Jide Kene Achufusi, the actor and model, popularly known as Swanky JKA, bagged the Trailblazer award at the 2020 edition of the African Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA).
In this interview with Judith Audu’s Meet the Actor/Filmmaker, the Living in Bondage: Breaking Free star and graduate of Geology/Geography from Enugu State University of Science and Technology discusses his journey into the film industry, his passion for acting, and his efforts to make a difference. Eelive.ng brings you excerpts as monitored by ARAMIDE ARIBIGBOLA.
From studying Geology and Geography, when did you decide you wanted to be in the entertainment industry?
I had been in the entertainment industry before studying anything. You know your parents will always want you to show them their money, look at what is trending now on twitter; a man who was disappointed after he paid $21,000 for his son’s school fees. You’ve got to be able to come through especially if you have parents who are educated. My mum is a lecturer and my dad, you can’t count how many degrees he has. So, it’s a prerequisite you had to gain before you were allowed to pursue your own dreams.
How did your parents take the news when you told them you wanted to go into the entertainment industry?
I think I am the first person in my extended family that is in the Arts. It was not the easiest news to break, especially to my mum. At one point she said it was the devil speaking through me and that she would cast the devil out of me. We had couple of fights. There were times I was told not to leave the house, but I had to leave the house.
You came into the industry professionally in 2011 when you did Campus Games. What was your first experience like and what was that very first job you did?
I joined this small production house called Checkmate; it’s no longer small because Checkmate has produced an AMVCA winning film. Back in the days, we were just like a lot of people who went for auditions. We used to gather every Sunday to rehearse and present drama in groups.
I remember going from one location to another with cameras by 2.am. There was no money for transport, but we just moved around. So, we came together and made Campus Games which was shown on the local station at that time.
I had done a short film with Obi Emelonye in Awka. So I traveled from Enugu where I was living to shoot the film and got the lead role. It was in 2013, which was my first time of working with a professional crew but that short film never came out.
How were you able to balance acting and schooling without it affecting your studies?
Well the truth is it did affect my studies. I used to snick a lot from the East to Lagos as a model, and I would lie to my parents that I had a group assignment and would be gone for a few days. But the truth was, I was in Lagos.
There was a day I was on Third Mainland bridge when my father called. I told him we had just arrived the filing station in Kalagwo. And I was like ‘what are you doing, what if something happens to you?’
So I tried my best to joggle acting and schooling. Fortunately, I wasn’t somebody that needed to be taught something two or three times. I was okay with getting a credit or a B knowing that I needed to attend classes a few times, read up on it, get the grades I needed, not the grades I would have wanted but what I needed to be able to joggle the two.
You worked a lot in the early years of your career with Ernest Obi, tell us about your relationship with him and your first film, Koka Messiah.
Uncle Ernest is my father. People in the East used to report me to him. The first time I saw him; my friend took me to his film location. He was already filming, because his movies usually have large casts of about a hundred, two hundred or three hundred.
So, we felt that we could get roles in the film. My friend got ahead of me to speak with him and he got the role he wanted. My friend encouraged me to speak with him because he had asked who I was. I told my friend that I wanted to impress him; I didn’t want to get a role because I had spoken to him and I didn’t want any small role. The audition was quite memorable because people were many. His auditions were known to be filled but he picked five of us because we weren’t rushing like others were.
When it got to my turn, he asked me a couple of questions, I answered, and I read some scripts, so he told his production manager that he was going to give me a role to see what I could do
I was very happy because I was picked out of like three hundred people. His production manager wanted to give me a driver’s role but he (Ernest) said he should give me a pastor’s role. So, I played the role of a pastor. The movie was titled Black Forest, released in 2014.
How did you become so popular in Enugu that in 2017, you were profiled among the most influential people in Enugu to watch out for?
Enugu is a community where everybody knows one another. I was doing a lot of things while I was in Enugu. I used to organise fashion shows, I was part of the organising team for the fiesta, so I knew everybody who worked in radio stations, TV stations and politicians. It made it quite easy to know who you needed to talk to get things done.
I was also involved with students, I was involved with models, and I was involved with a TV station, that’s probably why my name was there.
In 2018, you did a film with Victor who you worked with from way back when you did Lonely Lane and Ofuobi, tell us about your experience that year.
Lonely Lane wasn’t an Igbo film. Both movies were produced by Victor and directed by Vincent the Anointed. They wanted some celebrities to take the role but they were not available at the time so they offered me the role, rather the director said ‘why don’t you give to this guy? He acted Koka Messiah, why don’t you give it to him?’
It wasn’t my first time of speaking Igbo all through in a movie, but it went really well. I realized it is easier to connect to your emotions while you’re speaking your native language.
English is good and powerful; but most people express themselves in their native language or in pidgin. It was quite easy for me to connect to my emotional side when it came to speaking my local dialect. Making Ofoobi was an offspring of what we were able to achieve with making Lonely Lane. We shot Lonely Lane like one or two years before Ofoobi. I think Ofoobi was nominated for AMVCA in 2018, I was elated, so, so elated.
