Posted by By SOLA BALOGUN on
Popular movie maker and producer, Chief Gab Onyi Okoye, of Gabosky films incorporated is one of those who doesn't believe in churning out films, just for the sake of it. This is probably why whenever he releases his movies, they become instant blockbusters. Some of his works include, Nneka The Pretty Serpent, Battle of Musanga, Beyond The Vow, and the yet to be released Banned in Nigeria.
Popular movie maker and producer, Chief Gab Onyi Okoye, of Gabosky films incorporated is one of those who doesn't believe in churning out films, just for the sake of it. This is probably why whenever he releases his movies, they become instant blockbusters. Some of his works include, Nneka The Pretty Serpent, Battle of Musanga, Beyond The Vow, and the yet to be released Banned in Nigeria.
Coming into Nollywood
I came into this movie industry in 1992 with the production of my debut - Nneka The Pretty Serpent. As far back as 1992, there were no marketers. What we had then were video cassette dealers comprising JBM, Okija Amaka, Bonag, WAI Video, Andy Best etc. Of all these people, only Okija Amaka had the capacity to import blank tapes.
You could then imagine the fact that I had to import my own tapes from Hong Kong to enable me release my films at that time. In 1992, I ventured into film production with the popular movie Nneka, the Pretty Serpent, the sequel, Nneka II was produced in 1994.
I later produced another film in 1996, an award-winning epic called, The Battle of Musanga. The film till date is the biggest budget film ever produced in the history of home video in Nigeria. I have also produced and created other award winning movies like: Beyond the Vow, Tycoon among others.
Most expensive
The Battle of Musanga was not only the most expensive movie, but also the first epic movie in Nollywood. It was the first time that artistes were moved out of Lagos and are all camped in a hotel for a movie production. I also pioneered the prompt payment of artistes after shooting on a location.
Coping with women
I have brought many artistes into the movie industry. I have also encouraged, advised and steered a lot of people in the industry towards living a better and responsible life.
I can boldly say that I don't womanize. I don't also give roles to anybody in the industry conditionally and I challenge any artiste on the accusation of sexual harassment during production of my movie. So, I am not guilty of sexual harasment that most women talk about in the industry. I am a no-nonsense-man and my wife is my secretary and works for me 24 hours daily.
Wearing of scarf
I like to dress in a unique way. I am in show business, so I have to be creative and colourful in my choice of dressing. At the same time, I am an international businessman who likes designer wears. It is never cowboy attire as it seems. It is peculiar to Gabosky's mode of dressing. I always cover my head with a bandana or scarf, but it signifies nothing and does not connote membership of any cult or sect whether religious or cultural. It is simply my style and my creation.
Professionalism in Nollywood
I see many of our members coming from an "apprentice" or video-cassette trader/electronic dealer background. In the words of Emma Isikaku, former PRO of the marketers on May 15, 1998 during the first joint meeting of the Association of Movie Producers and Video-Cassette Marketers at AMP secretariat, "Marketing goes beyond what we do now in Idumota. The Industry is growing, everybody is learning. From the marketer's side, it will be a gradual change, we have realized our problems and wish to proceed from there".
Other stakeholders present at the meeting included the President of the Marketers, Prince Ekundayo, myself, Chief Eddie Ugboma, Zeb Ejiro, Opa Williams and Tunji Bamishigbin who represented AMP.
Challenges in Nollywood
Movie making in Nigeria today is an open market for all-comers. This is mainly owing to the unregulated environment which paved the way for influx of some unscrupulous businessmen operating as movie-marketers. Government, through the National Film and Video Censors Board, has the duty of addressing this irregularity hence it has resolved that it will no longer tolerate any act of frustration of creative and intellectual works thereby encouraging intellectual laziness.