Good Movie Must Teach Moral, Values – Kehinde Adeyemi
Kehinde Adeyemi is a Nollywood actor, Movie Producer and Production Manager with decades of experience in the movie industry. In this interview with KAZEEM AWOJOODU, he x-rayed many challenges facing actors and producers in Nigeria among others. Excerpts.
How do you venture into Movie Industry?
My name is Kehinde Adeyemi, I am an actor, producer and production manager. I think I always wanted to do some forms of entertainment most especially acting since I was young by watching TV series 70’s and I always love to act when watching a brother from the same town, Yinka Quadri as Fagbamila then.
What influenced your decision to become an actor?
I belong to Odunfa theater group which comprises of Yinka Quadri, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo and Abbey Lanre told us to try and pick one behind the scene work while I decide to choose production manager. Then Bakky Adeoye used to be our PM and I kept watching him. Since then, I have been working as production manager even with awards that back it up.
How did you feel the first time you performed on a movie set as a production manager?
When you learn and listen with God’s support, you won’t have any problem because my first day on set didn’t give me problem. This is because I’m a fast learner. That time, Baba Suwe was on that set and with people like him you will learn fast on the job because these are great actors on set. May his soul continue to rest in perfect peace.
What movie brought you into the limelight?
As an actor, the first movie is Aminah Eleha, changed to Afomo by Jide Kosoko, I won’t forget that day when Uncle Jide said ‘Kenny O ya come and do this for me.’ Since then, I love acting police role in a movie because it gives me joy when doing it. As an actor, all roles need to be done well but me I like playing police in a movie than other roles.
What challenges did you face on your journey as a film producer?
As a producer, we face different challenges when working either by rain, equipment or casts. But I thank God for everything. It has come to past because producing good movies is not an easy task. Firstly, I see good story line as a foundation and other things follow.
We producers are more like Alfa or Pastor that preaches. The way we do ours is by putting it on screen for people to learn. Any movie you watch and you don’t learn from it is not a good movie. A good movie must teach moral and add value. We cope and overcome by making proper planning because film making needs proper planning because failure to plan well will lead to absolute failure. Though, anything can happen even if you plan well but with God, all things are possible.
How were you able to cope and overcome them?
As an actor, while praying for stardom to come, also pray for money to follow because going out as a Nollywood star is not an easy task. Even while shooting on location, area boys will come to ask for money. It is the reality, not to talk of going out, as they see you. They expect you to give them money and if you don’t give them money, wahala. You will not like yourself; these are your fans. So, we understand them. Our prayer is that God should give us money.
Your advise to up and coming artists?
My advice to up and coming actors and producers is that they should focus, learn, calm and respect the elders. They should also be prayerful, put God first in everything they are doing.
Your advise to the firm producers?
As a producer, they should try and do good films for people to learn. Rome was not built in a day. It’s a gradual process. They should learn from people before them and make corrections.