Working with Victor has always been a great experience, instead of focusing on big directors or the ones who will just pay you upfront, I decided to work with Victor to make something for ourselves, being an old friend.
You eventually got two nominations from Best of Nollywood awards for Best Actor and you eventually won with Lonely Lane. How did you feel?
To be honest, I needed nominations and awards for validation of my work including modelling. I used to feel I should have won a pageant then, but I ended up taking 4th or 5th place. I used to check my height and my chest; thinking I was going to win a modeling award.
I received the nomination when I was coming from Wednesday midweek service; Victor called me and said, ‘No, this is for AMVCA.’
When I got the nomination for BON via mail, truthfully, I was excited because I had always wanted it and I was like: ‘finally.’ When I was shooting Koka Messiah three/four years back, I thought I was going to get nominated but I was snubbed.
And when you woke up in the morning and realized you have won the award…
I couldn’t sleep; I found out that I had won the award around 3am. The next morning, I went from zero energy to high energy.
How did you get the groundbreaking role to feature in Living in Bondage, How did you hear about the audition? What did you do differently and what did you think made you stand out?
I had traveled to Lagos to attend 2018 AMVCA, the nominee party was supposed to hold August 10; and the award September 1. My plan was to spend 20 days in Lagos to attend an audition and the awards.
I was also looking forward to getting some other gigs when someone showed me a video where Ramsey said they were looking for a character.
But I had auditioned for countless movies including EbonyLife’s Desperate Housewives Africa, Tinsel and Big Brother Naija several times and I was turned down. When I auditioned for Desperate Housewives Africa, the late Pamela Ofiegu had told me she was expecting to see me in camp because of how good I was but I never got a response from them.
When I saw Ramsey’s video, I told myself that it was another ploy by movie producers to promote their movie so I said that I wasn’t going to audition even after four people showed me the video. I can be very stubborn.
After the AMVCA, we didn’t win any award and I was down. I cried in my bathroom, I prayed and said, ‘God listen, I have been doing this, and it’s not because I’m not good.’
I watch other movies and I know I am a good actor so I didn’t know why things were not working out for me.
So, I travelled back to Enugu to shoot a film titled Isiboro. I think that’s probably one of the most challenging roles I have ever played. In the movie, I played the role of a slave.
But I was discouraged and I told someone that I was going to quit acting and move to LA to work as a plate washer.
While we were doing a photoshoot for the TWS (The Wedding Show), my friend, Elijah Okoro called me and said Mr. Chris Oden wanted to speak with me.
I asked who he was and he told me the producer of the new movie about to be shot, Living in Bondage. Elijah told me the producer wanted to speak with me. I had to climb a tree because there was no network at the time. He told me they were looking for a guy who fits my description, not dark, not fair-skinned; a guy who can look rough and cleaned up and a guy who can speak Igbo and English.
Mr. Chris eventually called to tell me I was going to audition by recording a conversation. He said they had been searching and someone suggested they looked for me. I ended up making like three hundred audition videos because I felt they weren’t good enough. Later, I learnt they were coming for an audition in Enugu.
I was happy because I had the chance to audition in person. When I went for the audition, I had to read like six to seven times, but at the end of the day they were very nice to me, both Mr. Chris and Ramsey, even though it was my first time of meeting them.
Mr. Chris was very supportive, he kept encouraging me. So I was told that we were going to shoot in Lagos. When I got to Lagos Mr. Ramsey complained that I was late the first day. Mr. Chris had asked if I had a place to stay in Lagos and I told him yes but I had no money on me, I had to call someone to send me N10k because I had no place to stay.
Mr. Ramsey had complained that he wasn’t sure that I could act in the film because of my lateness but Mr. Chris encouraged me. The next day I showed up for the rehearsal with wet clothes, I was given my script even though Mr. Ramsey said that I looked horrible. It’s a story I can never forget in the near future.
When you got the script, how did you feel, knowing fully well that this was not just a film, this was a Nollywood classic, a film that gave the industry its name when you were probably a toddler and now you are playing, Nnamdi Okeke alongside the great Andy Okeke?
It’s difficult to put into words. I told myself that even if I do this film and decide to retire, people will still remember me for the role because it is a big one. While we were working on the project, one of the biggest Art Directors in the industry, Uncle Pat Nebo told me he was scared. That was when it dawned on me that a lot of people were counting on me.
After my confirmation, I went through a lot of rehearsals. I was sick the entire time we were shooting the movie, so I had to take injections to continue sometimes and I didn’t want to take a break. They had to cancel a particular scene one evening because of my health but I was too passionate about the project and I wasn’t going to let anything stop me from doing it.
How was it like working with Ramsey?
Ramsey was the coolest. We traveled a lot, spent time together, he is very cool.
