At this point, Emmanuel’s work has moved through rooms many creatives dream of entering. From curating visuals for Pepsi to directing the launch film for D’banj’s The Entertainer: D’Sequel, to working with Babyboy AV, covering Rema’s Homecoming concert in Lagos in 2024, and delivering refined campaign visuals for The Glenlivet x Osas in August 2025, his camera has learned how to behave around big moments. It knows how to stay steady when the lights are brightest. It knows how to find meaning even when the scene is loud with fame.  But what makes EMG, also known as Emergency, stand out is not just access to superstar moments. It is a restraint. It is an intention. It is the calm understanding that no matter how big the stage gets, the work must still feel human.  Before the titles, before the brand names, before recognition found him, Emmanuel was simply curiously watching the world closely. Long before he became EMG, Okpala Emmanuel was someone who paid attention to people, culture, everyday life, and the quiet moments others often ignored. With just a phone in his hands, he was drawn to what felt real.

Silence. Movement. Emotions that could not be forced or rehearsed. He did not yet understand filmmakingrules or technical theory, but he understood feeling. He knew when a moment was honest, and that instinctbecame his first guide behind the camera. In a simple way, the way people who truly see the world often do. He watched how people moved, how silence could speak, how emotions lived in small gestures. Today, many know him as a director and editor respected for speed, precision, and strong visual storytelling. But behind the name is still that same observer, someone who believes film should make you feel something before it tries to impress you. In this conversation with Hype Magazine, Emmanuel speaks calmly and honestly about starting with an iPhone 6, learning to believe in Lagos, leading under pressure, and why emotion will always come before equipment, trends, or deadlines.

Before the titles and the big brand work, who was Emmanuel behind the camera, and what kind of stories were you drawn to as a young boy with just a phone?

Before anything official, I was just a curious boy who liked observing people, their culture, and life in general. With just a phone, I was drawn to real moments. Silence, movement, emotions you couldn’t fake. I didn’t understand the technical rules yet, but I knew when something felt real. That feeling guided me. 

You officially started in 2021 with just an iPhone 6. What did that period in Lagos teach you about belief, patience, and betting on yourself when nothing was guaranteed?

That period started right after I left the seminary, which was a major moment in my life. I moved to Lagos and stayed with my elder sister and her husband, and I was also sharing space and ideas with my friend Paul. Lagos doesn’t give you time to ease in. It demands belief before proof. In a city that moves fast and waits for no one, you either show up or you fade out.

Working with an iPhone 6 taught me patience and humility. I would shoot mini music videos, comedy skits, and anything we could think of. I had to make the best out of what I had. There was no guarantee of success, but choosing myself every single day slowly built a confidence that no expensive camera could give me.

People call you “Emergency” because of how fast and sharp your edits are. How did speed become part of your identity, and how do you balance speed with intention?

The name “Emergency” started back in school. My classmates called me that because of how fast I adapted and how punctual I was for activities and responsibilities. Over time, the name followed me into my work. Speed came from necessity. I didn’t have big teams or long timelines, so I learned to think fast and execute clean. But intention always comes first. I move fast, yes, but never without purpose. Speed means nothing if the story doesn’t land emotionally.

You’ve worked across music videos, fashion films, commercials, and large–scale events. Which medium gives you the most creative freedom?

Fashion films and narrative–driven visuals give me the most freedom. They allow silence, mood, and symbolism. There’s space to let visuals breathe without explaining everything. That space helps me communicate emotion in a raw, visual way. I’m also open to expanding into other fields as I grow.

When starting a new project, what matters most to you first: the client’s idea, the emotion, or the story?

The emotion always comes first. Once I understand how the audience should feel, I can align the client’s idea and the story around that emotion. If people feel something, the message stays with them.

You’ve handled high-pressure shoots, from brand campaigns to outdoor sets interrupted by rain. What have those moments taught you about leadership?

Pressure teaches clarity. When things go wrong, panic spreads fast, and this makes staying calm very important. I’ve learned that when I stay composed, the crew feels confident. Problems will always happen. Leadership isn’t about avoiding challenges; it’s about how you respond to them.

You’ve spoken about not liking to create under pressure. How do you protect your creative clarity in a fast–moving industry?

I set boundaries. Not every rush is worth sacrificing clarity. I take time to think before creating because rushed ideas often lack depth. In the long run, clarity actually saves time.

Your work shows strong attention to mood, color, and movement. What makes a film feel alive to you, not just look good?

Movement with intention, lighting that matches the emotion, and good pacing. A film feels alive when every visual choice supports the mood of the story. It’s not about being flashy, it’s about how it feels.

As a young director working from Nigeria and Africa, what ideas about filmmaking are you trying to challenge with your work?

I’m challenging the idea that African films have to look rough or limited. We can create globally competitive visuals while staying authentic. Quality and originality are not dependent on location.

EMG Films is growing into more than just a name. What kind of creative company are you building, and what values guide how you work with your team?

I’m building a company rooted in excellence, respect, and growth. A space where creativity is taken seriously, and everyone feels valued. I believe strong visuals come from strong teamwork and a shared vision.

Looking ahead, what kinds of projects do you dream of working on?

I want to work on global campaigns and films that tell African stories with depth and dignity. Stories that show our complexity and humanity beyond stereotypes.

When people look back at your journey years from now, what do you want EMG to stand for beyond cameras and edits?

I want them to say EMG stood for authenticity, intention, and belief. That I stayed true to storytelling, pushed boundaries, and inspired others to trust their vision, no matter where they started.

As EMG continues to grow, the intention remains unchanged. Every frame is a decision, every cut carries feeling, and each story is treated with care, whether it belongs to a global brand, a cultural icon, or a fleeting moment that may never happen again. Emmanuel is way above just chasing attention; however, he is building language, one rooted in emotion, clarity, and respect for the craft. Years from now, when the names, stages, and campaigns blur into memory, what will remain is this: a body of work that moved with purpose, visuals that knew when to speak and when to stay quiet, and a filmmaker who understood that the most powerful moments are not always the loudest ones.  EMG does not just capture motion. He captures meaning, and in doing so, leaves behind something that lasts.