John Okafor, a.k.a Ibu,
is known for his comic roles. The actor says people have always mistaken his
roles in the movies for his real personality and most times they don’t take him
serious. He believes that no matter how people perceive him, if the job is
putting food on his table, he is okay. He explained more in this interview
is known for his comic roles. The actor says people have always mistaken his
roles in the movies for his real personality and most times they don’t take him
serious. He believes that no matter how people perceive him, if the job is
putting food on his table, he is okay. He explained more in this interview
I understand you
have another movie on Ibu coming up?
have another movie on Ibu coming up?
Yes! The next movie is Ibu runs mad in America. Plans are on and we are
about concluding, that’s why I am telling you.
It’s a movie that will bring Rachel Ellams, a Hollywood actress, for the first
time to Nigeria and we have about three other actors from Hollywood. The
director is also from Hollywood, Goodwill Michaels. He is going to be with us
for the Nigerian shoot and the American shoot. We are using high class
equipment powered by Big A Entertainment in America .
about concluding, that’s why I am telling you.
It’s a movie that will bring Rachel Ellams, a Hollywood actress, for the first
time to Nigeria and we have about three other actors from Hollywood. The
director is also from Hollywood, Goodwill Michaels. He is going to be with us
for the Nigerian shoot and the American shoot. We are using high class
equipment powered by Big A Entertainment in America .
Are you the producer?
I will say yes because they are bankrolling and I am doing the
production. But I also have somebody who is standing in for me in the
aspect of production and it’s under the auspices of my company.
production. But I also have somebody who is standing in for me in the
aspect of production and it’s under the auspices of my company.
Ibu
was not originally your concept, so why are you using the name for your movie?
was not originally your concept, so why are you using the name for your movie?
Ibu has
been my name from childhood. Mr. Ibu is another man’s concept but Ibu without
Mr. is my own concept and brand. Ibu is my name from childhood. Ibu runs mad in America is the title of the movie
and not Mr. Ibu runs mad in America.
been my name from childhood. Mr. Ibu is another man’s concept but Ibu without
Mr. is my own concept and brand. Ibu is my name from childhood. Ibu runs mad in America is the title of the movie
and not Mr. Ibu runs mad in America.
I
hope you understand the legal implication of what I am talking about.
hope you understand the legal implication of what I am talking about.
I
understand you, it’s about the copyright. The producer cannot take me up on
that because it’s spelt out. His movie is Mr. Ibu and I am talking about Kasvid movies.
Now, we have Ibu runs mad in America and
there is no Mr. in that Ibu. Just like Osuofi a, can actually handle any role
they give me in a movie.
understand you, it’s about the copyright. The producer cannot take me up on
that because it’s spelt out. His movie is Mr. Ibu and I am talking about Kasvid movies.
Now, we have Ibu runs mad in America and
there is no Mr. in that Ibu. Just like Osuofi a, can actually handle any role
they give me in a movie.
You
have not been doing much of stand-up comedy, it’s like the movies are taking
much of your time?
have not been doing much of stand-up comedy, it’s like the movies are taking
much of your time?
It’s
been movies. I came into the industry through movies and not stand up comedy
but I can talk in the public. I do master of ceremony jobs and I anchor
programmes of any class of people. I have taken advantage of the fact that I
make people happy acting and I transported such to stand up comedy and it has
been working for me. I tried it on a few occasions and it worked. So, I decided
to delve into it.
been movies. I came into the industry through movies and not stand up comedy
but I can talk in the public. I do master of ceremony jobs and I anchor
programmes of any class of people. I have taken advantage of the fact that I
make people happy acting and I transported such to stand up comedy and it has
been working for me. I tried it on a few occasions and it worked. So, I decided
to delve into it.
Why
are you not doing soap operas?
are you not doing soap operas?
No. I
don’t want to bring myself down giving them any price. If you are coming for
soap opera, all I know is that I am going to shoot a movie and you pay me my
dues and once that’s done I hit set.
don’t want to bring myself down giving them any price. If you are coming for
soap opera, all I know is that I am going to shoot a movie and you pay me my
dues and once that’s done I hit set.
What
if Wale Adeguna comes up with a huge amount and asks you to feature in his
soap, will you refuse?
if Wale Adeguna comes up with a huge amount and asks you to feature in his
soap, will you refuse?
If he
pays me what I ask for, I will go and work for him and the effect is that
immediately they start showing it, your market value will drop drastically.
DSTV always show our movies and this affects us so much.
pays me what I ask for, I will go and work for him and the effect is that
immediately they start showing it, your market value will drop drastically.
DSTV always show our movies and this affects us so much.
But
it’s your people that sold the rights to them?
it’s your people that sold the rights to them?
I am
not blaming them for that.
not blaming them for that.
Is
“Ibu runs mad in America” your first movie?
“Ibu runs mad in America” your first movie?
No. I
have produced a couple of other movies; Naomi, Inheritance, Fingers, Bora,
FrontPage and they did well in the market.
have produced a couple of other movies; Naomi, Inheritance, Fingers, Bora,
FrontPage and they did well in the market.
Which
is more profitable, acting or movie production?
is more profitable, acting or movie production?
They are all good depending on
the way you handle them. For me, I produce once in a year so that I can keep my
acting chances intact.
the way you handle them. For me, I produce once in a year so that I can keep my
acting chances intact.
