Why We Have Substandard Films

Yoruba film director, producer and actor, Monsuru Obadina, popularly known as Fala, tells Moyosola Amoran about his career, the movie industry and other issues

How did you become a film maker?

It has been a long time. If we are to talk of years, I started as a stage performer and later when technology improved to a certain stage, I became a film maker. As a film maker, you will need a script writer, producers, directors and of course actors around you, but because of the experience I acquired in theatre performance, I have the knowledge of everything which I do today to make money.

What is your take on the many caucuses in the Yoruba movie industry?

In my own view nothing is wrong with caucuses. In fact, it is part of the culture in Yoruba land. Yoruba culture believes in friends and family relationship. In whatever the Yoruba are doing they like to put family first and with that, having a caucus allows them protect each other. There will only be problem if people allow the caucus to affect their productions. What I’m saying is that you don’t cast people because they are your friends, you cast by script and the ability of the actors. If not, you may end up giving the right role to the wrong actor.

Do you find education as a necessity for actors?

Education is very important because it’s not the way we started that things are today. Some people are drop-outs and they joined the industry in a bid to make money, while others are there, not because of money, but for the passion they have for acting. Today, if you are not educated, entering the industry won’t be easy because of the advancement in technology.

Is it true that Yoruba actors are poor because they do not take the business as strictly business?

Culture is our way of life and we believe totally in it. Definitely in Yoruba land, if your parents or sibling gives you work to do you, will consider the fact that there is a relationship between both of you and so you won’t charge them as much as you would charge an outsider.

Do you personally think you get a deserving pay for all your works?

Well, you don’t have a particular way to measure that because I don’t charge on per minute or per hour basis, you charge according to the script. For instance, if am going to do a strenuous stunt in a movie, I will put that into consideration and add any medical expenses I might need after the movie is done.

There are some actors that appear in virtually all your movies. Why is that so?

That is not really true. I can tell you for instance that in my old production, Omo Bori Owo, the major actors were Dele Odule and Moji Afolayan. In Orisa Ibeji, it was Taiwo Hassan, while in Idajo Mi Ti De, Funke Akindele and Sola Sobowale were the lead characters. But there is no way you wouldn’t allow people that are very close to you play some minor or supporting roles.

Is there any form of competition among the caucuses in the industry?

No, but we are all under one umbrella and that is the ANTP.

What is your take on Nollywood?

Things are not moving well with everybody in the industry because government has not been able to make contributions. We are facing many challenges like piracy.  Technology has also made things worse; people prefer to download movies on their phones rather than go to the market to buy. We need a law that will guide against such things so that actors can reap the fruits of their labour.

Don’t you think the number of movies released in a month are too much?

Yes, you are right. The movies produced are too many and below standard. Everybody just wants to make quick money. People no longer care about the quality of their production, but the profit they are going to make.