Vivian Ejike
Till date, many people, especially her family members, friends, and co-workers, could still not fathom why pretty Vivian Ejike abruptly abandoned her thriving career as a top banker to embrace Nollywood full time. Prior to her coming into Tinsel town fully in 2004, Ejike was the head of private banking with one of the nation’s now defunct banks, but the passion and allure of movie-making made her threw in the towel, to the consternation of many.
With six blockbuster movies to her credit, among them, the soon-to-debut When the Heart Lies, Ejike, a French graduate from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, boasted that there is nothing stopping her. In her first ever interview, consummate and highly focused Ejike, in her early 30’s, spoke on her first romance with Nollywood in ’96, when she shot her first movie as an undergraduate, why she left banking, undying passion for Nollywood, and many more.
Enjoy the interaction!
You recently returned from London, what took you there?
Well, I actually went to meet with some people, relax, and see the opportunities of penetrating the London film market with my new movie. I was in London to see if I could also get partners to premiere my movie with over there.
We would like you to tell us more about this your new movie?
It is a painstakingly-shot movie titled When The Heart Lies, with several Nollywood stars on board. Also a very challenging job too and my sixth movie as a top producer cum actress. It features Nollywood stars like Omotola Jalade, Desmond Elliot, Enebeli Enebuwa, Uche Jombo, Paul Obazele and several other new discoveries, which all helped to make the movie tick. Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen directed this movie and it is going to be out between September and October.
Let’s take a look at all your movies in Nollywood?
The first movie I did was in ’96 and it was titled Golden Fleece, in fact, I was an undergraduate when I made this blockbuster. I also remember vividly that it was during one of the famous ASUU strikes. The movie came out very successful. After that, I went back to school and completed my degree programme and surprisingly veered into banking, largely because I come from a family of bankers. I did quite well in that sector but had no job satisfaction and left, only to come back to my first love, Nollywood. I started with defunct Eagle Bank and later Broad Bank before leaving, that was before the merger and I was heading their private banking. I took a whole year to study the industry again, before venturing in for my second movie. I did that because I don’t like jumping into things, I like to do things and do them properly. So when I was eventually ready I did my second movie titled Fragile Pain, marketed by Ulzee in 2004. I later shot Blind Obsession in 2005 and The Mistress and Saving Sarah in 2006, and now my sixth movie, When The Heart Lies.
Among these movies, which would you say has been the most challenging?
I think this current job has been the most challenging. First of all, I made a conscious effort to do some kind of writing. It was very challenging because I was involved from the beginning to the ending. I had to do some musical live showing in the movie because it revolved round a musician.
Did any true-life experience event inform the title and storyline of the movie?
Yeah, some part of it is actually true life but not necessarily one but two or more people around me. I picked up the story from what happened to some of these people in the past and merged if together. It was basically, the way someone’s heart and emotions misled her into doing things she shouldn’t have done. Imagine, a pastor’s daughter being pregnant outside wedlock and hiding it from her parents. She later had a child and hid it also from her parents. Several years later and when she had already become a super star, the dirty past came to haunt her terribly.
How was it like having Paul Play on your set and also working with him?
It was very smooth and easy. He is an easy person to work with. He wrote and produced two songs specifically for the movie and did a special guest appearance for us.
As the producer, what were the major challenges you encountered on set?
Aah! The challenges were enormous because I was actually involved from the beginning to the end of the production. When I’m shooting, I tell people I enjoy myself. So, even though the challenges were enormous, I still did not feel it, so indirectly, there were no much challenges. The production was fun and I enjoyed myself. We shot for 12 days. The only problem initially, was trying to get our locations ready, which we eventually conquered. My cast and crew were also wonderful and did their jobs professionally. In fact, they did their best.
Like how much did the entire production gulp?
Right now, I can’t give the exact figure but the movie gulped quite a lot of money and it is still gulping.
As a top moviemaker, what has been the secret of your success in Nollywood?
First of all, God, resilience, interest, and passion in what I do, again consistence. Since my return, I try not to look at the materials gains, but keep doing the job because I love it and have passion for it. I know that the benefits will come someday. I just love to keep working hard and can’t stay with lazy people.
But why did you leave banking for Nollywood?
I left banking for Nollywood because of my passion for the industry and the arts.
Didn’t most people view that decision as being zany?
Then a lot of people, even my parents, viewed it from that angle and even urged me to go back. But like I told you, I have a passion for the industry and movie making. Between ’99 and 2002 that I was a top player in the banking industry my heart was still with Nollywood. I was in the banking world, but my spirit was with Nollywood. And at a point, I just said I was going to leave and just woke up one day and resigned. A lot of people thought I was taking a wrong decision but I was doing very well, and stood my ground.
Your entire family, what was their reaction?
