I’m looking forward to day Nollywood becomes world’s No.1 – Veteran Ghanaian actor

Weekend Magazine: Could you tell us your background in the movie industry? Emmanuel France: I got into the movie industry in Ghana in 1969. That was 41 years ago. Then, we shot on Celluloid. Then Nigerians like Ola Balogun, Wole Soyinka came to Ghana to hire technician, camera men, lightening men to come to Nigeria […]

Weekend Magazine: Could you tell us your background in the movie industry?

Emmanuel France: I got into the movie industry in Ghana in 1969. That was 41 years ago. Then, we shot on Celluloid. Then Nigerians like Ola Balogun, Wole Soyinka came to Ghana to hire technician, camera men, lightening men to come to Nigeria to shoot, mostly documentary. So, in 1980 the recession was so much that most Ghanaians left the industry and the country was empty, so I came back to Nigeria because I was born in Nigeria even though my parents are Ghanaians. When I came back I was absorbed by NTA as script writer and actor. I became the first script editor for NTA, in fact NTA brought me some two BBC experts, Victor Hemilton and David Spencer for a workshop to groom directors and script writers and editors for television. The idea was to replace Seseme Street with Tales by Moonlight. The first workshop was very successful then; we had the second workshop that groomed 32 young men from different part of Nigeria which resulted in   what we know as Nollywood today. This gave directors and writers opportunity to have outlet to exhibit what the learnt. That was the advent of Home videos. Living in Bondage opened the way.

WM: What was the first movie you acted in?

France: It was titled Market day. That was in Ghana in 1969. My first Nigerian movie was titled Belinda and it was an NTA production. I did a lot of work for NTA even though it was on contract. I acted in Mind Your Language, I was also in Blossom. When the Home Videos started, I was in Domitila. I was Domitila’s Father; the movie was directed by Zeb Ejiro. I think I have shot close to 300-350 films.

WM: Which is your best so far?

France: My best so far is Emergency Wedding with Genevieve and Holy Oracle. But I think the one that sold most was Suicide Mission. Because everywhere people called to say they liked the movie.

WM: How will you say the movie industry in Nigeria has fared?

France: We grew from nothing to number two in the whole world after Bollywood. We have not done badly and I think we are still growing. I’m looking forward to when Nollywood will be number one.

WM: What challenges have you faced in the industry?

France: I think one of the major challenges is that the older ones like us have not been recognised. I want to say with my 41 years of experience and what I have heard people say about me, I have not been invited once to the AMAA Awards. I don’t know how they got my name to invite me to this one. Because I have not received any awards from anyone in the industry, I want to asses myself that i’m not yet an actor. When I become an actor, I think I will be invited someday for an award.

WM: People see you as a wicked and strict person on the screen, are you different?

France: Professionally you are acting the role you are given to play. If you play it well, you are given a name. I think I have played my role so that I was invited to Tanzanian, Cameroun and Ghana to act. And I think that is where I received my highest fees because they recognised me as a good actor.

WM: Are you fulfilled as an actor?

France: Financially, I’m not yet fulfilled but I think I’m fulfilled as an actor because I’m respected any where especially internationally. I have passion for acting. I started acting when I was nine years old. And you know practice makes perfect. And if I started acting when I was nine, and I’m now 70 then I’m now fulfilled.

WM: Do any of your family members share the same enthusiasm you have for acting?

France: My last daughter does. She is reading Mass Communication and she likes acting. Sometimes I think it is in the gene. But the rest are not too happy, but I still give them hope.

WM: How do you see this industry in the next few years?

France: If they do it well we will get it right. The censors board is making so much from what they censor. They should plough back the money for some of us that are experienced in this industry to do films.  How long will I be acting for people?  I was the first to produce a Ghana Nigerian film in 1996. I want to produce because I have fantastic stories that no one has an idea about. Let the censors board establish a fund to give loans to artist that want to produce but don’t have funds.