Uncle Willy-Willy’s

 

HALF A MILLION

(500, 000)

 

 

TIPS ON

HOW TO BECOME A NOLLYWOOD STAR

(POPULAR ARTISTE)

Part 1: 500 Tips

 

 

 

Uncle Willy-Willy’s

 

HALF A MILLION

(500, 000)

 

 

TIPS ON

HOW TO BECOME A NOLLYWOOD STAR

(POPULAR ARTISTE)

Part 1: 500 Tips

 

By

Innocent Ohiri

 

(C)       I. C. OHIRI

ISBN 978-34629-4-6 

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author and/or publisher.

 

 

 

 

 

DEDICATION

 

MEMBERS OF THE ACTORS GUILD OF NIGERIA (AGN), THE DIRECTORS GUILD OF NIGERIA, THE ASSOCIATION OF MOVIE PRODUCERS (AMP), SOCIETY OF NIGERIAN THEATRE ARTISTES (SONTA) AND ALL PROFFESSIONAL THEATRE ARTISTES.

 

 

 

 

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I acknowledge the wealth of knowledge and materials I got from my academic mentors. I remain very grateful to LateProfessor DapoAdelugba, Professor Chris Nwamuo, Professor A. Anusiem, Professor H. L. Bell-Gam, and Professor Udumukwu. I also thank my colleagues in the Department of Theatre and Film Studies, University of Port Harcourt. These areProfessor (Mrs) Julie Okoh, Professor H. L. Bell-Gam, Professor F. Shaka, Professor E. Emasealu, Dr. B. E. Ejiofor and Dr. I. C. Krama. I thank all my junior colleagues who contributed towards the completion of this work.

 

I remain very indebted to Nigerian Television Authority for giving me the opportunity of serving in the media for eighteen years. This opportunity enhancedmy becoming a “local” celebrity,“the Willy-Willy of Nigeria”. Most of the facts documented here are products of the Willy-Willy experience. I am very grateful to members of the WiziTravelling Theatre for their collaborative efforts. I commend the co-operativespirit in my wife and children who volunteered their hours of relaxation with darling and daddy to enhance the completion of this work. Finally, I thank all the celebrities who volunteered information to my research unit.

 

 

 

PREFACE

Nollywood is a representational name for a sum total of the artistic and commercial media activities in Nigeria. It is also an industry for many media practitioners. A film/video production involves a collaborative effort of the script writer (playwright),the director, the actors, the designers and other media staff. Judging from the realities occasioned by the development of the Nigerian video film industry, one can become a Nollywood star in one of these areas of media practice. We have celebrity actors, directors, and producers. Though celebrity actors seem to be greater in number, these other stars who work behind the screen often make more money in the process of projecting the actor celebrity. All popular or famous artistes are called “Nollywood stars” especially when they feature regularly on the Nollywood channel.

 

 

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The word “star” means so many things including the shining heavenly body that led the way to the manger where our Lord Jesus Christ was born. This body is believed to be a large ball of burning gas in space that we see as part of light in the sky at night. In this work, the term is used in the context of excellence and popularity. It means an excellent and famous performer, a celebrity, somebody known by many people because of his/her artistic expertise and excellence. In much use in this work are terms like “a budding star”, “potential celebrity”, “Nollywood aspirant”,“up-coming star” and “aspiring Nollywood star”. The wish of most artistes is to become Nollywood stars.It is therefore penitent to guide them and enrich their knowledge of how to achieve stardom. It is for this purpose that this text volunteers “valuable,half a milliontips” on how to achieve stardom. The tips are grouped according to the various aspects of an artiste’s life. It is hoped that this text will be of great help to budding artistes. It is therefore a “must read” for all aspiring Nollywood stars.

