Encomium
SHOWBIZ siblings, Dare Fasasi (Baba Dee) and Olanrewaju Fasasi (Sound Sultan) have unveiled their latest cinematic effort, Head Gone, a comic movie.
Starring scores of stars of music, movie and comedy including Baba Dee, Sound Sultan, 2Face Idibia, Ali Baba, Akpororo, Afeez Oyetoro (Saka), Basorge Tariah Jnr., IK Osakioduwa, Eniola Badmus, Wale Ojo, Basketmouth, Tunji Sotimirin…the Lanre Lasisi Film, produced by Naija Ninja Film Productions would be officially premiered on Saturday, November 22, 2014.
ENCOMIUM Weekly had interviews with the famous Fasasi brothers, who reviewed the thought-provoking and hilarious satire on Nigeria’s socio-political malaise.
Head Gone was recently unveiled to the media at the Genesis Deluxe Cinemas at The Palms, Lekki, Lagos.
‘I abandoned music to make Head Gone’ – Music star, BABA DEE
DARE Fasasi is a music star. A graduate of Theatre Arts, University of Ibadan. He also holds a Masters degree in Film Directing. The brain behind Naija Ninja Film Production made Head Gone.
He told ENCOMIUM Weekly what inspired the production and why he took a break from music…
Please tell us about Head Gone?
Head Gone is a movie I have been working on for years. That’s why I left music for a while. You can see the result. I hope all Nigerians at home and in the diaspora would appreciate it when it finally hits the cinemas.
So, what exactly is it all about?
Head Gone is what happens when the head is gone! The body becomes a machine without engine, when the head is gone. When a car engine is off, the body becomes useless. When a nation loses its head, it becomes clueless. It’s a socio-political satire on Nigeria. That’s the situation we found ourselves.
You treated elements of corruption and sycophancy, what more did you expose?
Everything. We played on corruption, financial malpractices, ethical issues, among other social palaver.
You had scores of stars in comedy, movie and music. How did you assemble all of them for Head Gone?
I think the script was the attraction for everybody involved in the production. I tell them the synopsis, by the time I tell the story, everybody is eager to join the wagon. 2Face said, ‘I’m in,’ Ali Baba, Basorge, Akpororo, Saka said, ‘I’m in.’ Good a thing, I have a good relationship with all of them, so it was easy to carry them along.
How long have you been on this?
I started shooting in January this year. But we’ve been on this (pre-production) for as long as six years.
What have been the challenges?
Time management was a big issue, considering the fact I was shooting with celebrities. So, you have to manage their time effectively. These are guys who appear on stage for just 30 minutes and go home with over a million naira. So, you don’t bring such calibre of artistes and keep them for days or even hours when you are not doing much with them. So, that was a great challenge, but we thank God, it went well.
A couple of millions must have gone into Head Gone. How much have you spent so far?
We have spent over N25 million so far.
This is not your debut production?
No, I have done a lot of TV productions, music videos, but this is my first feature film production as a director.
What was the experience like?
Quite exciting. I was trained for it. I studied Theatre Arts at the University of Ibadan. I also have Masters degree in Film Directing. So, it’s like the Holy Grail, something I have been looking forward to. And I thank God I gave it my best.
Many suggest Head Gone could as well be a series?
Yes, a lot of people think so, we will look at that. Let’s finish this first. But I don’t want to be boxed into comedy. I have other serious film projects, but everybody is telling me to just stay on this lane before you move to another production lane.
With the official premiere of Head Gone scheduled for Saturday, November 22, 2014, what’s your expectation?
I’m expecting a film Nigerians would see and tell others who would in turn run back to see it for themselves and have a good laugh. This is our present to Nigerians, from me and Sultan, this November/December.
What’s happening to your music career?
The music side of me is still very much alive because I did one of the sound tracks of Head Gone. It’s a dance track. The interesting thing is that we would do an album with the songs.
‘Working with BABA DEE is always exciting’ – Sound Sultan
WE also spoke with Sound Sultan (Olanrewaju Fasasi) who told us the story of Head Gone. And why he loves to work with his older brother, Dare Fasasi (Baba Dee).
Congratulations on your new movie, Head Gone, you really put a lot into it. So, what inspired it?
A joke from a veteran comedian, Gandoki, which I and my brother, Baba Dee visualized and turned into a story. And when we were done with the script, everybody we contacted loved it.
How has it been working with your brother once again?
Of course, it’s always a delight. He’s a perfectionist, a professional, a theatre artiste. Any idea I conceptualise, he grabs it and we fly with it.
There were loads of music in Head Gone?
Definitely, we are musicians and that should reflect in what we do.
Tell us the story of Head Gone.
It’s an unfortunate comedy of error. It is the story of a bus driver conveying mentally challenged patients to an Abuja Psychiatric Hospital. He loses five of the patients after a prolonged stop over for refreshment. In order to cover up for the grave mistake, the driver and his crew pick up unsuspecting stranded commuters and admit them to the specialist mental hospital. What happens when you pack mentally challenged people with normal humans is better imagined.
It is a critique of the nation?
Yes, we mirror society in art. And that’s what Head Gone does. Nigeria is sick in the head (laughs).
How is your music career going?
We thank God for His mercies.
So, what does it take to be a music star?
It’s a bit tasking, but like I said, God has been merciful.
– Interviews by UCHE OLEHI
