Chima Okoroji
Youthful top director, Chima Okoroji, in this engaging interview, bared his mind on the many challenges facing Nollywood. He also made it clear that cliques and tribalism are gradually killing the industry because most of those calling the shots have blatantly abandoned professionalism for favouritism and nepotism.
Enjoy the interaction!
We would like to know more about you, family and academic background?
My name is Chima Okoroji, I read theatre arts at the university of Ibadan then proceeded to Times Journalism Institute.
When and how did you join Nollywood?
When I finished my secondary school, I was at home doing nothing. I later took a bold step and approached a neighbour who works with NTA and told him that I would love to go to work with him and he agreed. So every morning I will join him to work with no pay but because of the passion. I have no other choice than to endure all I went through. That was how I came into the industry.
As a top director, which was your first film?
My first move was shot in 1998 and titled Faceless, I shot that movie as a student.
And like how many movies do you have in your kitty as top director?
To be honest with you, I have lost count.
What would you say is the biggest challenge facing Nollywood currently?
Clique and tribalism. As a director if you are not able to fall into a clique, it will be very difficult for you to showcase your directorial skills and that is very unhealthy for the industry. Many directors are wasted talent due to clique’s situations in the industry.
Tribalism is one of the bacteria destroying the industry and I will give you an instance, which was my own experience. I was handling a project owned by another tribe’s man. It was a new project so no fund, he begged me to direct the project for him with little payment. I took pity on him and I also love to encourage people with beautiful projects. Eventually the project started getting sponsors and his tribe’s people started advising him to drop me and pick someone from their tribe which he did and I left. Two years later, the project was dead and buried due to nepotism.
What makes a good director?
A good director is someone with a third eye, communication skills, confidence, discipline and good judgement.
Chima Okoroji
Youthful top director, Chima Okoroji, in this engaging interview, bared his mind on the many challenges facing Nollywood. He also made it clear that cliques and tribalism are gradually killing the industry because most of those calling the shots have blatantly abandoned professionalism for favouritism and nepotism.
Enjoy the interaction!
We would like to know more about you, family and academic background?
My name is Chima Okoroji, I read theatre arts at the university of Ibadan then proceeded to Times Journalism Institute.
When and how did you join Nollywood?
When I finished my secondary school, I was at home doing nothing. I later took a bold step and approached a neighbour who works with NTA and told him that I would love to go to work with him and he agreed. So every morning I will join him to work with no pay but because of the passion. I have no other choice than to endure all I went through. That was how I came into the industry.
As a top director, which was your first film?
My first move was shot in 1998 and titled Faceless, I shot that movie as a student.
And like how many movies do you have in your kitty as top director?
To be honest with you, I have lost count.
What would you say is the biggest challenge facing Nollywood currently?
Clique and tribalism. As a director if you are not able to fall into a clique, it will be very difficult for you to showcase your directorial skills and that is very unhealthy for the industry. Many directors are wasted talent due to clique’s situations in the industry.
Tribalism is one of the bacteria destroying the industry and I will give you an instance, which was my own experience. I was handling a project owned by another tribe’s man. It was a new project so no fund, he begged me to direct the project for him with little payment. I took pity on him and I also love to encourage people with beautiful projects. Eventually the project started getting sponsors and his tribe’s people started advising him to drop me and pick someone from their tribe which he did and I left. Two years later, the project was dead and buried due to nepotism.
What makes a good director?
A good director is someone with a third eye, communication skills, confidence, discipline and good judgement.
