EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR/WRITER UBONG BASSEY NYA.

Ubong Bassey Nya

 Ubong Bassey Nya is a theater arts graduate of University of Calabar. The Nollywood Director and Writer opened up on his view on Nollywood in an exclusive interview with us.
Read below......


Writers are not very appreciated in Nollywood, why do you think this is so?
 Most of our producers don't yet understand the place of the screenplay. They are yet to understand the script as being the foundation on which everything else in the movie making process sits. There are too many quick fix executive producers, producers, directors these  days that are ready to experiment with anything in the guise of movie scripts, believing that with luck these movies would do well in the market. These class of people don't have the slightest idea of what a movie script should look like so they can't tell the difference between a good and a bad writer. Their only consideration is cheap price. Every other thing is left to the element of luck and there are so many cheap writers everywhere. But the serious and professional film makers who understand the importance of script in the business, know from whom and where to go to for movie scripts.

We also know that most writers finally become directors and most Nollywood directors write their own scripts, what are the limitations and benefits of this arrangement?
That might appear to be the trend. But let me start by saying that because you are a good writer doesn't necessarily mean you are the best person to direct your scripts. Its true that a lot of times, as a writer you find your story not given the dept of interpretation as conceived. That can be frustrating as such that a writer finds himself wanting to personally see to the materialization of his original concept. This can be a double edge sword. The advantage is that if you are a good director, you are in a good position to give your script the best interpretation it deserves, thus giving you the needed personal satisfaction. Also in an industry where scriptwriters are hardly appreciated, becoming a director also ensures a stable reasonable income. On the other hand, this arrangement can become a big disadvantage to the industry and the individual. Like I said in my opening, good writing doesn't necessarily translate to good directing. Directing is a highly technical department. You can be naturally creative (of course you must be) but you must be trained in the technical skills of the job because it is the only department that one needs to be a master in every other aspects of the process. A director has no second chance because the bulk stops at your "call". So a good writer who is not technically sound would find himself even messing up his own script worse than a trained director can ever do. Sometimes, it is better for some other creative mind to interpret your story. You may find it more enriched with the blending of his creative perspective. A final point of note is that a director must to a great extent, be an intellectual. He must have a high level of perception on virtually every facet of life.

How many movies have you written and directed?
Well, I have written far more than I have directed. I started to screenplay formally in 2003. Between then and now, I have written about 20-30 movies (published). Along the line, if I include my current project, I would have directed 11 movies till date.

Which of your movies has been the most challenging?
 All! Every movie comes with its peculiar challenges. You get to work with different cast and crew at different points in time and as a director, managing these individuals with different idiosyncrasies can really be tough. Coupled with the limited resources available for the packaging of all these together. I however find it all exciting. Exhilarating I must say.

Ubong Bassey Nya

How do you feel about the new Nollywood as against what we had in times past?
For me, there is nothing like new or old Nollywood. Ours is an evolving industry. Our storylines have evolved from good to better, to best, to bad again, and right now, its transiting back to the better lane. What greatly stands out today though is the quality of our pictures and cuts. The technologies are getting upgraded and practitioners also acquiring skills and technical upgrades through trainings. Sadly though, the bulk of our productions still leave much to be desired. The biggest nemesis right now are impatience and poor budgets. Producers want to shoot a four part movies in seven days with total budgets hardly fit to higher equipment (again, the miracle mentality). The results can only be wishy-washy productions. Even with the best of equipment. Our people just have to understand that movie making is a process. Time consuming and financially demanding. And like I always say, it can never be an all comers affair. It is only natural that the chaffs get separated from the wheat like we often see every day.


Which of your movies do you think has been the most successful and why do you think so?
 By God's grace, all my movies have been very successful and well accepted by the public. But if we look in terms of acclaim and popularity, "Blackberry Babes" automatically rings a bell. Perhaps I can attribute it to the title and the blackberry phenomenon. It was an apt story to satirise the craze on the use of blackberry phones in Nigeria. for me personally, that movie ranks in the list of my favourite of all my jobs.

Who is your inspiration and who do you look up to in the industry?

On set with Angela Okorie

 My number one inspiration of course is God. I do have a good number of influences I so much respect in Nollywood. First on the list would be Adim Williams. The man who unfolded me like a tender flower in the movie industry. Adim Williams taught me most of the things that helped build my early career as a movie maker. Uncle Tunde Kelani is a great mentor. Though I've not ever met him in person, I have seen most of his works. He is a great inspiration. Sylvester Obadigie (Simony Productions), a wonderful producer in a class of his own. Elvis Chuks, Afam Okereke, Ikechukwu Onyeka are great men who have all left great marks on my career as a film maker. As for looking up to anybody aside from God Almighty, that person would have to be Steven Spielberg. I aspire to achieve even more than he has been able to achieve in Hollywood.
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What do you want to achieve most in the industry and what legacy do you want to leave?
I want to contribute my best to the growth of the Nigerian movie industry. I desire to help raise a standard that will make our industry an enviable reference point. I am currently working on raising a new crop of talents. Not in the form of the now proliferated, fraudulently corrupt talent hunt shows. I'm simply going back to the good old days of proper auditioning before a project. My target is to grow talents in the discipline of the profession. Artistes and crew who can understand the core values of being true professionals. That is what is fast eroding our industry and I hope to help check it.

What do you want to tell those who are hoping to come in.
Desperation is the number one bane of the industry's newcomers. People are too focused on short cuts to the top thus opening themselves up for abuse and self devalue. Like I always say, there are no short cuts to stardom. Every achiever one finds in the industry all paid their dues and rose from the ranks. My advise to aspiring movie makers is to first get the relevant education. Equip yourself with the necessary skills and technical know-how. Be ready to work hard and persevere without compromising your values. Very importantly, take time out to research on each and every practitioner you may wish to contact for assistance so as not to fall into the wrong hands. There are so many fraudsters out there claiming to be people they are not. Fire up your dreams and don't allow anyone put you down.

You heard him, and this goes to everybody in this field, Work hard and persevere so you don't compromise your values.