MNET, Kate Henshaw and the Okadamen mentalityBy Muritala Sule
Published: November 29, 2005
Print Expectedly, what looks like a trade dispute between Nigerian actors and Africa’s cable TV network giant, Mnet International, has generated much interest among TV and movie professionals and consumer of their products in the past couple of weeks. The first hint of it in the press came after actress Kate Hneshaw-Nuttal was walked out of the set of the network's new medical soap, Doctors’ Quarters (DQ).
Henshaw-Nuttal called a press conference to state her position. She gave the impression that the dishonourable treatment she received in the hands of Mr Remi Ogunpitan, the Nigerian producer for Mnet, was an act of virctimisation brought about by her firm stand against a similar treatment of director Jimi Odumosu. These two personalities are undoubtedly among Nigerian TV and film professionals of honour – the one an actress of more than 12 years and shining reputation; the other a director of excellent repute.
The story goes that the producer thought that the director’s manner of handling proceedings on set wasn’t quite helping the pace of work and that had accounting implications. Such is the universal worry of producers; so, Ogunpitan called for a review of methodology – a change of manner of operation, or an adjustment, if you like. Odumosu was said to have resented the suggestions and promptly walked out of set, whereupon he was allegedly fired, alongside his deputy, Mr Victor Okhai. Actors, purportedly led by Henshaw-Nuttal, were reported to have instantly pitched tent with Odumosu, calling for his re-instatement or no show.
Things were delayed for three days - a huge loss enough in production and economic terms to put a show and its producer in trouble. Ogunpitan did his best to keep his show going, as he ought to, while a rapproachment was sought. Finally, the show resumed, with Odumosu and Okhai re-instated and all cast and crew back in business.
The matter would seem to have been resolved, until, as it seems, Henshaw-Nuttal was suddenly, not only fired but treated with dishonour by being walked out of set by security men.
That’s grave enough for a professional of Henshaw-Nuttal’s standing and excellent character reputation. It is enough to outrage not only fellow actors and actresses but any Nigerian with any sense of pride, especially if one considers that Mnet is a South African concern which is doing good business in Nigeria. That sense of outrage was worsened by the fact that Mnet and its spokespeople declined any public explanation. Efforts were made to get, DStv and Mnet’s to give us an authentic Mnet side of the story, but no lluck. Nor was Ogunpitan willing to offer any explanation.
This scenario made it appear as though Henshaw-Nuttal’s allegation of victimisation had merit.
It may be the network’s policy to avoid exchanges in the press in matters concerning its work relationship with its employees and contractors. But, in this particular instance, there was a peculiar Public Relations (PR) problem demanding a special handling to arrest things getting out of hand.
The network failed to recognise that. So, here we are: there’s been accusations and counter accusations, rumours, blackmail, threats, etc. Such is what matters like this degenerate to if shoddily handled as it has been.
Meanwhile, some espected proessionals made behind-the-scene efforts to douce the embers of recrimination kindled by the incompetent handling of the matter from all quarters.
The managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation, Mr Afolabi Adesanya, was one person who felt concerned enough to make frantic moves to reconcile both parties before things degenerated. He particularly didn’t want what he kept calling “a press war”.
Infortunately, his effort seems to have boomeranged as actors are now livid with rage on account of a text message he sent by phone to the Actors’ Guild president, Ejike Asiegbu, which the latter considered insulting and read to a meeting of actors who instantly railed venom on the MD of NFC. The message reads: “President of AGN, AttentionMr. Ejike Asiegbu – be it known that I have reported the alleged invasion and disruption of DQ set by your person and your Actors’ Guild of Nigeria of which you are the president to the honourable Minister through the Director (PPD), Mr C.K Alabi. You and your guild shall be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order on DQ set, and appropriate disciplinary action shall be taken against you and your guild.
Afolabi Adesanya, MD of NFC.”
This was after Adesanya had made frantic efforts to get both parties in the dispute to meet and iron out their differences.
Of course, Asiegbu did an equally hasty and indecorous text and sent it back to Adesanya.
The impression is that either there was no such “invasion”of DQ set by the AGN as Adesanya had categorically stated or one was actually planned that wasn’t yet carried out as he has implied.
But, certainly, he was being fed information by a certain group which seemed to believe in the sacredness of Mnet because of the purported volume of investment that Mnet is making in Nigeria, cousidening the implications for the development of the Nigerian film industry if Mnet withdraws its patronage.
Well, all of that is valid, but, even then, Mnet cannot be allowed to insult Nigerians, using its heavy investment as blackmail. Fortunately, the network isn’t posturing as its apologies make it look.
The network knows that its investments are in its own interest and not a favour to Nigeria on Nigerians. It has only come to tap into economic developments in Nigeria in the area of its interest. When there was no “film” industry, Mnet did not come to help Nigeria start one.
The DQ problem also got complicated because some people refused to accept Adesanya’s intervention, however well-meaning it might be, insisting that his jurisdiction was film and not TV, which the DQ matter talls under. In any case, this nebulous matter became so from a single strand of events because of three major things.
First, there is a none appreciation of formal structures of dispute resolution because the industry had been operating before now in a jungle. People didn’t even appreciate that a body such as MOPPICON could be of use if matters were taken to it.
But having been used to an “Okadamen" mentality - descending enmasse on whoever seems to be in dispute with you without any iota of rationality.
That is how one could describe the action of the AGN as conducted by Ejike Asiegbu.
Yes, Kate Henshaw-Nuttal is big enough as an actress and as the PRO of AGN, but the matter involving her has only been turned into a matter of “condition of work” with Mnet. Of course, the actors who worked with Mnet already had accepted the condition. Kate, especially, has a long-standing relation with Mnet, having been doing presentation for the network in the past two years.
Second, there are private interests who are scared of Mnet’s withdrawal of its patronage whose attitude in this matter is “Mnet, right or wrong!”
Third, there is the incompetence of film and TV professionals in the management of information. This is especially sad because communication practitioners, which film people are, are supposed to be experts in the management of information.
A proper post-mortem of this crisis will certainly teach everybody a lesson thow to avoid such a mess in future.
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