Tunde Babalola

{{short description|Nigerian screenwriter}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Tunde Babalola | other_names = | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = | birth_name = | birth_place = England | death_date = | death_place = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates =  | alma_mater = Obafemi Awolowo University | years_active = 1997–present | party = | spouse = | children = | awards = | father = | mother = | relatives = | signature = | website = | footnotes = | occupation = Screenwriter }}

'''Tunde Babalola''' is a Nigerian screenwriter in Nigerian cinema and British television.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.modernghana.com/nollywood/34800/actress-anne-njemanze-steps-out-with-sneakers.html| title=Actress, Anne Njemanze Steps out with Sneakers on Native Attire | publisher=modernghana | accessdate=11 October 2020}}</ref> He is most notable for writing movies such as ''Last Flight to Abuja'', ''Critical Assignment'', ''October 1'' and ''Citation'',<ref>{{cite web | url=https://mubi.com/cast/tunde-babalola| title=Tunde Babalola: Screenwriter, story | publisher=MUBI | accessdate=11 October 2020}}</ref> as well as the Nigerian soap-opera ''Tinsel'' and UK series ''The Bill'' and ''In Exile''. He also acted in the 2001 movie ''Deep Freeze'', however it is not a career path he says he intends to pursue.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://thenationonlineng.net/as-a-scriptwriter-i-faced-rejection-for-three-years-in-uk-tunde-babalola/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria| title = Tunde Babalola's interview with The Nation | accessdate=14 April 2023|newspaper=The Nation}}</ref>

==Personal life== He was born and grew up in England. Later, he moved to Nigeria with his parents and siblings. His father was an accountant and his mother worked in the Central Bank. Under the guidance of his uncle, a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Nigerian Army, Babalola was forced to apply to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). However, his mother did not give him permission. Therefore, he gained admission to study Dramatic Arts at the Obafemi Awolowo University.<ref name= Tunde>{{Cite news | url=https://thenationonlineng.net/as-a-scriptwriter-i-faced-rejection-for-three-years-in-uk-tunde-babalola/|location=Lagos, Nigeria| title=As a scriptwriter, I faced rejection for three years in UK–Tunde Babalola | accessdate=11 October 2020|newspaper=The Nation}}</ref>

==Career== At the age of 14, he wrote his first film script ''In The Raw''. After he returned to the United Kingdom, he joined with Channel 4 and wrote the play for sitcom series called ''In Exile''. He later worked with several channels: BBC, Carlton Television and Chrysalis Television.<ref name= Tunde />

Babalola started as a writer with the TV serial ''The Bill''. After the serial received fan popularity, he wrote the three TV serials in 1997: ''True to Life Player'', ''Crime of a Lesser Passion'' and ''Armed and Dangerous''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2bbc76de5f| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017125630/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2bbc76de5f| url-status=dead| archive-date=17 October 2020| title=Tunde Babalola: Filmography| publisher=British Film Institute | accessdate=11 October 2020}}</ref> In 1998, he wrote the serial ''One Man, Two Faces''. Later in 2002, he made maiden cinema appearance as an actor with the horror film ''Deep Freeze''. He played the role as a helicopter pilot.<ref name= Tunde />

In 2014, he wrote the script of critically acclaimed blockbuster ''1 October'', where he took four weeks to write the first draft of the film and three drafts only took about a week to complete. The script was initially submitted with the title ''Dust'',<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://thenet.ng/net-exclusive-kunle-afolayan-opens-up-on-his-new-film-and-relocation-plans/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria| title=NET EXCLUSIVE: Kunle Afolayan opens up on his new film and relocation plans | date=19 May 2014 | access-date=22 June 2014 | author=Jasanya, Olamide | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140622081057/http://thenet.ng/2014/05/net-exclusive-kunle-afolayan-opens-up-on-his-new-film-and-relocation-plans/ | archive-date=22 June 2014 | url-status=live |newspaper=The NET}}</ref> mainly because the story is set in a very dusty town. Even though Afolayan didn't want to do big budget projects at the time, he knew he had no choice, as he wanted to interpret the writer's vision adequately because it is a "national film with a universal appeal". He expressed that he liked the story of ''1 October'' because it is a period piece, which he had never done before and "it is also significant to the present state of Nigeria". As a result, he decided to explore the film by adding his own ideas to the subsequent drafts of the script.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xjp3ebLtQ5I | title=EN- Kunle Afolayan Speaks On New Flick ''October 1'' | via=YouTube | accessdate=29 May 2014 | publisher=Channels TV}}</ref>

