Gregory Ojefua is one of Nigeria’s finest actors having gained prominence for his role on the television series Winds of Change and his impressive depiction of the Late General Odumegwu Ojukwu in the 2015 film, The Encounter for which he was nominated for Best Actor in a Drama at the 2017 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA).
In this interview with eelive.ng, he speaks about his career in the movie industry, the challenges he faced and how he was able to surmount them among other issues.
You studied Business Management and Administration, how did you end up choosing acting as a career and how did it happen?
I would say acting chose me, probably one of those moments you’ll say ‘man proposes but God disposes.’ I never saw myself ending up as an actor when I started my education; even though I had always loved entertaining people. My mother who is retired now was an English and Literature major so we had a very robust library with a lot of Shakespeare’s works.
Being tutored by Ghanaian teachers at an early age also helped me. When I was in primary 5, I had a Ghanaian teacher who loved Shakespeare and arts. He would tell us to go home and read up and memorise some characters, I enjoyed every moment of it. Seeing him enjoy our performances sent a message to my subconscious that I could entertain people and bring smiles to their faces.
After my university education, I contested in a TV show called Don’t Forget the Lyrics. It’s a show where you make song selections and sing along to the music while reading the lyrics off a large screen. But once the music stops and the lyrics disappear, you must come up with the next line of the song.
I was the first in Nigeria to attend the 1 million Naira missing lyrics but I lost and that was how I became a mini celebrity. It was an intense episode, immediately the producers put the ball in my court, people noticed me everywhere I went.
I used the opportunity to go for auditions. The first one I attended didn’t turn out really well for me but I was able to put up a good act from that audition and I was cast for four roles, on Winds of Change. That was how I got into the movie industry. I do not have any godfather or godmother till now, it has been God, hard work and dedication. Gregory Ojefua is a person who would be at an audition venue on or before 6am. I once got a role for getting to an audition venue on time.
What was growing up like and how did that influence the person you are today?
Growing up for me influenced and did a lot of good for me. I was exposed to the arts and entertainment at an early age because of my parents. Apart from my mom being an English teacher, my dad was well read and a vast reader too. I am the only son of my parents, I used to love dancing and I still do. While growing up, I was always opportune to dance at parties and people would cheer me on and give me money. I enjoyed putting a smile on people’s faces.
Back then, most of our plays as children were centered on acting the mommy and daddy role with neighbours and family members. It all made the acting spirit grow in me. I grew up in Iponri Estate, Surulere and I had my university education at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba. I did my National Youth Service Corps in Lagos.
How would you describe your Nollywood experience so far?
It has been filled with ups and downs but it has been a lovely experience so far. I know where I started from, I know where I am now and I can project where I am heading.
At some point, I thought I skyrocketed a bit too fast; but everything happens for a reason and I am grateful to God. I am taking every day as it comes, one step at a time. Likewise, I foresee more growth and more boundaries being conquered.
I have put in a lot of work; and I attended so many auditions that I became a popular face at auditions. Also, I worked on myself; I always come out of every audition telling myself that the next one will be better. I try to improve my diction and voice. Even though I have the physique of a comic actor and I love comic roles, I have escaped being stereotyped.
I told myself very early in my career that I wasn’t going to let anyone stereotype me. I love the fact that some producers tell me they see me in every role, and that’s what I have set out to do.
Do you think Nollywood is being fair to new comers given your own experience?
I can’t say categorically that Nollywood is not fair but I’ll say some producers are not fair to upcoming and new actors. The fact that they are new does not mean they should be treated as trash. Some producers do not care about the welfare of new actors; they should be respected as well because they are adding value to the production.
I think Nollywood is fair but some producers are not. There are some very great producers that I met while growing and I love the way they treated me when I wasn’t a star. I urge them to keep making every actor feel good about themselves.
At the start of my career I had my own share of ugly experiences, I was lucky to have never done a free job, but I have had experiences where producers took off with my balance.
There was a time we shot a movie late into the night at a bar and I later realised that there was no place to sleep. I had to sleep in the open, and I was bitten by mosquitoes, it wasn’t a pleasant experience. At the start of my career, I have had production managers belittle and talk down on me but I kept my head high.
Apart from acting, you’re into modeling, hosting events and other things, which is most important to you and why?
I stopped modelling a long time ago when I realised my acting career was blossoming and I was getting a lot of traction. Back then, I used to be Television model, I did a lot of ads, but I still host events.
Presently, I do voice overs for animations and adverts for foreign series or films that need to be translated to English or from English to Pidgin. Acting is most important to me than other things I do because it is my first love, it is all in one. While acting I get to be a host, a voice over artist, it covers it all and being in front of the camera gives me joy.
What would you do differently if you were to start your career over again?
I will probably start my career all over again in Hollywood. Nollywood is not doing badly but like other sectors in Nigeria the growth rate is slow; actors are not getting their dues. From time to time, we hear how actors fall sick and beg for funds. We do not have things like health insurance and mortgage loans for actors.
You could work all your life and when the industry says it’s tired of your face, it ends there. Sometimes as actors we can’t help but think about how the movie industry is well developed in some other countries. These are places where you get royalties and can invest very well as an actor. But Nollywood is better than where it was and I’m hopeful we will get there.
A lot of actors are now tasting all areas of film making, do you have plans of going into producing and directing of movies?
Yes, producing is more immediate for me than directing. I respect the art of directing because it covers a lot, but producing for me will happen soon and directing? Maybe.
I have forthcoming projects as well; the biggest for me now is King of Boys 2, look at for Mr Kolawole in King of boys 2. There’s another called Bambo, it hasn’t been concluded but I hope it flies soon. I’m back on Tinsel as well and a couple of other productions here and there.
What’s that role you’re looking forward to playing?
I would like to play the role of a psychotic person almost like the Joker; it’s not a popular genre in Nigeria. The stories Nigerian producers make are limited because they have tested the market and they have found out that the Nigerian market favours comedy and rom com.
At the end of the day, most actors have a limited character range based on the movies that are being produced. You will find out that a particular actor will play a particular role more than once because the character range is short and the genre here is limited; but when we have more audience for different genre of movies then we will have actors doing deeper things. I’m looking forward to something more than the usual.
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Was there a time in your career that you felt like giving up and how did you surmount that particular obstacle?
There have been times but I encouraged myself. The greatest fear I think every actor has is becoming insignificant or losing value. The fear of waking up tomorrow and realising producers do not want you anymore or you no longer attract the kind of audience that you used to attract.
It used to sip in back then. There were times I felt like running away and changing my career to a banker; or to work in places where I won’t be recognised. There were a lot of uncertainties.
But I told myself that despite the uncertainties in the industry some actors still remain relevant. People like RMD, Ramsey Nouah, Rita Dominic, Joke Silva and Kate Henshaw; who have lived all their lives in the industry. There might have been a little hiatus; but they didn’t retire and have had a fair share of a long lasting careers. With the invent of streaming services, some of these actors are still relevant. Yes, there will be new actors but as long as you know what you’re doing, you will remain relevant. Nevertheless, if I realise that I’m not getting movie roles again, I can start producing movies. I used to encourage myself when I started but now I rarely have any fears.
Advice for upcoming actors
You need to ask yourself, “why do i want to do this?” Some people come to the industry because they want to be famous or make money. Never come into the industry with the sole aim of being famous because it is not guaranteed.
Every body’s timeline is different. Come into the industry because you feel acting is the only thing you can do in this world that will give you joy. You need to love acting and have a passion for it. When you do every other thing will be added unto you, every other thing will fall in place. Do not come into the industry because you are looking for money or fame because you will drown.
