The Zack Orji Interview Part III (final)

Which are your all time favorite foreign and African Films?

a. Guess who’s coming to Dinner
b. The Good The Bad and The Ugly
c. Sound of Music
d. Sarafina
e. The Unforgiven Sin
f. Tenterhooks
g. Web
h. Return To Kazondia
i. Games Women Play
j. All my Life

What is your take on Films made on celluloid and Filmmakers like Sembene Ousmane or Basek Bakobio?

Nothing compares to the big screen. It is awesome, it captivates and it is the ultimate created world. My recollections of the big screen, watching movies like “The Good, the bad and the Ugly”, in my very early teens, are still very much vivid. Celluloid gives you the “feel” of the big screen.

However, recent breakthroughs in digital technology have given birth to digital video cameras with very high definition. You can shoot your films with these high definition cameras and watch them on wide screens, enjoying the same picture resolutions.

George Lucas used such high def cameras and said “I will never shoot another film on film”. Filmmakers like Sembene Ousmane or Basek Bakobio are torchbearers who have inspired a lot of Africans and people of black descent. They have made indelible marks and therefore occupy a pride of place. However, we must strive to traverse their footprints and leave something behind, in order to build up on their foundations.

Have you thought about attending FESPACO in Ouagadougou?

I have thought about attending FESPACO, but I have not made any deliberate efforts to do so. Frankly, I’ve been rather busy acting, acting and acting, and sometimes producing and directing, combining these with my memberships of various bodies in the industry.

However, I would love to attend the next one. When my colleagues who will attend the current one return, I will discuss with them.

Since the Nigerian industry is so amorphous, is there any formal or informal classification system to separate “the professionals” from the “adventurers” ?

Our Industry is not so amorphous. Nigeria is a multicultural/ethnic society with multiple languages. There are three major tribes – Hausa, Igbo & Yoruba. The movies we produce are mostly in English and these three languages. You will see some of these films on DSTV’s Africa Magic screen. The Hausa filmmakers have an association governing them, likewise the Igbo and Yoruba film makers.

Some of us came into limelight doing films in our native languages. In the English-speaking sector, there are seven guilds –

The Actors’ Guild of Nigeria
The Directors’ Guild of Nigeria
The Association of Movie Producers
The Screen Writers’ Guild
The Creative Designers’ Guild
The Nigerian Society of Editors
The Nigerian Society of Cinematographers

There is another body governing those in marketing and distribution, another body for those in TV productions, another for those in Radio and so forth and so on. Each association has certain preconditions for eligibility to apply, screening processes to go through, training programs, etc.

The industry welcomes every body. Come as you are. Some enter as professionals; some learn on the job, some gain experience while working.

Thank You Zack and Merci Beaucoup!


[Posted with ecto]

Comments

[Nehneh]

Hello please,You are wounderful Zack,it is said never judge a book from the cover,i judged u but u did not fail me,though u dissappointed me in Official Romance.Well that is a srcipt,and not ur xter,i was happty to u see u in Cameroon,thanks your fan.

[maximus]

hi mr orji!!
sometimes when i watch u act i begin to wonder if u are acting ur person.this is because u occupy similar roles.it gives me the impression that in ur life u are a loving husband, tender father and a very patient man.

i will also like to know what it takes to get into the film industry .you are my source of inspiration.

[samuel]

hi,
i,m samuel from nigeria , a native of enugu state .
imn a young man of 27 years of age.
pls , i,m interested to join and art movie with this organisation , i,m talented in movie acting, both drama , modelling , i,m avilable for that .
pls conside and connect me to come over and join in full with your movie industry , i promise not to fall this organisation , i will render the best of my service to this movie industry .
pls , call me viz on 08038797671 , i,m nowe in owerri imo state .
i look forward to hear from you soon .
thamk,s
samuel.

[liz]

Looking for someone in the united states to be in your next film?? email me maybe we have something to talk about

[mariam]

hi zack my name is mariam and i live in usa with my familly i just want to tell you that iam a big fan of you i been watching lot of your movies and i think you are one of the best actor in nollywood i call you my hollywood denzel washington because you too good to be true i am going to stop here by wishing you the best in your acting and in your lifeby

[mariam]

hi zack my name is mariam and i live in usa with my familly i just want to tell you that iam a big fan of you i been watching lot of your movies and i think you are one of the best actor in nollywood i call you my hollywood denzel washington because you too good to be true i am going to stop here by wishing you the best in your acting and in your lifeby

[Eka]

Hi Mr Z, this is Eka from Cameroon.met u during ur stay here. ah love this site and ah thought ah'd use the opportunity to let u know how much ah love and admire ur work and ur personality. u got perspective, drive, determination and above all, u got real talent, that's what really counts in this biz u know.hey, and u're real good-looking to boot! pls ah want u to extend ma warmest regards to ur family.hey, how's Mr E(Emma Ayalogu) doing? a shout out to him(and his wife too) for me, pls. pls ah'd like u to get in touch coz ah got a request to ask of u.Peace,Eka.

