Ego Boyo Speaks on Nigerian Cinema Politics with Rubbin’ Minds
Ego Boyo has been there since the beginning of Nollywood and even before it— from her days on Amaka Igwe’s Checkmate. But after shining on early Nollywood blockbusters like Violated, Boyo disappeared; working mostly behind the scenes. Her producer credits include the experimental A Hotel Called Memory, 30 Days and Keeping Faith. She joined Ebuka Obi- Uchendu […]
Ego Boyo has been there since the beginning of Nollywood and even before it— from her days on Amaka Igwe’s Checkmate. But after shining on early Nollywood blockbusters like Violated, Boyo disappeared; working mostly behind the scenes. Her producer credits include the experimental A Hotel Called Memory, 30 Days and Keeping Faith.
She joined Ebuka Obi- Uchendu on Rubbin Minds to discuss transitioning from acting to producing, the current state of Nollywood and being vocal about issues pertaining to the industry on Twitter (including film premieres).
“First of all, I have a lot of issues with themed premieres, because a lot of the times, it takes away from what we are actually there to do,” Boyo says. “We are actually there to see the film and understand the focus of the film. But then we start talking about the theme and what we are dressed as and I don’t hear a lot of conversation on the film.”
Boyo also dabbles into the controversial issue of cinema houses not giving certain filmmakers and films favorable showtimes and, in some cases, not accepting films at all while favoring foreign films and comedies: “I think it comes down to regulation; I think we need to have a body that says, ‘yes, it is his business, we see that foreign films draw the audiences, but you need to give your indigenous cinema some time.’”
The veteran actress-producer also touched on cinema houses dabbling into production, which causes a conflict of interest and creates an unfair system of theatrical distribution.
“When I say regulation, I think these organizations must say to these people, ‘you are an exhibitor, be an exhibitor,’” she says. “Because what muddles the water is when an exhibitor that starts dabbling into production. They give their own films better showtimes; it makes sense because if I invest in something I’m going to give it the best chance, but then you now starve the rest of us of any chance because you are focused so much on your own product.”
Boyo says, although this practice is not illegal, it is unethical and hopes the government comes in. She also believes lack of unity amongst actors, directors and producers is one of the reasons why such unethical practice has been allowed to continue.
The actress also discussed the possibility of joining in on the Nollywood reboot fever and her new film, The Ghost and the House of Truth, which is currently showing in cinemas nationwide.