In 2015, he joined as the writer and producer of the comedy TV production ''Rib Busters: Comedy Show''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/tunde_babalola/| title=Tunde Babalola credits | publisher=British Comedy Guide | accessdate=11 October 2020}}</ref> In 2015, Babalola won the awards for the Best Comedy Writer for the film ''The meeting'' and Best Drama Writer for the film ''1 October'' at Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/nollywood/178143-the-meeting-october-1-shine-at-amvca.html| title='The Meeting', 'October 1' shine at AMVCA | accessdate=11 October 2020|newspaper=Premium Times}}</ref>

==Filmography==

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Film !! Role !! Genre !! Ref. |- | 1997 || ''The Bill'' || writer || TV series || |- | 1997 || ''True to Life Player'' || writer || TV series || |- | 1997 || ''Crime of a Lesser Passion'' || writer || TV series || |- | 1997 || ''Armed and Dangerous'' || writer || TV series || |- | 1998 || ''In Exile'' || writer || TV series || |- | 1998 || ''One Man, Two Faces'' || writer || TV series || |- | 2002 || ''Single Voices'' || writer || TV series || |- | 2002 || ''Deep Freeze'' || Actor: Shockley || Film || |- | 2004 || ''Critical Assignment'' || screenplay, writer || Film || <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fandango.com/critical-assignment-84629/movie-overview| title=Critical Assignment | publisher=fandango | accessdate=11 October 2020}}</ref> |- | 2008 || ''Life in Slow Motion'' || writer || Short film || |- | 2011 || ''Maami'' || screenplay || Film || |- | 2012 || ''Last Flight to Abuja'' || story || Film || |- | 2012 || ''The Meeting'' || writer || Film || |- | 2014 || ''October 1'' || script writer || Film || |- | 2016 || ''The CEO'' || writer || Film || |- |2018 |The Eve (2018 film) |writer |Film | |- | 2019 || ''Mokalik (Mechanic)'' || writer || Film || <ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/nollywood/365003-movie-review-kunle-afolayans-mokalik-thrives-on-memory-not-viewer-satisfaction.html| title=Movie Review: Kunle Afolayan's 'Mokalik' thrives on memory, not viewer satisfaction | accessdate=11 October 2020|newspaper=Premium Times}}</ref> |- | 2020 || ''Citation'' || writer || Film || |- | 2021 || ''La Femme Anjola'' || writer || Film || <ref>{{Cite news|last=Obioha|first=Vanessa|date=19 March 2021|title=Review: Different Shades of Entrapment in 'La Femme Anjola'|url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/03/19/review-different-shades-of-entrapment-in-la-femme-anjola/|access-date=6 April 2021|newspaper=This Day|language=en-US}}</ref> |- |2024 |''Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti'' (2024) |writer |Film |.<ref>{{Cite news |title=FULL LIST: Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti biopic wins big at 2023 AFRIFF Awards |url=https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/full-list-austen-peters-film-on-felas-mum-wins-big-at-2023-afriff-awards/ |accessdate=17 November 2023 |newspaper=TheCable}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=AFRIFF Awards: Bolanle Austen-Peters celebrates as she wins Best Feature Film award |url=https://www.gistreel.com/afriff-awards-bolanle-austen-peters-celebrates-as-she-wins-best-feature-film-award/ |accessdate=12 November 2023 |website=Gist Reel}}</ref> |}

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== * {{IMDb name|nm1135214}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Babalola, Tunde}} Category:Living people Category:Nigerian male film actors Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Nigerian screenwriters Category:British male screenwriters Category:21st-century Nigerian male actors Category:Obafemi Awolowo University alumni