Meet Rowsquare Nollywood's Fast Rising Movie Director and Producer

 

Nollywood as the Nigerian movie industry is fondly called, has grown over the years to become one of the best movie industries in the world. It's on record that Nollywood is the second largest film industry in the world behind India's Bollywood, with a total of over 2500 movies produced in a year.

 

With this growth, it's no surprise that Nollywood movies have become one of the most demanded movies on world renowned streaming platforms such as Netflix, Prime video, showmax, and others.

 

This growth has also given Nollywood movies a recognition at the prestigious Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) award, popularly known as the OSCARS. In 2019, Genevieve Nnaji's 'LION HEART' was presented to the OSCARS for the category of Best Feature Film, but I didn't meet the final requirement for a nomination.

 

In 2020 Desmond Obviagele's 'MILKMAID' was submitted to the OSCARS as Nigeria's official selection by the Nigerian Oscar Selection Committee but it failed to make the nomination list of the International Feature Film Category which it was presented for. Nigeria has presented 3 movies for the OSCAR 2023 which are; by Kunle Afolayan's 'ANIKULAPO', Femi Adebayo's 'AGESINKUNLE' ( King of Thieves ), and the late Biyi Bandele's 'ELESIN OBA' ( The King's Horseman ).

 

This feat achieved by Genevieve Nnaji, Desmond Obviagele, Kunle Afolayan, Femi Adebayo, and Biyi Bandele is a big inspiration to many Nigerian film makers.

One of them is Rowsquare, the CEO of Rowsquare media concept and Rowsquare media and film academy, whose real name is OROBOSA ODARO OSARUMWENSE STANLEY.

 

Rowsquare is a native of Benin, Edo state. He was born and brought up in Benin. Growing up, he attended owegie primary school between 1992 and 1998, then proceeded to Akenzua secondary school where he attained his secondary school leaving certificate (ssce) in 2003 .

 

After secondary education, unlike many Nigerian secondary school leavers who give up hope of furthering their education, due to their family background and the high cost of tertiary education in Nigeria, Rowsquare took to hawking in the street of Benin to save money for his education. Going further, he learnt bricks laying which he did for almost 5 years. When he was convinced he had saved enough money to further his education, he decided to pursue a career in the entertainment industry as a film maker.

 

 

As a child , he grew up admiring movies by these great Benin film makers; Lancelot oduwarene imasuen , omo-osagie utetenegiabi, Andrew osawaru, and Nollywood's Sylvester madu, Pete edochie Director Ugazu j Ugazu, etc, who he listed as his Idols and people he has plan to work with.

 

In 2009, he gained admission into the Film and Broadcast Academy (FABA) Ozoro, Delta State. There he groomed his passion for the entertainment industry and bagged a National Diploma in Performing and Media Arts in 2012.

 

On graduating, he worked in the entertainment industry as an apprentice over 2 years, perfecting his craft and learning the business of filmmaking. He met Johnson John Odidefe in the process, who he mentioned as one of his biggest mentors.

 

While working as an apprentice, he had plans of producing his own movie so he made it a habit to save the majority of his earnings as a production assistant. When he was sure he had saved enough, Rowsquare ventured into producing and directing his own movies with 2 movies which he produced back to back in 2015 ( ABOKI MY LOVER and MAMA CYNTHIA GOES TO SCHOOL). With these movies, he experimented with everything he learnt while in school and as a production assistant, and mastered the art of filmmaking.

 

Today, Rowsquare is an award winning movie producer, director, cinematographer, production manager, Film production instructor at the film and broadcast academy (FABA), and CEO Rowsquare media and film academy (RMFA), with over 30 movies to his credit.

 

His notable movies include: IVIE OGIE (nominated for Best Feature Film at the 2022 edition of the Edo State Film Festival, and came out 2nd place) , AGELESS LOVE, LUST, AGONY OF A GIRL CHILD, MY MAN, JENNIFER AND JANE, LINDA THE SERPENT, NEPA Series, ZAZOO MAMA Series , HIGH SCHOOL Series, FUTURE AMBITION , OBSESSION, BROKEN, and many others.




 

Movie productions has taken Rowsquare all over Nigeria as he does not limit himself to working only for his production company. He has been called upon on several occasions, to lend his wealth of experience to other production houses.




 

Although Rowsquare has achieved a lot as a young filmmaker, he still doesn't think he has done enough. He dreams of making Rowsquare Film and Media Academy (RFMA) the best film academy in Nigeria. With it, he hopes on grooming OSCAR standard filmmakers for Nollywood.

 

His advice for anyone who is aspiring to get into Nollywood or be a filmmaker like him is; "believe in yourself and in your dreams, and always pray to God for spiritual backup because nothing works or happens without God's awareness."

 

You can reach director Rowsquare via the following channels :
 

 WhatsApp or call - 08101808475

 

Facebook --- Rowsquare media concept RMC


https://www.facebook.com/rowsquaremedia


Instagram --- Rowsquaretv

https://instagram.com/rowsquaretv?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=



YouTube --- Rowsquarenollytv


https://youtube.com/channel/UC2TSAs0msMKcjkIMXtAuzJA



Tiktok ---- Rowsquarenollytv.