I’M IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH MYSELF– FILMMAKER ONYENWE
•Chioma Onyenwe
To
many Nigerian film lovers, the name Chioma Onyenwe might not ring a
bell but this filmmaker says that she’s out to tell a ‘coming of age’
story. Though an economist by training, she says that her desire to make
films dates back to her childhood days. Chioma, who is also a Programme
Coordinator for the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) speaks
to OVWE MEDEME on the preparations so far, her debut feature film, 8
Bars & A Clef among other issues.
HOW are preparations coming for this year’s AFRIFF?
We are in the non-sleeping stage. Every hour counts. We are very busy. Nobody is sleeping anymore. We are waiting for the festival to start and then push it through till it finishes.
What is different from last year’s edition of the festival?
A lot of things are different this year, mainly because it is held within Lagos. Last year, the festival was held in Cross River State. In Calabar, we had that community feel. Everybody came together in one place but in Lagos, it is quite different. We are opening it up to everyone. There are a number of venues and a lot of activities. The film screenings have doubled as against last year. Also, the industry sessions are much. There is just so much happening in town throughout the week.
Is this your first time on the AFRIFF team?
This is my third year. I have a film in the festival this year.
As a filmmaker, what is your opinion on the films that made the AFRIFF it this year?
First of all, the films are from everywhere this year. We have a couple of them from outside Africa as well. Some of them are very fantastic films. Also this year, I find that, with the African filmmaker, the messages are very topical. We are talking about migration. Migration is happening everywhere.
We are talking about crime. I think people will connect to lots of the films in terms of what the story lines are saying. There is this very interesting football documentary that had to do with the Zambian team and how they lost their entire players to a plane crash and they came back 18 years later to win the African Cup of Nations via penalties. I think it’s very exciting the kind of schedules that we have for this year. As a filmmaker, I’ve been watching some of the festival films already because I might not have time to watch them when the festival begins. It’s all very exciting.
How would you describe your life as a filmmaker?
It should be my life more as a storyteller. I studied Economics at the University of Lagos (UNILAG). So I have a business background. And I went on to do a Masters in Management. So I started dabbling into films as way back as 2011. I did my first web series titled Goddammit Its Monday. And then, I’ve just been working in corporate Nigeria, doing one short film here, one short film there. Then two years ago, I went to AFRIFF for the first time and, at that point in time, I decided to go into making movies full time. It was from the people that I met there that I made my first feature film last year. Now, I’m premiering the film at the festival. It is titled 8 Bars & A Clef.
What is the story about?
It is about a young man who wants to overcome a learning defect, dyslexia, a dysfunctional family and an overbearing record label executive in order to achieve his dream. It is really a coming of age story. It is about music and learning and life.
For one who has always been in the corporate world, at what point did the love for filmmaking come up?
I think there has always been a connection; it just wasn’t official. It started since I was little. I used to read a lot of books and I could see the books visually. I could picture it as something I would like to make. That is where it was ignited. Then when I went into the university, I used to work on people’s set.
I worked as a Production Assistant during my off time. And then, while I was studying Economics, for my final year thesis, I wrote about Nollywood. I wrote about the economic impact on the GDP of the Nigerian film industry. So it has always been something I’ve been interested in.
Do you also direct films?
Yes, I do. I produced and directed my film. I’m still finding my voice in directing.
What plans do you have for the film?
It will be screened in this festival, and this is the first time it is showing. It is something that I’m quite excited about. I want to see where it leads. I plan to release the film next year but I really want to see what the first audience’s reaction to the film is. And then, hopefully, I will find my audience and release it next year. I hope to release it by April 2016.
How much of your time does moviemaking take?
It is like everything else. If your day is a regular 9 to 5, you make time out every day. When you are making films, you have the period when you are busy 24 hours a day and you have periods when you are not on it as much.
Are you married?
No, I’m not
Is it a deliberate thing?
I should hope so. I should hope that it’s not an accident that I’m not married (laughs).
Are you in a relationship?
I’m in a relationship with myself.
Why is that?
Because I am fabulous; that is why I’m in a relationship with myself.
Are we to expect another movie from you?
There are a number of things in the works. I work with AFRIFF full time and I’m working on something for next year.
Where you part of the filmmakers who were able to access the Federal Government’s grant?
Actually, yes I was. This film was made with the Nollywood grant.
How easy was it to access the funds?
It wasn’t that difficult for me. I think it’s because I had my paper work ready. I put together a business plan. That way, it was very straight forward. It took a while, from applying to getting the loan took about a year. At that time, I had already started work. I really can’t complain. If anything, it made me do my homework, dot my I’s and cross my Ts. Everywhere I had to present something, they expected a certain level of professionalism. It prepared me for that. I think it was a good experience.
