|
 |
|
Chinyere Wilfred |
|
|
|
|
|
|
We are checking the
entire work and hoping
to now call upon some
marketers to see what we
have in stock.
Why venture into
production?
I told my friends that I
have acted all my life
and needed to expand my
scope. I saw the
opportunity and I
grabbed it wholesomely.
I believe this is just
the beginning for me
because there are other
stories waiting for
production. I have to
source money from
friends and family. I
know I won’t let any one
down.
Flash back
I recall those good old
days when Zeb Ejiro
invited me to be part of
Ripples. After Ripples,
I was called for an
audition in Taboo and
after that I had started
on the journey and I can
say to God be the glory.
I also did Nneka the
pretty serpent, Beyond
the Vow etc as you well
know.
Like I have always said,
I approach every
production as a major
challenge. All of them
are any way. I do not
have any ones that are
not.
Challenges of production
This is a different ball
game from acting. In
acting, you just get
your scripts and digest
them and go before the
camera. Now as a
producer, I now call
every shot, negotiate
with the artistes,
source their fees and
make sure that everyone
is happy.
It is indeed a major
challenge and I thank
God I overcame it. I now
appreciate the work of
the producer who would
wait on every one and
manage our
idiosyncracies.
Some times the artistes
would say they may not
be able to make it to
location and this will
increase cost of
production because the
producer may have
budgeted for a few days
only for the delay to
increase the cost. But
it was fine and a giant
leap in my career.
Nollywood is changing
It is true that
Nollywood is changing
and I believe it is for
the better. Everywhere
you go around the world,
the talk is about
Nollywood.
We are moving forward.
My picture of Nollywood
is that it started
somewhere like a mustard
seed. It is going
somewhere and it would
be somewhere. There is
no problem in Nollywood,
we are not doing badly.
Imagine that we started
this industry out of
nothing.
Acting
I didn’t study acting. I
did computer studies at
the Lagos State
Polytechnic. But I have
trained on the job since
I have always had acting
in my veins right for
childhood. It comes
naturally to me.
Boys, boy, boys
I have four men in they
house, my children, the
three of them and of
course my husband. It
looks like I am a loner
in the house but I am
believing God to have a
girl some day.
My husband
He is from Dikenafai in
Imo State while I come
from Agulu Eze Chukwu in
Anambra State. We met
several years ago when I
was in secondary school
and we courted for over
seven years before
deciding to get married.
He waited for me.
He is a very humble, God
fearing man. He is
different. One of the
reasons I love him is
because in this our job,
only an understanding
man would understand the
razzmatazz that follow
it. He is used to it and
the scandals as well. He
knows his wife and tells
me that I shouldn’t be
bothered so that I do
not get distracted.
London production
By the grace of God, we
are going to produce a
movie in London. I went
to put finishing touches
to the arrangement. It
would have Stella
Damasus, Sola Sobowale
who is in London already
and a couple of other
artistes. We hope to let
the cameras roll
soonest.
Problems of the industry
One of the problems of
the industry which
always would worry the
practitioner is the so
much bad belle as people
spread bad stories about
each other at any
slightest provocation.
You never can tell the
level of envy, jealousy
and the like in the
industry. I pray that
God protects me from all
the troubles as
I continue to wax
stronger by His grace.
Delectable actress and mother of three
boys, Chinyere Wilfred returned from
location feeling fagged out. She had
gone to produce her first film which is
just concluding post-production. The
movie which features Desmond Elliot,
Stella Damasus and a host of others is
warming up for the highest bidder in
terms of marketing.
The star actress in Beyond the Vow and
Nneka the Pretty Serpent who just
returned from a trip to London spared
time for a chat and says:
“A lot of people are wondering where I
have been or what I have been doing and
I tell them that nothing really has been
happening to me except that I have been
very busy on location, I just completely
wrapped up a production of my own. We
are currently putting finishing touches
on post-production. I have been very
busy. We have a working title—
Entangled.
“The movie stars Stella Damasus, Desmond
Elliot, Kalu Ikeagwu, and my humble
self. It is a love and family story.
It is my story which is written by
Ifediba. It is a film about love, bad
friends, bad company and betrayal. It is
about two friends, one a happily married
couple and another, an agaracha woman.
The couple had been aiting for the fruit
of the womb and believing God that His
will be done. I don’t want to give it
all out until it is released.
We shot here in Lagos, at VGC. It is my
belief that movie lovers out there would
enjoy it when it comes out. I think we
have done something interesting with
wonderful actors and actresses. There is
no marketer for now.
|