Directing means sacrificing all pleasures – Ibrahim Jika

Tell us about yourself, your background, when and what got you into film making?I was born in Daura in Kastina State. I schooled in Adamawa but grew up in Kaduna and Adamawa states. I did my primary and secondary education in Adamawa State before proceeding to two film schools. I’m now a part time student […]

Tell us about yourself, your background, when and what got you into film making?
I was born in Daura in Kastina State. I schooled in Adamawa but grew up in Kaduna and Adamawa states. I did my primary and secondary education in Adamawa State before proceeding to two film schools. I’m now a part time student in Federal University of Technology Yola, studying industrial design. I am a graphic designer; I direct videos, shoot movies, edit and do animation.

What inspired you to become a graphic designer?
I have been creative since my childhood, so I was told. When other children were busy playing I would be trying to put one or two things together. I preferred building mud houses and constructing wire cars. As I grew up and started watching movies, I began to imagine how these images would appear in reality. I got interested in such ideas and started editing myself after I got my first laptop. My dad died since I was five. When I look at how my mum struggled to encourage me to achieve my dream, I become more determined to make it. That was how I decided this was my calling in life. I have a passion for creativity and I am glad I followed my dream.

What other things do you have passion for aside graphic design?
I started graphics in 2012 . I am also a blogger – one of the biggest bloggers in the north. I hosted Tesa Award which was tagged as a top entertainment state award in Kaduna State last year by National Agency Commission (NAC).

You are a movie director, tell us about the movie you are directing now?
Presently, I am shooting a Hausa movie in Cameroon. Disclosing what the movie entails won’t make the movie interesting at the end of the day. The movie is one that everyone should watch because it has a lot to tell us as a country.

You are a young director, is your age not a barrier to getting things done right in your career?
My age has never been a barrier to my career because I don’t even have a friend my age. There is something about life, no one cares about your age, instead they are interested in what you can achieve in life. People who are bigger, stronger and wealthier than myself call me sir. I feel blessed for people who I am supposed to accord that respect, according it to me. It could be hard to cope with but with the grace of God I’m able to scale through.

As a young director, do you always get looked down on by actors or actresses?
Since I started my career I have never been looked down upon nor has someone looked me in the face and addressed me as small or say I am too small to carry out my duties as a director. Rather, they encourage me and let me know they believe in me and they are expecting the best from me. I cannot disappoint them just because I am considered young.

Who are your biggest film influences?
Well, I am not the type that depend on influences. God, my mum and myself should do just fine for me.

Being a young director, is it right to say Nigeria is a place where anyone can become a film director?
In the whole world, not just Nigeria, anyone can become a director, but not everyone can do the job of a director and get it right. Directing needs more than just talents, it needs broad business skills and a psychological mind-set and being able to know what the audience need at a time and how to go about executing it. Directing deals with sacrificing all pleasures to be able to bring out that best in a movie. As a director you have to let go of the pleasures of life, because on or off shoot locations and your mind is always directing on how to get the best scenes for a movie done.  Not disappointing the viewers is what should matter to every director.

What has mistakes on your job taught you in your career?
No one is perfect; we all make mistakes in life. Without mistakes in life we cannot forge ahead. I always make mistakes every minute and I learn from them with every second. My first video was not like my present videos, meaning I got better over the years.

What is more important to you in your career, the money or the job?
My job because it comes from a passion in me. I love what I do; I have no regrets doing it. When I execute my job passionately and effectively that is when the money flows. So my job comes first then money second. If I don’t execute the job professionally, the money cannot come, so it makes no point loving the money and neglecting the job.

How did your parents take your desire to becoming a film maker?
My dad is late, I’m left with just my mum. When I told her about it she was glad and she supported me and gave me her blessings. She believes I will prosper in whatever I set out to do in life. It wasn’t difficult convincing her because as she said I have always showed the tendencies of  a creative person and an entrepreneur.

Criticisms affect all especially those at a young age. How do you react to criticism?
In all aspects of life there would always be criticisms from people. Criticism tells if one is making progress or not. Criticism is what makes one a superstar out of nobody, because the more people talk about you the more you become famous. People don’t know that the more the criticism the more they make the personality popular. Criticism spurs me on to want to do more.

What kind of personality do you work best with?
I enjoy working with funny and simple people. And also I like working with people that understand me and can make my work easier. People who can easily understand what the job entails are perfect for me to work with.

How would you describe your job?
It’s the best. Words can’t describe its beauty and flexibility. In short words, my work is a tedious job but trust me it is one of the best in the world.

What’s your next big project?
My next project is trying to raise funds to launch a video and photo studio in Abuja and Adamawa State, if I am to join the line of African movie makers and shoot my own personal movie from scratch to finish. I want to showcase that the north has a lot to deliver to the world. There are a lot of talents if given the right encouragement they would make the North one of the best entertainment places in the country, if not the world.

When do stories hit you?
I’m more of a music video director, so my story lines are always not straight, but complicated. These days if music videos talk about the song it fails. It has to be the opposite, so that viewers can have something to think about than just what exists. Stories come to me anytime because my mind is always thinking of how to get things done.