I Spent Six Million Naira on Full Moon - Nigerian Movies & Nollywood on Naijarules.com

Sola · #1 (**permalink**) 04-03-2004, 10:09 AM

FROM THISDAY:

I Spent Six Million Naira on Full Moon

With well over a decade of experience in the contemporary Nigerian movie scene, Chico Ejiro is a name to reckon with in the area of producing and directing. In this revealing chat with Vwede Overah, the one fondly referred to as Mr. Prolific spoke about his movies,piracy, the Nigerian industry and their foreign counterparts

-----------------------------------------------------------

How many movies have you done?

I, Chico Ejiro, have produced thirty movies with Grand Touch Pictures and I have directed close to eighty in a span of twelve to fifteen years.

Among all these, which of them was the most challenging?

I would say 'Full Moon'. 'Full Moon' because I had to travel half of Nigeria. The movie featured stars like Regina Askia, Pete Edochie, Sola Fosudo, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Basorge Tariah Jnr. and a host of others. The movie took me to Osogbo, Egbunike cave in Enugu, Olumo rock in Abeokuta. I also went to Jos, and so on. The movie took me and my cast and crew to about six states of the federation. It was a big project that cost me a lot. It was of my most expensive movie. It cost me six million naira to produce.

Was it profitable at the end of the day?

Yes, it was. It was a two part film. In part one I sold seventy thousand copies while in part two I sold forty thousand.

For a country of over a hundred million people, one wouldn't consider the sales of a hundred thousand copies a big deal.

With regards to film making in Nigeria, we see that as a success. But statistically it isn't. You cannot have a population of over one hundred million people and you are selling less than a hundred thousand copies of your movie and you say it as an achievement. Moreover, we also encounter problems with our production. We have the problem of piracy. You make a film, you don't sell up to a hundred thousand copies but at the end of the day you discover that millions of copies are in circulation. The pirates eat fat from your work. The pirates take the movie to Gabon, Ghana, South Africa and even in Nigeria.

Imagine you make a movie and people tell you all over the place that you have a beautiful work but at the end of the day it doesn't reflect in your pocket. It is a very big problem.

Certain school of thought believe that the marketers are the pirates since they know how to mass produce and have fine distribution network.

That is not true. The marketers are not pirates. We know the pirates. Most of them are video club operators. There are some others who are not in this business who buy machines and mass -produce. So, the marketers are not the pirates.

What were you doing before you come into film making twelve years ago?

I studied Agricultural Economics at the Obafemi Awolowo University. While I was still in school, I was into television production. I was doing 'Ripples' with my elder brother, Zeb.

I also attended the Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State. In 'Ripples', I worked with the likes of Barbara Soky, Sola Fosudo and Alex Usifo. I directed 'Ripples' for about three years. Then we moved over to 'Mega Fortunes' with Ralph Nwadike and Tunji Bamishigbin. After that, I left again and teamed up with Opa Williams to produce 'Onome','Deadly Affairs' and 'Tears For Love' and the rest is now history.

And you decided to abandon agriculture for film making?

No, no, no. It is what I enjoy doing. I enjoy production a lot.

But, why didn't you study any course relating to movie production?

They say practice makes perfect. I studied camera during production, it doesn't mean I would have to go to school to study it. Most of us studied in the practical ground of what we do. That is to say starting from script, camera works, editing, your light, your sound and even yours directing on the ground.

Tell us about high and low budget movies.

Your script, casts, location and everything determines whether it is a high budget movie or not. When you have casts like Richard Mofe-Damijo, Genevieve, Omotola, Jim Iyke, Ramsey Noah, Rita Dominic and Emeka Ike you would have a high budget movie. They earn high, between five hundred thousand and one million naira. By the time you have three or four of them, your budget would be hitting about three million. But by the time you have low and upcoming actors that are paid fifty thousand and a small story and you are not travelling, then your cost comes to about one million. It depends on what you want to do.

So, one can shoot a meaningful movie with one million naira?

