Episode #35 with Toyin Ayinde

The Swinging Palm Trees Podcast

"It's hard, it just is. There's no easy way to do it. Even when you do understand what you want to do and how you want to get there, there are lots of 'no's', there are a lot of 'who you know ' settings and scenarios..."
On today's episode, I chat with film aficionado and events producer Toyin about her career in the film industry thus far. We talk about the business and challenges she's encountered, and what these instances have taught her. We discuss where her love of film all began( it's an interesting origin story!), and how it has led her to her current role as an Events producer at Directors UK.
We discuss our shared Nigerian heritage, food, and geek out over popular culture tv and film including Buffy the Vampire slayer. I also get to see how much she loves Viola Davis, and of course, her fixation for all things based on 'The Matrix'. We also re-enact a scene from the film, 'Inception', and of course, we look at the quotes that continually inspire her.
A born and raised Londoner and very much South, Toyin started her career into film through her journalism degree which she put to use when writing for Studio Film Magazine, internships at Vertigo Films and Birds Eye View Film Festival, and watching as many films as possible! From memorising Morpheus' monologue in The Matrix Reloaded to having The Mummy on repeat or singing with full force the entire catalogue of Aladdin, Toyin has fully immersed herself with stories.
Toyin has worked as a freelance Events Producer for clients including; BAFTA, BFI, European Cultural Foundation, Into Film, The London Film Festival and the BBC, and has also garnered on-set experience on feature films including; Mission Impossible: Fallout and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Toyin now produces engaging events at Directors UK for their members which includes director-to-director In Conversation Q&As. Guests have included; Steve McQueen, George Clooney, Regina King and Chloe Zhao.

Thanks for listening to the episode. I'd like to thank my guest for their time, insight and being a great sport!
I would also like to thank my producer, Ashanti Omkar, for all her hard work.
If you'd like to be a guest, drop me a line at [e-mail].
Keep Rising & Thriving. Aṣẹ!