Ivie Okujaye is on the rise in Nollywood – and it’s all thanks to her hard work, dedication and focus. She shared how it all began as well as where she’s headed in this interview…
Please, introduce yourself.
My name is Ivie Okujaye, winner of the Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) 5; the African Movie Academy Award winner for Best Young Actor 2012 and Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award winner for Trail Blazer of the Year 2013. I’m an actor, writer and now, first-time producer.
How much has fame changed your life?
Any publicity I have had affects only my career and not my life, because almost nothing else has changed in my life. The things I used to wear before are the things I still wear now; the way I dressed before the fame is the same, although every now and then, I buy a fine dress for a premiere or an award ceremony, but other than that everything is still the same. As for my career, it has made people notice what I can do, it has made both the film makers and audience appreciate me a bit more and I hope to continue in that path.
How did you feel the first time you got on stage?
The very first time I was on stage was in primary 5, when we were doing our send-forth cultural dance. I am from Edo-Delta, but they called me to do the Bayelsa dance because they liked the way I moved to the rhythm, and I wasn’t shy. Sadly, there were no cameras there; I wish I had it on tape. The next one I remember was when I was in SS1, where I played Joseph in the Nativity story. They auditioned thousands of people for that role and I was chosen. That was when I realized I was a little better than I thought I was. Both boys and girls auditioned for the role, they didn’t even choose Kings College boys, they chose me because I’m very good at faking voices. I can fake a man’s voice.
Then, I wanted to study Theatre Arts, but coming from a medical background, they had hoped I would follow that path. My dad is an Ear Nose and Throat surgeon, so it was always assumed that one of his kids would take after him and because I was very good with sciences, including Mathematics, I was pretty good with every subject, they thought I would follow that path, but you know, man proposes, God disposes. So, eventually, we settled for Economics and Statistics. Then, at the university, I was still part of the dance and drama group in church and in our department. I never really stopped practicing. But they’re very supportive of my career now.
Was there any war between you and your parents for not going into the medical field?
No, there wasn’t, but there was a lot of dialogue. I come from a home where we communicate; not where we fight. So, I had to convince them that I could do what I set out to do. So, as soon as my parents and family saw that the little popularity I had did not change me at all, they got comfortable because everybody’s fear is that fame can influence you a bit, no matter who you are. So, as soon as they saw that I was holding my ground and not letting the sudden popularity affect any of my decisions, they got very comfortable with it.
You finally won them over when you won AMBO 5?
I won them over before the AMBO. I was in the AMBO house when this was happening, but when I got out, I was told that they watched episodes and they were proud. Meanwhile, before I went, they were not sure they wanted me to go, but after they saw a few episodes, they were so happy because they never saw me do anything bad. All they saw me do was reading, writing and acting, so they knew I was serious about it. And they came around very easily.
Who do you look up to in the movie industry?
There are certain people I admire for certain reasons, but there isn’t any one in particular that I look up to or want to be like. I admire Kate Henshaw’s smile, and her bubbly down to earth approach to everything and everybody. I admire O.C Ukeje’s discipline and commitment to his work; Lydia Forson, because she is fantastic; a real African actress. I also admire Wole Ojo. I admire these people, but I know that I am on my own path, and I’m eager to see where my own path would lead me to and maybe someday, someone will look up to me or admire me for something. But for now, I just want to focus on the fact that I am a completely different individual and I will take lessons from everybody to make me better, but I would not necessary try to be like any particular person.
How would you describe your experience while producing Make A Move?
Producing Make A Move was a beautiful experience, although it had its own challenges because it was my first time. And as a slightly petite female, sometimes you don’t know whether to take me seriously or not, and I’m a very animated character in the sense that I’m going to look for sponsorship and I’m wearing snickers and jeans instead of wearing a skirt suit and what not. So, people were not exactly sure as to how to perceive me at first. But that’s the beauty about having a strong product. With a strong product, you would not lack confidence wherever you go. I knew I had a good story, cast and crew, so it was easy for me to try to get resources to work for our benefit. But obviously, I faced challenges as a first-time producer and as a producer in general, because you cannot control your environment sometimes. For instance, if children are coming back from school, you can’t say they shouldn’t pass the street because their noise is affecting your shoot.
Who wrote the script for the movie?
Well, I had the story for a very long time. Like I tell people, I’m very passionate about any topic concerning women and children. So, this is a story I had always subconsciously harbored in my mind. I had always nurtured it. So, as soon as I got enough resources of mine, that is my savings as well, I put pen to paper and fingers to laptop keypads and I started to type. But because it is a story that I was very fond of, I knew I needed a second pair of eyes to make sure I wasn’t dreaming too big or dreaming too small. So, I had Emmanuel Iduma, who is a fantastic writer also. He came in and helped to edit. So, I wrote the script while he edited it.
Aside Alero’s Symphony, what other movies have you starred in?