HOW are preparations coming for this year’s AFRIFF?
We are in the non-sleeping stage. Every hour counts. We are very busy. Nobody is sleeping anymore. We are waiting for the festival to start and then push it through till it finishes.
What is different from last year’s edition of the festival?
A lot of things are different this year, mainly because it is held within Lagos. Last year, the festival was held in Cross River State. In Calabar, we had that community feel. Everybody came together in one place but in Lagos, it is quite different. We are opening it up to everyone. There are a number of venues and a lot of activities. The film screenings have doubled as against last year. Also, the industry sessions are much. There is just so much happening in town throughout the week.
Why did you decide to bring it to Lagos?
We wanted to grow the festival and to do that, we had to involve
people that are outside the industry. We had to involve corporations, we
had to involve other film lovers and Lagos is really the place to do
it. That is why we are here.Is this your first time on the AFRIFF team?
This is my third year. I have a film in the festival this year.
As a filmmaker, what is your opinion on the films that made the AFRIFF it this year?
First of all, the films are from everywhere this year. We have a couple of them from outside Africa as well. Some of them are very fantastic films. Also this year, I find that, with the African filmmaker, the messages are very topical. We are talking about migration. Migration is happening everywhere.
We are talking about crime. I think people will connect to lots of the films in terms of what the story lines are saying. There is this very interesting football documentary that had to do with the Zambian team and how they lost their entire players to a plane crash and they came back 18 years later to win the African Cup of Nations via penalties. I think it’s very exciting the kind of schedules that we have for this year. As a filmmaker, I’ve been watching some of the festival films already because I might not have time to watch them when the festival begins. It’s all very exciting.
How would you describe your life as a filmmaker?
It should be my life more as a storyteller. I studied Economics at the University of Lagos (UNILAG). So I have a business background. And I went on to do a Masters in Management. So I started dabbling into films as way back as 2011. I did my first web series titled Goddammit Its Monday. And then, I’ve just been working in corporate Nigeria, doing one short film here, one short film there. Then two years ago, I went to AFRIFF for the first time and, at that point in time, I decided to go into making movies full time. It was from the people that I met there that I made my first feature film last year. Now, I’m premiering the film at the festival. It is titled 8 Bars & A Clef.
What is the story about?
It is about a young man who wants to overcome a learning defect, dyslexia, a dysfunctional family and an overbearing record label executive in order to achieve his dream. It is really a coming of age story. It is about music and learning and life.
For one who has always been in the corporate world, at what point did the love for filmmaking come up?
I think there has always been a connection; it just wasn’t official. It started since I was little. I used to read a lot of books and I could see the books visually. I could picture it as something I would like to make. That is where it was ignited. Then when I went into the university, I used to work on people’s set.
I worked as a Production Assistant during my off time. And then, while I was studying Economics, for my final year thesis, I wrote about Nollywood. I wrote about the economic impact on the GDP of the Nigerian film industry. So it has always been something I’ve been interested in.
Do you also direct films?
Yes, I do. I produced and directed my film. I’m still finding my voice in directing.
What plans do you have for the film?
It will be screened in this festival, and this is the first time it is showing. It is something that I’m quite excited about. I want to see where it leads. I plan to release the film next year but I really want to see what the first audience’s reaction to the film is. And then, hopefully, I will find my audience and release it next year. I hope to release it by April 2016.
How much of your time does moviemaking take?
It is like everything else. If your day is a regular 9 to 5, you make time out every day. When you are making films, you have the period when you are busy 24 hours a day and you have periods when you are not on it as much.
Are you married?
No, I’m not
Is it a deliberate thing?
I should hope so. I should hope that it’s not an accident that I’m not married (laughs).
Are you in a relationship?
I’m in a relationship with myself.
Why is that?
Because I am fabulous; that is why I’m in a relationship with myself.
Are we to expect another movie from you?
There are a number of things in the works. I work with AFRIFF full time and I’m working on something for next year.
Where you part of the filmmakers who were able to access the Federal Government’s grant?
Actually, yes I was. This film was made with the Nollywood grant.
How easy was it to access the funds?
It wasn’t that difficult for me. I think it’s because I had my paper work ready. I put together a business plan. That way, it was very straight forward. It took a while, from applying to getting the loan took about a year. At that time, I had already started work. I really can’t complain. If anything, it made me do my homework, dot my I’s and cross my Ts. Everywhere I had to present something, they expected a certain level of professionalism. It prepared me for that. I think it was a good experience.
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