By Agatha Emeadi
Ogochukwu Ekezie recently launched her Bright Sand Studios.
The president, CEO and founder of the new firm stormed the entertainment industry from the corporate world where she served as the chief brand and marketing officer of Union Bank.
She equally worked at ARM Investment and City Bank as the public affairs officer for Nigeria and Ghana, before quitting to begin cinema, movie and film making.
Ekezie who has a degree in journalism and criminology and is an alumnus of the Harvard business school returned from the Untied States of America.
In this interview with Sunday Sun, she talked about her foray into the entertainment industry, saying “I always wanted to be in this space. In fact, I told my parents that I want to set up new cinemas, film, movie theatre.
One would think that attaining corporate executive heights was what a lady needed. Why did you resign from mouth-watering jobs to join the entertainment industry?
Well, I always thought I wanted to be in this space. I feel this is the right time for me to execute this dream and vision I had for over two decades now. So, Bright Sand Studios is taking a chance for this passion I have for a while, which has actually turned into a reality. In growing up, whenever I am asked what I want to do different; I will always say Hollywood. For the most part of my young life, I was going to watch movies from theatre to theatre, watching films. I went the professional route for a while. Then given back to Nigeria many years ago, the industry was not as formed as it is today. I also think that coming into this industry, there is a lot going on. I believe that Nigerians have a lot of stories to tell that we have not told. I also think the time is right for us to start telling those stories. Nollywood have been making films over the years and technology is changing, the way we consume entertainment is also changing as well. Fundamentally for me, I want to be able to tell our story very well to transcend borders and barriers. In Nollywood, we struggle to maintain the authenticity, delivering and executing our stories in a real essence of who they are. Hopefully, that is what I will do to tell our stories well, so when people watch our movies, they will surely connect. The big question is, today are we producing the kind of work that can be watched by our children? Can the movies we produce today stand the test of time.? A lot of my favourite movies as a child is what I can go back and watch. But a lot of them are not Nollywood and Hollywood stories. Hopefully we can get to a point where we will make movies that can stand the test of time.
Your parents would think you have settled in your career, how did they feel when you hinted them about your new found love?
After studying and worked briefly in America; when I told my parents that I will move back to Nigeria to set up new cinemas/movie theatre. True Nigerian parents, they told me nobody watches movies in Nigeria. Therefore, when I started doing my research, I discovered a lot of distribution companies and we were in talks already. After six months that I moved back to Nigeria, Silver Bird Cinemas opened and I told my parents, ‘You said no one watches movies in Nigeria.’ But this has been a direction of where I am going in terms of making films because I am a great lover of films. Obviously, a lot has changed, we have more global performances now. In terms of distribution, having access has become a lot easier unlike the days when Alaba International Market distributors dominated and controlled the industry. Now, we have a more structured environment to operate on. I like an industry that is a bit more structured. So, I always give kudos to the industry people that have built it to get to where we are today because without their journey and sweat, I will not be able to achieve this dream of mine today.
Your first debut film is ‘Were’ (Mad person). How did it happen?
Well, ‘Were’ is an interesting movie. I met my writing partner in 2003 and we started working together and she shared a few short stories which was culled from under the bridge; we just created a short film around it. The director said that when she drives around Ojota bridge, she used to see a mentally deranged woman that used to be there and for some reason the woman was no longer there. She then created the whole life and character of who she was to be, her character and how she ended on the street. So, that was the background of how the story was created. Therefore, the story of ‘Were’ was that of a mentally ill woman who lived on top of Ojota bridge and relies on the generosity of the stranger to feed herself and when that stranger disappears, she then comes out of her shack and go mingle with the world. In the three days she had to fend for herself, one will see a series of things happen to her which do not end well. What we plan to do with this film is to get people really think. We are very used to seeing mad people without batting an eye on them. After this film, people will think about the humanity in others, and what led them to end up on the street. These mad people that are called ‘Were’, but when one looks at the action of the people in the film, they now know who the real ‘Were’ is. Of all the people in the film, she is the only person that acts like a complete human being.
How did you manage the street urchins at Ojota while shooting?
Honestly, the area boys became our family and we shot all night until the wee hours of the morning. Though it was a crazy place, but not as crazy as we think. It was an exciting experience as well. We had no issue within the two days. We wanted the sound of Ojota to be part of the film and we got it.
How was the experience?
Part of what I want to do coming from a different background is to test some of these ideas that I have. In essence confirm it was just a short 23-minutes film. It was a labour of love which was self-funded.
Is the movie out?
No, we have just premiered, it is not out yet. It is going through the festival circuit, so we have submitted to a lot of festivals across the world. It has already been accepted at the New York African Film festival and hoping to get more acceptances.
Now, what is the feeling of your parents with the movie?
My parents were not at the premier because they are not in town; but my mother would frequently ask me what am I really doing? Maybe when they see the film, my parents will know me better.
What were the challenges?
One will always encounter casts and crew who will tell how to do it when you want it the other way round. Being able to make sure we execute the production was the key.
What advice would you give to upcoming film makers?
Do your planning before you take off.