In honor of a great Gospel Drama icon who just slept in the Lord, I would like to write 7 things I learned from Baba Gbenro of Abattoir film.
Baba Gbenro, whose real names are Dr. Korede Are Moses, directed our first gospel film, The Prostitute movie. It is not just about the fact that he directed the film, it is about the effort he puts into the production of the film and how he encouraged us to make the film a reality.
You can read more about The Prostitute movie here.
Who was Baba Gbenro of Abattoir film?
Baba Gbenro was the star actor in the popular Mount Zion Christian Films movie called Abattoir. Just as I mentioned above, his real names are Dr. Korede Are Moses. But not many people call him by his real names again but by the name, Baba Gbenro which was his name in the popular film.
Baba Gbenro was the President of Calvary Drama Ministry. He is also the President of Drama Ministers Technical School (DMTS), a school that yours truly attended last year.
He was also the brain behind Calvary Movies TV, a growing YouTube channel that is featuring lots of Gospel movies today. He coordinated activities on this channel together with her daughter, Bamike Are Moses.
Breaking! Watch one of the films Baba Gbenro wrote and directed and produced before he went to be with the Lord.
7 things I learned from Baba Gbenro of Abattoir film
Now the following are the 7 things I learned from Baba Gbenro of Abattoir film:
1. Humility
Despite his fame in the gospel film industry, Baba Gbenro exudes humility. Why did I say this?
I want you to look at how we got to know him.
We wanted to turn my successful Christian romance novel into a film according to the instructions of the Lord to me. My 13-year old daughter got in touch with him via WhatsApp!
Can you believe that? He didn’t play hard to get. My daughter used her mummy’s phone to get across to him via WhatsApp. He responded with humility and gave more information on how to reach him.
2. Modesty
During my time at his Drama school, I had the opportunity to discuss a small project with him. I wanted him to give the world a book. Especially a book written for Christian drama Ministers.
I told him that as a publishing firm, we would coordinate the writing, Publishing and the launch of the book. Look at his response below:
“Hmmm, that’s a good idea” he said nodding his head. “I’ll think about that. It’s just that I’m not the public type. I don’t always like the noise.”
That startled me. He was already in the public and naturally, he should want more publicity. But he does not want that. He still valued his privacy and quiet life.
Even during the Drama school classes, you will only find him coming around only during his classes unless he was forced to do some things. Modesty at the highest level.
3. Dedication and hard work
Baba Gbenro of Abattoir film was also a very hardworking man. He was also very dedicated to the work.
I saw a lot of this during the Drama school and also during the shooting of The Prostitute movie.
Sometimes, he taught us till late in the night whenever we had his classes. We usually have to bring out our phones’ torch light to see and when electricity light is not on.
He always do justice to his courses. He taught almost everything about his subjects and courses. He gave more during his classes. The reason why we always stay late into the night for his classes.
Baba Gbenro loved gospel drama with all his heart. He lived and dief for gospel drama. The reason for his dedication and hard work.
4. High discipline
On one of the days when we were shooting The Prostitute movie, the main actor took permission from the Production Manager to go and attend to something. He did not inform Baba Gbenro who was the Director.
That was gross indiscipline in the film location world.
Unfortunately, the main actor did not come back on time before the time for the next location. The Director knew about this and was angry.
This was his discussion with me, the Producer, after he knew about it:
“Producer, can you see what these kids are doing? How can you leave a location without informing the Director”
I laughed.
“That’s” he continued when he noticed I did not want to say anything. “Not acceptable. I wonder why this generation are no longer embracing discipline?”
He then moved closer to me and said this funny statement: “Bro Sesan, am I a wicked person? I’m just surprised, he was not confident to come to me to ask for permission. Am I that wicked?”
This time, I laughed more.
5. Principled
He was also a very principled person. He was very calculative and very sound in keeping records.
He took accounts of every discussion you have with him even if it was on WhatsApp. He would always try as much as possible to keep to his principles and the last discussion you have with him.
6. Family man
During Drama school days and during the shooting of The Prostitute movie, I noticed he was a family man. He loved his wife and children very much.
All of them are part of the ministry. From the wife to the last child.
In one discussion with him when we shot the restaurant scene of The Prostitute film, he said the following words to me:
“This is a big restaurant. I am hopeful that Bamike’s small and new restaurant will be as big as this very soon.”
Bamike is his first child and daughter who runs a new restaurant.
That is how passionate Baba Gbenro was about his family.
7. A professional to the core
Really, I don’t have to write much about this. If you have ever watched Baba Gbenro or Dr. Korede Are Moses in a movie, you would have observed his professionalism.
You don’t need to be close to him for you to see this. You will see it from the way he acted his roles in movies.
Walking closely with him, you will see more. He was a professional to the core. He does not toy with any aspect of the work. He wanted everything done the way they must be done.
I also noticed he was always carrying our researches into the latest trends and technologies that are emerging in the industry. Despite the fact that he was not a Director of Photography (DOP), he knew about the latest shots and cameras in the industry.
Well, you will say he should know them because he was a Director but we have seen some Directors who don’t devote the time to carry out these researches.
Baba Gbenro of Abattoir film is a thorough bred professional. He won souls to the kingdom of God on this earth with his acting and movies.
He is gone to be with the Lord. We will miss him but this, definitely, is heavens gain. Continue to rest in the bosom of the Lord Sir.
Watch The Prostitute film below
