Popular actor, John Okafor has decried the absence
of adequate structures in Nollywood. Also he criticized the recent visit of the
Actors’ Guild of Nigeria to President Goodluck Jonathan, which did not appear
to go down well with some people who queried the motive in the first place. For
these critics, the actors only went to grab a ‘piece of the national cake.’ And
though the actors concerned have since defended their decision to pay the
President a courtesy visit, popular Nigerian comic actor, John Okafor,
popularly known as Mr. Ibu, is still not pleased.
According to the actor. “The government should stop
giving Actors’ Guild cash, because we don’t know how to handle it. Some people
will go to the office, process the money and squander it and we (actors) never
benefit from such goodwill. “If they (government) can give us a structure or
land, we (actors) can go ahead and secure funds from investors to build five-star
hotels and other facilities on it, because it will be a tourist haven. We can
bring the Nigerian Censor’s board into the same arena. “How can we be paying
N50,000 to have one movie censored and then generate N5m from over 100 movies
produced in a month and yet there aren’t any structures in place for Nollywood?
“With such amount of money, government should be able to cater for us. If this
is done, the industry will make a giant stride.”
Besides the lack of infrastructure, Okafor also
drew attention to what he described as an ‘ugly trend’. “Homosexuality is very
rampant in our industry and it is one thing that aggravates my anger many at
times,” he reveals. Okafor would not go into details when this correspondent
probed further. Although he made a name for himself playing ‘unserious roles,’
Okafor said many fans were unable to tell when he was serious.
“Many people do not take me seriously because of
the kind of roles I play in movies. But the truth is that those who know me
very well know that I am a very focused and principled person. “In fact, I
teach and mentor many upcoming actors and also organise workshops and seminars
regularly for them.”
The actor said his love for acting dated back to
his childhood days and that the streak ran in his family.
“I think I got the gift of acting from my
grandfather. I discovered this in the early 70s. My grandfather was a foremost
comedian in his own right. Back in the days, he would take me to places where
he performed. Growing up, I realised that I was going to become an actor
somehow,” he recalled.
The journey to the top was not an easy one for the
determined actor. Having worked as a hairdresser, butcher, wait-and-get
photographer and soft drinks seller at various points in life, he claimed to
have found fulfillment in the world of make-believe.
The year 1994 proved to be the turning point in his
career after he landed his first movie role in the movie, Rolling Stone.
Okafor was paid a paltry N5,000 to star in the film, but that was then. Today,
he has emerged one of the most sought-after and highly paid Nollywood actors
who charges ‘six digits’ to feature in a film.
He said of his new status, “Acting has not made me
rich, but I’m very comfortable. I am able to feed and adequately take care of
my family; neither do I borrow money.
Source: Punch
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