Tope Tedela has been around the block of Nollywood, for some years now and while at it, he’s won some accolades, fame and awards; he is now embracing the challenges of producing. In this interview with eelive.ng, he speaks about his foray into Nollywood as well the most critical need of the industry.
eelive.ng: Let’s talk about your early days in Nollywood, at what point did you realise that you wanted to be in the film industry and how did your parents come to terms with your choice?
The performing arts fascinated me as a child, and I remember being really curious about how movies are made and how all the elements come together. As I grew a bit older, I became enthralled by the way films could make me feel and how actors could play roles that made me laugh, cry and feel something. It just felt so magical and that has always stayed with me.
As a teenager, I was one of the more ‘wahala’ ones who didn’t really have a bearing and no typical career choice appealed to me. The obvious Lawyer, Doctor, Engineer and Accountant path didn’t appeal to me and even though I studied Accounting briefly and pursued the sciences for a bit, it just didn’t work. I was just about getting into university at the time I first ventured into acting.
When I realised that I could pursue acting, I started doing so; and my parents were happy that it seemed their boy had found something that he could stick to. Their only concern was that their boy does not flunk out of school.
eelive.ng: You studied Mass Communication and started out as a media personality. Do you miss your old profession and what made you stay in Nollywood?
Yes, I did study Mass Communication but initially I wanted to study Theatre Arts. There’s this perception which to an extent I think is quite problematic at the time; I was told to study a more professional course and I was also really interested in presenting at the time.
I started acting before doing anything presenting/broadcasting related, that was before I got admitted to study Mass Communication at the university. I’m still in it and around it somehow. You never know, I might host a TV show in future. My journey in Nollywood so far has been a good one, filled with a mix of fun, rejection and challenges.
eelive.ng: You made your producing debut with ‘What Lies Within’, why did you decide to become a producer and how did it feel to be on the other side of the camera?
I love films and a part of the process of making them. When I did my NYSC, I worked partially as a documentary producer; so I had a little inkling about the joys and sorrows of being behind the camera. When I returned to film-making full time, I nursed the idea of getting behind the camera. Paul Utomi, Vanessa Nzediegwu and I got cast on a project and we talked about collaborating to make a film. Shortly after, Paul wrote a screenplay and Vanessa had returned from film school not too long before that; we just took the plunge and made the film that will come to be known as What Lies Within.
Being behind the camera gives you a holistic view of how each part of making a film affects the whole.
eelive.ng: Many Nigerians are afraid of partnerships, what informed the choice of your partners in What Lies Within and going ahead to partner on Country Hard as well?
There is a point to being wary about partnerships because many people are actually not normal and I mean this literally and metaphorically. At the core, I’ll say we share largely similar ideals as regards the kind of work we want to do, the welfare of the people we work with and so on. It doesn’t mean that there aren’t disagreements here and there but it’s largely a great working relationship.
eelive.ng: What expectations did you have while producing What Lies Within, that is in terms of reception and Box office returns? How much of that came to pass?
One of the biggest takeaways is that making a film and marketing a film are two different things. You could make a great film and nobody will see it and you wouldn’t want that to happen.
eelive.ng: Would you ever consider leaving acting for producing, if not why do you love acting so much?
I skirted with that thought from time to time but I think both can coexist. And the truth is that not every actor has to delve into producing. Acting is really like being a god because you are constantly creating; bring words on paper to life on stage, on screen and so on. I will be acting for a long time and I don’t even think I have scratched the surface.
eelive.ng: Can you describe the adventure of playing the role as John in the science fiction movie ‘Ratnik’?
I love quirky characters and John is one of the most quirky characters I have portrayed. When I read the screenplay I was excited about playing the part; but it was even more visceral portraying the character on set. Dimeji Ajibola, the director and his team also creates the world of Ratnik beautifully; and working with all the elements just made it even more fulfilling.
eelive.ng: Nollywood is enjoying a rapid growth but many will argue that Nollywood is not where it should be? What do you think the Nigerian film industry needs to get to the next level?
Internally, I am of the opinion that capacity building is an area we really need a lot of attention. A lot of the departments that makes a film work needs trained professionals to elevate the quality of the work that we do across board.
eelive.ng: Can we talk a bit more about who Tope Tedela is, where you came from; how you got here and what you look towards for the future?
I am a seeker of knowledge and I’m enthralled by knowledgeable people. I swim, play some tennis and practice yoga. And when I’m not doing any of these you might catch me with a book. I was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. I studied Mass Communication at the University of Lagos and I had my secondary school education at Lagos State Model College, Miran.