The Zack Orji Interview Part I
by Dr Joyce Ashuntantang AbunawSome call you Zach Orji, others Zack Orji. What are your real names?I was born Zachee Ama Orji in Libreville, Gabon. However, most people call me Zack.
When ever we talk about actors it looks like they have always been actors. What is your background before acting- education, experience etcI hold a B.Sc. (Hons) Estate Management degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I graduated in 1984.
Apart from Gabon and my fatherland Nigeria, my formative years; primary and secondary education were in Cameroon, Benin and Togo where I attended both French and English schools. This accounts for my being bilingual. Before becoming an actor, I used to design and make aquariums for sale and on order.
Fine Arts was where I made one of my best grades in secondary school. The aquanum market was dull so I moved on to shoes. Back in my secondary school my principal used to call me an all-rounder. I was senior prefect, I was speaker in senior debates, I was in the dramatic society, I was school champion in shot putt and discus; state champion in shot putt (1978) and went on to represent my state nationally.
In Ecole Francophone de Buea, I was the school prefect or (head boy), apart from playing in the school football and handball teams.
Before moving on to shoes, I used to act as an interpreter, being an intermediary between some Nigerian businessmen who usually traveled to Benin and Togo for business and their francophone counterparts.
Back to shoes, I would go to fashion shops, check out some imported shoes and commit their designs to memory. On my own, I would draw what I could remember and even create new designs from the old ones. Thereafter, I would go to the market, buy some snake and alligator skin (already tanned) and take them to a shoemaker whom I knew. I would sit with him, supervise him and have him make the shoes to my specifications according to the designs I had.
After doing this for the first and second batches totaling about 17 pairs of men’s shoes, I had learnt to make shoes. The ones I had made were steadily selling. One or two friends even bought some that they took abroad. I bought my own machines (2) and tools opened a shop and started making the shoes myself. One morning I came to my shop and everywhere was empty – robbers had paid a nocturnal visit. I was devastated. I saw an ad in a newspaper for graduate trainees in a freight forwarding company. I applied and I was interviewed. I got the job. It was more of a field job where I and my colleagues were expected to get new clients and also learn on the job. It was good while it lasted. I bought my first two cars, moved into a new apartment, and got wedded. After two years of this, I was convinced that it was not the line of work I wanted to end up doing. I quit and moved on to produce, buying to sell locally to those who wanted to export and for export.
Was there a particular event that brought you into acting? I had received an order to supply cocoa and shea nut. A friend of mine Ekenna Igwe, gave me some contacts who could lead me on to those who would eventually source the cocoa for me.
These contacts were writing a movie script that they were about to produce at that time. I told my friend that I was interested, and after these guys interviewed me, they gave me a script and I eventually got the leading role in the movie “The Unforgiven Sin”, an Igbo film subtitled in English. I went on to get nominated for best Actor in the Movie Awards (Thema Awards) the first that was organized in 1995.
Have you always wanted to act? Do you have any Role Models? I have always wanted to act. I grew up going to the theatres a lot, watching Clint Eastwood, Bruce Lee, Jimmy Wang Yu, Yausaki Kurata, Sean Connery, Lee Van Cliff, Jim Kelly, Fred Williamson Tamara Dobson, Sidney Poitier, Amitaab Bachchan, Dahmendra, etc. I also read whatever I could lay my hands on about them. I truly desired to be like them.
Most of the films I have watched where you are a principal actor, you are always the victim, the good guy so to speak. Do you choose this roles? Is that in keeping with your religious faith?
In our line of work, we are usually put in a box. You deliver a role creditably, and a lot of such roles keep being offered to you. Sometimes one has to turn down some offers because the fee is not okay, or the script is lacking in depth and coherence, or you want some things built in or altered and the producers do not agree, or for some other reason. Only once in 100 times do I choose my roles.
Have you thought about doing movies for children?
I would like to do movies for children if I have the opportunity.
As President of the guild, what are some of your activities? Do these activities conflict with your
role as actor or producer?
Our guild is spread across 16 states of the federation. As president I am like the CEO. Every state has a chairman and his officers who oversee the day-to-day running of the guild. They are in charge of registration/membership, issues of welfare and discipline. When members are to be disciplined, like suspended, I have to be notified. When matters are unresolved at state levels they are referred to me. When a member is to be expelled I have the authority to do it. I am the image-maker of the guild, representing the guild in all functions relating to other bodies, (government or private).
These activities usually conflict with my work as an actor/producer/director in terms of time. Some times I have to delegate some functions because I have contractual obligations to keep. However my tenure is completed and I do not wish to re-contest.
The big question of piracy- what are your thoughts about it? Any hope for a future free from
Piracy, any plans?
Piracy is a crime that must be condemned in totality. It violates people’s intellectual property rights and any one caught in the act should be roasted.
There is no hope for a future free from piracy, as some people have taken it up as their business concern and means of livelihood. The Association of movie producers which I belong to will soon begin to put some plans into action to clip their wings.
Any plans for a legitimate distributor of films in the US?There is an existing contractual agreement between The Film Maker’s Cooperative of Nigeria (FCON) and the Film Makers Association of Nigeria USA for distribution. It has regrettably not been successful, but it is still being beaten to shape.
You told me that you have just released a gospel CD. So, which is your favorite role? Director, actor or musician?Frankly, it is very hard for me to say which is my favorite role. However, when ever I am directing I thoroughly enjoy my self and begin to wonder whether I should not concentrate on it.
