Unveiling the Unparalleled Brilliance: Filmmaker Koby Adom Champions Boundless Dreams in Dreaming Whilst Black

Summary

Showtime is bringing the UK-made series Dreaming Whilst Black to the US, a semi-autobiographical show about a struggling writer/director trying to break into the film industry.

The series started off as a popular web series and was later brought to television in collaboration with production companies A24 and Big Deal Films.

Koby Adom, a director and close friend of Adjani Salmon who is both the star and the creator of the show, has been involved from the start and has directed several episodes. The show delves into relatable and intimate experiences, exploring the difficulties of pursuing dreams amidst the complexities of relationships and financial hardships.

Showtime is bringing the popular UK series Dreaming Whilst Black to the United States. The show, created and co-written by Adjani Salmon, who also plays the lead character Kwabena, revolves around a struggling writer/director trying to break into the film industry. Initially a successful web series, the show made its transition to television with the support of producers A24 and Big Deal Films.

The Dreaming Whilst Black trailer hinted at the show's semi-autobiographical nature, drawing heavily from the life experiences of its star. However, it also depicts a broader narrative that resonates with the other filmmakers involved in the production. One such filmmaker is Koby Adom, a director, producer, and longtime friend of Adjani. Adom has been a part of Dreaming Whilst Black from the very beginning, directing multiple episodes and contributing to memorable moments in the web series.

Koby Adom On Dreaming Whilst Black

Koby Adom On Dreaming Whilst Black

Screen Rant: The first thing I want to know is just how you found your way to the project. Were you a fan of the web series?

Koby Adom: Adjani is one of my closest friends. We met in 2015 when we were both aspiring Black filmmakers in the London film school circuit. Although we attended different schools, we bonded over our shared passion for film. I even served as the Director of Photography for Adjani's graduation film. Since then, we have collaborated on various projects, with Adjani editing some of my corporate jobs and serving as the script supervisor for my breakthrough short film. In our web series, I took on the role of Director of Photography for the opening shot and later portrayed a drug dealer in one of the episodes. I am incredibly proud of Adjani, and I have been there for him since the beginning. I still remember the day he called me to share his idea of creating a web series, and now, here we are.

I also had the opportunity to direct the pilot commission, which was presented to the commissioners as a read-through. Being involved in the early stages of the project allowed me to have a deep understanding of its core concept. When it came time to work on the episodes, my involvement was a natural choice. The script reflects all of our journeys, and interestingly, the lead character shares the same name as my government name, Kwabena. Although the character is not directly based on me, there may have been some inspiration drawn from our friendship. This project holds great personal significance for me due to my close relationship with Adjani and the unique way in which it came about - a simple phone call from my friend, who decided to use his savings to bring this web series to life.

Koby Adom expresses a strong connection between the events in the show and his own life experiences. He highlights the reality and authenticity of the challenges he has faced in the corporate world and the struggles he has encountered in the entertainment industry. Adom finds it incredible that he is now able to create content based on his personal reflections, having overcome various obstacles. Overall, he describes this journey as a surreal experience.

In general, there is a lot involved—it's just overwhelming, really. The show encompasses a captivating love story as well. The main focus for me is exploring how love can be maintained even in the face of financial struggles rooted in pursuing one's dreams. It's like pondering the complexities of dating under such circumstances, you know? That particular scene, involving friends, was impactful. Without revealing too much, it really affected me. It was difficult to witness. Balancing the comedic aspect with the deep emotional impact is a challenge. It's painful yet relatable, and simultaneously hilarious.

Koby Adom believes that a crucial aspect of the job is understanding the writing, including tone and genre, in order to achieve the desired outcome. This understanding is also important when directing, as there are principles to follow. The job requires a mix of scientific knowledge and craftsmanship, which can be used as a reference point to guide the direction. The focus for Koby and the other directors on the project is on applying their skills and craft to bring out the richness of the script.

