Okpioba Amb. Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen is unarguably the first Nigeria filmmaker to be a guest in The Screening Room, CNN's monthly movie show that brings the inside track of all aspects of the movie business around the globe. He is a renowned film director, screenwriter and producer, best known as one of the founding figures of the Nigerian film industry who has spent 26 years of his life making stars and bringing happiness to many homes across Africa and beyond.
He is one of the foremost to champion the exposition of Nollywood to the world, In a country of over 200,000,000 two hundred million people he was found worthy among the 60 recognized Icons that shapened the entire movie industry, providing jobs for millions of people.
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| First on the left is the deputy governor of Edo state hosting Amb. Lancelot Imasuen on his 50th birthday |
Lancelot and his achievements has been repeatedly honored all over the world. Recently, the drums were rolled out to celebrate the Icon, Following the numerous accolades he has garnered from different quarters since he made his directorial debut in Nollywood, Lancelot’s 2 months-long celebration of his 50th birthday was no less a testament to his true worth and greatness as a foremost film maker from the Benin race.
Over the years, the ‘Guvnor’ as he’s fondly called by his colleagues and fans has produced classical films that not only drew from the rich repertory of Benin culture, imagery, music and dance but such that stressed the need for the sustenance of our culture and dying indigenous languages.
The quintessential film maker is known to be the rallying point for the propagation of the customs and traditions of the Benin race using the instrumentality of motion pictures. As a matter of fact, his epic films including 2014 “Invasion 1897” and “Adesuwa” produced in 2012, are still being held in high esteem as a reference point in most institutions of higher learning and cultural establishments across the globe.
Ans- My names are Okpioba Amb. Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, I was born in a village near Benin City called Urhokosa village, I was not born in the hospital, I was born at home so there was no hospital record of my birth because my parents went for an emergency visit and my birth was not planned. I was told much later in life that I was born on June 20th 1971, I did not live with my parents, I was taken to an aunt when I was 4yrs old and when I was starting secondary school I was registered with July 27th and all my documents including my international passport carried July 27th until recently my dad called and said no, this is your actual birth date. That is why I marked my 50th birthday so elaborately using my real birthdate. I am explicitly explaining this for the first time I’m granting an interview.
I attended my primary and secondary school in Benin City
before I proceeded to the University of Port Harcourt where I had a
professional certificate in Theatre Art and I proceeded to Lagos to start my
film practice, but before then I have been involved in Theatre practice, radio,
television extensively. So I was already practicing professionally before I went
to school. When I came to Lagos I was fortunate to secure a job with Nigeria
Television Authority NTA as a production assistant on contract where I met great men in the
industry, the likes of Enebeli Elebuwa, late Sodiq Dabar, Mallam Danladi Bako and Last Eguavoen, They are quite a number of people that
shaped my career and since I got into the industry there has been no regret. I got
into the industry professionally in 1995 and I made my first film in Igbo
language titled ‘Adaku’. Adaku was my first movie production as a full time
director, since then there has not been any looking back 26yrs down the line
with over 250-350 movie titles on record.
Q- What are the roadblocks you faced when you were starting?
Ans- Naturally I’m from Benin, minority, minority. Like you
heard my first film was in Igbo language, you can imagine what it will take to
convince an Igbo man who is the executive producer of the film that I can
direct it when I did not understand Igbo language. So convincing them was a
challenge. When others who strived were organically in the business, when the
Igbos and Yorubas were putting 10, I should put in 30 to be able to break even
and convince them that I’ve got the capacity. So that on its own was a
challenge.
I was told by an Igbo executive producer that, Lancelot if
you were an Igbo man you for nor fit de count your money. He told me to my
face.
It was a challenge but we surmounted all that, letting our
creativity speak for us and its indeed speaking loudly for us.
Q- What is your greatest achievement till date?
Ans- Whenever I’m asked this question I say thank God I am
alive. So my greatest achievement is being alive. When there is life there is
hope but like I said I’m from the minority, minority. It is to the glory of God
that we are able to grow to where we are in the industry.
I remember being the first Nigeria filmmaker to feature on CNN as a guest in The Screening Room. My work projected me to that level. I was among the very first to champion the exposition of Nollywood to the world. I have shot in Hollywood as far back in 2006, I have shot in Germany, Italy, Ghana, Holland in the cause of doing this job. I have shot in America, Canada, United Kingdom, so these are landmark achievements. Again not trying to play down on the Institutions here, I am fortunate to have been made one of the 60 Icons that have shapened the entire Nigeria movie industry in the 60yrs of Nigeria's existence. The 60 icons that shaped the film and video Industry was initiated by the National film and video censors board NFVCB. In a country of over 200,000,000 two hundred million people I was found worthy among the 60 recognized that has shapened the entire movie industry, providing jobs for millions of people. These are great achievements.
I have used the instrumentality of my virtue as a filmmaker to champion where I came from, championed the sustainability of our language, I have used my work to project my rich cultural heritage.
Q- How do you come up with your movie ideas?
Ans- From the society, the society that I am part of. My motto is "Reeling For Change". The instrumentality of motion pictures cannot be underestimated in the total development of a society, the lack of it means blindness. So movies is encompassing of entertainment, education and information. So because I am part of the society and my core job is to mirror the society I see myself as a mirror in viewing the society, because I'm part of it from there I bring out my films that shapes the society so I must first see the society very well, be part of it and bring out films that will shape the society. Be it in my gospel movies, because I also have a gospel entertainment company through which I use the instrumentality of motion pictures to advance the gospel. I make socially relevant works that will stand the test of time.