When I am acting I feel like I am doing that which I was destined to do: touch lives positively. When I get phone calls, mails or get accosted by people, I get a confirmation of it. When I am writing songs or composing of music, or when I’m in the studio recording music, I feel like it’s my happiest moment.
To be continued....
The Zack Orji Interview Part II
by Joyce Abunaw, PhD
L to R: Veteran SA Actor Zakes Mokae, Unknown, Late Great Ossie Davis & Zack
You must be a unique Nigerian actor since you speak French fluently. Have you thought about
acting in French?
I would like to act in French. In August 2002, I was in Kinshasa, Congo where alongside my Congolese colleagues; I did a 5-minute promo in French for Vodacom to promote their short mail service in that country.
Nigerian Movies have become de facto Africa's popular movies. How do you see this evolving?I see the role of Nigerian movies as a pioneering one. Other sister African Nations will follow our footsteps and begin to do their own homegrown movies.
There will be more collaborations than we have already done with Ghana, South Africa, Cameroon and Sierra Leone, transcending language barriers.
The Zack Orji Interview Part III (final)
You must be a unique Nigerian actor since you speak French fluently. Have you thought about
acting in French?
I would like to act in French. In August 2002, I was in Kinshasa, Congo where alongside my Congolese colleagues; I did a 5-minute promo in French for Vodacom to promote their short mail service in that country.
Nigerian Movies have become de facto Africa's popular movies. How do you see this evolving?I see the role of Nigerian movies as a pioneering one. Other sister African Nations will follow our footsteps and begin to do their own homegrown movies.
There will be more collaborations than we have already done with Ghana, South Africa, Cameroon and Sierra Leone, transcending language barriers.
Africanists have always looked for a home grown industry to take Africa out of dependence on commodities such as oil, into things that depend on our ingenuity, intelligence and creativity. One of the allures of your industry is that it fulfills part of the Africanist dream. Have you had any thoughts about hte place of what you do in the bigger picture of African independence and self reliance?
I see us having a Screen Actor’s Guild of Africa and the Diaspora, an idea which I have shared with my colleagues from Ghana and South Africa. From this will definitely evolve a coalition, which will be like a movie haven, where all people of black descent will truly find a sense of belonging and our dreams and aspirations will find full expression.
You are happily married with kids. But as you well know, there are some female fans who would still want to get you in spite of that. How do you handle these advances?
I try to be as polite and friendly as possible, while keeping them at arm’s length.
However, there’ve been times when I’ve had to be rude to some pestering ones. Some times I’ve warned some to stop calling my number. Some ask my wife’s permission to hug me in her presence. Some would just rush and hug me and hope she would not mind or say that much. I am always momentarily embarrassed and do really feel for my wife.
Have you had any crisis with over zealous fans?
Luckily No
I understand your wife is an actress, do you select the roles she acts? Does she influence the roles you play? Are there many couples who are both in the industry?
My wife is an actress. No, I do not select her roles. Sometimes we discuss my roles, depending on the type of role. She does influence the roles I play. There are few couples who are both in the industry. I can count them on my fingertips. About 2 are divorced.Tell me about your children
I have three children – Lionel Emeka Orji will be 14 this August 15. In two years, he will be out of secondary school.
My plan is for him to study in the United States. He has acted in a few films. He likes drawing a lot. He has already started trying his hands at writing songs.
Princess Laura Chiamaka ORJI will be 4 this March 29 and she is in reception class. She likes music a lot; that much I’ve noticed. Whenever we enter my car she would request that I put on the music. When we are home she would want us to go up to my room and play some music.
Michelle Chidimma ORJI will be 2 this August 10. For now, I would say she is being influenced by her sister in her love for music; but whenever she is watching TV and some music is playing or we are in my room, you see her moving to the beat in her own funny way.
Which are your favorite books ?
Fiction and Auto/Biographies.
Which are your favorite Foods?
Rice (in any form)
Which are your favorite African Cities? Among those I’ve visited, Lagos, Abuja, Jos, Kumasi, Accra, Freetown, Kinshasa, Johannesburg, Cape Town.
Have you thought about attending FESPACO in Ouagadougou?I have thought about attending FESPACO, but I have not made any deliberate efforts to do so. Frankly, I’ve been rather busy acting, acting and acting, and sometimes producing and directing, combining these with my memberships of various bodies in the industry.
However, I would love to attend the next one. When my colleagues who will attend the current one return, I will discuss with them.
Since the Nigerian industry is so amorphous, is there any formal or informal classification system to separate “the professionals” from the “adventurers” ?
Our Industry is not so amorphous. Nigeria is a multicultural/ethnic society with multiple languages. There are three major tribes – Hausa, Igbo & Yoruba. The movies we produce are mostly in English and these three languages. You will see some of these films on DSTV’s Africa Magic screen. The Hausa filmmakers have an association governing them, likewise the Igbo and Yoruba film makers.
Some of us came into limelight doing films in our native languages. In the English-speaking sector, there are seven guilds –
The Actors’ Guild of NigeriaThe Directors’ Guild of NigeriaThe Association of Movie ProducersThe Screen Writers’ GuildThe Creative Designers’ GuildThe Nigerian Society of EditorsThe Nigerian Society of Cinematographers
There is another body governing those in marketing and distribution, another body for those in TV productions, another for those in Radio and so forth and so on. Each association has certain preconditions for eligibility to apply, screening processes to go through, training programs, etc.
The industry welcomes every body. Come as you are. Some enter as professionals; some learn on the job, some gain experience while working.
Thank You Zack and Merci Beaucoup!
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