Jide Kosoko, President of the Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners, ANTP, tells YEWANDE SONTAN about the reforms aimed at improving the quality of Yoruba films
Q: How have you managed to combine acting and the presidency of the Association of Nigerian Theatre Practictioners, ANTP?
A: It has been tough. But I thank Almighty God for the fact that I am coping.
Q: How would you describe the ANTP before you became the president?
A: Before I became president of the ANTP, the largest organisation of actors in this country, things were not bad and when I came in, I introduced some reforms. I am a man that loves perfection. I want a situation whereby everybody is trained, and even if you are fortunate to have entered the industry, you need to attend capacity building programmes to update yourself and become a professional. But anybody that is unwilling to develop him/herself is my enemy. So, I can conveniently tell you that things are changing. Go and check the quality of our production now, you’ll see that it is improving.
Q: When you introduced your reforms, some youths kicked against it and some of them left the association. Why did you decide to introduce the reforms?
A: Anywhere there is reform, you would see people deserting, especially in a situation whereby some people have been reaping from a very bad system. And wherever there is positive change, you must expect some reaction. You can see what is even happening in the National Film and Video Censors’ Board, NFVCB, where attempts are being made to give us a distribution framework and some people are going against such. But I am happy that a majority [of ANTP members] learnt on time and they are back.
Q: You said the quality of production has improved, but some people say that the production quality of Yoruba films is lower than their English counterparts.
A: I disagree with that. What is the quality of a good film production? When you talk of the depth and quality of stories, we have them; and technically as well as in directing, we are there. We also follow the ethics of the profession. I disagree with whoever says English film production is better. That is not correct.
Q: What about the subtitling?
A: Now you are talking. We have problem in the subtitling. That is one of the things we ironed out today. We have now formed a guild purposely to monitor subtitles, to ensure that they are correct and meaningful. And we have even started discussing with some people outside the industry. Even some lecturers have volunteered to be part of it. I am sure we are getting there.
Q: Is ANTP part of Nollywood?
A: What is Nollywood? The film industry in Nigeria is what is called Nollywood. Even if one is not happy with the name Nollywood, which I consider as Nothingwood, this is what we have been and are currently known as. And as such, there is no problem claiming to be Nollywood indigenous language film producers.
Q: Do you have issues with the name Nollywood?
A: This is not a matter for now; it is a matter for future public discussion.
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