Monthly MagazineSeptember 13, 2018

MRH SEPTEMBER 2018: COVER STORY; NOLLYWOOD FANTASTIC FOUR IN DUBAI

UCHE JOMB:

With lots of accolades to her name which also includes Best Lead Actress for her role in ‘Lies Men Tell’ at the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), Uche Jumbo Rodriguez, has been relevant on the screen for over a decade now.

The actress, writer and filmmaker is a hard-worker both at the homefront and in her career. The 38-year-old mother of one has produced some of Nollywood’s best movies like Damage and Hustlers.
Having recently joined other influential Nigerian personalities as part of the tourism programmes organised by Visit Dubai Africa, Uche Jombo, in an exclusive interview with MediaRoomHub chronicles her experience on the journey with her squad called Fantastic Four which features three other Nollywood actresses and filmmakers.

What would you say was the highlight of your 5-day #dubaigirlstrip?

Everyday was an experience even with places I have been to before because I saw it from a different perspective and different people (my squad). But the sea-wings kind of stood out because it was a first for me.

Having visited a lot of tourist centers in Dubai, how do you think Nigeria can attract attention through tourism?

By first investing in tourism because everywhere we went to I found myself thinking of the work behind the scenes, the hard work behind each experience and you can tell a lot was invested, look at places like Ski Dubai for example in hot Dubai.

What was it like having the entire “Fantastic 4 ” embark on #dubaigirlstrip?

Amazing! We have been planning a trip for over two years since the first Wives on Strike movie project. Thank God for Dubai Tourism, for making this #dubaigirlstrip a reality

With the current state of things in Nollywood in terms of quality of production, acting and scripting, where do you see the industry in the nearest future and what are the issues that need to be addressed?

I have always said we are not where we are supposed to be but then again not where we used to be. There’s room for improvement at every level, as an industry, I still feel Nollywood should be taxed less, given room to grow.

How do you combine work with being a wife and motherhood?

Women do it all over the world and in my case I have the luxury of choosing my jobs, some don’t have that, so when I feel the pressure I remind myself that.

Is there any project you are working on at the moment? If yes tell us about it.

I have an upcoming film, HEAVEN ON MY MIND, a collaboration between my company and Ini Edo’s directed by me, it’s a ‘feel good film’ you will love it. I have some films starring me heading to the cinemas in a few days; I BELIEVE and CANDLE.

How did the “Fantastic Four” come about and how do you all manage to stay together despite your differences?

We are focused on our collective qualities , support for each other and laugh together more because life is hard already to add any nonsense to the mix

Chioma Chukwuka-Akpotha

You cannot do justice to telling the story of the evolution of Nollywood without mentioning Chioma Chukwuka-Akpotha. The actress/filmmaker ventured into acting in the year 2000 after graduating with a degree in Banking and Finance from Lagos State University.

Chioma stole hearts with her “Good Girl” roles in most of the movies produced at the time. She debuted as a producer in 2013 and has gone ahead to broaden her horizon with studying Business in Film at a School of Media and Communication.

In this interview, the quintessential thespian, she speaks on her highlight of the Girls Trip to Dubai, how Nigeria could be shaped into becoming a tourist delight, The Fantastic Four and more.

What would you say was the highlight of your 5-day #DubaiGirlsTrip?

Every single thing about the Dubai Girls’ trip was a highlight for me. From the very first day we were contacted to come on that trip till the day we left Dubai back to Nigeria.
Every single place we visited down to our hotel rooms and the food was ‘the ishhhh!
But in all the show at La Perle was a major highlight. It was an experience I will never forget.

Having visited loads of tourist centers in Dubai, how do you think Nigeria can attract attention through tourism?

There’s a need for the government to invest in tourism. The private sectors in the business need the assistance of the government to boost tourism; identify holiday spots and invest in positioning them to be globally recognized. There are lots of beautiful places in Nigeria that people don’t even know about so there’s also the need to promote those places through various social media platforms and also encourage adventure tours.

What was it like having the entire “Fantastic Four” embark on #DubaiGirlsTrip?