 

 

 

 

 

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CONTENTS

 

1. Religious ( Moral)Aspects……....1
2. Social Aspects……………………4
3. Economic Aspects………………14
4. Political Aspects………………...18
5. CulturalAspects…………………20
6. Academic Aspects ……………...22
7. Health Aspects ………………… 48
8. Ethical Aspects………………….49
9. Safety Aspects…………………..52
10. Problems and Solutions………….56
11. General Information…………......65
12. Prospects of a Star……………….68

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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RELIGIOUS ASPECTS

 

1. You should believe that artistry is of God and not a profane phenomenon. Drama was once sacked from the church but its importance made the same church to bring it back to the church after some time.
2. Believe in yourself and have the hope that you can become a star. One’s belief makes or mars him/her.If one says yes, his/her God says yes. Optimism is the word. With God all things are possible.
3. You should be prayerful about your ambition. One with God is majority. Always pray that God makes you a Nollywood star. Always pray before you go on stage.
4. You should be a registered member of a church.
5. You should solicit the prayers of other people.Intercession works perfectly even in this.
6. Watch many films. Get into the habit of buying and watching many religious films.
7. As you watch films, also watch people in real life. Watch events very closely especially religious, live events.
8. Read prolifically about people and the events of the Bible.
9. Keep a mirror in your room and imitate people, events and things before it. Practice makes perfect.
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At home, ensure that you do morning devotion with others. Lead the prayer and worship sessions whenever it is your turn.Through this, you will learn how to act the role of a choirmaster, song presenter, pastor, evangelist etc.When given such roles to play, the experience gathered can guide you and help you excel.

11. Do not listen to religious fanatics (both at home and outside) who would want to convince you that acting, directing or costuming is evil and not biblical.
12. Use the Holy Bible as your first script.Study it and try to take in some of the verses – memory verses.
13. During the first part of theChristian era(about 10^th century), the church dismissed drama and theatre from it. It believed that they were neither important nor valuable. But in the later part of the Middle ages, the church not only embraced  drama and  theatre again but also employed them as means of evangelism (NobertOyiboEze 2008:13). Do the same thing. Use them to evangelize.
14. Watch the movement of preachers and the clergy. Imitate them when you get home. Also try to preach. You can start with children’s Sunday school classes. 
15. Learn and try to internalize as many proverbs as possible. The book of Proverbs has many of them. If you know them off hand, your speech or communication will be enhanced. You will be more fluent in speech delivery. You also will stand a good chance of adlibbing on stage when you “lose” your lines.You can always make up your lines with such internalized proverbs. They will help youa lot during auditions and even improvisional acting.

 

16. Read about the acting activities in the Bible like David playing a harp for Saul.
17. Join the church drama group and get more experience.
18. Start a drama unit of your home fellowship unit. Use the unit to learn how to direct and also act.
19. Visit other churches with your troupe and also sensitize people in the church visited to emulate you. This gives you training on becoming a production manager.
20. As a budding star, you should ensure that there is no blasphemy in the productionsyou participate in.
21. You should not encourage swearing in your productions.
22. You should not encourage, or act roles that uphold religious fanaticism.
23. As a prospective star,you should not indulge in programmes that are misleading and deceptive.
24. You should uphold reasonable judgment in your programmes.
25. As a worthy artiste, you should not involve yourself in a production that encourages religious discrimination.
26. You must not present fetishism, voodooism, cultism, witchcraft and human sacrifice as virtuous.
27. As a budding artiste, you should avoid vulgarity. The use of vulgarwords is degrading. Such words include fuck you, shit, bastard, fucking, the fuck, cunt, son of a bitch and God damned.

 

 

                                    SOCIAL ASPECTS

28. Your training starts at home. Children often play together driven by the instinct of imitation and gregariousness. Even adults tell stories and interact socially, do not be an odd one out. Join the others and play. Do not just sit and watch them. Join them. Be sociable.
29. Learn how to greet other people and be in the habit of greeting people first.
30. Be inquisitive. Ask questions whenever you do not understand anything done in the family. The answers you get will enrich your experience and give you materials for playwriting.
31. Your parents are your first role models. Imitate them quite often. This includes how they walk, communicate, talk, etc.
32. Listen to and watch discussions between your mother and father. Take good note of how they play and even quarrel when they disagree.
33. Your siblings are like members of a theatre troupe – family troupe. Note how each person behaves. Try to figure out each person’s mannerisms and characteristics. Note how their individual differences affect the affairs in the home. Try entertaining them when the family is happy.