Yes, a very low budget movie. One million naira can take care of the costs, camera and all. But it can only take care of a very low budget movie. Movies of this nature don't compete with others in the market. When buyers see a movie that features RMD or Jim Iyke, they buy that one first before buying the one featuring unknown faces. Movie featuring big names sell more. It is not that one cannot feature smaller artistes; it is better to combine both small and bigger ones. But if you go one hundred per cent low, you might have problems.

Don't you think Nigerian movies shot in a week or less is part of reasons for poor quality exhibited by some of them?

Who says the productions are not good? To me, the productions are good. Besides, there are factors one has to take into consideration. Number one, you are in a society where nothing works. Most of these productions are being sponsored with their own money. Two, you cannot compare Nigeria to Hollywood or the Western world. There, they have power supply twenty-four hours a day. Do we have light here in Nigeria? Even in Cotonou and other places, you don't hear things like this.

In America, Arnold Schwazenegger earns between twenty-five and fifty millions dollars per movie. How much do you pay the highest paid actor in Nigeria? Yet you want him to do the same thing as his American counterpart. How much is a producer making in Nigeria? They are talking about million and billions in Universal Studios while we here are just trying to survive. If we, the pioneers didn't struggle there would be no movie industry. So, we are laying a foundation for future generation.

Take a Nigerian producer or actor, put him in Hollywood where they have all the facilities, he will excel. We should be encouraging ourselves. Watch some American films and you would see that everything is rubbish.

What are the faults of Nigerian film makers?

We have faults of technicality. We don't have training school or seminars that facilitate up grading of personnel. We have problem with sound, lighting, scriptwriting and so on. This is only a passing phase. I believe a time will come when professionalism will come into this industry. You cannot compare the industry when it just started now. So, we are growing too.

Has movie making been profitable?

I would say yes. Though not very profitable, but I would say we are trying and I thank God for enabling us to feed with the profession.

It appears Nigerian film makers tend to copy foreign plots a lot.

I don't agree with you. Most of our movies mirror the society. Some of my stories that mirror our society include: 'Blood Money', 'Derico', 'Issakaba'. Even some Americans short African stories. For instance 'Sarafina' 'Tears From the Sun' and stuffs like that. Most of the time, we shoot our own kind of stories

Why do Nigeria film makers keep on repeating the same plots in their movies?

It is like that all over the world, even in America it is worse. There was a time they did 'Independence Day', before you know it they did 'Armageddon'. They were all telling the same kind of story. After 'Titanic', they started shooting Titanic and other love stories. When they start science fiction, they keep doing science fictions. After 'Lord of the Rings', they did about five movies with the same plot. Even, 'Titanic' is the same love story of Romeo and Juliet.

Which is the most unsatisfying job you have ever done?

'Street Life'

Why?

I shot that movie when I was about travelling to London. I gave it to one of my colleagues to assist me while I was busy processing my travel documents. During the editing, I was never in the studio to supervise it. I was in London when the film came out. I never finished watching the movie till today. I just switched off the set half way into the movie.

What was wrong with it?

Everything.

Which are the ones you like watching over and over again?

I like watching 'Festival of Fire', 'Day Break', 'Full Moon', and some I can't remember now.

#2 (**permalink**) 04-03-2004, 10:35 AM

That says it all for me. This guy is just a hoard and a scrounger!!

Never going to spend my hard earned money on his films. About time the likes of Tade Ogidan, Tunde Kelani's, Ayo Shonaiya, Amaka Igwe's wake up and take control of the movie industry. I mean.........this is preposterous!!!

bigmomma · #3 (**permalink**) 04-03-2004, 10:43 AM

I would have asked himt to get a refund on that movie sha. that movie no sweet at all

Sola · #4 (**permalink**) 04-03-2004, 10:49 AM

You guys are woo-ked.
I neva see d movie sha.

vince · #5 (**permalink**) 04-04-2004, 11:43 AM

That was the first naija movie i ever bought.It was a complete crap!

