Do you agree with the thought that there is a parallel line between those who study theatre arta and those who just delve into acting for love of the craft?
You can read text books as much as you want but it’s a performance act, ‘a show and prove’. For Jazz music, you learn the basics to be a good jazz player, you learn the basics and then you break the rules. That’s how we have those kind of guys who are awesome at their craft because they learn the basics and then they broke the glass. So, you can read text books all the way but at the end, you have to show and prove yourself. Some people don’t need to go to school for it, some people went to school to learn but the basic thing is as long as you want to earn from the business, you must have training; if you are in the business, you must come with training and your training could be in Theatre Arts. That’s a training, not just what you study. Your training could be Theatre Arts, from grammar school, your training could be on set and that’s why we have actors and movie stars.
So, which do you find more comfortable, the stage or the normal movie?
There is no one without the other. I go on stage to test myself because you are like the Plata-scène. You form one object and then you crush it, form another one and crush it. That’s the scene and that’s who we are when acting. I grew up in theatre, but there is no money in theatre.
Are you sure?
We only do it because we love acting. Also because we go there to fill our self. Money is nothing, it’s just the joy in acting. So, if you find a place and you are told you have the chance to act, that should be the happiest moment in your life not when they pay you cash. It’s just the chance to act that should be the happiest moment.
Knowing that stage performance requires lots of energy, how much of such energy do you put in your delivery?
I don’t know where it comes from. It is like your gift, you don’t know where your gift came from but you know who the source is. You don’t know how it passes through you so you don’t try to measure your gift because it is limitless. So, we go to the theatre to pull out our energy and then go perform in the movies to show it off; you know it’s a big screen so we come to the movies to shine and theatre to build.
What role are you playing the new movie ‘Cross Road’?
I am playing the role of ‘Omotimi Jomo’ who is one of the five robbery suspects in an incident crime in the movie.
‘Omotimi Jomo’ sounds fromBayelsa, how easy or tough is it for you playing the role?
A few of my friends work from Bayelsa soI just pulled my resources from them. I listened how they talk, relate with one another, so that’s where I pulled most of my energy from and at the end of the day, what is left is just to add spice to what has been gathered.
Is that your first time playing a robbery role?
No, it’s my second time.
What extra touch are you bringing to this one knowing that you have played other robbery roles?
I don’t even know, because from the beginning to the end, that is not my kind of person. I am only trying to weigh his scheme and you can never be as good as yourself; it takes a life time to be good as oneself so from the beginning of our shoot till the very end of our shoot, I kept trying to reach for this guy. So, what you see in an attempt to do so might sound funny to some people but I just had to work different on this one
What attracted you to the script?
The story telling was well crafted, it’s one event; five characters in one robbery case or presumed to be in the robbery case. The way the story is told, we have a lot of writers around here, who are pushing for a time when screenplay and visuals would start seeing a sense of character. When you watch a movie, you would be able to tell who made the film. We are definitely getting to that stage, and the writing here is very characteristic.
Is there any lesson to be learnt from your role?
I’ll just say enjoy the movie, enjoy watching the character then as for lessons, my character is a militant from Niger Delta so the lesson I think, is clean up the Niger Delta which I feel is the responsibility of people in the corridors of power.
Do you think at the end of the day, the movie will tell the typical Bayelsa stories in a positive light knowing that the state is known for cases of militancy, amongst others?
I am only one robbery suspect in all of this story, so our story goes five different ways. It doesn’t stay on my character for long. It tells its own story. My character is a guy who has his own story to tell, he doesn’t really tell you what to say.
Working with RMD, how was it for you?
It was my first time working with him, he is an icon, someone so cool that he is by his initials. That’s how cool he is. He is known by his initials so one doesn’t need to know his whole name. That’s where we, as entertainers should work towards; you don’t need to say my full name, just say G.O and one knows who you are speaking of.
As a thespian in your own field, will you reject a script because of the other characters involved?
No. I mean we are guided by the story not by the money we earn. The fact is aside from the cash, we are all bounded by the story that why you see us staying late at night and sometimes, for days, tolerating one another. For instance, for ‘Cross Road’, we have spent well over 42 days and still counting on set.
So what other projects have you been involved in?
I will be doing more of theatre movement. I was recently at the London theatre where I performed for about six days and there is another stage play this month, among other events I am personally preparing for in November; with that, you can tell that I will be very busy acting.
How do you unwind?
I love singing and generally relaxing when I am not acting or when I have nothing to do. Music is a great deal to me and I love listening to jazz music.
You are a good singer too, is that a next step for you in terms of singing?
Well, that’s a very personal thing. I mean my thing, my personal relationship. Let’s deal with the one we know.
Are you designer freak?
Designer freak? Not by way of name but by way of what I see and it looks may appeal to me. I am not driven by names.
So, when was the last time you read a book?
That would be two weeks ago.
Title?
This bitch of a life.
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