''I Am Good At What I Do'' - Holland Based Actor Obude Taiwo

Taiwo Obude

Calling him jack of all trade would be hitting the nail on its head and he goes the extra mile to try to perfect whatever he sets out to do. In his base in Holland, he's one of those who try to give Nollywood another face abroad. He may not be a household name in Nigeria, but he is definitely one those faces that brighten up Nollywood movie jackets. He's young, well established and informed. Talking to him was a pleasure.

1. Lead us into your background
....I am Taiwo Obude the son of Chief Alex Obude, the Eson of Uselu, in Benin-city Edo State. I am a Benin by birth, and hail form Ikpobe-okha L.G.A. also in Benin I am from a polygamous home, I have a twin sister, and I am the 5th child of my mother. I grew up in Benin City, where I attended my primary school, and my higher Education was at Auchi. I was brought up in a disciplined home, because my father was a tough man, he taught us how to be independent, and how to succeed in life I see a lot of my father in me.

2. When did you begin your acting career and what was the name of the movie?
...I started acting about 10 years ago, I was actually introduced into acting by my friend Leonard Ajayi- Odekhiran (KHAMILEON) he told me about his idea about film making and asked me if I could act, I told him I have never acted before, but I would love to if given the opportunity. That was how I came into acting, and my first movie was Under Pressure (Shot in Holland)

3. You are also a journalist in Holland how do you combine acting and the pressure that comes with journalism.
...Yes I am also a journalist. I love to write and contribute to the society, and the only way I could do that was to join "The Voice magazine" team. Joining "The voice" has given me a lot of experience. i have been able to organise myself so that the things i do dont clash with each other, and besides I also have a full time job. I work in the logistic sector here in Holland. It's a company responsible for food distribution.

4. Does being based abroad also make you a part of Nollywood.
...I am based abroad but I see myself as a part of Nollywood, because Nigerian movies are not just made in Nigeria any more. There are producers coming to Europe to shoot movies, and I have had the opportunity to work with Liz Benson, Saint Obi, Jim Iyke, Patience Ozorkwo, Peter Gabriel- Muonagor and Shan George. Nollywood is getting bigger by the day and it's not just confined to Nigeria alone. Nollywood movies are now done in America, Holland, Italy, Belgium, London and even Germany, so I think I am a part of the growing system.

5. Name the movies have you featured in? do you think you are a good actor?
…some of the movies I have featured in are Under- Pressure (Holland), Dapo- Jnr (Holland) The Volunteers (Holland), Holland Heat (Holland), From Amsterdam with Love (Holland) Itallian Connection (Holland/Italy), Sins of Seduction (Holland), Girls in Europe (Holland). And "Ticket to Europe" which was also shot both in Holland and Nigeria I also featured in a big budget Dutch Movie called "Bolletjes Blues" Yes I see myself as a good actor, because of the reactions I get from my fans and how they associate me with the roles I play. I also got an award for the film "Sins of Seduction" as the best supporting actor..

6. What do you think about the name Nollywood? do you think Nollywood would ever acquire Hollywood standards?
....To me the name Nollywood has come to stay, because most Nigerian movies, are referred to as Nollywood films. If Nigerians are fine with the name then I think we have to adopt it, but I don't I have a say in that. Nollywood films can attain Hollywood standard if we have the same infrastructures and the same capital as Hollywood. You cannot compare movies made with 2 million naira with movies made with 50million dollars. The difference is just too much, but I believe with time, we will have a Hollywood type feature film. We have good directors that can take us to that height Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen is working towards that goal.