I think I should’ve said that having the entire “fantastic squad” on this trip was the major highlight! Goodness! We had always wanted a trip like this, where we’d have no cares nor worries but just fun, major fun. I could hardly contain myself when I heard it was all four of us on the trip and then Chioma Omeruah who I also love to bits . So it was all I ever wanted for a girls trip and more.

We cannot take away the fact that the Nigerian Film industry has grown ways beyond what it used to be in the very early years of its birth till date. It is an industry that was birthed solely out of passion with no help from wherever but funded from individual pockets and is still thriving. Again, I will say that the industry needs the support of the government in several areas like making laws and policies which will be implemented to make filming easy for practitioners and to back them up in the fight against piracy.

How do you combine work with being a wife and a mother?

It is not a very easy task but one I have become used to over the years. I have had to position my life in such a way that I plan every single move of mine ahead of time. I can no longer get up and be on the move just like that. I have found ways to weave through it. I no longer come first . It is family first then every other thing. I have to work extra hard to keep up by making sure no one and nothing is left hanging and I have done this solely by Gods grace, mercy and provision.

Is there any project your are working on at the moment? If yes tell us about it.

I have four films of mine yet to be released. I also have a pet project I am nursing but will share in a few months.

How did the “Fantastic Four” come about?

I have been friends with Uche , Ufuoma and Omoni at different points in my life and career but we weren’t altogether friends up until we shot the first sequel of Omoni’s Wives on Strike . We didn’t even realize we had become that close until we started sharing our dreams and aspirations with one another. Then we discovered that we were like minds and wanted to see one another grow beyond the level we were at that time. It’s a friendship that is true and sincere. Little wonder we saw the name “Fantastic Four” after an interview we had with WOW magazine.

How do you all manage to stay together despite your differences?

We have been able to keep our hormones in check by keeping our bond, goals and aspirations in front of us at all times. Yes, we have our differences like every other group of friends but what matters is the love we have for one another and the interests we share. I love those stupid girls silly!

OMONI OBOLI

Actor/Filmmaker and most recently, Author- Omoni Oboli, began her journey to being one of Nollywood’s finest in the 90s when she starred in major movies at the time until she took about a decade break to complete her university education and start a family.

The ageless mother of three relocated to Nigeria from the United Kingdom and has been on a roll, having produced, directed and starred in series of blockbusters from then till date which has earned her the title as Nigeria’s Box Office Queen.

In this interview, The New York Film Academy alumnus speaks on relishing a Girls Trip to Dubai with her squad The Fantastic Four for the first time, Nollywood, motherhood amongst others.

What would you say was the highlight of your 5-day #DubaiGirlsTrip?

For me, it’s the fact that I got to experience Dubai with my squad. I really just think that girls’ trips are the best!

You have visited laods of tourist centers in Dubai, how do you think Nigeria can attract attention through tourism?

We first have to deal with safety. Tourists have to feel safe when they visit Nigeria.

What was it like having the entire “Fantastic Four” embark on #DubaiGirlsTrip?

Amazing. We bonded a lot more. We are all very hardworking women. This gave us a chance to play and really just let our hair down while visiting different tourist attractions.

I think once we tackle distribution head on, we will be fine. We need more cinemas. A lot more. We should have cinemas in every city in Nigeria.

How do you combine work with being a wife and motherhood?

I don’t think about it, I just do it. Every working mother has to find a balance and I just try to.

Is there any project you are working on at the moment? If yes tell us about it.

I have a movie in the cinema right now called Moms at War . I also have another project in Post Production called Wings of a Dove . That’s my pet project. It’s the story of the child bride.

How did the “Fantastic Four” come about and how do y’all manage to stay together despite your differences?

We were all friends. We liked one another because we all have a lot in common. We however became much closer during and after Wives On Strike . We toured Nigeria with the movie and we bonded a lot more. We all understand that even though we share a lot of similar traits, we are all still fundamentally different people. We also know that we will upset each other from time to time but that doesn’t mean we don’t love ourselves.

Why are your friends referring to you as the class captain?

Hahaha! Don’t mind them. I think it’s just that I have the tendency to always check with everyone that things are running smoothly. In short, I don’t know, ask them.

