We once cancelled shooting because everybody was drunk on set -Producer Dozie Eboh

Veteran movie producer Dozie Eboh, has shared a very funny story, where the top echelon of a movie set, all got drunk on set and the shooting for that day had to be shifted to another day. Enjoy this interview he had ORJI ONYEKWERE.

What job are you handling currently?

I just finished an audition in Aba because I want to shoot a movie on drug abuse. If you look around our country, even some of the things happening at the national assembly, you will be like what’s is this? When you look critically inside, you will realise there’s evidence of drug abuse.

Some of our lawmakers are into drugs, if not, they will not be passing some irrelevant laws. Even within your environment, you will also notice that drug abuse is on the increase

As a filmmaker, we mix up with the powerful and mighty, and we shoot movies in secluded areas in ghettos and decent areas too. When we say there’s drug abuse, there’s drug abuse because we are closer to the society.

Based on this, I decide to shoot a film that will showcase the dangers of drug abuse, those on rehab and others that are involved because we want everyone to know that this is a menace in the society.

I did audition in Aba and also wrote to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, for technical support, which they approved. Hopefully, I will move into Aba with my cast and crew to start shooting. It’s just to encourage NDLEA on the fight against drug abuse and expose the dangers of drug abuse to the society.

 

I wanted to ask about NDLEA’s  level of involvement in this project?

I wrote them officially and they agreed to give me all the technical support I need like: handcuffs, uniform, firearm, vehicle and offices. I sent them the script and they read and approved.

 

Some of your movies are focused on enlightening the society on evils and the essence of morals. Is this deliberate?

As a parent and somebody in the entertainment industry, there are things that get on my nerves that happen in this country and I try to use my movies to address them.

 

With the moral decadence in the society. Where do we lay the blame: parents, government or society?

Well, we all are to blame: the parents, society and government, all share in the blame. We, the parents are still the government and we also make up the society. Unfortunately, the way the country is now, it’s not only the man that has the sole responsibility of providing for the family, the mother also goes out and the kids at home now suffering it.

So, everyone shares in the blame. I plead with parents to still make out time for their children. Government still needs to be blamed because of the high level of insecurity and people are busy hustling for tickets for next election.

 

 

Why did you make your movie ‘Sinful Act’ an all-female cast?

That’s when I was doing Nigerian Diva Talent Search for girls that are talented in acting movie and singing. So, when they were in camp, we gave them certain assignments in acting and they were all females and they came up with good initiatives.

So, that motivated me and I told them that since we are in camp, we can make an all-female movie. All these years, I thought you can only make a movie which involves male and female. I did not know you can make an all-male or female movie.

 

How far with your talent hunt with your secondary school old boys ?

My alma mata is an all boys school. I used some of the talents there on my secondary school teenage movie called “Our Tomorrow’. I have done season 1-3 and I am still keep using some of them.

 

 

You are a producer. Do you think Nigerians patronise cinema movies based on what we hear that this movie generated about ₦500m in cinema. Is this possible or just media hype?

 

In some states, the cinema culture is coming back gradually, while some, nothing happens. Some people like going to cinemas, while some like watching films on their phones. That’s why you see the era of buying CD and DVD is going, but there are some people that still do it, though they are in the minority.

Most people prefer to watch on their phones that’s why most of the films are uploaded on the YouTube. The cinema business is booming.

 

Do you believe the cinemas rake in such humongous amount they call?

I believe it because I am a film maker. If I get a sponsor for my movies in the cinema, I will do one. They make money through viewership. People go to cinemas and make out time to watch movies. I believe it. This question should go to cinema management. They are the ones that do account.

 

The current Association of Movie Producers executive is dominated by women. Is this deliberate to give women opportunity?

 

No, it was by election. You know the late Peace Anyiam – Osuigwe was the president before she passed on and Queen Blessing Ebigieson was the vice president. After her death, Blessing took over and at the last election, we voted for Blessing. All these years, it has always been men and we decided to give them a chance.

 

Give us some of the funny experiences you had shooting movies

I have had a lot of good experiences. During the good old days of Nollywood, anybody you go to their house to shoot, they will cook and buy drinks for the cast and crew.

There’s a funny incident that happened one time.  We went to shoot a movie in Anthony village, in Lagos. The first set that went there were the executive producer, director and the producer and they went with the address and located the house.

Before we could get there, they were already drunk and dancing to the extent, the owner of the film converted an empty bottle to his drum and was beating, while others were dancing to the rhythm.

When we finally arrived, we noticed that the top echelon of the production team was already drunk, we demanded for our own drinks and joined them. That day was all about merriment. The shoot for that day was cancelled and we begged our host not to give us drink if we come back the next day, till we have finished shooting.

 

Any ugly experience with any cast or street urchins?

We do get them especially when we get to shoot at the ghetto. Anytime we go to shoot in such places, we see the king of that village, and the president general to pacify them.

Sometimes when we start shooting proper, one group will come and tell us they are the youth group. As you are finishing with them, another group is coming and after settlement, another one will come and threatened that if you don’t settle them, they will destroy your equipment.

Sometimes we end up settling up to four badges of youth groups So, we decided that any community we go to shoot, we will meet the king and ask him to direct us to the authentic youth leadership. When we settle them, we will tell them to give us like two or three of their members that will stay with us till the end of the production

 

 

Attention moved from Lagos to Asaba , Enugu and other states in the South East. Has the East taken over?

Actually, Nollywood started in Lagos and has grown over the years. We all cannot concentrate in Lagos because of the Lagos traffic and the effect. We thought of going to other places where there is less traffic.

As a film producer, I am above 55 and there are people in the east that are talented, but don’t have the opportunity to act. I was like, I have given enough to Lagos. I haven’t spent almost 30 years producing movies in Lagos and I thought I can also do that in the South east.

I am from Imo State, a proud son if Isiala Mbano. I will also need to encourage the youth from my area. That’s why I have to give back to my area just as I have given Lagos for 30 years. Moreover, we have a better shooting environment here in the east: good roads, beautiful houses, offices.

 

Have you achieved your target as a producer?

The pride of every professional is to get to the highest level and win laurels. The target is to win OSCARS and I believe I will do that in my life time. I will keep making good movies so that one day I can win OSCAR.

 

How many movies do you have to your credit now?

 

I don’t know how many movies I have done. I know I have done more than 600 movies. The ones I exclusively produced are not up to 100

 

 

What gives you joy as film maker

It’s passion that drive me into film making and any time I am on set rolling camera, I feel great. I direct as well, but I am more at home producing.

 

Which is more tasking, producing or directing?

Every job is tasking. The producer employs the director to be his boss, he is the investor, he goes out to source for funds to shoot his movie.

 

 

How do you handle some of the actors that make trouble on set?

This thing comes with age and experience. If I work with you and see that you are a difficult actor. I will accommodate your nonsense and finish my production and I will not call you again. I will tell my fellow producers that this is person is troublesome. Once you get this tag and you stop getting jobs, it’s not someone that will tell you to change your character

 

Let’s look at the cost of producing a movie for the cinemas

There’s no fixed cost for producing a movie . You can only know the cost after reading the script. Producing for a cinema is far more expensive than producing for DSTV because the quality is not the same.