Alero’s Symphony was my first movie. After that, I starred in a couple of movies like Valour, which was directed by Niyi Akinmolayan, who is the same person that directed my new movie. Volunteers, also directed by Desmond Elliot, which included cast like Lydia Forson and shot in Liberia, Ghana, Sierra-Leone and Nigeria; Burning Bridges, which was directed by Okey Okon. They call him the Oracle. I worked with Victor Sanchez on Diary, which included cast like Linda Ejiofor, O.C Ukeje, Ireti Doyle. I starred in Top Spot, which included cast like Belinda Effa, How To Be Lola’s Husband. The cast included Rachael Oniga, Femi Jacobs; Olive Branch, which had Ifeanyi Williams and Uncle Wale. There are quite a number of then and now, Make A Move.
How would you describe the journey so far?
Oh, I love it. When you’re doing something you enjoy doing, even the challenges look like fun at a point. It’s not like I haven’t had my rough moments, it hasn’t all been rosy, but I’ve enjoyed every bit of it because this is what I’ve always intended to do with my life. It is like a dream come true. I’m not unrealistic, I’m optimistic. But I haven’t had any major challenge that would discourage me from pursuing more dreams in the industry.
What really inspired Make A Move?
The topic of women, children and abuse inspired the movie. It is very important to me that people realize and understand that Make A Move does not focus on the abuse; it focuses on how to escape from the abuse through art. In our case, we chose dance as an art. That’s what is most important to me because I’m fond of dancing, singing in the bathroom, acting, writing, taking all that and taking other real life situations that I’m passionate about. That’s really the foundation and genesis of Make A Move.
Is Make A Move a dance or musical movie?
It’s not about music, but it’s not exactly about dance either. It is about two sisters, emancipated and healing and moving on and finding love and building a new life for themselves through dance. It’s not a dance movie about two sisters; it is about two sisters that found dance.
Why in particular did you cast 2Face Idibia, Omawumi Magbele and Denrele Edun as judges in Make A Move?
For the casting of the film, I have to give credit to Niyi Akinmolayan and Chris Odey, who was my Executive Producer. The casting took a long while. We had an open call audition in Abuja, and that’s where we found our supporting lead for both male and female, including a girl who was 11 years old last year and 12 years old this year. For both of them, it was their first time of acting and they were fantastic. But for Beverly Naya, Tina Mba, Wale Adebayo, Majid Michel, who acted as other characters, it was decided by all of us, because these are people that we know bring these characters to life. We know they are fantastic actors. It was my first time producing. So, I needed people who would be loyal to the task, and not come and be a ‘diva’ or something. So, they were fantastic to work with and it was pretty easy choosing them to be a part of it.
Have you ever come across a crazy male fan?
Let me be realistic, I’m not that famous yet. But for those people who particularly like me and my work, they are not crazy people, they are people who like to tweet at me a lot. They are loyal.
So, how do you relate with your male admirers?
Oh I’m very athletic. Some people even think I’m a tomboy. Maybe I am, I don’t know. Though I wouldn’t call myself one. I’m just very athletic and very simple. I would not bounce or sag my jeans. I am completely female, but I relate with boys like I am one of them, I relate with girls like I’m one of them too. When I relate with children, I relate with them like I’m a child. So, I relate with whoever I’m with accordingly. There is no disparity between us. I just relate with everybody in a very normal playing field. Even the male actors, producers and directors tend to take me under their wings like a little sister. I have been blessed with that kind of vibe that whenever you see me, you see me as a good friend or industry sister, but never anything in-appropriate.
Are you single or in a relationship?
I have been in the same relationship I have been in before all this started; a long time before AMBO, and one of the best ways to keep yourself grounded is to keep surrounding yourself with people that used to be around you from time. He was my best friend then, and he is my best friend now, and my close friends are still my close friends.
Doesn’t he feel a little intimidated by you now?
I would quote Omoni Oboli. There was something she said when she won an award a few years ago. She said “It is a very, very confident man that can stand back and allow his woman shine” and she was talking about her husband. Omoni and Nnamdi Oboli are like a team, a fantastic duo. So, it’s not every man that has a problem with a woman being famous. A very confident man would be okay, because he knows that even after she takes pictures with paparazzi outside, she is going to come back home and cook dinner. A confident man will not be bothered about whether you’re famous or not.
So, when will he walk you down the aisle?
I can’t tell you the amount of days or months, but I’m a serious-minded person, so anything I do is taken very seriously. If I’m having an interview with you, I will take it seriously and answer honestly; if I’m in a relationship, I will take it seriously and be honest. So, it’s a serious relationship, and as for the topic of marriage, I don’t think there should be a time frame as to when people dating should get married. When both of you are ready, you will get married.
Are you saying in the future, if you get married, he cannot tell you to quit acting?
I know he won’t say it because I’m not changing, I’m not different.
But fame and fortune can change a person?
I’m not denying the fact that fame and fortune can change a person. In fact, you should be very afraid of the person that tells you fortune will not change them. I’m saying fame changes people, but I would continue holding on to God, to him and my family. If I’m ever changing, my mum will make me remember who I am. So, it’s whom I surround myself with. Fame comes and goes. If you die, you’re not going to be famous in heaven, but memories of friendship and family are forever. No matter what happens to fame, popularity or money, my family is not going to turn their back on me.