Encomium
Elvis Chuks is an award-winning actor, producer cum director. In an exclusive chat with ENCOMIUM Weekly, he opened up on his success secrets and why he has overcome scandals…
What are you working on?
We are working on our new movie coming out on Friday, September 26, 2014, entitled, Caught In The Act featuring Yvonne Okoro, Michael Godson, Bishop Imeh and Beverly Osu of Big Brother Africa fame. It is a movie that has to do with a couple who were about travelling overseas for their honeymoon and something happened. However, the husband tried to hide the secret but unfortunately, the whole thing came cracking on his face.
What inspired the movie?
I just saw the script and loved it. My script writer brought the script about a corrupt policeman who came in contact with a guy who just got married and he was trying to hide something and in that process, he got himself into bigger troubles. The story is quite fascinating and fast paced story.
Most of your movies are star-studded, what is the secret and why?
I would say I usually go for the right cast for the right movie. Caught In The Act is a movie that does not even need a star but because Yvonne Okoro is a calm person, you can picture her as an innocent wife looking for her passport, a caring husband, Michael Godson, trying to cover up for it and a corrupt policeman, Bishop Imeh trying to do his own thing and the stripper, Beverly Osu.
I saw the story and could picture it immediately who would fit into each role. Based on that, we did the casting.
Would you count that as part of the reasons why you bag awards easily?
For you to go on set to work on anything, it has to be worth working for, because the process of a movie takes about four to five years to get it done. For instance, A Wish was released in 2012 and it is still bagging awards till date all from Oscar, AMVCA, Best of Nollywood and many more. So, I felt, I must be in love with the script because that is the major thing I am going to work on. The secret is being able to identify with that story that is original, story people can identify you with and a story people can learn from.
About the movie, A Wish, when it came out did you envisage it would win many awards?
Yes, I knew it would bag so many awards. The twist about that movie that most people did not know was that originally, Funke Akindele was to play the role Helen Paul played but when we got on set, I swapped. So people won’t see a cliché in Funke Akindele’s role. I did something similar in Hustlers and the movie, I Come Lagos. It is just like being able to understand your craft as a film maker, being able to know what you are supposed to do at the right time and also interpret the story the best way that you can and eventually, a lot of awards would roll in.
The role of a producer and director had really taken your time and people no longer see you as an actor ?
People still see me as an actor because I featured in Honeymoon Hotels. Apparently, I would not want to feature in a movie that I am producing because to me, it does not make sense. Although, I get a lot of offers, I will go for a movie that I am comfortable with in terms of quality because if I can do a quality movie, then I must appear in a standard movie and for me it’s worth more than money
Do you think the movie would also win an award?
I want to keep my fingers crossed.
All of a sudden, you came out of the blues with so many movies and awards, what has been the secret?
I studied film and television in school alongside Clarence Peters and others. I went through the process of understanding what film making is all about and based on that, it is very realistic that anybody would wonder how did he do it? When they saw me as an actor, I was busy studying film making.
So, I would say being able to be identified with the professional aspect of the job and being able to do it exactly or even better.
What has been the major challenge?
Luckily for me, I have not had serious challenges because God has been faithful. I have tried very much to take challenges as part of my job because if you face a challenge, you conquer the challenge. And if you are able to move ahead, it means you have an experience and also equal to the task. I do not see any challenge in this job because every job has its challenges, but you can overcome them if you are focused. Like my mother says, ‘keep your eyes on the prize and you will be surprised how far you will get at it.’
I have also been grateful to most of our sponsors. There are so many challenges but they will make you gather more experience in your field in terms of being a motion picture craft practitioner.
People see you as handsome, successful and famous. They are the things women look out for. Surprisingly, there has been no scandal about you and it means people wonder if you are gay?
Normally, I don’t pay attention to things that do not have anything to do with me personally. I can’t have somebody who stands by me and supports me and I start jumping around. I won’t say I have kept a ring on it or about to do so, but I am more or less like a married person.
Most of the big stuff I go for, my girl is always with me. I am a one person, one relationship and a focused person. Our job takes so much of our time and the little time you have, you want to spend it with your loved ones. Besides, all that glitters is not gold. In an industry where people are flirting and do all sorts, I do not want to be part of that. I am comfortable with Ada and we are fine.
What has helped you stay away from scandal?
My upbringing, God and the person that I am with because I am one person that it is either working or it’s not. If I was not comfortable, I would go searching. Besides, she is not the first person I am going out with. She is like the fifth or sixth.
I have dated fabulous people with lovely personalities.
What would you say are the things that helped you stay focused?
I have never watched out for any pot holes. I just take it as it comes but most times before I take a step, I think very well. Most times when I am alone, I do a lot of strategizing by asking myself and people around me questions.
I ask a lot of questions, I sample opinions and seek advice from people that I respect a lot and people that I know would keep me in terms of guidance. If you work without asking questions and hasty in decision, you are bound to make mistakes. I don’t do a lot of movies, produce like one movie in a year or two and that would tell you how much pain it takes to plan before going on set, to post-production before the movie is out. I am very slow but I take my time because that is the only way I can record success.
Who is that particular actress that you would love to work with?
That would be Genevieve Nnaji because there was a story written by Kabat Esosa. It’s an epic movie and she has the script for like two years now and we have been trying to work on her schedule but she told me, ‘I love this movie and I want to be in it, but due to my schedule, I don’t know when I would have one month to give’ and I am following up with her. I think she is the person I want to really work with and she knows.
In the midst of your tight schedule, how do you unwind?
I travel a lot and when I do that, I go to the beach, read, swim and party if I have to. I don’t take life very serious when I am not working.
-FEMI OYEWALE
