Photo by Connie Kurtew
Bio
Bola Ogun is a first generation Nigerian-American Director, who recently finished the second season premiere block of Netflix’s Shadow & Bone from Arrival screenwriter Eric Heisserer and will be gearing up for the season three finale block of Witcher. She has previously directed the season finale of Raising Dion, episodes of Lucifer, Charmed, Siren, Walker, Legacies, Big Shot, Two Sentence Horror Stories and God Friended Me. Her launch into television began when she was tapped by Ava Duvernay to direct Queen Sugar after she watched Bola’s short film Are We Good Parents?. Ogun directed, co-produced, and co-wrote this short which stars Once Upon A Time’s Sean Maguire and Rent’s Tracie Thoms. It is frequently praised for its portrayal of panic progressive parents hoping to raise their child in a warm, accepting environment and enjoyed a successful festival run premiering at SXSW as well as winning Best Short Film and Best Emerging Filmmaker at the AT&T SHAPE Awards. Ogun is an alum of AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women, the WB Directors’ Workshop, the Ryan Murphy Half Initiative, and the WeForShe DirectHer Program. Additionally, she was one of five filmmakers selected for Robert Rodriguez’s Rebel Without a Crew docuseries.
Bola’s independent work has received a grant from the California Institute of Contemporary Art. She has also received positive reviews from publications such as Black Girl Nerds and Shadow & Act as well as being featured in SYFY Wire and Essence magazine.
Growing up she was influenced by anime shows, fantasy role playing games and TRL music videos. She maintains a passion for character driven genre films and television. Though she often travels to see family in Croatia, the UK, and Nigeria, Bola is LA based. She is currently represented by Gersh and Art/Work Entertainment and has recently been added to the Believe Media commercial directors roster which includes visionaries Zack Synder and Floria Sigismondi.
The Work
TELEVISION DIRECTOR
SIREN
Ryn, Ben and Maddie must protect Bristol Cove - a coastal town known for its legend of once being home to mermaids - from Tia's army. Ben's injections produce unexpected results, which alarms both him and others; Xander juggles best man duties in Calvin's wedding, while also helping Helen.
QUEEN SUGAR
Charley, Ralph Angel, and Nova return to their home in Louisiana after the death of their father Ernest, an indebted sugar-cane farmer, and are faced with the daunting task of reviving the hundreds of acres of land they’ve inherited
LUCIFER
Lucifer Morningstar has decided he's had enough of being the dutiful servant in Hell and decides to spend some time on Earth to better understand humanity. He settles in Los Angeles - the City of Angels.
LEGACIES
When a truth-seeking monster arrives in Mystic Falls during Commonwealth Day, Hope and Lizzie fear that the secrets they've each been keeping have made them targets. Meanwhile, MG, Kaleb and Kym seek out an unlikely ally, who may have knowledge on how to take down the latest monster. Finally, Freya receives an unexpected visit from one of the Salvatore Students.
GOD FRIENDED ME
An atheist's life is turned upside down when God adds him as a friend on Facebook. Miles, Cara and Rakesh try to stay a step ahead of a bounty hunter, Bonnie, who's searching for Miles' new friend suggestion, a petty criminal-turned-fugitive for evading court.
COMING SOON
DIRECTOR | writer
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hangry teaser
A different kind of coming of age story
Written by Tennessee Martin
IN PRODUCTION
are we good parents? tRAILER
When Lauren and Bill’s 14-year-old daughter says she’s going to her first dance with her classmate Ryan, they question their preconceived notions of her sexuality and their openness as parents.
OFFICIAL SELECTION & AWARDS
2018 SXSW Film Festival Official Selection (World Premiere)
2018 Outfest Film Festival Official Selection
2018 AT&T Film Awards - Best Short Film & Emerging Filmmaker CO-WINNER
2018 Urbanworld Film Festival Official Selection (East Coast Premiere)
2018 Napa Valley Film Festival Official Selection
2018 Pittsburgh Shorts Film Festival Official Selection 2018 Milwaukee Film Festival Official Selection 2018 Citizen Jane Film Festival Official Selection
2018 Hollyshorts Film Festival Official Selection
2018 Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival Official Selection
2018 Edmonton Int' Film Festival Official Selection (International Premiere)
2018 OUTshine Film Festival Official Selection
2018 CinemaQ Film Festival Official Selection
2018 Cape Town Film Festival Official Selection
2018 Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Official Selection - Best Director
2019 Lunafest Film Tour Official Selection
2019 Coven Film Festival Official Selection - Best Director
2019 Cleveland International Film Festival Official Selection - Best LGBT Short
THE WATER PHOENIX SHORT FILM
Mermaid Anya held captive in an aquarium falls out of love with her caretaker, Jack, when he fails to follow through with his promise to break her free. Broken-hearted and alone, she must find a way to escape before they move her further away from home.
OFFICIAL SELECTION
2017 LA International Shorts Official Selection (World Premiere)
2017 Catalina Film Festival Official Selection
2017 Citizen Jane Film Festival Official Selection
2017 Sunscreen Film Festival West Official Selection
2018 Terminus Film Festival Official Selection
2018 Etheria Film Tour Selection
2018 SCI-FI London Film Festival Official Selection
Nike // I RUN “Hip Hop”
Spec Commercial
Nike // I RUN “Rocker”
Spec Commercial
PRODUCER
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Music video by Donna Missal performing “Keep Lying”
© 2018 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Music video by Donna Missal performing “Girl”
© 2018 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Music video by Donna Missal performing “Driving”
© 2018 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Music video by RACHEL BLOOM performing “LADY BOSS” | VANITY FAIR
The star of the CW's “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” takes on workplace inequality with an original performance for Vanity Fair's Founders Fair.
Music video by RACHEL BLOOM performing “I DON’T CARE ABOUT AWARD SHOWS” | CBS
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend 2017 Emmy campaign music video
SHORT FILM by MICHAEL LANGMAN “WAKE THE RIDERLESS HORSE”
We follow Jonathan as he succumbs to an opioid addiction and is confronted by an unusual character that has been watching his journey from the very beginning. Before he slips into oblivion, he must first see how his untimely death affects the ones that love him the most.