They were totally against it, especially my dad, he was a banker for 30 something years, even my mother too. So, banking is a sort, of a family tradition and I’m not a conformist. I know my calling is in the entertainment industry and not banking.
So, no regrets whatsoever leaving the banking sector?
Not at all.
Any plans of going back in the nearest future?
Never. I have been getting offers but I don’t want to go back again. I would have loved to go, but I won’t get job satisfaction, especially the type that I’m getting from Nollywood now. I feel very good and happy wherever I see my movies on the shelves. I intend remaining in Nollywood for the greater part of my life. I’m not even sure I can do any other thing very well now, except movies.
Aside making movies, what else are you into?
Nothing really, I might have a few interests here and there, but movie remains the ultimate.
Why this so much passion for Nollywood?
I wish I could explain it but can’t, I think it started when I was a child. I was actively involved in drama while in primary and secondary schools. I have always been arts inclined.
As a child growing up, what was your ambition?
It was a regular thing, but when it was time to go to the university, I wanted to read something else.
Did your parents ever kick against your romance with showbiz?
My father was a bit sceptical about it, because he thought I was going to end up being a lawyer or a medical doctor or something related, in fact, something professional. But he has relaxed his scepticism about my love for the industry. He is now very proud of me after seeing that this is my life and what makes me happy. My parents are not domineering.
We would like you to tell us more about yourself and background?
Well, I’m from Nri, in Anaocha LGA of Anambra State; I attended Federal Government College Enugu. I later went to the University of Port Harcourt and read French. I had a stint with the LOC 99, for my youth service. I worked briefly in a private company before going into banking.
What also informed your love for the banking profession?
For me, going into banking was inevitable, I knew I would go to the bank. Even though I knew I would go to the bank, it was also left for me to know if I would remain there or not. And of course, I stayed and tasted it before leaving.
How was growing up and where did you grow up?
Growing up was fun, memorable and sweet. I grew up in Enugu and my childhood was fun-filled. All of us comprising of four girls and two boys really had fun while growing up. I am the second child.
As a top producer, how do you intend tackling piracy, when your new movie hits shelves?
From my own point of view, piracy is not an individual issue. If I must say the truth, there is nothing an individual can do about piracy in Nigeria. My only joy is that it is not as bad as it used to be. Right now it has been reduced and that owes largely to the fact that the prices of these tapes have dropped. It is relatively cheap and more affordable now. What borders me most is the issue of piracy abroad. Imagine I released Saving Sarah last April, but that same year in May, the DVD copy of my movie was already circulating in the U.S, without my knowledge or consent. And it is so bad down there because there is relatively nothing you can do.
Among all your released movies, which would you say has been the most successful?
I really don’t know how to equate that because my previous movies had always been sold out. As far as I’m concerned, they are all the same. Like I told you before, it is not about money, but the passion for the job. I stopped the trading off issue last year with Saving Sarah. I started marketing my movies after then.
While growing up did any entertainment personality influence your love for showbiz?
As a child, Onyeka Onwenu had a strong influence on me. I see her as a very strong person and got enthralled by her personality. I idolized her when I was very young as a musician and TV presenter. Even till date, I still admire her even though I had never worked with her as an artiste. I look forward to working with her some ay.
Who is your ideal Nigerian hero?
I love Dora Akunyili, she is a woman after my heart. I used to like Buba Marwa a lot because of what he did for Lagos State during his tenure. He was one man that turned Lagos State around. I have lots of respect for him.
How old are you?
I’m in my early 30’s
What is your love life like currently?
The only thing I can say is that I’m single and not searching.
And how can a man win your single heart?
It has already been won, so there is no point speaking on that.
And how are you coping with advances from men, as a pretty lady?
Well, it’s all about maturity and really, for me, it’s nothing new. Almost every woman gets advances, it is left for you to handle it maturely. Most times, I try to convert my toasters into good pals.
For these guys, what part of your body usually gets them attracted?
I don’t know, it is left for those people to say whether it’s physical or not.
Most of them said my sense of humour got them attracted alongside my charming personality.
But what would you say stands you out?
My drive for life stands me out and the fact that I strive for excellence in whatever I do.
With your vivacious nature, what weighs you down?
Injustice and deceit weigh me down a lot.
And like how many times have men deceived you, especially on issues relating to matters of the heart?
A couple of times in my life, we all have experienced it before. It was very painful, but I learnt to handle it maturely and move on by not making enemies.
What is the next level for you?
The sky and we are looking forward to being able to compete with them in Hollywood soon. We should just try and make government participate in our movies by pumping in funds and creating enabling environment, even the corporate bodies too. I have made movies in the past but with this one, I have further raised the bars and broken the barriers. I will be going on set again this year for another movie. I want to also say a big thank you to my family especially my parents for all the love, care and support.
First published, August 2007.