 

34. Always greet people in the yard/home and note very well how they respond. You may be required to play such role one day.
35. The children in your compound or yard can be sources of experience. Watch them at play and fight. Also are your age-mates in the yard.Co-operate with them and listen to their stories. By so doing you will be improving your level of sociability which is one of the requisites for the achievement of stardom.
36. Watch your next – door neighbours keenly and note how they live their lives. By this, you will be enriching yourself and equipping yourself with playwriting materials. Most playwrights became popular (stars) by publishing plays on family/yard situations.
37. Remember your drama mirror. Always re-enact what you have seen your neighbours do before your mirror.
38. As you imitate, let your siblings watch you and tell you how good your imitations are. Make them your first audience and critics.
39. Explain very often and convincingly to your relations that your imitations are part of your acting training. You have to do this so that they do not take you as either a clown or a psychopath – mentally deranged.
40. Take interest in drawing or taking photographs of most things you see. This gives you training and increased interest in camera work, and designing which are two more areas in which you can also become a star / celebrity.

 

41. Crack jokes as much as possible and, when necessary, initiate some plays or jokes and encourage others to join. This will help you know if you can really entertain people. If you discover that your jokes are “dry” (not much enjoyed by others) try and change them. Note the jokes that attract much laughter, interest and applause and not only retain them but also use them quite often to build your entertainment career. Document them.
42. Internalize and use as much as possible some funny words and sayings you hear from people.
43. Make a mental note of them and even keep a file or note book of such entertaining jokes/ sayings. These will help you at auditions where you are asked to do improvised acting.
44. As aNollywood aspirant,you should have self –esteem and should not be involved in anti-social practices as these can breed fear, shame, inferiority complex and guilty conscience. These adversely affect one’s level of sociability,freedom, and confidence.                                      As regards the avoidance of anti-social practices, you, as a budding star or a Nollywood aspirant, should ensure that you live a good life.
45. You should not be corrupt, dishonest and unreliable.
46. You should not indulge in negligence, falsification of records and stealing of recording materials, be they costumes, props, accessories or scripts.

 

47. You should avoid gross insubordination to the director, DOP, PM and other officials of the production company, association or theatre.
48. You should not reject roles or incite other artistes to do so.
49. You should not quarrel or fight either at rehearsals or locations. You should report all your grievances to the officials or production crew.
50. You should not allow yourself to be drunk during rehearsals and recordings. Even if drinking is part of the acting, you should know your limits and capacity for drinks.
51. You, as a budding star, should not talk carelessly. You should not grant interviews that can tarnish the image of the profession. This can earn you the hatred of producers and directors and thereby deny you of roles in productions.
52. As aNollywood aspirant(producer), you should not encourage programmes that are offensive.
53. You should avoid the use of bad, vulgar and obscene language.
54. Improper and amorous dressing should not be encouraged by actors and actresses.
55. The sanctity of marriage should always be maintained and respected.
56. As a Nollywood aspirant, you should not encourage programmes that ridicule the physically and mentally challenged.
57. As a budding star,you should not indulge in wanton boasts and self-promotion. Humility is better. Ostentatious living should be avoided by every budding star.

 

58. You should not let your excellence in the profession get into your head and make you unnecessarily arrogant,proud and boastful.
59. Favouritism in casting and undue soliciting of roles should be avoided by all budding stars. A prospective director/producer may become unpopular if he/she indulges in favouritismand assigns roles to only his/her friends and relations.

Fairness and objectivity should therefore be your watchword.

60. As a budding Nollywoodstar,you should not uphold drunkenness, sex crimes, revenge, abnormalities, greed, selfishness, jealousy and hatred in any of your productions / performances. When such social vices are presented in any production, please ensure that the culprit or perpetrator is punished. In order words, these vices should not be presented as desirable and worthy human motivations.
61. As a Nollywoodaspirant, you should not present homosexuality, incest, adultery, lesbianism and other forms of impure love as attractive and beautiful.
62. Suicide is an abomination to Africans. As such, you should not portray it as acceptable solution for human problems.
63. You should not encourage the production of programmes that can induce inferiority complex into tribes, sexes and ages. Innocent Ohiri(2005:75) identifies some of the social traits or ethics that a buddingNollywood star should be familiar with to include:

