The immediate past National Secretary of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas Ejezie, is one of the artistes supporting President Goodluck Jonathan for his re-election. The actor cum director was in Abuja recently where TS Weekend cornered him for a chat. He opened up on his career and why he has stayed away from the big screen for a long time. Excerpts:
You are an actor; do you also direct movies?
I am a movie director, though I do act occasionally.
I am a movie director, though I do act occasionally.
What are you doing in Abuja?
We came for the First Lady`s dinner, after that I made out time to see some business associates.
We came for the First Lady`s dinner, after that I made out time to see some business associates.
Why is Nollywood supporting President Goodluck Jonathan for his re-election?
The answer is not far fetched, since Nigeria came into existence, we have had one president who has shown interest in the affairs of Nollywood. When I talk about getting interested in an industry like this, an industry that has projected Nigeria`s image far and wide, it is President Goodluck Jonathan, no Nigerian president has ever shown interest in Nollywood. That is why we in Nollywood will vote for Goodluck Jonathan.
The answer is not far fetched, since Nigeria came into existence, we have had one president who has shown interest in the affairs of Nollywood. When I talk about getting interested in an industry like this, an industry that has projected Nigeria`s image far and wide, it is President Goodluck Jonathan, no Nigerian president has ever shown interest in Nollywood. That is why we in Nollywood will vote for Goodluck Jonathan.
You are so much involved in the activities of Nollywood, what would you say you have achieved?
It all depends on the area you are talking about. I am the immediate past national secretary of the Actors Guild of Nigeria before running for the position of the president. In terms of achievement as national secretary of the guild, during my administration we got affiliated with the Federation of International Actors. It was also during my regime that we got affiliated with the British film industry. During my regime, I was able to work with other executives to create a database that the present administration is using to get actors nationwide. We were the first regime that knew the exact number of actors in Nigeria. It was also the digitalization exercise that we began that made it easy for us to say we have so and so number of actors in Nigeria. So, all these things I see as achievements.
It all depends on the area you are talking about. I am the immediate past national secretary of the Actors Guild of Nigeria before running for the position of the president. In terms of achievement as national secretary of the guild, during my administration we got affiliated with the Federation of International Actors. It was also during my regime that we got affiliated with the British film industry. During my regime, I was able to work with other executives to create a database that the present administration is using to get actors nationwide. We were the first regime that knew the exact number of actors in Nigeria. It was also the digitalization exercise that we began that made it easy for us to say we have so and so number of actors in Nigeria. So, all these things I see as achievements.
Having attained this level in your career, how does it make you feel?
Only today, I was telling one of my colleagues that if I have the opportunity of coming back to this world, I would still want to be an actor. This is a job that gives you the opportunity of waking up anytime you like, and do whatever you want to do at the time you want to do it. It is a job that gives you time to do some other things. It is not like a normal 8-5 job where you are under many authorities. I feel very fulfilled and I will still want to continue in this career.
Only today, I was telling one of my colleagues that if I have the opportunity of coming back to this world, I would still want to be an actor. This is a job that gives you the opportunity of waking up anytime you like, and do whatever you want to do at the time you want to do it. It is a job that gives you time to do some other things. It is not like a normal 8-5 job where you are under many authorities. I feel very fulfilled and I will still want to continue in this career.
Looking at your early days and where you are today, how would you describe your success?
Firstly, I will say it’s has been God’s grace, because everything good comes from God. Though, people may come around to assist your vision, there are helpers God has put somewhere at different positions of your life to make you move forward. I appreciate everyone who is part of my success story in the industry. Basically, I will not attribute my success to men, that will amount to giving God’s glory to man. As much as I have met people whom God has sent my way, I have also met people whom God has sent me their way.
Firstly, I will say it’s has been God’s grace, because everything good comes from God. Though, people may come around to assist your vision, there are helpers God has put somewhere at different positions of your life to make you move forward. I appreciate everyone who is part of my success story in the industry. Basically, I will not attribute my success to men, that will amount to giving God’s glory to man. As much as I have met people whom God has sent my way, I have also met people whom God has sent me their way.
What has stardom done for you?
Stardom has opened doors for me. It has given me the opportunity to dine and wine with the high and mighty in the society. This is simply because of fame or for the fact that somebody has seen me in one film or the other. It is a rare privilege that God can bestow on somebody. In this campaign period, we have gone to several parts of Nigeria and I have walked into places that people from my village may not have the opportunity of walking into. Some of those things are what stardom can do for someone. There are places you go to and once they see you, they will be like ‘ha! Come inside’ just because you are seen as a role model. And when we talk about being a role model, it is your ability to live in accordance with the societal norms. You don’t do things like ordinary people just because you want to conform to what others are doing. So, one major thing in all these is that stardom has been able to bring me a kind of popularity that cuts across certain levels. For example, when I meet Nigerians abroad they do me favours just because they’ve seen me in movies. Most importantly, stardom does not translate to wealth, it does not translate to how much you earn, because we come from different backgrounds. We are not counting on stardom, we are counting on how many lives you have been able to affect positively. There may be people who may not know you, but once you hear about their problems, you solve them.
