Dear Film Director and Producer,
How many stars have you discovered in your filmmaking journey?
Can you list talents you championed, guiding from the grounds up, all the way to the top?
Do you prefer to recycle familiar faces for every movie or are you willing to groom and expose fresh talents for your viewers?
Welcome to another edition of the Wakacast Successful Filmmaker Newsletter!
Today, we explore talent discovery and development in filmmaking — and the vital lessons film producers and directors can learn from the world of football.
A Quick Look At The World of Football
The world loves football.
Fans adore the round leather game.
This universal passion fuels the business and the expansive commercial ecosystem of Football.
Yet not every soccer star emerged polished and ready for the world stage.
There are countless inspiring stories of “grass to grace” — players who rose from humble beginnings to international fame.
From modern players like N’Golo Kanté to legends like George Weah, many started from local fields and eventually dominated the global stage.
Someone took a chance on them, leading to breakout opportunities.
What can filmmakers learn from this common thread in football?
Are there strategies from football managers that directors and producers can emulate to discover and nurture raw talent?
‘Oya,’ let us dive in!
Before we do, congratulations to Liverpool FC for winning the English Premiere League title 2024-25.
Big Ups to Remo Stars of Nigeria, for clinching their first NPFL title (2024-25 season).
I bet there is a huge back story for many of the players in both teams. But that is a tale for football afficionados.
Our goal here is to look at the lessons we can draw as filmmakers from the wider world of football and what the managers do.
Understanding the Role of a Football Manager
- A football manager oversees almost all aspects of the team’s performance. Their responsibilities include:
- Tactical Planning: Crafting game strategies and formations to defeat opponents.
- Player Development: Identifying raw talent and nurturing it into top performance.
- Team Selection: Choosing the best mix of players based on tactics, form, and fitness.
- Motivation and Leadership: Inspiring players to deliver their best individually and as a team.
- Media Relations: Managing public communications and maintaining the image of the team.
A great football manager displays strategic thinking, leadership, adaptability, communication skills, and a keen eye for talent.
Understanding the Role of a Film Director
In a similar vein, a film director guides the entire creative vision of a production.
The main responsibilities include:
- Creative Vision Development: Shaping the artistic and narrative tone of the film.
- Auditions and Casting: Selecting actors who best fit each role with authenticity and presence.
- Performance Direction: Guiding actors to deliver believable performances.
- Crew Coordination: Working closely with cinematographers, designers, editors, and more to maintain a unified vision.
- Problem-Solving: Handling unexpected challenges to keep the production on schedule and budget.
A good director embodies creativity, leadership, adaptability, communication excellence, and storytelling mastery.
How Do Football Teams find new talents?
With the high risk of injuries, inevitable advancement in age, and frequent player turn-over or transfer from club to club, how do Managers ensure a steady supply of new talents to keep the team flag flying?
Football has a systematic process for talent discovery and Managers play a vital role in this regard.
From school competitions to community-level matches to international youth tournaments, the search for young stars never stops.
Football academies play a crucial role in nurturing emerging players.
An example that is close to home is the Pepsi Football Academy.
Pepsi Football Academy – Nigeria
Two notable players who rose through this academy include, John Obi-Mikel and Peter Odemwingie.
What Can Film Directors and Producers Learn from Football Managers?
1. Talent Scouting and Development
Football managers teach us the value of seeking fresh talent.
A good director constantly scouts, not just through formal auditions but by watching TV, stage plays, YouTube performances, indie films, and student productions.
While it may be pragmatic for a director to feature known stars, emerging talents often bring new energy, authenticity, and fresh perspectives.
Here is a tip from a popular Nollywood director.
“Be intentional. Create opportunities. Let your audition be open and give new people a chance to participate. You can visit local acting schools and drama clubs. The least you can do is to keep an eye on projects by other up coming directors and producers, you are likely to find raw talents waiting to be tapped.”
2. Building Team Cohesion
Just like a football manager nurtures team spirit, a director must cultivate trust, collaboration, and a positive atmosphere on set.
A cohesive crew delivers better results and a compelling final product.
3. Strategic Planning
Successful football teams thrive on detailed match preparations.
Similarly, strong pre-production planning is essential for directors to anticipate challenges and execute a film smoothly.
4. Adaptability Under Pressure
Both directors and managers face unpredictable challenges — weather delays, injuries, budget issues, etc.
Quick thinking and flexibility are essential for overcoming obstacles and keeping the vision alive.
Drama Clubs, Theatre Troupes, and Talent Discovery
Before filmmaking came along, theatre was the ultimate storytelling platform.
Theatre companies provided structured environments for talent development.
Even today, drama clubs, acting schools, and independent troupes are rich hunting grounds for undiscovered talents.
Directors can create or collaborate with such groups, offering emerging actors real opportunities to hone their craft and gain visibility.
The Yoruba Travelling Theatre of South Western Nigeria (active between the 1950s and the late 1980s) developed and graduated a vast trove of acting talents that have found outlets in TV and Cinema.
Conclusion
Football managers always look out for new players, via academies, competitions, and scouting missions.
And while playing professional football has a physical time limit, acting as a career can thrive for decades.
A breakout talent could be 20, 50, or 70 years old!
As a filmmaker, never stop searching for authenticity, freshness, and genuine artistry.
Your audience deserves new voices and unforgettable performances.
Thank you for reading!
Happy Filmmaking!
