Bisola Aiyeola, Nigerian actor and singer, has advised the youths, especially upcoming actors to improve on their craft and be consistent.
In an interview on Instagram yesterday, the ex-reality show star who has an eight-year-old daughter, revealed some untold details on her career as well as what upcoming actors should learn. Fans also had the opportunity to ask Aiyeola some questions.
Journey to fame
It started when I was 13, I was being interviewed by the principal of Our Ladies of Apostles, Yaba. I was asked what I wanted to be in future and I told him that I wanted to be an entertainer. My mother cut in and said I would be a Lawyer. Years later, I started doing back up for some singers in Surulere. When the project fame music contest came up, I auditioned with the support of my mom and sister. Project fame was the first step to fame for me.
Management
My management company, Temple management has been supportive, they schedule my singing and acting jobs. I have a great team behind me, they have made it easy, that is why I have been able to combine music and movies.
How do your interprete your roles so well?
You need to put in your best in every movie role you play. Because you are in the business of make believe. Your job is complete when the viewers see you as the character. So all these factors helps me to please the viewers and do a good job.
Inspiration
My family, people around me, traffic, in the toilet when I have my alone time. People’s stories also inspire me.
How do you memorise your lines?
I read the script and try to understand the scene, then I start memorizing my lines. Even when your co-actor is missing their lines, it would help to bring them back.
Method Acting
Everyone is a method actor as long as you make people believe your character. If you can take on your role perfectly, you’ve done method acting.
Social Media
Everything I put out on social media is deliberate and conscious. I put out only what I want people to know.
Why did you stop skits?
It was a matter of quality over quantity. I still do skits but not as often. There are a lot of people who do skits on the internet now but you have to put out quality work.
Who would you love to work with?
There are too many of them, Joke Silva, RMD, Deyemi Okanlawon and a host of others.
Film producers and instagram numbers
There are a lot of pressure on actors to increase their number of followers on Instagram. Some producers go for actors with many followers who are influencers, forgetting that there are some skilled actors with few followers. I think everything should be balanced, producers should use both.
Have you ever turned down any role?
Yes, not because the script wasn’t good but because we couldn’t reach a good conclusion on the pay. Most director would pay for the acting but won’t pay for marketing. Don’t sell yourself short. I know it’s hard to get roles. After working for them, they’ll want you to promote the movie on social media and your social media pages. And they expect you to do this for free. It should be a win-win situation.
That is why lots of actors live in penury and when actors fall sick they’ll be forced to open a go-fund-me account to donate money for them. Directors should learn to give actors a percentage for marketing. Find something for your actors.
Advice for upcoming actors
Improve on our craft, don’t be entitled because you’ve done one job and everybody praises you. Some of these upcoming actors get pissed when they were not called back after auditioning for roles. You can do one job in a year. It could be a waka pass role. I have done many of them. Be consistent and be patient in any sector you find yourselves.
Some days you get roles, some days you don’t. For example, my role in Chief Daddy, I didn’t have any lines. I was at a conference and I told them that ‘If you want me to play a deaf, mute, dumb role, I’ll be the best deaf, mute and dumb in the world.’ No role is too small.
