Victor. The name is traditionally given to males with important families or clans. Taken from the word victorious, an adjective for fortunate – to have good luck, be blessed, highly favoured and advantageous.
Victor Adebodun embodied his name. As with all Nigerian mums, she gives the name to the child, expecting that child to live up to the duty, the responsibility of carrying such a name. Victor outlived his name. In his courage, his care for others, his work ethic and his love of community. To us all, Victor is a name associated with action and greatness. His mother knew before he was born, the kind of mission he was on.
The first time I met Victor was September 18th 2016.
He came up to me, pulled me to the side and ‘Clare, you’ve done a great job you know sis. I know what kind of levels of production values goes into pulling off an event like this (BUFF Awards 2016) and trust me, it’s not easy. This is epic, and you should feel proud’. We hugged immediately. What a gentleman. A man that could see past the sweat patches, the glitz and the gloss and admired hard work. It takes one to know one.
In fact, truth be told – I had come to know the man, before I had met him through his own epic proportions. His hit Sky Living TV show ‘Venus vs Mars’ was the reason why I had come to know of emerging female talent in the film industry – notably writer/director Baby Isako and actress Letitia Hector. I then began looking up all of his works and saw how inseparable him and Femi (Oyeniran) were. It was a no brainer when the logo for Purple Geko began appearing everywhere.
We had the divine combination of two Nigerian creative geniuses, trying their damnest to charge into an industry that had tried for decades to starve them out. God says ‘ when two or more are agreed, it shall be done’.
Every set back, every challenge, every ‘NO’ seemed to fuel the pair on, and before you knew it, by the summer of 2016 they had found their stickability in the prolific global hit THE INTENT.
Fast forward to September 10th – BUFF Awards 2017, at the infamous private BT Tower and this time it was their night. Voted unanimously by 21 patrons the film picked up the BUFF BEST FEATURE FILM award.
At the awards after party, we partied, talked about the future, gushed over the pictures on his phone of his wife’s pregnant belly, revealing the most adorable photo of their new-born baby Vienna-Grace. The joy he expressed at being a father and spending time with his family was a pleasure to witness. He spoke with a calmness, like a man who was on top of the world.
Victor, the gentleman that he is, made sure he hugged every person in the room, congratulated them on their nomination or win and savoured a glass of champagne with his The Intent cast (Jade Asha, Dylan Duffus, Nicky Slim Ting Walker).
(L-R: Victor with some of the cast of THE INTENT with the Founder of BUFF – Jade Asha, Nicky Slim Ting Walker, Dylan Dufus, Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe, Femi Oyeniran and Victor Adebodun)
This thursday, when the sudden news came, I was cold with shock.
My mind went straight into contemplating what his loving mother, doting wife and young daughter will be going through. The realisation of the unexpected loss of a brother, a Nigerian, a son, a father, a super producer, a gentleman, a man with plans that made things happen is truly devastating and there are no real words to describe the pain that WE – the U.K black film industry will feel now and in the coming weeks as we truly begin to comprehend what we have actually lost in Victor. A young man in his early 30’s, with a new family of his own and a thriving progressive production company. The shock and the loss is incomparable.
From everyone here at Pride Magazine NG, we send our deepest condolences to Victor Adebodun’s entire family, friends, business partner Femi Oyeniran, Nicky Walker and associates.
In times of tragedy, let us seek comfort in remembering the legacy of our brother and friend. Let us celebrate him, propel his achievements and seek refuge in the fact that the spirit of such a man will live forever.
Remembering Victor:
Victor started his career in television and film working for the Soho post production company The Moving Picture Company. He worked on several high profile films such as Harry Potter, Narnia, G.I. Joe, James Bond‘s Skyfall as well as Ridley Scott‘s Prometheus.
He worked both in MPC’s UK and Canadian branches supporting their vast visual effects team.
In late 2011 he, along with acclaimed writer Baby Isako, created the hit online web drama Venus Vs Mars, which went on to get over a million views online and receive several awards, including the Screen Nation Digital award for Best Web Series.
In 2014 they convinced commissioners at the Leading UK satellite provider BSkyB to commission Venus Vs Mars as a 10-part drama for Sky Living. Venus vs Mars went on to air on the 9th April 2015. He directed and produced the short film Bag Ladies, which was accepted in the short film section of the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.
In 2015, he was asked to speak on a panel at the annual Cannes MIPTV Media Market in a talk named ‘Digital-Friendly Production 101’; he spoke alongside the VP of Global Content for FremantleMedia International and the CCO of New Form Digital.
He produced and directed alongside filmmaker Femi Oyeniran, an online panel chat show called Cut The Chat, which provides a platform for the discussion of issues that affect young people. The show has proven really successful, and there is a live format every quarter at the Camden Roundhouse.
He also executive produced UK gangster film The Intent and its prequel The Come Up.
Photo credits: Nk Abani
Written by Dr Clare Anyiam-Osigwe BEM, Pride Mag NG International Editor