Taiwo Obude

7. What problems have you identified with Nollywood and how are you using your job as a journalist to contribute to finding a solution?
....With Nollywood we have monetary problems, infrastructures, Piracy, lack of investment from cooperate firms and the lacklustre nature of the Government. Problems like these don't create any avenue for growth. If the government can create a film village with all the needed infrastructures, that would solve part of the problem. Again the problem of piracy and a very bad marketing system is really killing Nollywood. So many movies are made in Nigeria, but producers especially Independent producers are not making profits, that is if they even realize their investment at all... Same thing with Nollywood movies made here in Europe and America, the independent producer receives little or nothing from the sales, because of poor Marketing and Piracy. So what I am doing as a journalist is to make people aware of the implications of piracy. Again the Nigerian Government should take Nollywood serious and have a pact with Europe and America to curb piracy. By doing this, Producers can start reaping heavily from their movies because there is a very huge market for Nollywood movies in the West.

8. You are also a musician. when was the first time you realised you could sing?
...I had love for music right from when I was young, actually I have been a DJ for more than 20years, it's what I like doing, but I decided to take it a step further by singing also, and I am currently in the studio working on my album. It's Hip- Hop Rap Music, featuring "Ice Star" and "Impeck" my stage name is "BUDE-T" .The Bude is actually from my surname OBUDE, while the T is for my name TAIWO.

9. Tell us about your private life.
....What do I say about my private life, I am a very private person, I like hanging out with trusted friends, used to go out a lot, but have stopped doing that, not because I don't like to, but because I spend most of my time now writing and composing my music. I dislike people who do not know you, but pass comments about you.

10. What are your hobbies?
...My hobbies are reading, writing, travelling, I love to travel, swimming, computer, and music.

11. Do you have friends in Nollywood?
...Yes I have friends in Nollywood, Saint Obi is my good friend, Lancelot Oduwa- Imasuen is another good friend, Liz Benson is a good friend, Peter Gabriel is also a good friend to mention but a few.....

12. Would you eventually decide on either becoming a full time journalist, actor or musician?
...Presently I don't know, but at this moment I am enjoying all that I am doing, maybe in the future I might decide to become a full time producer of music and film

13. Who's your favourite Nollywood artiste?
...Liz Benson, Saint Obi, and mama G, Patience Ozorkwo.

14. As an actor what do you have to say about those blacklisted artistes?
...I really wished the so called Blacklist never happened, but then it happened. I hope those involved would find a way to come together and find a solution, because the blacklisted people have families, and the marketers also have families too. Allowing this thing to continue is like telling you, you cannot sleep when you need sleep to survive, both parties are loosing money from this and, I just hope they come to a better solution soon

15. If you were blacklisted, would you beg as demanded by the marketer
...If I am well informed about what I have done wrong, and there is need for me to apologise then I will do so, but I will not apologise just because someone wants to prove tough, or tell me he is my master.

16. What do you feel about fame and the way it is handled in Nigeria?
…to me there is no difference in how it is handled in Nigeria or in Europe, the only difference is when you meet your fans in Nigeria sometimes they expect you to give them money, but here in Europe an autograph or picture with them is more than enough.... but then I do not see myself as being famous, just a normal guy.

17. One last question, if you were appointed minister of information in Nigeria, how would you use Nollywood to dry clean Nigeria's dirty image abroad?
...If I ever have the opportunity to be appointed a minister in Nigeria, I will first of all create a body to look into the ways movies are made in Nigeria. Build at least three film Villages in Nigeria. Organise symposiums where Nigerian film makers would be interacting regularly with their foreign counterparts.

Workshops on better script and screen play writing. Build film schools... Of cause this would look unusual at first because I am only a Minister of Information... But I will work my butt off convincing the Government to invest on these projects, because with all these in place we can start telling our own indigenous stories and they will be unique and not the over flogged stories of Hollywood. People would be drawn to our country not only because of the positive message our films would be projecting, but also beautiful locations too... because we have so many exotic places that has not been captured on any Nollywood film because of finance and lack of good infrastructures. Finally I would create a very good distribution network, this will help producers and investors recoup their money, create more jobs, pass better information about Nigeria and allow the world to see Nigeria from another view because film is a very powerful tool of information.

- Published with the permission of Encomium Magazine/The Interviewer