Jennifer Mairo is a producer, filmmaker and a scriptwriter. The United States-based producer, who is set to release a blockbuster series entitled Real Naija Ladies of Dallas, speaks to JOAN OMIONAWELE on wide range of issues.Excerpts:
What inspired you to write the script for the movie, Real Naija Ladies of Dallas?
The “Real Naija Ladies of Dallas” is not something that I ‘wrote’. It is a reality. It is all unscripted and unplanned. No one can write the script. The camera follows the lives of five ladies, Jennifer, the boss, Latoya, the diva, Jenicoco, the no nonsense one, Jeri, the manager/adviser and Nonye, the sweet one.
These ladies are successful in their own rights as you will see in the movie but they also bond over friendship, controversy, family and overall life in the United States. My inspiration to produce the movie was to empower us to tell our own story rather than have others tell it for us. Moreso, it was something that had never been done, especially not by the Nigerian folk. It was a no brainer.
What is the series all about?
The series is like nothing you’ve ever seen on television, it sets out to tell the story of Nigerians who live in the United States and use the lives of five ambitious ladies to do so. The dynamics of all the ladies intertwined with their personalities and love for high fashion, success and everything in between will be revealed in this series.
We also get to see firsthand the way Nigerians live in Dallas and correct any myths already out there. We are not all nurses and we don’t all have struggling lives. Some of us dare to be different and make money doing so. Viewers also get to see Nigerian ladies in their pursuit of the American dream. This movie will leave people around the world on their toes.
How long have you been on this project?
The idea for this project commenced in 2015 during a casual phone conversation when I asked a friend of mine who owns a TV/Radio station in Nigeria of his opinion of a reality show for Nigerians living in the United States and he said it would be a hit, as the demand for such was on the rise. I thought about it for a while, discussed with my business manager and partner and decided this would be a task we would want to take on.
What was the first project of your career all about?
I have produced several events for charity, photo shoots, online articles but this is my first project to hit TV screens, I don’t know how I thought I could pull this off.
It’s almost unthinkable that this all started with a casual conversation and fast forward a couple of months, a full production commenced. Also thanks to my manager, Jeri, who always encourages me to take on the most daunting and challenging of tasks.
When will the series be released?
The screening, which will be held in Dallas will be in February 2017, whereas the show will premier in March or April, the network is still working on the final logistics regarding that, but please stay glued to my social media pages for details. Press releases will also be done to let our audience know when it’s going to be out.
What are the challenges you faced while doing this project?
Once again, there are no scripts for this series, so I don’t deal with that issue. However, as a producer of such a huge project, I deal with the tardiness of these ladies on days where we film interviews, I also deal with weather and location issues. The crew and all the shenanigans that come with handling such a massive project. In fact, towards the end of filming season 1, I was heavily pregnant but there were no off days. I had to put my back into it. I remember calling one of the executives at UBA Group the day after I had my baby and he said ‘get off this phone now’, it was so funny. To me just because I had a baby did not mean I had to stop the grind.
What was growing up like?
Based on Nigerian statistics, I think I would have been considered an “aje-butter”, but no one cares, right? I grew up upper middle class and my parents did their best to teach us humility, respect and love. They had a divorce when I was eight years old and that led to boarding school, my grandparents stepping in, and a whole lot more. You ‘ll see a lot of this in the movie, so I better not give too much away. In the end, by divine design, I made it to where I am. It’s all part of my journey.
What were your dreams as a child?
Frankly, I always wanted to become a lawyer, I always wanted to make a change but did not necessarily know how. But now with my non-profit, The Pamela Erere Foundation (PEF), with this movie, with all the volunteer work I do in Dallas, with my movement for women empowerment and respect, I am thrilled to be giving back to society.
You have been married for sometime now, how do you balance marriage with what you do?
It is hard work to stay married and then work as a career person. It is very demanding since we are both busy and both travel. We make it work.
Do you have mentors in the entertainment industry?
Oprah Winfrey. This woman started a network and produced programming that she believed in and not merely those that would make her money. In Africa, I like Mo Abudu, she has come a long way and she dares greatly. You’ve got to show some respect. As a feminist and a woman trying to navigate this industry, I would be unfair if I did not acknowledge her ingenuity. There are some modern-day entertainers that I really love, I wouldn’t call them mentors since they do not do what I do, but I love Toke Makinwa, Adesua Etomi, Falz and Deyemi Okanlawon. They are fresh, authentic and different.
What are the challenges that come with your job?
Which of the jobs? Are you talking of writing? President of the Pamela Erere Foundation- PEF? My role as an OD consultant or me producing this huge movie? Perhaps my role as a blogger or volunteer? Yes, they are all challenging.
What is your most memorable moment on the job?
If you are talking about this movie then it would be when I finally got a TV and online platform to partner with us to air the show. It just confirmed that finally, all the hard work will pay off as the world will get to see what we’ve been doing behind the scenes.
What does style mean to you?
For me, style is having your looks and not letting it own you. It’s you making people believe that you are a million bucks regardless of whether you shop at Neimans or at The Goodwill. Style is an expression of self. People should be able to see my style and say that lady is a boss!. Not because what I have on is expensive or trendy but because I own it, and I’m wearing it, not the other way around.