There is this movie I made 'Open Heavens'. Someone came to look for me to say after watching the movie she so believed in what happened in the film and she prayed with her hands on the television screen and that ended 11yrs of barrenness. So you can see that from the society people testify about the positive impact of our movies.
My film 'Invasion 1897 exposed the heinous crime committed against my people by the British. It was from the film that people got to know that the Binis' were not at fault after all. So I don't just make movies because I want to make movies, I make movies because I want to affect some aspect of the society. What I see that are wrong about my society I talk about it, document them, and most times proffer solutions.
Before the Endsars protest that happened not long ago, I had made a movie in the year 2004 titled African Heroes. It was about police brutality and police doing the right thing.
I also made a movie with The Nigeria Police titled 'Beyond your sight'. We were privileged to go through police files and we saw some unbelievable crimes that the police unearthed. So I can confidently say that The Nigeria Police is not as terrible as they are painted to be, they do some good job in the environment. So generally my environment motivates me to what kind of story I want to tell at one point in time or the other.
Q- Tell me about your next project.
Ans- My next project that I'm working on right now is titled 'Gbege'. Gbege the Omodion saga. It's a very sweet story about our tradition, about burial rite. Igbo people say, who get money make him bury papa, nor be the first son kill am. The conflict associated with burial is in all tribes.
However, the duties of the first son cannot be undermined in the burial of his late father. Gbege is unbelievable carrying Sam Sidney, Ebele Okaro, Harry B Anyanwu, Broda Shaggi, Zubby Micheal Junior Pope, Nosa Rex, Ini Edo, Charles Inojie, Mercy Aaigbe. It's a very sad and tough film, a story that will blow everybody's heart. We must find a way of entrenching our tradition, so that is what we are working on right now, Gbege!
Q- As a very successful filmmaker who has discovered so many talents what advice would you give to unsuccessful filmmakers who are still struggling with their career?
Ans- Everybody struggles! We are all struggling, I'm I not struggling? It's about focus I tell people, desperation and determination are at variance. People mistake desperation for determination that's what I observed about today's youth. You have to be determined about whatever you want to do. Today, with the advent of social media people are finding fame.
It is not about the passion for what you want to do it's about faith, it's about money. When we started there was non of such, we knew what we wanted, how it works and how we want to address ourselves but we have lost all that right now.
My advise strongly is that people should redefine their parts to determine where they want to be, then why do you want to be there? Is it just for the fame? Fame found me I did'nt go out looking for fame. People are surprised, they ask me, you are not an actor how come you are so famous? People have seen my works and they are so intrigued and they started looking for the face behind the name. So when I marked my 50th birthday people were saying, no Lancelot you cannot be 50 you look younger than 50 and your fame is bigger than 50.
Don’t go looking for fame, fame will look for you. Work, find your
path, find your area of capacity, your God giving area and take it up from
there fame will locate you.
Q- I’m personally surprised to hear that you are 50 already,
what is the secret of your youthfulness?
Ans- I’m at peace with myself, I’m not fighting anybody, I’m
just doing my thing. I love the part I choose for myself and God has been
gracious.
Q- You represented Nollywood filmmakers on Tuesday 27th
of July at the Creative Industry Festival Press Conference, what do you think
about the up coming event?
Ans- Great idea, great innovation, great initiative. I pray
God that he grants us the grace to carry it through because it’s a big one,
it’s huge I just pray God that people buy it because it’s going to be massive.
I’m believing God that he give us the strength to carry through.
Q- What do you have to say to haters?
Ans- Well ordinarily, the miracle of sleeping and waking up attracts hates and haters. Drinking ordinary Fanta, Coca-cola or even water will bring haters around you, you see people castigating you. Look at the way he is drinking water, see the way he positioned his mouth, is he the first to drink Fanta? So there is
nothing you do in this world that will not attract negative minds. So what will you do? Will you stop drinking your water? Just ignore them and keep doing what you are doing. The important thing is that you know what you want to achieve, so go about it and achieve it.
Q-At the CIFEST Press Conference on Tuesday the MC Koffi mentioned that you are the only
filmmaker that ever went to Benin City to shoot movies and featured real witches
in your movies and got away with it. What is your secret?
Ans- I want to take that as a joke from the comedian Koffi, but for the record let's just be honest. our business is a spiritual business. You can not attain the level we are in this business without being spiritually conscious, but try as much as possible not to be negative. I’m
a Christian, people ask me all the time, what’s your
secret? Which native doctor is working for you? I just look at them and laugh. I have
never thought of that all my life, I’m called to do what I'm doing. So when you
are called by God, if he is the one that has chosen you he will guide you, protect you and take you to the destination he
wants you to get to because he needs you as a vessel to accomplish certain
things in life. So I don’t believe in juju, I don’t believe in witchcraft, I don't believe in all those things, but do they exist? Yes they exist, I know, but for me Amb. Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, I do not have anything to do with them. I do my things with implicit faith in God.
When I made 'Invasion 1897' people came asking me, how did you
do this? People that attempted it before got sick. It’s been 9yrs now and it keep taking me from glory to glory, not anything negative.
I think it’s the mind, people must remake their minds. The
greatest challenge we are having is our mind. When people begin to renew their
minds, clean their minds, flush their minds and carry no ills against anybody, then nobody can stop them.
Q- Apart from film making, is there any other thing you do?
Ans- I have never done any other thing apart from this job.
Q- What’s your advise to upcoming
producers?
Ans- It’s work! Keep working, the secre
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