Ufuoma Stacey McDermott

Ufuoma Stacey McDermott is an actress, filmmaker and former model. The mother of two has been an active player in Nollywood for over a decade and has garnered her fair share of accolades. Ufuoma is a part of Nollywood’s famed clique dubbed Fantastic Four.

In this interview, she let us into how much she relished touring Dubai with her cronies as it was one they have looked forward to for years. She dishes an honest opinion on how Nigeria can draw recognition through tourism. She also opened up on matters ranging from issues faced by Nollywood and how they could be addressed. McDermott did hint us about her forthcoming project “What Just Happened” as well as how she combines being a wife to motherhood and career.

What would you say was the highlight of your 5-day #DubaiGirlsTrip?

The highlight of the trip for me would be the end-point of the realization that man can become anything he puts his mind to. We can achieve whatever it is we decide to achieve.

You look at a city like Dubai that almost had nothing and that kind of glorious city emerges from a desert. It makes you feel like God’s creative ability in man is super and man can achieve anything he decides or determines.

Having visited loads of tourist centers in Dubai, how do you think Nigeria can attract attention through tourism?

I think one of the things that we miss is trying to single out tourism as one thing. Tourism is a collective, it’s a chain of things that have to work.
So you have to make sure that you have airlines that are air-lifting people to that city or country that you want to open up as a tourist hub, you have to make sure that there are hotels and entertainment centres.
You have to ensure that you play on your weather because one is not God and don’t determine what the weather would be but whatever the weather is, make sure that you’re able to play on your weather to give them a good time. So it’s a chain of things and not just one thing. You have to change the mindset of the people to be accommodating especially in cases where we see a white person and think its an avenue to extort from them.

The mindset of the people have to be opened up and be on a level where they are willing to accept people’s differences.
Dubai is obviously an Islamic country but I could go there and be myself without being a Muslim and I still had maximum fun. So, it’s a whole chain of things and not just one thing, everything has to work seamlessly together for tourism in Nigeria to kick off.

Of course it starts with our mindset and at the end of the day, it goes on to what we’re willing to sacrifice and achieve together as a people.

What was it like having the entire “Fantastic Four” embark on #DubaiGirlsTrip?

The Dubai Girls Trip for me was like having a vacation with my friends and sisters. It was the ability to be myself and know that I wouldn’t be judged because these are my people, my folks, my goons, my blood, my squad. It was maximum fun, all we ever do is work and work. It was finally awesome for us to take some time out, be able to visit lovely tourist places together. You needed to see us at La Perle , because you know we’re all filmmakers and a few of us have theater experience. It was just amazing and beautiful to share such an experience with your own people, the people that you love the most, the people that you care about and you know that those memories will be cherished forever. It meant a lot to me to be going on that trip with them, I look forward to more by the way.

With the current state of things in Nollywood in terms of quality of production, acting, scripting. Where do you see the industry in the nearest future and what are the issues that need to be addressed?

Let me first say that I’m very proud of where Nollywood is right now. However, we know that there’s always room for improvement and we know that we’re not where we want to be yet, we’re climbing and growing but we’re not where we want to be yet. So there’s a lot that need to be done.

Particularly at this point, I think what we require is an input of funds. However, those funds must be channelled into the right direction. So for me, it’s more distribution outlets, ensuring that our product reaches every nook and cranny of the country, hoping that our movie would be accessible to the people that want to see it and not rely on pirates to bring it to them.

Right now, we’re still talking about how to have cinemas in the whole country. We should actually have about 30 cinemas within Lagos alone as a big city. So I think that a lot more has to be channeled into distribution or exhibition as the case may be. For production itself, I want to believe that there is a crop of filmmakers that understand what needs to be done, they know what should be and can be done and what is achievable but these things would require funds and at the end of the day, there’s no point putting in those funds and you cannot get them out. This is a business, it’s not just show but it’s show-business, we’re talking about the business and we’re talking about the ability to input funds and get those funds out with a profit, if you’re unable to do that then, you’re a business failure.
We want to be able to see these funds inputed into the right channels and places so that I, for example or many other producers can take a loan on whatever collateral you have existing right now and make production the way we want them and assure that the monies will come back.