In comedy, Koby believes in raising the stakes and encouraging actors to make bold choices, such as attacking or trying various actions. The key is to remove any limitations and allow actors the freedom to explore the highest possible stakes in one take, and then the direct opposite in the next. This freedom enables the actors to provide a wealth of material that can be utilized during the post-production process to enhance the final performance.

In the context of your relationship with Adjani and your involvement in a TV show where you are not the sole director, how do you reconcile your personal vision as a director with the need to align with the overall project?

Koby Adom: I believe that when working on a show like this, it is not solely about our individual visions. Even when I create my own work, I don't emphasize my personal vision. The idea of having a vision is an integral part of the job, and it is grounded in how I perceive things; it is not artificial. I don't intentionally create my vision as it already exists. Every choice I make contributes to the overall vision, and therefore, since I don't put much emphasis on it, I can fully concentrate on Adjani and determine how to apply the scientific toolkit in the best possible way.

That's where my confidence originated from. After attending film school and completing three previous TV projects, including shorts, Top Boy, and a BBC One drama, I had already proven myself in multiple genres. So, transitioning to comedy was incredibly refreshing. It was a validation of my abilities, as I witnessed the positive results and found myself laughing on set. This experience reaffirmed my passion for comedy and solidified my determination to pursue it further.

Koby Adom surprised me. I vividly recall receiving a screenshot on iMessage from him and being like, "Oh, my God." It's quite amusing. It's a delightful little piece of information to know that the actual director helmed two episodes. It was absolutely brilliant because the person who hosts the podcast happens to be another friend of ours, whom we've known since that time. He too is a director, incredibly talented, based in the UK, and part of the same movement that we are a part of, which is why I loved it.

This project holds great personal significance for me. While I may not have directed every episode, being involved in a show like this comes with a crazy schedule, so I had the opportunity to experience different aspects here and there. All the directors collaborated closely to bring this show to fruition, driven by the beautifully written script and Adjani, the visionary. His voice is evident throughout, and what makes it even more wonderful is that it is accessible to others, allowing them to also immerse themselves in it.

The dinner scene was perhaps the most challenging and fulfilling to get right in terms of tone and overall coherence. However, there was also a party scene in episode two that stands out. It takes place at Aunty Lola's birthday celebration, and Nigerian parties in London are a significant cultural event. Growing up attending these parties and now having the opportunity to depict them in a comedic manner was both exciting and daunting. Yet, I soon realized that I didn't need to force the humor because the inherent funny elements were already there - in the nuances, relationships, details, and overall atmosphere. It was a refreshing realization to simply showcase something I intimately understand and know to be amusing, without exaggerating or overdoing it.

So I would say that the party scene featuring Aunty Lola, as well as the dinner scene with the friends, were two standout scenes for me. However, with regards to all the scenes, I must admit that it's more about maintaining production value and not getting too caught up in what's happening in the center. It involves a lot of coordination and fine-tuning until it reaches the desired outcome.

About Dreaming Whilst Black

Dreaming Whilst Black is a captivating dramedy series consisting of six episodes. It is co-created and co-written by Adjani Salmon, the esteemed recipient of the 2022 BAFTA award for Emerging Talent: Fiction, as well as being recognized as a Screen International Star of Tomorrow. Salmon also stars in the series. Co-produced by indie powerhouse Big Deal Films and A24, Dreaming Whilst Black draws loose inspiration from real-life events. The story revolves around Kwabena (played by Salmon), an aspiring filmmaker who finds himself trapped in a stagnant recruitment job. Determined to pursue his dreams, he takes a momentous leap forward. However, he is swiftly faced with the challenges of juggling financial strains, matters of the heart, and his own perception of reality. This enthralling show is an adaptation of the critically acclaimed web series of the same name.

Check back for our other Dreaming Whilst Black interviews:

Executive Producer Dhanny Joshi

Producer Nicola Gregory

New episodes of Dreaming Whilst Black are released on Fridays on Paramount+ and Sundays on Showtime.