The Nigerian Movie industry Nollywood has in so many ways given many
people means of livelihood in Nigeria as well as Africa. The opportunity abound
as people only see those who stand as actors and few others who once in a while
appear as directors and producers.
The scripts are written by people, the cameras can’t make moves without
the operation of directors of photographs (DOPs), the script is interpreted by
the actors through the guidance of individuals known as Directors, movie sets
are prepared by as well committed individuals who take it upon themselves to
get set ready to be used at any giving time.
At every shot on the big screen different kinds of people whose job it
is to bring the clips to live and these sets of people could continue to do this
for only God knows how long before the door of fame will be opened on them.
Estreet On Tv team cut up with one of the finest products of Nollywood in
the person of Ambassador Obi Hart Okeke. In an interview The Brand Ambassador
of Mastro Foundation India shared with us his experiences as an Actor, Director
and as a producer. Enjoy.
Can we know you please?
My name is Obi Hart Okeke,
am a movie maker, am an actor, a director as well as an actor.
Can you please tell us one of the challenges you face as a movie maker?
One of the challenges we
face is the issue of finance, see if don’t have enough money to produce a good
movie you’ll find that is not going to work but when you have money to produce
or when you have sponsors maybe corporate organizations or people who can give
you good money then you can produce good movie. Secondly another thing is getting
good artists, one thing is finance and another thing is getting good artists,
you might the money without good actors and good actresses that your job will
not move up but when you have people that will showcase that thing you want
them to you can go further. Another thing is good location, you find out in
Abia state though Abia state is coming up again when we have good location you
can make movies. Some of these are the challenges we face as producers and
directors.
Please you made mention of good actors and actresses and we know that
Nigeria is blessed with enormous talent, is this as a result location where
this jobs are being produced or you the producer not been able to search out
these talents. What in particular is the challenge in getting these artists?
The thing is that when we
have a job we call for audition, someone like me I like doing my job with the
best people, I don’t just call people to do job anyhow but you find out that
people that come around just want to appear in a movie they don’t have the
talent even some that have the talent lack the basic training as an actor and
an actress. They don’t have the passion some will even say they just want to
make money in the movie not knowing that first and foremost you have to put in
your best , bring in your best before then the money will come that is the
thing.
In order words everybody wants to be a movie star?
Exertly.
In a
situation like this what are you doing to get the best of what you are doing?
You see training is
important. When I go for auditions I pick people and train as well, at other
times I call for training because when you train people tell them what the need
to know as well then they will pick up. You don’t just say you want to act, no no, you have to go
through a formal training, belong to a production house a good production house
at that not just any how production house or you meet an expert to train and
equip you with the rudiments as this will help you know your right from your
left. By being trained when the opportunity comes to act you give your best.
When you train people they become the best.
You are telling us what it means to be a good actor, sir can you tell us
the names of the movies you have appeared in as an actor possibly the ones you’ve
directed and some of their names?
Yeah, I started as an actor
and later on started producing and directing, but before then I’ve appeared in
movies like ANOINTED BLOOD, THE PREACHER AND THE NATIVE DOCTOR, OBODO IKENGA,
AWAKE, FICTIOUS, COME BACK, UNFUFILED DREAMS and many more. Then I equally
directed movies like THE STRENGHT OF A WOMAN, FIGHT BACK and lots of other
movies.
What
is your advice to young people that wants to come into acting?
If you want to come into acting, fundamentally you need
to know what acting is all about don’t just say because you see Mr. A is acting you also want to act. First,
you need to know the basic, go for formal training where you’ll be tutored on
how to act. When you get involved with this then you read as well, it is not a
must that you to go to the University before you know how to act, no, they are
people that know acting so you can learn from them. They will teach and guide
you if you can listen to them, watch movies as well. Importantly, you need to
read a lot of books to do well in acting.
Thank
you very much for your time and a lovely day.
You are welcome
0 comments :
Post a Comment