Another thing we require is patronage from the Nigerian public. It’s not enough to just sit back and compare Hollywood to Nollywood, that’s like a treacherous sin. We need to understand the kind of monies that go into each production in Hollywood and understand that without the patronage, that circle cannot be achieved. So when you buy a Hollywood film, your money goes back to Hollywood and develops the American film industry.

It’s not enough for Nigerians to go on their Instagram page to say ” Nollywood is doing well, we need your patronage, we need to see it in terms of your money.
Go to the cinema, watch Nigerian film, enjoy with your family and let those returns circle back within the economy and develop that industry and not going out to develop another industry.

How do you combine work with being a wife and motherhood?

I think it’s super important that everyone tries to find a balance in their life and career as it were. It doesn’t even matter if you’re a father or mother, there’s got to be a balance, you’ve got to understand that at every point in time that you take one step or you go a level higher and understand that every of those levels in your life need you.
So, if you’re a family man, know that you need to spend time with your wife, family and also give time for your career. There must be proper priority set.
For me, I think it’s pretty easy because I understand my priorities and the things that must be done. It’s the same way the market woman, teacher, journalist and housewife all balance their lives.

I don’t think its any different because I am an entertainer but what I choose to do is that I understand my timing and share my timing. I know that my children, husband and work deserve my time, I know I need a holiday, I know that sometimes I might have to leave the kid and go to work. It’s a choice that you consciously have to make, understand your priority, set them and then plan them in a way that it favours everyone because you can’t be selfish about your life because it doesn’t belong to just you, so there’s got to be that balance.

How you achieve that balance would be solely based on you as a person, I’m just blessed and very lucky and blessed to have a support system that works, I’ve got wonderful nannies, I sometimes drop my children at my parent’s while I do what I have to because they reside in Lagos. I’m also blessed not to have a 9am -5pm job, sometimes I give my all to work and sometimes spend time with family and I make it happy.

It would vary for people depending on what your priorities are and what your family or your life’s makeup is at every point in time of your life

Is there any project you are working on at the moment? If yes, tell us about it.

Yes…My movie What Just Happened was at the cinemas 14 September 14, 2018. I’m very excited about it and I have wonderful cast comprising the likes of Toyin Abraham, Segun Arinze, Saga, Mike Ezuruonye, Funnybone, MC Abbey, myself etc.

Its a story that tells a tale of a disgruntled professor who has lived the majority part of her adult life in the United States and she has certain principles as she puts it. She comes back to Nigeria and think that everything will happen the way she has planned them to happen. Along the line, she’s also hoping to find love, things happen and go haywire when she decides to embark on that one hour journey from Lagos to Ibadan by herself. It’s just hilarious as so many things come into play in this movie and it’s one I think that everybody should see.
Totally hilarious it is.

How did the “Fantastic Four come about?

We’d all known each other just being colleagues within the same industry. I’ve been particularly close to Chioma and Onion, my relationship with Uche has always been that of a big-sister, she’s always been supportive and I go to her for advice and what have you.
God bless her, she’s a sharer, there’s no information Uche has that she hoards, she’d gladly put the information out there to gain from.

Then came Wives on Strike, when we acted together and spent so much time together on set. It was a labour of love and we all just bonded.
It was just amazing having four of us in the same set, everything we did was different but our hearts were together. When we started the promotion of the film, some of our fans just dubbed us The Fantastic Four and it just came to stay. Our bond have just been one super bond. I think more than anything, its our love for humanity and fear of God that keep us together. Our differences are there but we understand that we’re different people with one heart.

How do you all manage to stay together despite your differences?

In our differences, we understand the concept of respect. It doesn’t matter if your ideology is different from mine, we understand that we must respect each other’s beliefs and concept to life. Much more than anything, there’s a love and respect for each other that keeps us going.

The differences that we share only make us stronger. We kind of draw strength and learn from each other, we appreciate each other and it’s the reason we’re always so excited to be together. There’s something fresh that everyone brings to the table.

However, our differences are not negative, there’s a positivity to our differences and that’s what makes the party fun, to know that different people will bring in different things and it makes it super enjoyable. We do love each other a lot.