Stardom has opened doors for me. It has given me the opportunity to dine and wine with the high and mighty in the society. This is simply because of fame or for the fact that somebody has seen me in one film or the other. It is a rare privilege that God can bestow on somebody. In this campaign period, we have gone to several parts of Nigeria and I have walked into places that people from my village may not have the opportunity of walking into. Some of those things are what stardom can do for someone. There are places you go to and once they see you, they will be like ‘ha! Come inside’ just because you are seen as a role model. And when we talk about being a role model, it is your ability to live in accordance with the societal norms. You don’t do things like ordinary people just because you want to conform to what others are doing. So, one major thing in all these is that stardom has been able to bring me a kind of popularity that cuts across certain levels. For example, when I meet Nigerians abroad they do me favours just because they’ve seen me in movies. Most importantly, stardom does not translate to wealth, it does not translate to how much you earn, because we come from different backgrounds. We are not counting on stardom, we are counting on how many lives you have been able to affect positively. There may be people who may not know you, but once you hear about their problems, you solve them.
We have not been seeing you in movies lately, why?
Some years ago, my involvement in the administration of AGN made me very much incapacitated, but I have been trying to come back to set. All the while I was the national secretary, there was no time for me to feature in any movie, because most times I was part of delegations that went to different countries. So, I did not have much time to act but I am coming back very soon to hit the big screen.
Some years ago, my involvement in the administration of AGN made me very much incapacitated, but I have been trying to come back to set. All the while I was the national secretary, there was no time for me to feature in any movie, because most times I was part of delegations that went to different countries. So, I did not have much time to act but I am coming back very soon to hit the big screen.
What are you working on presently?
It’s campaign period, we are working on jingles for different state governors. We just finished one for the Rivers State gubernatorial candidate, and we are currently doing one for the Taraba State gubernatorial candidate.
It’s campaign period, we are working on jingles for different state governors. We just finished one for the Rivers State gubernatorial candidate, and we are currently doing one for the Taraba State gubernatorial candidate.
What are your plans for the industry?
As a man, I cannot make a forest. But I have personal plans to better the industry. Right now, we need a whole lot of collaborations so that we can keep enhancing our technicalities, so that when you see our films, you will realize our improvements. Nollywood as a brand is already selling but we need to collaborate with other foreign filmmakers to take Nollywood to the next level.
As a man, I cannot make a forest. But I have personal plans to better the industry. Right now, we need a whole lot of collaborations so that we can keep enhancing our technicalities, so that when you see our films, you will realize our improvements. Nollywood as a brand is already selling but we need to collaborate with other foreign filmmakers to take Nollywood to the next level.
What about your family?
My family is doing very well.
My family is doing very well.
How would you describe your wife?
My wife, Ngozi Chinasa Rollas, is my angel. Irrespective of what we’ve been through, she is there for me. She is the mother of my five kids, a boy and four girls. Within the eight years of marriage, she has been at the home front, making sure that our children get whatever they need. We have a vision of where we are going; it is like the land God promised the children of Israel. I see life as a ladder, when you find yourself in the wilderness, you have to continue in other to get to your destination. So, I believe we are still on course.
My wife, Ngozi Chinasa Rollas, is my angel. Irrespective of what we’ve been through, she is there for me. She is the mother of my five kids, a boy and four girls. Within the eight years of marriage, she has been at the home front, making sure that our children get whatever they need. We have a vision of where we are going; it is like the land God promised the children of Israel. I see life as a ladder, when you find yourself in the wilderness, you have to continue in other to get to your destination. So, I believe we are still on course.
How has your marital life been so far?
My friend will tell you that in marriage everyone has his or her own style. My style cannot be the same as your style. What every marriage needs is understanding. For instance, I am an actor and my wife is an actor, there are so many things I will do that she will have to accommodate, even if she cannot accommodate, she will understand that it is the nature of my job. That is how marriage is. So, we keep patching things together in the midst of disagreements and agreements, but on the long run, we live in peace. And when we look at the kids, they give us joy.
My friend will tell you that in marriage everyone has his or her own style. My style cannot be the same as your style. What every marriage needs is understanding. For instance, I am an actor and my wife is an actor, there are so many things I will do that she will have to accommodate, even if she cannot accommodate, she will understand that it is the nature of my job. That is how marriage is. So, we keep patching things together in the midst of disagreements and agreements, but on the long run, we live in peace. And when we look at the kids, they give us joy.
Has there been any time in your career that your wife gave conditions as to the kind of roles you can play?
She has never done that. I decide the kind of roles I play, but we discuss them
She has never done that. I decide the kind of roles I play, but we discuss them
No comments:
Post a Comment