Adetola Ayeni is an up and coming actress cum movie producer. Presently a nominee for the category of Best New Up and Coming Actress of the Year for a reputable award which is forthcoming, she spoke with www.theoctopusnews.com, on her career and many more.
Despite being an up and coming actress you seem to have achieved a lot, how have you managed it?
Well, all credit goes to God because as an up and coming actress, what I have achieved is what people who have been in the industry for years do. As an up and coming producer too, I have also shot a movie which is currently making waves in the industry.
How did the movie industry find you or did you find the industry?
I guess I found myself in the industry because acting has always been what I wanted to do. I even did a diploma course in Theatre Art in Lagos State University. I actually went into the industry while waiting for my degree result. Initially, it was all about finding something to do when the result came out, so I could further my education, but eventually I joined a theatre group called the Odun Ifa caucus, in Ebute Metta, Lagos State, where I got trained as an actress.
For how long did you train there?
I joined the group in October 2005, but I left them in 2007.
Why did you leave the caucus?
I had to go back to school to further my education. I went to study History and International Relations.
Why is your passion for the entertainment industry so strong, because after studying a good course you still left it for acting?
Entertainment is something that I have always wanted to do. I was 18 years old. I told myself I wanted to be like Joke Silva. Acting has been my dream from my childhood stage.
So, when you chose to further your education, why didn’t you study theatre arts, since you have
passion for acting?
The problem was that I did not return to Lagos State University.
But you could have studied the course in any other institution?
I know, but then, I had some challenges with my admission in Nigeria. I had to go and study outside the country. There, I went to North America University in Cotonou (Benue Republic) and that was where I studied History and International Relations.
Didn’t your parents consider it as a waste of time and money knowing that after History and International Relations you would still go into acting?
For them, it doesn’t matter what I do as long as I am educated. Everyone in my family has some level of education with the least being an Ordinary National Diploma. They didn’t want me to be the exception, as long as education is concern.
Is it not surprising that your parents supported you as an actress from the scratch because most parents don’t?
Well, my parents are not the type that imposes a particular profession on their children. Instead, they give support to which ever profession their children intend to go for, as long as that what would make them to achieve their dreams in life.
You have spent about eight years in the industry, what are your achievements so far?
I have been a regular face in the industry despite being an up and coming actress. I have featured in Ayekaye produced by Funke Mohammed and Florence produced by Kayode Olawale. I also acted in Kaninka Ninu Won produced by Princess Feronmi, I also feature in Oluomo Remilekun that I did with Saidi Balogun. Eta Inu and Agbefo produced by Funke Akindele, these were two movies that I acted in, that really inspired me. I have acted in many movies, but these were the ones that create avenue for me to known in the industry.
Let me take you back a little, people said that this caucus (Odun Ifa) is a playing ground where young girls are taking advantage of in the name of acting, what is your respond to this?
I was also told the same story before I joined caucus, but when I got there what I discovered was different. Nothing like that happened to me. I went there and I left and even when I came back in 2010, and I told them I wanted to produce a movie and asked if they could give me their certificate to prevent people embarrassing me in locations during production. They gave me the necessary assistant I needed . So, it is not what people insinuate. About the place being a ground for exploiting young girls well, the duo of Ogogo and Tunji are the leaders of the caucus, but they don’t even come there that much. Sunny Ali and Lekan Oropo, are the one who coordinate everything there.
Are you saying you did not graduate before getting your certificate as an actress and producer?
I graduated.
But you just said when you returned you asked to be given a certificate, is that not what you mean?
Yes, but I did the graduation with those who got admitted into the caucus the same time with me.
How many years does it take to study the course and how many years did you spend with the caucus?
The course is for three years, but I spent two years with them.
So, you are saying all through your training days nobody approached you to warm their bed?
There are different strokes for different folks. I knew what I went to do there. Apart from the Odun Ifa caucus, there are some girls that do not come for training and rehearsal, but they want to be a movie star. These set of girls can be treated anyhow. But if you know your mission of joining them and you determine to fulfill this mission. I don’t think anybody would stop you from accomplishing this mission.
So, are you saying that you have a mission of joining them?
Definitely and the sky is my limit.
Tell us about your debut production titled Agbelebu Mi, how did you manage the feat?
The movie is a family story. It is about knowing who you are, dealing with them in terms of your partner in any relationship. It was premiere last year, released two months ago and the reports I am getting from fans and those in the movie marketing business have been remarkable. For an up and coming actress and producer to get such comments, is a good score for my dossier. I hope to do more as I progress in my profession.
How is it that you were telling a storyline that you have never experienced?
I believe in inspiration. The experiences I have also got from people who are older than me, couple with what I have seen in my family and a true life story that heard from people, were all the materials that guided me during the script writing process.
You had a lot of people with high profile in the movie industry that acted in your movie, where did you get the money to pay them?
Well, I have an investor who happens to be my Executive Producer.
Who is the person?
He is not in the movie. He is just a friend. I met him and told him about the script, that how he sponsored the movie.
What was the relationship between you and your executive producer before you presented the script to him?
He is like an uncle to me. He is a big uncle.
First movie done and accepted, when are you hitting the location for the next one, because producers are always in a rush to release movies?
I will be hitting location for my next movie later this year, but most likely in August. I hope to be done with it by December and depending on how long I want to promote it before releasing it to the public. It might be next year before my fans get to watch another movie produced by me. My last movie was promoted for about a year.
What is the new movie going to look like?
Basically, it is about a father who does not allow his children to reside outside his estate even after they get married because he has used them for rituals, the day any of his children park out of his house would be the beginning of his doom.
You have just been nominated as the new up and coming actress in a forthcoming award, what do you think motivated this?
First, it would be God’s doing, then we have to consider those things put together to get the work done. I think these factors must have motivated my nomination.
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