 

64. An actor must not reject roles. This is because there are no small roles. Only small actors.
65.  Even if an actor is not cast into a production after he had been tried out, the actor must accept his “rejection” with spirit of sportsmanship. He should be receptive.
66. An actor must be very sincere. He should go for roles he can conveniently handle – not ones that will attract large artiste fees. He should give correct information on his artiste contract form.
67. He should be time conscious.
68. He must be early at rehearsals.
69. He must be regular at rehearsals. Absenteeism and lateness are not allowed.
70. An actor should not fight at rehearsals or productions. To be able to keep these rules he has to avoid acts that can cause a fight.These acts include gossips, envy, antagonism, careless-talks,and unnecessary jokes and provocative acts.
71. He should not eat inside the theatre or studio – not even chewing gum.
72. An actor should be obedient to the director and the theatre authorities. He should also work amicably with other theatre or studio staff.
73. He should alsobehave well outside the theatre or studio. Actors are advisednot to wash their dirty linens in the public. Problems with fellow actors should be resolved in the theatre or studio and not outside. Ohiri identifies more of the tips a budding artiste should know.These tips, as contained in part, in the AGN constitution,demand that:

74. Artistes are to collect 50% of their fees before production starts and the balance after production.
75. Artistes are entitled to welfare twice a day and three times a day if camping.
76. Any artiste shooting beyond 10.00pm must be provided with a befitting accommodation or put in a taxi to go home.
77. No artiste is to be slapped,beaten, whipped or harmed by the producer, director or crew of any sort.
78. Artistes are not allowed to shoot beyond ten hours.
79. Artistes are allowed two hours break to rest, within ten hours work.
80. Artistes for overnight shooting shall be given the next day off and must be informed earlier about it.
81. Artistes’ basic contract fees shall be collected from or cross-checked by the Guild.
82. Artistes travelling outside their base (that is Guild Branch), shall be provided with travelling, insurance, accommodation and transport allowances.
83. If an artiste’s work made for home video is used for TV, royalty shall be paid to the artiste.
84. Artistes are not expected to provide their costumes or props for productions.
85.  

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Artistes working as crew are not protected by the Guild.

86. Artistes should be provided with insurance during shooting in case of accidents and death. (AGN Constitution 2000, part 12).
87. As a Nollywood aspirant you should not perform in such a way that youcommit social crime.
88. You should not promote sexual humiliation.
89. You should not corrupt the viewers.
90. You should not glamorize rape or sexual assault or violence.
91. You should not make evil appear attractive.
92. You should make sure that evil is condemned and evil deeds punished while good deeds are commended.
93. You must ensure that your performance or production does not throw sympathy of the audience or viewerson the side of crime, sin or wrongdoing.
94. You should rather endeavour to evoke sympathy for honesty, purity, innocence and clear conscience.
95. You should not present lustful kissing and embrace as if they are normal norms in Nigeria. This is because they are not but rather more of borrowed norms.
96. Asa Nollywood aspirant, you should avoid nudity and semi-nudity. Transparent or translucent materials and silhouettes can be used to suggest them.
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As much as possible,do not, as a director, give ministers of the gospel comic roles or make them play roles as villains. This may affect the religious psyche of the people who know them well.

An actor working for a troupe or a media house should desist from the following misconducts:

 

98. Corruption, dishonesty, false claims against the authority or government, negligence, falsification, suppression or leakage of records.
99. Conviction on a criminal charge.
100. Absence from duty without permission.
101. Engaging in partisan activities.
102. Gross insubordination or disobedience of a reasonable order such as refusal to proceed on transfer or accept posting or any other lawful order on behalf of the authority.
103. Fighting on official premises or while on official assignment.
104. Malicious damage to Authority’s property.
105. Drunkenness within official premises or while on duty.
106. Removing, without permission, or stealing of the authority’s property and fraudulent acquisition.
107. Non-disclosure of facts, or false statement on first appointment. Hording of information.
108. Serious debt or financial embarrassment.
109.  

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Engaging, without permission (whether on leave or otherwise), in any profit-oriented business, profession, trade, authorship other than in one’s cap