BY GREGORY AUSTIN NWAKUNOR
UCHE Jombo is no longer afraid of paparazzi that follow celebrities wherever they go. She’s very comfortable with the ‘public property’ aspect of her life, so, she’s not disturbed by their camera or prying eyes.
She gives a wink to a friend, who tries to shield her from the swarm of photographers massing at the entrance of a hotel in Victoria Island, where she’s concluding deals on her forthcoming movie premiere. Uche smiles as a photographer clicks away.
Since she made her entrance in the Nigerian film culture, Nollywood, over a decade ago, she has rocketed to one of the country’s A-list actors.
Though, in the recent years, she has devoted more time to the business side of filmmaking, her enduring popularity on the scene will be tested today, as her first solely produced film, Damage, will be premiered at Silverbird Cinemas, Lagos.
An advocate for social issues, the Glo ambassador, who is also a scriptwriter, says, “Damage is a collection of three movies.”
Uche ensures that each of the three stories addresses important problems affecting individuals, families and society.
“The Damage movies came about as a result of advocacy because we wanted to blend real stories, experiences and a total overview of human experience. It concentrates on family violence, spousal battering, and particularly, effects family violence can have on the children. A man and his wife love each other immensely yet their day to day life can only be described as a ‘cat and mouse’ situation as they fight violently almost on a daily basis,” she says, ensconced in an easy chair.
Damage sees her act alongside Kalu Ikeagwu, as a married couple in an abusive relationship. The film highlights the psychological effect it could have especially on the children.
“In the movie, a young and naive village girl sees her dreams come true when an American returnee asks for her hand in marriage. With promises to take her abroad once she finishes her education, the girl couldn’t have asked for a better future. But on getting there, she realises that all that glitters is not gold,” Uche says.
So, what is the Damage film going to teach the audience?
“Damage is a story that needs to be told. Domestic violence is a social issue that has a lot of women suffering in silence. So, I decided to shoot a film about it. It is necessary to show how it affects not just the couple, but the children in the home,” she retorts. “Family violence and how it reflects on kids that grow up in this kind of environment. It is an issue that we sweep under the rug in our society.”
She says, “it is an area which has not really been touched in Nollywood. Damage depicts two violent people in a marriage and is presented mostly from the point of view of the children in the home. The two lead actors in this story seem to have forgotten at some point in their marriage that they were no longer alone in the relationship.”
The lady, who’s a pretty sight to behold when she cackles, “what I hope to achieve is simple: to educate, inform and entertain. We have our social responsibilities, but how we choose to address it is totally up to us. I want people to watch a movie, enjoy it and leave with thought that it's real and can happen to anyone not just characters of a movie. This is a different kind of advocacy.”
UCHE takes a deep breath; her finely chiseled features, milk chocolate and sinuous body glistened. leans on the wall while nursing a bottle of mineral water.
Does she think Nigerians are ready for a theme as this?
She answers crisply, “they are more than ready! When I first shot the film, people thought it was too graphic… that I needed to edit some scenes out. Then incidentally, in the news, a lady (God rest her soul) Titi Akolade lost her life as a result of domestic violence. It all made sense then. Women are not just the victims but men too.”
Is the story a personal experience or what?
Looking down, the executive producer narrows her eyes to make it squint as she makes a point. “No, no. I can say I have always stolen from lives when I write,” she laughs in satisfaction.
“Challenges while filming?” she asks.
“A lot,” she says. While not counting the obvious fight scenes wounds, I will say it was filming the opening red carpet award ceremony of the movie. Not only was the scene difficult to achieve, we had to film it twice because, according to the owner of where we were using, Nigeria gave money to shoot and he needed more money. If as a film maker in this country, I film an award scene where young Nigeria brands are honoured and I ask for a flag to cover the flag poll at the background, does it mean Nigeria gave me money to shoot then? I will like to say with all seriousness that rebranding this country starts with our mindsets not Nollywood, to rebrand Nigeria is not Nollywood's problem alone, it's a 'Nigeria' problem.”
On the decision to embark on the project, which she describes as ‘ambitious’, Uche says, “I am at a point where I want to introduce myself as a filmmaker and not just a writer, producer or actress. I am aiming for a certain level of professionalism in my career although I still get scripts. Right now I am trying to tell my own stories the way I want.”
So is she fulfilled with what she has done?
“Yes, I’m fulfilled,” she laughs. “The last script I sold, somewhere along the line, something was lost and the producers did not achieve what I had originally written. The film did well and people liked it but I was not happy with the final product so I said to myself that it was the last time I would sell my script to anybody.”
She is happy with the quality of films being produced by new Nollywood producers, whom she says, “are trying to do movies the way it should be done within the limited resources available to them.”
There’s short silence, Suddenly, Uche blurts out, “poor quality movies and the never ending part six of Nollywood movies, lately, has made many not to think seriously of the industry. But the industry is second highest in terms of output, I think it's a thing of joy and also something to be sad about, because to whom much is given, much is expected, bad movies might be part of Nollywood but cannot define it.”
Her reaction to comment that Nollywood is full of junks?
“If you want to help the industry, by all means, you are welcome, if you want to be part of the way forward, by all means, let's work together. If you are not pleased keep, ‘the Nollywood insults’ and direct them to the bad movies alone, till you have invested in the industry, you have no right to condemn,” Uche retorts.
A MATHEMATICS and Statistics graduate, she cut her teeth in movie making in 2010, when, alongside Emem Isong and Desmond Elliot, co-produced Hustlers and Holding Hope.
Besides acting, the Abriba, Abia State-born actress wrote scripts of movies such as Celebrity, Games Men Play, Girls in the Hood, A Time to Love, Be My Wife, Perfect Planner, Price of Fame, and To Love Forever and others.
In recognition of her contribution to the film industry in Nigeria, Uche has received awards such as Best Actress by AfroNolly Group in London, England (20080, the City People Entertainment awards for Best Actress (2010), Life Changers Award, (Nollywood Personality of the Year) United Kingdom, Humanitarian Award for Haiti in New York, USA, Abriba Youth Honour of Pride Award (2010), Abia State Honours Award (2010). She is also a brand ambassador for Globacom.
Important dates
• World Premiere in Lagos— Silverbird Cinemas, July 31, 2011
• Opens in cinemas around the country from August 5.
• UK Premiere and Tour with Tiwa Savage (London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds): August 26 to 29
• USA Premiere: September
• Canada: February 2012
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