[menisa sesay]

i am a great fan of yours mr.zack ,i met u when u were in sierra leone.i appreciate every seconds of me watching your movies.i am now in england and admire u so much,sometimes i wish u were my dad.love ya peace.waiting for your reply

[Abraham Williams]

POVERTY IN DIAMOND LAND,(an African Movie Project) is a dynamic movie on Corruption, Bad Governance and Poverty in Africa; adapted from the Sierra Leone corruption saga and syndrome.
Can you produce this social crusade?
Written in english and french, by me.

[aminata]

zack is a great actor the time i use to like zack was in evil men and so he's my fan i real like him and i like hi wife too i heard she too is an actress how cute and their daughter is very pretty go zack ur the bomb

[aminata]

hi zack i forgot to tell u my info well my name is aminata bangura i was born in west africa (sierra leone) but now i live in australia i am 15 now and i am in yr 10 i really like ur personalities keep it up.

[Emmanuel Dartey]

Infact you are one of the best actors in Africa. Please keep it up. But there are no photographs of your wife and children on your web site.

Emmanuel, Ghana

[stephen]

Hellow mr.Z,
you are the real man i have seen in Nigerian movies. you always act as if are doing it in a reality.

please, keep it on.

thank you.

[aminata bah]

hi zack i like your movies very
much expecial the one games women play i love the way u react with your secretait my name is aminata bah i love in the gambia, am supreise to hear u are marry anyway keep it up. course you realy show you are responsible in games women play, i would like to know your wife and chilren and saw their picture, may good blessed u

[beda msimbe]

Man, Iam writing from Dar es salaam Tanzania, East Africa. You are amazing. I Like the way you presented yourself in:
Deadly Passion,Ungrateful,Hour of Grace ,True Confession and Evil Men to mention the few. Besides conglatulation, I wish You success

[Yobo Daniel]

greetings to you Mr ORJI. i am a ghanian living in south africa but of permanent resident in Cameroon. just wanting to say that keep up with the fabulous acting. nice knowing you. cheerio

[Edithmary]

Hi, i don't care what people say. You are doing great, keep up the good work. God will bless you in anything you are doing. And nave give up.
God Bless.
You can act really good. Keep it up.

[MONICA DAVIES]

Dear Bros Orji,
You are a wonderful and matured actor. i have been always watching your movies and each time when i watched your movies and you have never failed me. the way you interpret your roles are so excellent. I am one of your fans in the Gambia and my name is monica davies. keep the good momentum. but i will be more happy if you really could come to the gambia to shot film/bring Nollywood to Gambia (HAHAHA) like what you did in Cameroon, Uganda (If i am right) and also Sierraleone and Ghana. i would like to know you and your family to be a family friend i also love to act though here in the gambia we don't have an acting school but people here are so ambicious. i acted with VINASHA PRODUCTIONS in 2003 (BANJUL COBS) it is being aired in Magic Movie/African Magic. i would love to contiune acting.

bye
god bless you and your family and my warm greetings to Ngozi Orji.
monica davies
002207065411

[Chioma]

Hi Zach, you are one of the few actors I admire especially the way you handle women in films.I am convinced that apart from acting you possess that quality in real life. You always play the role of a caring husband and father too you share that very character with my hsuband and I like you for that and pray that God should help you aspire in your career.

[MONICA DAVIES]

How are you doing and work? Guess fine? You are such a talented actor each time I watch a movie of yours I most send a message to you.my greetings to all your From your Gambian Fan Monica Davies

[regina Adeleye]

too bad i don't speak french fluenetly like you do...i would have been glad be in nollywood with you shooting a film in france.well to bad but still i can tell you now that you are my best nigerian actor. i really love your movies...if you are looking for someone pliz am here...i wanna be a superstar just like you lol. this is not a joke...am 100% serious 'bout it!

[noelle]

Hie Zack, this is Noelle Lusungu Nyirenda from Blantyre, Malawi. You are one of the best actors Africa has ever produced. I like the way you handle crucial issues and I guess you do the same in your family. I like everything about you.
Best of Luck.
Your Fan.

[Max A Joseph Jr]

It is all the more interesting that you speak French, which I spoke, since I am from Haiti. You are undeniably the most dapper of all Africans I've in real life and movies, and indeed a very good actor. My wife and I are big fans of yours and we salute you.

Max and Judith

[jane ackah]

Hi Zack,

I was recently introduced to Nigerian filmns and you have quickly evolved into one on my favourite actors. I once told the lady from whom I rent be sure to give me filmns that has your face on it..[smile]. Here in the Caribbean I fear though that what we get is the pirated versions of the filmns, So whatever your league could do to avoid this would be good, since this practice can only do much ill to your industry. Perhaps the relevant personnel should seek to identify authentic vendors of the products in this part of the world.
Anyways....I wish you well.
[Jamaican in Antigua]

[leona]

i'm leona from liberia, i'm one of ur best fans. hope u visit liberia soon.i do love the sound of ur voice(smile)