The
industry, at a time, witnessed a drop but recently picked up with quality
movies and premieres. Will ‘Ibu runs mad in America’ witness wonderful
premiere?
industry, at a time, witnessed a drop but recently picked up with quality
movies and premieres. Will ‘Ibu runs mad in America’ witness wonderful
premiere?
I have
a big movie I did in Berlin, Germany, titled Champion Sportsman. It’s a movie
shot in Germany with the latest equipment where they used about 22 cameras at
once.
a big movie I did in Berlin, Germany, titled Champion Sportsman. It’s a movie
shot in Germany with the latest equipment where they used about 22 cameras at
once.
Are
you still a football agent?
you still a football agent?
No. I
stopped because I was actually using somebody’s license and the man was
exploiting me. I wasn’t actually comfortable with the whole thing, somebody
using my intelligence and at the end of the day I get nothing from it.
stopped because I was actually using somebody’s license and the man was
exploiting me. I wasn’t actually comfortable with the whole thing, somebody
using my intelligence and at the end of the day I get nothing from it.
Why
don’t you apply to FIFA directly and become an agent?
don’t you apply to FIFA directly and become an agent?
There
is an examination we are waiting for, after that I will get my personal
license.
is an examination we are waiting for, after that I will get my personal
license.
Aside
movie, are you involved in other businesses?
movie, are you involved in other businesses?
Well, I
am doing some research especially on importation. After that I can go into the
business fully. It could be anything, I have not really made up my mind. It
could be women’s and men’s wears including shoes of all classes.
am doing some research especially on importation. After that I can go into the
business fully. It could be anything, I have not really made up my mind. It
could be women’s and men’s wears including shoes of all classes.
Have
you sorted out your problem with LUTH the death of your son? Have they
apologised?
you sorted out your problem with LUTH the death of your son? Have they
apologised?
They
did not apologise, neither did they reply the letter sent to them through my
lawyer. But my pastor said I should let go because no amount of money or any
form of compensation will be commensurable to the life of my son. decided
to forget . If I continue to talk it, agony and the pains I went through
because of his death, my business will not be settled.
did not apologise, neither did they reply the letter sent to them through my
lawyer. But my pastor said I should let go because no amount of money or any
form of compensation will be commensurable to the life of my son. decided
to forget . If I continue to talk it, agony and the pains I went through
because of his death, my business will not be settled.
Let’s
go back to your days as an undergraduate in IMT Enugu, did you at anytime
anticipate that you would end up an actor?
go back to your days as an undergraduate in IMT Enugu, did you at anytime
anticipate that you would end up an actor?
Am I a
wizard? How would I have known? (General laughter) How would I have known, even
if you will go to anywhere in the world there is a process you must pass
through in life. If you studied banking as a course and it is not in your
destiny to work as a banker, you will still find your star and when you do that
you will deviate.
wizard? How would I have known? (General laughter) How would I have known, even
if you will go to anywhere in the world there is a process you must pass
through in life. If you studied banking as a course and it is not in your
destiny to work as a banker, you will still find your star and when you do that
you will deviate.
Which
means you deviated from what you studied?
means you deviated from what you studied?
Of
course, though I read Mass Communication and I am still communicating through
movies. I believe that whatever God has in stock for you will come to be yours
no matter what.
course, though I read Mass Communication and I am still communicating through
movies. I believe that whatever God has in stock for you will come to be yours
no matter what.
Some
of your roles in the movies portray you as a stupid person, is that the way
people perceive you in real life when they meet you?
of your roles in the movies portray you as a stupid person, is that the way
people perceive you in real life when they meet you?
Yes.
People think that I am stupid. What is my business? Let me be stupid and get
what I want. If I could be feeding from that, I don’t care. The industry is not
giving us the position that we strive for. This is the industry have overseas
people are celebrated, cannot easily out like that and with people. They heavy
amount money you there can make 10 movies here and there will still be balance
and everybody will be well paid. We are laying foundation for those that are
coming up and if they are sensible enough, they will stabilize and solidify it.
I wonder why the government introduced the Nigerian Film Corporation and who are
they cooperating with?
People think that I am stupid. What is my business? Let me be stupid and get
what I want. If I could be feeding from that, I don’t care. The industry is not
giving us the position that we strive for. This is the industry have overseas
people are celebrated, cannot easily out like that and with people. They heavy
amount money you there can make 10 movies here and there will still be balance
and everybody will be well paid. We are laying foundation for those that are
coming up and if they are sensible enough, they will stabilize and solidify it.
I wonder why the government introduced the Nigerian Film Corporation and who are
they cooperating with?
As I speak to you, Nollywood as
fi lm industry doesn’t have a fi lm village. By now, we are supposed to have a
village where you will see at the gate, Nollywood headquarters and people will
visit there as tourists. There is nothing like that, they claim to have a fi lm
corporation in Nigeria and a fi lm institute in Jos, Plateau state.
fi lm industry doesn’t have a fi lm village. By now, we are supposed to have a
village where you will see at the gate, Nollywood headquarters and people will
visit there as tourists. There is nothing like that, they claim to have a fi lm
corporation in Nigeria and a fi lm institute in Jos, Plateau state.
Culled from Daily Newswatch
