Nollywood actress, Ini Edo, tells ’Nonye Ben-Nwankwo about her new movie, the
African Film Festival vote rigging scandal and sundry issues
My new movie
My new movie is titled, I will Take my Chances. The movie
is about the African culture. It is about love and the beauty of dance. I shot
it in Lagos, Calabar and Uyo. I didn’t write it, I only produced it. The film
will be shown in all the cinemas in the country this weekend. It will take a
while before it will be released to the market on DVD. The major challenge we
had during the production of the film was moving from one city to another. It is
a huge budget movie. In my opinion, the most difficult aspect of the movie was
the part that concerned dance. I used to think I was a very good dancer until we
started rehearsing. Then I realised that dancing can take another dimension
altogether. I lost self confidence at a point. I didn’t think I could do it. It
was really challenging. We had to rehearse from 11 am to 4 pm every day, except
Sundays. Putting the fund together for the movie was challenging, too. I told
you it is a huge budget movie. It is not true that my state government gave me
N40m for the movie. The movie is my project and Emem Isong’s project as
well.
Why I delved into movie production
It started with Memories of My Heart. I saw the script and I liked it. I
decided to continue with it. You can get bored if you stick to one thing. I
decided to do something different and I enjoyed it. So I decided to continue
with it. I will continue producing movies, though it is not going to be regular.
It is not as if it is going to be a one-off thing. I have done a third movie. We
just finished shooting.
No regrets being an actress
I don’t regret being an actress. In fact, I feel I am actually blessed being
in this profession. I love acting, despite the negative aspect that comes with
it. I don’t think I would have loved to do another thing. But, sometimes, I am
bothered by the things that are written about me, especially if they are not
true. I have taken some legal steps before. That is the only way we can fight
back. In all, I intend to be an actress for a long time. Even if I am not
acting, I will be in the movie business.
Marriage and acting
I have been able to hold on to my marriage. It depends on how you set your
priorities and not get carried away by the whole thing. You should know when to
be somewhere and when not to be in another place. I just create a balance
between my career and my life. My husband is based in the United States of
America, but we see each other all the time. He just left Nigeria in January. I
will be in the US soon. It is either he is here or I am there. I don’t think I
will quit acting. I might divert to other areas that have to do with the movies.
Talking about the scandals, my husband knows me more than any other person.
Sometimes, when they say things about me, we are together at that moment. He
will look at me and ask if I am the same person that people talk about. He knows
what I can do.
How my career started
I was still in school when I attended an audition. I was doing a diploma
programme in theatre arts before I went to get a degree in English. The audition
was interesting. So, when I finished my two-year diploma programme, I went back
to acting. I didn’t think I was ever going to get this big. But then, I am
always optimistic and I think positively. Although I didn’t expect it, I knew I
was going to be successful.
Parental support
My parents weren’t that supportive. It wasn’t what they wanted me to do. They
wanted me to be a lawyer, which was what I wanted to be initially. My parents
weren’t comfortable with it because I had to do a lot of travelling and it was
affecting my education. But they accepted it later.
Rivalry among actresses
I always try to be on my own these days. I simply concentrate on my work.
That is basically what I do.
AFRIFF scandal
I was in America at the time the African International Film Festival called
for votes in the Best Female Actress category. I did not influence or rig the
votes. I didn’t even know what was going on then. A few days before the whole
drama started, a friend phoned me from Nigeria and asked me if I wasn’t aware of
what was going on and that my colleagues, who were also contesting in that
category, were canvassing votes. So I had to go to the social media and I
started canvassing votes and I moved on. The next thing I heard was that I
rigged the votes. On my Facebook page, I have well over 30,000 friends and I
canvassed votes. I felt bad when people started saying that I influenced the
votes. It was an unpleasant accusation and I felt really bad.
My relationship with Rita Dominic
You said you heard that a colleague of mine started the rumour that I rigged
votes. Well, I am not going to talk about it. I have nothing to say to that. And
it did not affect my relationship with Rita Dominic. Why should it?
My vision
I want to leave a mark behind. I want to be able to make films that people
will be proud of. I want to make movies that can compete anywhere in the world.
I want to move my foundation a step forward. I want to have children. I need a
platform where I can do what I have always wanted to do. I have always been into
charity work.
Endorsement deals
You don’t go out to look for endorsement. There is something people don’t
understand about me. I am not a forceful person. I am not desperate. I am highly
blessed and I get blessings from everywhere. Anything that is mine comes to me.
I don’t believe in hustling or struggling for anything. If it is yours, it will
come to you.
Coping with male fans
I’m comfortable with them. I exchange pleasantries with them. You know it is
not very easy for them to reach out to us.
The real Ini Edo
Most people don’t know I am down to earth. I am just a regular girl. Most
people find it difficult to differentiate me from the person they see on the
screen. I am a regular person. There is a big difference between the person in
the movies and the real me. I am just like the girl living next door.
Source: Punch Nigeria
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