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One of Nollywood’s finest actors, Scot Robert. In this interview, he speaks on why he is seen more in Ghanaian films, why he left the banking industry for Nollywood and why Nollywood will not grow in this life time. Enjoy the excerptsImage may be NSFW.
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Why did you abandon Nigeria for Ghana?
I didn’t abandon Nigeria for Ghana; the truth is I was invited to do a movie in Ghana and even right from the set of the movie I was getting scripts so I had to stay back to finish the scripts in Ghana.
Where does your heart lie, Ghana or Nigeria?
Actually I will say my heart lies in a good movie, not Nigeria or Ghana.
How would you describe working environments in Nigeria and Ghana?
Working in Nigeria and Ghana? I wouldn’t say there is any particular difference but the producer you are working for makes all the difference because most of the producers in Ghana are Nigerians so even if you are in Ghana working, it’s the same, there is no difference.
Going by your experience, what would you say is the reason Nigerian Producers are rushing to work in Ghana
It’s not like the producers just want to go to Ghana to shoot. I could be an independent producer now and I need to work with some artistes who are not disposed to come to Nigeria so what do I do? After weighing it, if it benefits me more in Ghana, I will just take all my crew members and go to Ghana to shoot, that’s it.Image may be NSFW.
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Some pundits are saying that it seems that Nollywood is gradually migrating to Ghana because Ghana offers them better infrastructure…..
Those people that think that there is a migration are wrongly informed. Producers shoot movies according to what the market wants. If you look at the movies, it’s always a collaboration of both countries. So there is no specific reason why they go to Ghana, maybe it’s a united thing, Ghana film industry and Nollywood are now so united that we love to do things together, our fans abroad too love to watch movies we do together. I think the combination actually makes the movies better.
When did acting actually start for you?
Acting started for me after I stopped working in the banking sector. I served in a Bank and I was retained. After sometime, I started modeling, I was an MTN icon for some time. After that I started doing some movies. I didn’t really set out to do this, I found myself in it and I am enjoying it. I did a movie in 2006, after that I started working with Chico Ejiro acting in his Soap Opera in 2007. That’s it.
Are you looking at producing your own movie any time soon?
No, no. I am not looking at that at all. I don’t think I have the flair for producing at the moment, may be when I am tired of acting but for now I am not cut out for it at all.Image may be NSFW.
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The journey so far, how has it been?
Hmmmm! It’s been lovely but I have to remain straight. It takes being important to be talked about. If people are talking about you whether negatively or positively, it’s all part of the showbiz business. In this industry, you must be focused. No matter what they say, just keep your head on track.
Have you had any scandal so far?
I don’t think I have had any scandal but if the scandals are coming, I don’t mind (laughs)
How did you manage to remain scandal free?
May be because I run away from the women, when I have a girl, I stick to her and I can’t fall for set ups.
So when you are on set, no sexual activities with your female co actors?
No, once I am on set, I am focused! I am very, very concerned with the production. I don’t get distracted by the women, you know what I am talking about.
You left the banking sector for acting, so far is it paying off financially
Definitely it is. When I started it wasn’t rosy at all but being the kind of person I am, I put my hands into many other things like modeling, casting, I was into importation of cars so I was enjoying it even from the beginning because I had other sources of income and now that I have somehow dropped the other things and am focusing completely on the movies, I am still enjoying it.
What keeps you going?
It is the natural inspiration, if you are inspired by what you love and you keep doing that thing, you don’t need anybody to inspire you.
Are you picky on the role you play?
No I am not. Any role I am given I do even if it’s that of a mad man, no shame but most importantly it should be a good script.
Which role are you at home with
I think roles like bad husband, lover boy, the player. The romance roles actually.
So the kisses, how sweet are they
The kisses, how sweet are they? (Laughs) I think you have to come into the industry to know.
Do your roles reflect your life style?
It’s only a computer that you programme in some way and it remains like that. I am not a computer; I am the one programming the roles into my character not the role programming me so there is no way a role can remain as my real life character.
They say Method Acting has a way of affecting the Actor
That is people who want the roles to affect their character.
The gain and pain of being a popular Nollywood Actor
One of the pains is you can’t remain your normal self , for instance someone like me who likes Mama Put, I can’t just do that anymore so I am confined to eating the sugar, sugar things. That’s the only pain, the gain, hmmm; the gain is what we are doing right now. It’s not anybody you see, you interview so it makes you a celebrity.
What does style mean to you?
In a simple way, style is what makes you fine. What you are wearing alone tells that you have a sense of style because it makes you fine. That’s it.
What is your most expensive fashion collection?
I really don’t have, when I see something I like, I go for it but it has to have a name whether it’s a Nigerian brand or foreign I don’t care.
How do you relax?
Most time, the best way I relax is staying at home with my girl friend… I will be getting married to her very soon.
What is your dream for the future?
Honestly I would like Nollywood to step up to near or up to Hollywood which I think can never happen in this life time, probably in the next life because our government doesn’t support what we do, they might be interested in the political side of Nollywood but production wise? They are not. We don’t have standard film studios, no policy for the industry, nothing.