How did you find yourself in the movie industry?
I started in the 90's before I got admitted into the university. I started with talk shows on DBN and AIT and eventually, I got a role in Palace and while I was acting, I was studying with it.
Where did you study?
I went to Maryland Convent, Anthony Model Primary School and I went to different secondary schools. I was at Ikeja High School, Ifako International School and LAFOGRAMS. I studied International Relations at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and for my Masters degree, I studied International law and Diplomacy at the University of Lagos. Also, I do some professional courses once in a while. I did some in directing and I did a leadership course at Daystar Church.
Since you started acting before gaining admission into the university, why didn't you study Theatre Arts instead of International Relations?
My first love has always been to be a diplomat. I discovered acting along the line as a hobby. I don't have to go to the school of acting before acting well. I actually got admitted into the Obafemi Awolowo University to study Accounting but I just wanted to be a diplomat so I changed my course to International Relations. I already have acting as a talent, so I don't need to study Theatre Arts.
Who are your mentors in the movie industry?
In acting, they are Olu and Joke Jacobs, Richard Mofe-Damijo and in directing, my mentors are Amaka Igwe, Lola Fani-Kayode, Tade Ogidan, Tunde Kelani and a whole lot of them.
What is your relationship with your colleagues in the movie industry?
It is cordial but I'm a private person. I don't keep friends apart from the younger ones that I have. It doesn't mean that I have people as my enemies. I still maintain a very cordial relationship with my colleagues when we are off set and I know I can get in touch with them when we have one or two things to do together. I love privacy so I like to keep myself to myself.
The first time you were on set, how did you feel?
I was excited but scared. I was excited because I was acting with big names: Liz Benson, Yomi Obileye and a whole lot of them but I was really scared. Although, I had to get a slap because my director, Uncle Tunji Bamishigbin, was asking: 'what's wrong with you?' Because I was not just getting my line so I had to be slapped to get back on my feet and after that, I've been wonderful. It's like a part of me already.
It's been very long you were seen in a movie. What really happened?
I do more of directing now. Even the directing, I pick the ones I do after reading the script. I'm working on my own job. I'm working on the Yoruba first reality show for upcoming movie actors and actresses, “Irawo Otun”, I'm working on a network show, “fulfilling desires”. It's a non governmental organization enhanced network show and I am also working on my television serial, “Tactics”. So I have a lot of things on my hands. Acting along with it might be too tedious for me. Those are the major things I'm working on for now.
Your new film “wakati eda”, why didn't you give it to marketer to distribute it for you?
I gave it to a marketer and I'm even having issues with the marketer because right now, I've not seen the marketer and the marketer has five million naira with him, I've not heard anything from him. He just ran away with my money. Anybody that sees him should tell him to bring my money because he is creating problem for me. I got people who believed in me, they believed in the project that I did and they invested in it. At the end of the day, I'm turning to be a bad person because I am not paying back. I have not collected the money for the copies of the movie that was sold since February. Now, I'm in a fix, which is why I am not so encouraged to think of producing any movie again because how can I work so hard and at the end of the day, my marketer will just hold on to the money?
But at first you did the film single handed?
I did everything single -handed, I went to the DVD company myself, I did the advert myself, the only thing I just gave out was the distributing part only for him to distribute in Idumota and other places because they have a distributing network. Even with the distributing network, he has not been able to give me a dime.
Is it all marketers that do that?
