10th August, 2012
Yomi Fash Lanso is one of the most versatile actors and movie directors in Nigeria. In this interview with P.M.NEWSEntertainment, the Business Administration graduate of the University of Lagos speaks about his life, women and other issues.
You recently won best actor of the year award courtesy Global News Magazine, how do you feel about it?
I really feel elevated because it’s a prestigious award and because it is coming from a reputable magazine company, Global News magazine. I really feel good about it because nomination is worth celebrating not to talk of winning an award.
It is very common to always give awards to the raves of the moment. Do you support such?
I would not know how organizers of such awards arrive at their judgement so my take on that is that we leave it to them because the way I will see it might not be the way you will see it.
Awards have generated controversies at different times, so based on this what is your opinion about awards in Nigeria?
Thank you. My opinion is this; who are the judges that make decisions? What relationship do they have with the actors? I think it is simple; let’s have credible people who are knowledgeable about acting, those who are authorities, let them decide and our awards will be better.
With your contributions to the entertainment industry, is there any award you are still looking at?
No.
How have you been able to forge ahead in your career?
Training, you go for training, you go for workshops and you also do self training. I try to review making of movies and do study generally because you need to do all that to be in form because what is obtainable this year might not be the same next year. So, you need to always be on your toes and ready to learn new things.
Of all the roles you have played so far, which one do you consider most challenging?
Every role that comes to me is challenging. I don’t see any role as more tasking and maybe it is about the approach to my character. For instance, as a lover- boy you must be able to provide some characteristics to the name that will make it different from the one you have done before. That is the way I see it. So, there is no role that comes to me cheap. I take every role I get very seriously.
Is it true you get roles regularly because your fee is cheap, because I know an actor who claims he’s been off the scene because he would not take stipends?
I don’t know if that actor does something else because what I know is that if you are good at what you do people will come for you. If you are good they will give you whatever you ask for. When I started this revolution of taking higher fee some years back, some actors were like “Fash, they won’t call you again because of the price you are charging” and I said it was okay that those who know my worth will come for me. I can tell you that for about six months, they did not request for my services because of the fee but in the long run they started coming back because they know I can deliver. I started the policy that producers should pay fees into my bank account. Everybody is doing it now. At least in my own industry, now I came up with agreement form so everything I do will be documented. I want to know how much you are offering, for what job, what is the duration and all that. If you are not good, these are things you can’t do, so I will advise actors to go and get the game right.
So we can simply say you are still relevant because you are good?
Let me tell you what Kush (a marketer) said sometime ago at a function in Abeokuta. He said: “I don’t know what else this Yomi Fash does because his fee is high and he would still shakara with his high fee and he’s not producing his own movies.” I have my children at one of the best schools in Nigeria, I have a very good wife, I wear the kind of cloth I want to wear, I do whatever I want to do at my convenience and I am not doing any other job aside from acting. So, that means I don’t come cheap because if I am cheap I can’t be where I live, I can’t have my children at one of the most expensive schools in Nigeria, three of them for that matter. So you now judge by yourself.
Are there issues with Yoruba sector of the industry that need to be fixed?
It is not peculiar to the Yoruba alone. It is everywhere. Let me give you an insight. Some marketers ganged up against some popular English actors because of high fees, but their colleagues who were in support of the marketers then are now paying for it. Meanwhile, if we have standard rules and structures on ground, it would be better because as a marketer, you do not have any right to dictate what the actor earns. If an actor demands five million for a job and you can’t afford it, then you look for someone who will collect one million and not to call for his head. So it is not an issue that is peculiar with the Yoruba alone, it’s a general issue that should be addressed.
Why have you not produced a movie after many years as a director and frontline actor?
Let me start by saying that I am someone who loves to achieve much. I believe I should excel in one area before crossing to the other. We have a number of arms in film producing, script writing, producing, directing and so on. I am a director and actor but what I keep telling people is that you can excel without being a producer. I had my certificate as a producer from ITPAN eight years ago yet I have not produced up till now because I want to prove something and set a good example that without producing you can excel if you know your onions and you are good at what you do. So my argument is; excel in one thing before crossing to the other which I have done and have won awards to that effect. So, I can now say I want to produce.
What did you set out to do a an actor?
First, I want to project my culture as a Nigerian and make money as well. That is the truth. It’s called showbiz, so, possibly I want to project my culture, my country, my kind of person and from there make money.
When you are paired on set, what is it that brings the best out of you?
It’s simple. When you are working with a professional actor you will flow, the inspiration will come out, but when you are paired with a green horn it kills your mood.
Who really is Yomi Fash when he’s not acting?
Fash is really a fun loving person. I like to be with my friends to discuss and forget about all the wahala of life. I also like to spend time with my family when I am not on set. I want to believe Yomi is just the guy next door.
You have been able to live off scandal, how did you achieve that?
I will say it is contentment. When you have contentment, you have everything. And secondly, you don’t allow fame to get into your head because by the time you allow fame to control you or get to your head then it could spell doom.
How comfortable is your wife with the fact that you get a lot of female attention?
I must tell you that she’s just about 70 percent comfortable but I pray and hope she will be 100 percent comfortable in the next two or three years. She is also aware that the attention is always there from the women, though, I am not insinuating that women want to date me but it’s only normal for her to be jittery at times. And mind you, the moment your spouse begins to be carefree or feels not interested in your affair then there is problem but all the same my wife is a wonderful woman that I adore, respect and love so much.
What do you do when your mood is bad and you are expected to go on set?
You might be dull and you need to go on set, it happens but if you work with a professional producer he will notice and the production manager will come to you and sometimes they might suspend your set and take another one while you get over it. And at times, you subdue it and move on but in my case I put aside my dull moment when I’m going on set and will pick it when I’m done.
How do you maintain your looks?
I don’t do anything more than usual to achieve it. I just do everything in moderation and I thank God that the little I do is yielding result.
You are a fashionable person. Where did you learn that from?
May be I got that from my parents. And I think I am also very interested in what I wear. I may not be keen on designer wear but I put on whatever fits me.
Politics seems to be one of the careers actors now embrace. Will you consider taking a shot at it someday?
I will not rule it out because if the leaders are not doing it right and you and I have got one or two ideas, then why don’t we try to get there and inject these ideas and make the country a better place? One thing we all know is that this country is in bad shape even with all the natural resources we are blessed with. So with the right people in leadership position, things will change for the better.
–Bayo Adetu