ebony life Creative Academy Alumni. Working with them has given me the opportunity to put my skills to the test & better improve on myself, I’ve also had the chance to meet fellow creatives who are also passionate about creating magic like myself. The next collaboration I’m aiming for is with a fellow ebony life creative academy alumni Emmanuel Izuoba on a docu-film he’s titled “Everything Wey Them Tell Us Na Lie” I feel collaborating on this project will give me a new dimension of exposure in the industry.

Quest: Which qualities do you think make a great (artist)?

Ans: Passion, the desire to grow & improve on your craft, dedication & discipline.

Quest: What is your advice to the aspiring (Cinematographers) artists?

Ans: Study as many techniques as possible that are used in the field. Get your hands on a camera & shoot something.