Zeb Ejiro in an interview with YES! International Magazine has slammed actresses who think they are bigger than Nollywood just because they are dating politicians. He also spoke about why Nollywood has not moved forward more than the way it is now.
As one of the pioneers of Nollywood, what would you say is the greatest challenge facing it?
You know that Nollywood is not what it used to be in those days. In those days, people can put some few thousands together and make a movie. Today, if you want to make a blockburster, you have to be armed with nothing less than N10 million/N15 million. And this money is not something that you can get by the asking; it's something that you need huge investors.
Sometimes I feel sorry for the Nigerian banks, because they are not doing enough to invest in Nollywood. What they are doing, they will regret it at the end of the day, because what DSTV did to the like of NTA, Silverbird and co, that's exactly what they are going to do to them. Because what DSTV is doing, what Africa Magic is doing today, that same proposal we gave to NTA so many years ago. They didn't bother, because they looked at the movies as who is gonna watch them outside Nigeria. But DSTV came and today, Africa Magic is the most watched channel.
If you go to policy makers, their homes, governors, their television sets are permanently on DSTV. They are not watching NTA. They only tune to NTA or Nigerian television stations when they want to listen to news. After that, they switch over to DSTV. So, these are some of the problems we have in the industry today. Funding is a major thing.
I want to seize this opportunity to thank President Goodluck Jonathan, because he is the only President that loves Nollywood. He's given so much to Nollywood. Mr. President has given N3 billion to Nollywood for capacity building, production and distribution. But this money is not coming! It's going to more than one year now since he gave us this money. This money is there, but the people who are handling the part of disbursement, I don't know what is wrong. We've attended series of interviews, we have filled applications; I'm tired! (Laughing). I just pray that the money will come out as soon as possible.
And I want to give an advise to my co-producers – when you get a loan, when you get sponsors or you get funding, please, the job has to be done well so that you open doors for other people; so that you don't close that door. Because if it is not properly done, that door will be closed.
As a star maker and also someone who is in constant touch with these stars, where do you think that most of them get it wrong?
See! There are a lot of people who never dreamt of being what they are today. Suddenly, they found themselves there. People are running after them. Ah! I need to see you, I need to see you and all that. They start seeing themselves above God. That's where they get it wrong.
The movie industry did not start with the stars that are there today. It started with others. When we were talking, we mentioned a name – somebody you saw some days ago in Ikeja trekking or something. If somebody had told that person that at one time, this is how it's gonna be, the person will not believe.
Where they get it wrong is that they see themselves above God, they see themselves above the industry. People who suffered to make them who they are, they dump those people, they don't respect them. You are doing something today, maybe a child's naming ceremony, marriage or whatever, they don't attend. They don't come, they don't need you anymore! Because the politicians are giving them so much money, the politicians are buying them cars; female politicians are buying the male stars cars, homes and what have you. The male politicians are buying the female ones whatever they want. So, suddenly, they don't need the producer anymore.
They can even make bigger movies than you now because one politician will give them N100 million and you are looking for N15 million to do a blockbuster. So, suddenly, they find out that they are bigger than you. Not just you; they are bigger than the industry. They start to equate themselves with God and forget that these politicians will only use you while you are the reigning star. They will flock around you for that period of time. Immediately somebody else springs up, they will dump you and go to that person.
I know a lot of these stars that are now calling me to say Zeb, I heard you are doing something, you are not calling us. Why? Because they are not getting jobs anymore; they are not relevant anymore; the politicians are not giving them money anymore, because the politicians have now seen younger people that they are frolicking with. I think the banes of the movie industry are the Nigerian politicians. That's the truth!
