How a Film Masterclass Changed the Way I Think and See My Work

Hello Everyone! Happy New week! I hope your weekend was worth it and you got enough rest. If you didn’t, please call that HR and say,” Girlllll/ Boyyy, I need to relax. Give me the day off, Dawg.”Please, don’t. Unemployment is gradually increasing, and you still have bills to pay, oh.But let’s get into the gist today before you enter that five-hour update meeting. Today, I need to gush about my experience with the Women in Film opportunity I got in March.First of all, there are women in this world… and then there are WOMEN, the kind who don’t sit around for opportunities. They create them.Last month, I was blessed to be selected for a screenwriting masterclass by the incredible Yinka Ogun, the writer behind Dear Mother, The Royal Hibiscus Hotel, Tinsel, and Oloture. Interestingly, he had also taught me at EbonyLife Creative Academy in 2023, so seeing him again felt like a full-circle moment.<img alt="" src="/media/inline_insight_image/WhatsApp_Image_2026-05-11_at_06.59.27.jpeg"/>And honestly? It was amazing. There was only one small detail. It was on the Island.When I first got the information, I said to myself,“Island? Lekki? Every single day? God, is this how I’ll suffer for my destiny?That was when the logistics started running through my mind. I had a PPA that required me to be in the office on Mondays and Fridays, and CDS clearance on Wednesdays. My schedule was already tight.Then a thought came to me: “This is the room you have been waiting to walk into.”And somehow, that made the decision easier. This story isn’t about how I bent a few rules to make sure I attended every class. This is about how God placed me in a room I knew I was meant to be in.<img alt="" src="/media/inline_insight_image/WhatsApp_Image_2026-05-11_at_06.59.29_2.jpeg"/>At the closing ceremony, we had incredible women present, including Biodun Stephen, Temitope Akibode, and many others. Listening to them speak was deeply inspiring. These women were shining and thriving in both their careers as filmmakers and as mothers. Meaning, that you can do both!And as I listened, I imagined them in writers’ rooms, on set, behind cameras, making bold creative decisions. And I thought to myself, “It is possible.”Of course, I learned a lot during the masterclass. Here are a few things that stayed with me. 1. Don’t be too attached to your stories.In filmmaking, writers often refer to their scripts as their “babies.” I have a lot of baby stories I love deeply. But growth requires the ability to step back, accept feedback, and sometimes let go of parts of your story so it can become something better. 2. You have to be tough.Have you ever loved a film so much, only to hear someone say it was terrible? That’s filmmaking. Not everyone will love your work, and that’s okay. You need the resilience to keep going anyway. 3. Embrace collaboration.I’m naturally a lone ranger. I like working on my own. But during class, we were grouped to pitch ideas together. I decided to lean into the experience because, truth be told, it takes a village to bring a story to life. 4. Keep evolving and keep networking.The producer of your next film might be someone you haven’t even spoken to yet. Opportunities often sit right in front of us, but we miss them because we stay in our corners. That class reminded me to step out, speak up, and connect. 5. Stay true to yourself as a writer.I’m not really a sci-fi writer. What I enjoy most is writing strong dialogue and developing emotional, grounded stories. That’s where I shine. And that’s okay. Not every genre will be yours, but when you find your strength, own it. Dammmnnnn!<img alt="" src="/media/inline_insight_image/WhatsApp_Image_2026-05-11_at_06.59.29_1.jpeg"/> Okay, okay, I learned many more lessons (Like sometimes, some women are difficult to work with), but I’ll save those for another day. For now, I’ll just say this: I’m working on a few things, and I can’t wait to share them with you.Have a great week! And this is my message to all the women kicking ass in their careers,” You’re amazing!’ May we always work hard, and may our hard work be seen by many. Love, Toyin, soon-to-be EGOT winner.To watch my film, click here.

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