Emeka Ossai
Dashing, cerebral, and amiable top thespian Emeka Ossai sauntered into the showbiz terrain first as a model, where he rose to the apex as a onetime Nigeria’s number one model. He later joined Nollywood, as one of the pioneers, on the invitation of legendary Okey Ogunjiofor, where he further exhibited his immense talents as a creatively restless soul, constantly seeking to conquer new grounds. Of course, Ossai, through dint of hard work and dexterity rose to the pinnacle of his career in Nollywood as a talented actor cum seasoned producer.
But the bubble, however, burst in 2000, when Jennifer, his pretty actress wife died, thereby leaving him shattered, crestfallen, and forlorn. However, seven years after that sad episode in his life, Delta State-born Ossai is gradually bouncing back better and stronger in the industry he once held sway.
In this interview, the widower talked passionately about his latest project, a new movie about AIDS, titled Checkered Fate. He also painfully opened up on his late wife, women in his chequered love life, plans, and the shape of things to come from him this New Year.
Enjoy the interaction!
You took a long break from Nollywood. What happened?
You knew a lot happened that period; the film, Thorns of Rose was co-produced with my late wife, Jennifer. It was supposed to have a sequel, but that didn’t happen; it came out in ’96. And if you remember very well, my wife died in 2000. The movie was a very huge success and I’m having same experience with Checkered Fate. I am one person who believes in maximizing returns on investments. I also don’t believe in churning out films every day. I lost my wife in the process of trying to have a sequel to my first movie and it would be very irresponsible of me to carry on as usual, when that happened. Also, there was a lot of backlash after her death, sentiments here and there. And all that I needed then was to give the industry a long break and also give myself a little break too and that was what I did for a very long time. But thank God, I’m fully back.
Aside acting, modeling, and producing, what else are you into?
Aside acting, modeling and producing movies, I do every other business that is legal and brings in money. I’m also the CEO of Golden Pyramid Production Limited, it was incorporated in 1997. I also partner with like minds in my state to see how we can move Delta State forward and make it better.
Do you have plans of going into politics?
Severally, I’ve been compelled but have not seen enough reason to yield because I believe in finishing whatever I start. And I know that yielding based on compulsion might not be the best decision to take. Right now, I want to consolidate on my primary constituency till further notice.
We would like you to shed more light on your background for us?
I’m Emeka Ossai, from Ndokwa West LGA of Delta State. I am the first of several children, and my parents are still alive. I read Food Technology at the University of Agric, Ogun State. I am a pioneer movie maker/actor. I started as a model and was one time Nigeria’s number one model.
And how do you cope with female fans?
I am used to staying in the midst of women and have always known how to handle them. I started modeling from a very young age, just out of secondary school then. Let me also state it here that Okey Ogunjiofor invited me into the movie industry on the set of Circle of Doom. And if you remember very well, the modeling industry was a booming one before film came.
What would you say is the biggest problem currently facing Nollywood?
Our major problem is the quality of our practitioners; we have very low quality practitioners, in all the departments and the structures that made up Nollywood.
And what do you think is the way forward?
The way forward is very difficult to chart, because it is not an industry you can censor. It is a free market and that is why we have impostors everywhere. If the industry can be empowered enough for those who have the right ideas and the right films to function, then it can move forward.
And what advice do you have for your teeming fans?
They should resolve to practice responsible sex lives starting from this 2007. Secondly, they should be mutually faithfully to their partners. Even if for any reason, you contact AIDS, It is an ailment, just like you have malaria, which is the biggest killer in Africa, life goes on. We are out to demystify AIDS with the right campaigns. As a model, I was taught to look above everybody’s shoulders wherever I go. They should not stop living, because life is for the living and not the dead. So, let us celebrate it with all our hearts.
As a leading stakeholder, what is the next level for you?
For me, next level is departing from the status quo and moving to the stage of making films that would make national and global impacts. Films that its qualities can be ascertained by those who call themselves films critics and pundits. This film was shown in Italy recently and got a standing ovation at the end. The reviews are commendable.
Also, like I said earlier, from the onset, partnerships for the film was too much; it started with the Catholic Church. They told me my theme, which was on HIV/AIDS, would help a lot in propagating the Catholic faith regarding the dreaded disease. It was mainly on abstinence, mutual fidelity and responsible sex live as against condom. They felt we could use my movie as a contemporary avenue to spread the message of responsible sex life.