{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{ VERDANT STORIES SECTION YOU CAN SKIP READING THIS SECTION TITLE>>>>>>FORBIDDEN CONTINUED FROM 02/SEPTEMBER/2014 The Whiteman's school was called St. Aquinas primary school and it was situated in town. It was Garba's first time in the town. He was surprised to see houses that were different from the mud and thatched huts in his village. The houses were built with blocks and were well - aligned. The school was built with both blocks and planks. It was on a hill. The Whiteman handed them over to another Whiteman whom he introduced as Mr. Jacobs. A black native was interpreting whatever the white men wanted them to hear. "Mr. Jacobs is your head teacher. He is also the boarding house master. You must see him as your parent here. He will discipline you if you misbehave here. So you all must be of good behaviour,' the Whiteman said as he handed them over to Mr. Jacobs. "Follow me," Mr. Jacobs said. They followed him into a house. The house was very neat and there were many bunk beds with thin mattresses. The black interpreter was with them. Mr. Jacobs turned to them. Garba thought he preferred the Whiteman who had brought them from Dogongari because he was friendlier and nicer. "What is your name? I want your full names," he said. "Adamu Shalt," the first boy replied. "Kaita Maigoro," the second boy said. When it got to Garba's turn, he lost his tongue. "What is your name," Mr. Jacobs barked. "Garba Dandogo," Garba stammered. When the introduction was finished, Mr. Jacob began to address them. "This is where you will he staying. It's your hostel, it was provided by the church for those of you from the hinterlands. You will do well to maintain it and keep it clean," Mr. Jacobs said. He assigned them each to their beds. Garba was on the lower bunk. He had never slept on such a bed before. At home he only slept on a mat spread on the floor of his mother's hut. He sat gingerly on the bed and as soon as he did, he heard a creaking sound of spring expanding under his weight. Quickly, he jumped up in horror. The interpreter laughed. Mr. Jacobs considered him grimly for a moment. "What's the problem, boy?" "I heard a sound in the bed," Garba explained after the native had interpreted to him. Mr. Jacobs frowned. "It won't hurt you," he said with a sarcastic edge echoing in his voice. He left the house after telling the interpreter to guide the new corners and tell them what to do. The interpreter told them his name was Ibrahim from Garin-Alewa. He had been educated in the school and was now able to read, write and speak the Whiteman's language. "Now, you must open your heart to accept the education the Whiteman teaches. It is quite different from our Arabic schools. Here you must do everything the white man does," Ibrahim said. Just then a bell rang. Ibrahim looked at his wristwatch. It was seven p.m. "It's time for supper. We will all go to the dining room to have food," Ibrahim said. Garba realized he had been famished. He followed Ibrahim with the other boys to the dining room. There were many boys there. Garba recognized some of the boys from Dogongari but he did not go to meet them. He was wondering if this was what the Whiteman's education was all about. "Garba, son of Dandogo, your father finally let one of his sons to come here," one boy named Sule said behind him. Garba turned and saw Sule. He and Sule used to be friends before Sule was taken away to the school and when he had returned to the village, he had become somewhat pompous, not associating with the village boys whom he now called 'villagers'. "Hello Sule," Garba said. He had long accepted that his friendship with Sule had long packed following Sule's change of attitude. "How are you? I never thought you'll ever come here. I am very happy for you because this is the place where your mind gets open," Sule said. Garba did not understand, however, he smiled lazily at Sule. Sule sat beside him on the same table. "There's 'Sawa, the son of Maitabba, and there's Abu son of Iliya. I think you also remember Tanko, son of Danlcura," Sule said, pointing at boys from Dogongari. Garba knew them all. He nodded. "And there's Yakubu. He's quite close to the Whiteman Mr. Jacobs. The white man says Yakubu is his name sake, that Yakubu is the same name with Jacob," Sule said. "He lives in the master's quarters with nim." When the meal was served, it was rice and fried fish. The aroma was too much that Garba almost began to eat had Sule not stopped him. "You must wait for the prayers before you eat. And you don't eat with your fingers. This is not your bush village. Use the cutleries," he said. Garba looked at the cutleries. He had never used cutleries to eat before. He only used wooden spoon to drink fura da nunu and his hands for every other food he ate. "Bless this food, gracious Lord, for Christ's sake," Mr. Jacobs said. "Amen,"' children chorused. TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW....PLEASE VISIT OUR BLOG AGAIN TOMORROW FOR A CONTINUATION OF THIS AMAZING STORY!}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} 
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