Who defines quality? - Amaka IgweBy Modupe Ogunbayo, Newswatchngr.com
Published: February 7, 2007
Print Newswatch: For someone who did not study Theatre Arts or its affiliated courses, how did you become such a thoroughbred professional?
Igwe: As far as I am concerned, what I studied is equally good. I had a good background in arts, in philosophy, in social science, theology, so it is a whole body of knowledge which aids my understanding of human character, to have a psychological theme of a character, to have the sociological knowledge of environment of people. I had that background, and I had a Master's degree which gave me the ability to understand management and research. The work I studied prepared me. So, subsequently I have also undergone many training in the career I have chosen today. I created my talent through the skills that works for me and I am still learning on a daily basis. The biggest thing I do when I travel is to study, buy books; I have a library on my chosen area. I have a talent and with what I studied is useful. Maybe because we are talking about 'Great Ife,' that is the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) which trains you to be the best at what you do, and that whatever knowledge you have acquired, use it to work. For me, even, in Nigeria or anywhere, the course you did means nothing to me, because it is just a preparation for the career you wish to do later.
Newswatch: How can Nollywood be kept on its toes?
Igwe: You see people have to understand the psychology of Nollywood. Nobody planned for Nollywood to be. People were just trying to eke out a living. They just wanted to survive. When soap opera started in Nigera, a lot of people wanted to do it, but nobody could afford it. Then came Mirror in the Sun, which was the first time an independent producer did something like that. This gingered other private individuals to start writing and submitting to the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA. And NTA came up with Behind the Clouds which was written by a non-NTA staff. People like Zeb Ejiro came up with Ripples which was a collaboration between both NTA and Ejiro. And I came up with Checkmate. With Checkmate, a lot of people came up with a lot of ideas. Because of what Checkmate and Ripples achieved, a lot of young people who desired to do something could not because NTA had a problem. Later, NEK brought the idea of a home video. NEK was already doing drama in Yoruba, now they did an Igbo one which was Living in Bondage1&2. From there, everybody came out with people who have ideas, people who could not get jobs, everybody was jumping into it. They want to make money. So nobody planned for Nollywood to be. Now, the actors are so popular they are invited all over the world. These are people who never thought they could travel anywhere but they travelled because they are involved in Nollywood. Even the marketers, who could not have been anybody, are now successful and travelling abroad by the influence of Nollywood. The point is that it is not this group of people that will bring glory to Nollywood, it is the younger people. That is why we are working so hard with the university students, people who are joining the industry are being trained so that we can grow. They are the ones who are going to shock the film world with the older generation to make the move, to make them work. And a number of young people are coming in and they are doing well.
Newswatch: There was a time you talked of activities of saboteurs which you experienced while producing Checkmate and was that why you rested the soap?
Igwe: No, that is not what happened in Checkmate. I was to round it off because some people wanted to bring in Mexican soap operas, and the sponsor stopped it because they wanted something else.
Newswatch: What is your relationship with Lola Fani-Kayode, the producer of Mirror in the Sun?
Igwe: She is my sister; she was kind to me when I joined the industry. She offered me invaluable advice and she taught me quite a number of things. One thing I love about what she did is that she did not show me jealousy, quite a number of people showed jealousy and malice. They were saying all kinds of things and writing in the newspapers. She stood by me and was very supportive and that is why any young person who wants my support, I will give to him because somebody supported me. When I had problem with my soap, she would call me and tell me this is the way to do it.
Newswatch: Were you acting?
Igwe: I never acted.
Newswatch: Maybe when you were young.
Igwe: Yes, but not on television but on stage.
Newswatch: Would that be a possibility in the future?
Igwe: Never!
Newswatch: What is the business behind Hollywood and how can people turn Nollywood to a business venture?
Igwe: But it is a business venture.
Newswatch: Some people dabble in it; they don't really go into what it entails before making a film.
Igwe: Because they think by making a film, you make money, that is not true. First of all, you find out who you are going to sell the film to before making a film. You do a market survey. Thank God I came from a business background. I do it in a business way.
Newswatch: Why does Nollywood lose out in winning international awards?
Igwe: International award is not done the way people think. Like I told you, anybody who wants to get it will have to work hard before getting the nomination. He has to work hard again to get the award. You don't win an award like that. Then again, there is politics for winning such awards. I am aware that an award won by a South African film was not because the film is better than the other films, it was because he spent a lot of money on people who voted for the film. But people in Nollywood do not bother about such things. The point is that if we make a film which we haven't made on a celluloid that cannot enter for international awards. And winning awards is not by making film and sending it abroad or making it on celluloid that would win award. I am aware that the minister of Information and Communication intends producing a movie that would go for the Oscar award. After making films, people will have to see it, you send copies to the college. There is a college for voters who now see it and vote for it. You cannot just sit down in Nigeria and win an award, there is a lot to do. AMAA Best Movie attracts 50 thousand dollars and a lot of foreigners and African people are into it. With that kind of money people will love you for it.You can sit down and make a film and people will nominate you.
Newswatch: Should we expect a collaboration between you and Nigerian actors or actresses in the Diaspora such as Sophie Okonedo, Taye Diggs and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje?
Igwe: People have their own goals in life. Right now in the next six months, I am directing an international film which I have been invited to do. It is on celluloid, the script is of Hollywood standard and I would be working with Nigerian cast and foreign cast. I am not doing it so that I could win an Oscar Award, but I am doing it because it is close to my heart. That is how I work, I only work on things that appeal to me and it is not all about money.
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