Also, as a very handsome entertainer, are you romantic?
Even though I look very romantic, I am not in any way romantic, but any woman who comes across me, loves me.
What are the new projects you are currently working on?
My latest project is my new movie titled Checkered Fate. The world premiere recently took place at City Mall Cinemas and was well attended. Very successful, we are very happy with the outcome. But right now, we are not sure of the date of its release on VCD and DVD nationwide. Being a very good film with a good contemporary storyline, it has enjoyed patronage from different agencies; they are willing to adopt the film for a campaign nationwide. Also, we want to thank Motorola for partnering with us on this film. We are also looking forward to doing bigger and better things with them in the future.
What prompted the idea of the movie going to cinemas?
Well, we think the management of City Mall Cinemas was so impressed with us after watching the premiere, which also held there. After that, they felt it was good enough to compete with the foreign movies that are shown there and discussed it with me. And as we speak, the film is showing and the response it great.
And what was it like getting corporate sponsorship from Motorola for this project?
All I want to say is that aside my outfit, Motorola is also partnering with Nollywood to move into the new era to move us to the next level. What they have done with me, is also what we are expecting to happen with Nollywood. One of the things that encouraged Motorola to partner with us was the film itself. It’s high time, we start producing socially relevant films. I am a pioneer of this industry and I know very well that when we started this industry, we were treating issue based stories. Films that will change the society for better, until impostors hijacked the industry and threw it to the dogs. Today, we are going back to the good old days. So, when they saw my movie, it exemplified to them what the next level in Nollywood should be and that is making films that are socially relevant, films that could be adopted as propagandist materials for changing the society. Again their package was attractive.
Is it a true life story?
It was not a true life story, but inspired by true happenings. I am an unrepentant optimist; I hate the dark side of life. All the AIDS campaigns I had seen usually deals with death and other gory things. I thought that wasn’t the best way to carry on with the campaign. Recently, the campaign globally has changed from celebrating death to life. In fact, the new campaign says you don’t have to die because you have AIDS, you can still live a fulfilling life, and that is what my film treats. In the entire story, I never treated the scourge, yet the message was sent.
All these informed my decision to make this movie. I also used the movie to bring to the consciousness of Nigerians, the new direction in the campaign on AIDS globally. I’m a socially responsible citizen/movie maker.
Do you intend partnering with NACA on this project?
Actually, we are working in that direction. It is also one of the reasons; we are not in haste to release the movie. It is so because a lot can be done and achieved with this film. If NACA or any other agency meets our time table, we would start nationwide campaigns, starting from the schools.
Who are your core target audience for this movie?
The main targets are youths and young people and they exist mostly in secondary schools. The impact this movie will make in the society is of more concern to me than the monetary gains, I would gain when it’s released into the market. My plan is to take this movie to places, where it would be relevant and make desired impact.
And why the title, Checkered Fate?
The story revolves around a man called Osaro, he had a checkered life, usually battling one problem or the other. His life was full of ups and downs, but reached a climax when he tested positive to HIV/AIDS. When I was conceptualizing this movie, the new campaign of social responsibility as regard sex, had not started, then people were preaching death. And I’m happy my film is out to advise people to zip up and live a socially responsible life. The process of making this movie a reality started in 2004 and because I’m not a commercial filmmaker, we didn’t rush the process of making it see day light. I am a fundamental filmmaker, making films to affect and change the society for better and not necessarily to make money.
And why AIDS as the main theme?
It was borne out of social responsibility of Emeka Ossai as an individual and that of Golden Pyramid Production as a corporate citizen. It is my little contribution in the fight against the scourge of HIV/AIDS. My first film, Thorns of Rose, treated in detail, the issue of child abandonment, in 1996. And now, this second one is treating the issue of AIDS in detail and the next one is on drug abuse. I’m a social critic and commentator through my movies.
Any plans of re-marrying any time soon?
Well, I’m not somebody who erroneously fixes deadlines in anything that I do. It could be tomorrow, next month or even next year. Truth is that there has always been somebody in my life.
And how is life without your late wife?
Well, I’ve been trying my possible best, but it has not been easy because of the kind of relationship that existed between me and my wife. With that kind of relationship and friendship, finding a replacement won’t be easy.
First published, January 2007.