Apart from the dance sequences,the movie had nothing but bad acting and bad effects.

solatoks · #6 (**permalink**) 04-04-2004, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vince

That was the first naija movie i ever bought.It was a complete crap!

Apart from the dance sequences,the movie had nothing but bad acting and bad effects.

I agree vince the film even had a part two with regina askia, sola fosudo, and a couple of other stars abeg I do agree I can't believe it costs that much to produce that film.

Lafem · #7 (**permalink**) 04-04-2004, 04:29 PM

I haven't seen the movie, but going by you all's opinions, I'll avoid it like the plague. Seems this guy only produces/directs trashy movies.

bigmomma · #8 (**permalink**) 04-05-2004, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solatoks

I agree vince the film even had a part two with regina askia, sola fosudo, and a couple of other stars abeg I do agree I can't believe it costs that much to produce that film.

i agree with u. i get taht movie for house but where it is i dont know and i really dont care to know either. I dont believe that Joke Silva gree act for that movie sef

'

egbon Sola its not wooked its called keeping it real. if na me do crap too i will not be mad if you critique me cos it will only make me strvie next time to make/do something that the audience willl love and talk about for a long time. eg a movie like Keeping Faith

vince · #9 (**permalink**) 04-05-2004, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigmomma

i agree with u. i get taht movie for house but where it is i dont know and i really dont care to know either. I dont believe that Joke Silva gree act for that movie sef

'

egbon Sola its not wooked its called keeping it real. if na me do crap too i will not be mad if you critique me cos it will only make me strvie next time to make/do something that the audience willl love and talk about for a long time. eg a movie like Keeping Faith

If you're talking about FULL MOON,then Joke Silver was not in it.

cooljoks · #10 (**permalink**) 04-05-2004, 12:16 PM

i prefare chidi chikere to that chico,i have never enjoyed any of his movies,oga sola asked him a very nice question,y they love copying from hollywood stories,but he refused bc thats what he does.i beg i rest my case oh.

Sola · #11 (**permalink**) 04-05-2004, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooljoks

i prefare chidi chikere to that chico,i have never enjoyed any of his movies,oga sola asked him a very nice question,y they love copying from hollywood stories,but he refused bc thats what he does.i beg i rest my case oh.

Cooljoks, are you still having logon problems? I see you can post here so that can't be the case.

For the photo section, just try and login again on that side and you should be fine. These are cookie issues and systems handle them differently. I am looking for a permanent solution to the issue though.

I DID NOT DO THIS INTERVIEW O. I CREDITED IT TO THE SOURCE ABOVE. Thanks.

khamileon · #12 (**permalink**) 04-05-2004, 01:51 PM

I hope una no go vex with me o! But I love "Full Moon" so much.. I love that kinda stories too. I have the part 1 & 2 on VHS I have to get it on VCD.. Love the dancing, costums, and story. I remember when they caught that guy "Jake" and put him in a cage and he was afraid the peeps were going to eat him up. He told the other guy that they shouldnt eat him ..that he wont taste nice. I laughed so hard, I always laugh when I watch that part.

FASTFORWARD TO THE FUTURE..... CHICO'S MOVIES ARE STILL OUTSELLING MOST PRODUCERS..AM NOT SAYING THIS BECAUSE I KNOW HIM, I AM JUST STATING THE FACTS. TAKE YOUR SUPER MOVIE WITH GOOD STORY AND ALL THAT TO MARKETERS, THEY WILL FIRST BUY CHICO'S MOVIES BEFORE THEY TOUCH YOURS... AS SOON AS HE STARTS SHOOTING, MARKETERS ARE ALREADY LINED UP TO BUY HIS MOVIE...JUST VISIT HIS OFFICE AT "SURULERE" AND SEE FOR URSELF.

PS: FOR THE RECORDS I JUST WANNA STAY THAT I DONT LIKE ALL HIS MOVIES