By Juliet Ebirim B ishop Odinaka Duruzor is a Nollywood actor, producer and businessman who has been in the industry long enough to know the pros and cons of the industry. As regards Nollywood, he has seen it all and believes there are things that stink and shouldn’t be, like homosexuality. In this interview with First Person, Bishop takes us through the industry, his own career and the little secrets of the make-believe world. For how long have you been acting? I joined the industry in the late 90s. Actually, I have a platform, Divine Touch Productions, where I work as a production manager. I also act for other productions and even produce my own films. You have produced your own movie? Yes, we are still working on it. What has been your experience in Nollywood? Acting is not something you do just for money, it has to be something you’re passionate about. My friends used to tell me to act, that I would be good at it. But when I started acting, after a while I started working behind the camera as a production manager and that has held me back from acting much. I’m actually a comedian, but most of the movies I’ve done so far are basically epic movies. Can you name some of them? I Go Chop Your Dollar, Dry My Tears, Eagle’s Bride, The Bride and many others. Which is fulfilling, being a cast or crew member? I enjoy both, but I like acting. Have you encountered any challenge in the movie industry? Not really. Though when I joined the industry, I thought I would have an easy ride. I’m not really making waves because I work behind the camera for my brother who is a producer. When you go for auditions, sometimes you make it and sometimes you don’t. I believe that any course you choose to take in life has it’s own challenges. How did you join the industry? One day, I ran into some people shooting a movie around the place I used to live and there was a particular part they needed someone to fill and I volunteered to do it. I was told what to do and they were impressed, so I was given a higher role instead. The director gave me his office address and that was how I started. Can you remember how much you were paid for that role? I wasn’t paid a dime for that particular one. But the first payment I ever received for a role was N15,000, ten years ago. Why did you choose acting? The truth is, whenever I’m with my friends, all they keep telling me is to go and act. And I kept looking for the opportunity to do so, till I got it. Those days, I used to think that actors and actresses have a particular place, a village where they all live, I didn’t know that they live on their own like every day people. The movie industry is a fun place to be, acting gives you joy. Which top actors have you worked with? Geneveive Nnaji, Chinedu Ikedieze, Osita Iheme, Late John Okafor, Ashley Nwosu, Ini Edo, and others. Are you now focusing more on working behind the camera? I’m focusing more on working on my own movie. We’ve shot the movie though the editor is still working on it. What has kept you going all these years? It’s the joy and fun that comes with it. It’s not even the money. I just enjoy acting. Is there anything you don’t really like about Nollywood? Homosexuality and lesbianism has become very rampant in Nollywood. It is not even hidden. They come to woo you without hiding it. Have you had an experience in that regard? Yes, a guy told me he liked me and all that. An actor? Yes, he’s now a producer. How did you handle it? He came to me, told me he liked me, my physique and all that. After a while, he said he wanted to see the size of my manhood. I said “For what!” (Laughs). I thought he was joking, but subsequently, when we hang out or go for shooting, he would try to touch me in a romantic way. I realised that he was serious. When I asked him what he wanted, he said he wanted to have sex with me. He promised me heaven and earth but I refused. That was how it ended. Most actresses complain about being sexually harassed, what’s your opinion on that? It’s not true. If I like you and talk to you, if you agree, fine; if you don’t, I let you be. If you want a favour from me and you give yourself to me, I won’t reject it. It’s a normal thing and it takes the consent of both parties. It’s just that in the past, some fraudulent guys who are not even in the industry used to take advantage of aspiring actresses. They’ll just get an ancient script, show it to them, and tell them to have sex with them for roles in non-existent films. About the movie you’re working on, when is it going to be released?

By Juliet Ebirim

B ishop Odinaka Duruzor is a Nollywood actor, producer and businessman who has been in the industry long enough to know the pros and cons of the industry. As regards Nollywood, he has seen it all and believes there are things that stink and shouldn’t be, like homosexuality.

In this interview with First Person, Bishop takes us through the industry, his own career and the little secrets of the make-believe world.

For how long have you been acting?

I joined the industry in the late 90s. Actually, I have a platform, Divine Touch Productions, where I work as a production manager. I also act for other productions and even produce my own films.

You have produced your own movie?

Yes, we are still working on it.

What has been your experience in Nollywood?

Acting is not something you do just for money, it has to be something you’re passionate about. My friends used to tell me to act, that I would be good at it. But when I started acting, after a while I started working behind the camera as a production manager and that has held me back from acting much. I’m actually a comedian, but most of the movies I’ve done so far are basically epic movies.

Can you name some of them?

I Go Chop Your Dollar, Dry My Tears, Eagle’s Bride, The Bride and many others.

Which is fulfilling, being a cast or crew member?

I enjoy both, but I like acting.

Have you encountered any challenge in the movie industry?

Not really. Though when I joined the industry, I thought I would have an easy ride. I’m not really making waves because I work behind the camera for my brother who is a producer. When you go for auditions, sometimes you make it and sometimes you don’t. I believe that any course you choose to take in life has it’s own challenges.

How did you join the industry?

One day, I ran into some people shooting a movie around the place I used to live and there was a particular part they needed someone to fill and I volunteered to do it. I was told what to do and they were impressed, so I was given a higher role instead. The director gave me his office address and that was how I started.

Can you remember how much you were paid for that role?

I wasn’t paid a dime for that particular one. But the first payment I ever received for a role was N15,000, ten years ago.

Why did you choose acting?

The truth is, whenever I’m with my friends, all they keep telling me is to go and act. And I kept looking for the opportunity to do so, till I got it. Those days, I used to think that actors and actresses have a particular place, a village where they all live, I didn’t know that they live on their own like every day people. The movie industry is a fun place to be, acting gives you joy.

Which top actors have you worked with?

Geneveive Nnaji, Chinedu Ikedieze, Osita Iheme, Late John Okafor, Ashley Nwosu, Ini Edo, and others.

Are you now focusing more on working behind the camera?

I’m focusing more on working on my own movie. We’ve shot the movie though the editor is still working on it.

What has kept you going all these years?

It’s the joy and fun that comes with it. It’s not even the money. I just enjoy acting.

Is there anything you don’t really like about Nollywood?

Homosexuality and lesbianism has become very rampant in Nollywood. It is not even hidden. They come to woo you without hiding it.

Have you had an experience in that regard?

Yes, a guy told me he liked me and all that.

An actor?

Yes, he’s now a producer.

How did you handle it?

He came to me, told me he liked me, my physique and all that. After a while, he said he wanted to see the size of my manhood. I said “For what!” (Laughs). I thought he was joking, but subsequently, when we hang out or go for shooting, he would try to touch me in a romantic way. I realised that he was serious. When I asked him what he wanted, he said he wanted to have sex with me. He promised me heaven and earth but I refused. That was how it ended.

Most actresses complain about being sexually harassed, what’s your opinion on that?

It’s not true. If I like you and talk to you, if you agree, fine; if you don’t, I let you be. If you want a favour from me and you give yourself to me, I won’t reject it. It’s a normal thing and it takes the consent of both parties. It’s just that in the past, some fraudulent guys who are not even in the industry used to take advantage of aspiring actresses. They’ll just get an ancient script, show it to them, and tell them to have sex with them for roles in non-existent films.

About the movie you’re working on, when is it going to be released?