The funniest thing is Ramsey used to apologise to me after filming because I was sick. He used to say, ‘I know you think I’m driving you mad.’ But he wasn’t as tough as Ernest Obi. Ramsey was easy to connect with; he always had new ideas while we were shooting.
Prior to this you had been filming in the East, what is the major difference filming in Lagos and the East?
The major difference is traffic. In the East, you can move quickly from one location to another but in Lagos, you have to choose where you are going to spend your day. We used to call ourselves midnight crew because that’s the best time to shoot some scenes, there won’t be disturbances from trailers or cars. So, traffic is a big deal.
You filmed both in Lagos and South Africa, how was that for you? How did you feel travelling abroad?
Well, I was sick again, so I don’t even know, but I knew it was what I had always wanted. That was my first time travelling out of West Africa. I don’t like flying a lot so work was the only reason that could make me travel. When the time came, I was really excited and I knew I needed enough motivation.
How did you feel knowing you’re now on set alongside these Nollywood legends you grew up watching? All of them in the same space, at the same time. What was that for you as a person and as an actor?
People who are close to me know that I’m quite respectful; I don’t find it difficult to carry anybody’s bag or hold anybody’s book. When I was growing up the government workers liked me because I was always willing to help them carry their bags.
It’s not something I do to endear myself to people, it’s just me. I remember the first time I saw Mr. Kenneth on set. I was upstairs doing my makeup and I went downstairs and said ‘daddy good afternoon sir’ and he asked ‘who is this, is this person playing Nnamdi?’
When I told him it was me, he told me to give him a hug. They all made it quite easy for me. I can’t tell you how grateful I was that someone like KOK who doesn’t smile responded pleasantly whenever I greeted him. They made it easy because if it had been otherwise, I would have gone back into my shell and I would not have been able to play my role freely.
What was it like when you were in the hall for the AMVCA? You got called to pick up the Trailblazer award which is like a massive award. How did you manage to walk to the podium?
The first time I came on stage was with IK when he had a presentation with Cobhams.
While I was backstage waiting to be called on stage, I was afraid but I prayed. I pray about everything. Apart from the people who were presenting, I probably appeared on stage more than anybody else. I presented the award for Best Actress Igbo and I remember when we were shooting Crazy Lovely Coup, when Sambasa won, I was in Nsukka, I remember just watching him take the plaque and I said to myself, ‘in no time this should be me.’
But I couldn’t say it out loud because people wouldn’t believe the dream I had. That award night, I prayed in my heart that I wanted to be genuinely happy for whoever won the award. When Timini won his award, I watched as Dakore shared the beautiful moment with him and I was truly happy for him.
It was such a great moment. My elder sister had always wanted to act but my dad didn’t allow her so it was a lot of emotions for me. When it came to the Trailblazer, I couldn’t even say anything, I had written a speech for Best Actor but I couldn’t deliver my speech. I’m grateful to God for my journey so far, it has not been easy but it is an indescribable feeling to be honest.
You have been here for 8 years, what advice would you give young people coming into the industry?
One is there is no short cut. Remember I mentioned the story of how I went to audition for Uncle Ernest’s film. Nigerians are very good at keeping you at the level where you started. If you are somebody’s gateman today and tomorrow you make money, they will always refer to you as a gateman. Try your best to work on yourself and try not to take short cuts. Short cuts do not help anybody at all. In a situation whereby you know someone, in whatever you do, make sure you give it 150%.
What was your biggest challenge working on Living in Bondage?
Two things, one was bearing it in mind that a lot of people are going to come for you. You know no be every big role na im be good role. There are some big roles you play and you mess it up, that’s the end of your career, nobody is booking you anymore, nobody is putting you on anything.
Bearing in mind that every scene had to be the scene, bearing in mind what was important. It weighed me down but I tried to distract myself. I saw it as a normal thing but that was the biggest challenge for me basically.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
To be honest, I received practical advice, I must have heard it before but someone who drove it home was when Ramsey said to me, ‘in film business you cannot act, all you have to do is react, don’t ever act, all you have to do is react’. Remember the person you are acting with will have to bring their game, because it is whatever they give you that you punch back.
How do you get to interpret your script?
If you see my script, it looks like a mess; I use Biro a lot to jot on my script. Sometimes I change my lines to be able to understand it, some phoné no dey gree me speak, I have to break it down to be able to familiarize myself with it. I do a lot of writing on my script, I literally digest it, I don’t just run lines for the sake of it, I need to feel it basically.
What’s your take on Igbo movies and would you play lead if given an opportunity?
I love it. As a matter of fact, if you chat with me even if you are someone from Saudi Arabia, the ten words I speak must include Igbo. I love Igbo lines a lot to be honest, I think it’s time we made bigger films, not just bigger but in terms of structure, in terms of investment. The Oscars is calling us, somebody has to respond, and somebody needs to answer. We have to make that Igbo film, Yoruba and Hausa film with huge budget and still recoup from such investment.
