‘How Arugba changed my story’ —Bukky Awoyemi

Bukky Awoyemi started her journey into the make believe world in the English movies, but later crossed over to Yoruba when she played the lead role in Tunde Kelani’s Arugba. The actress’ career can be described as soaring, what with her own movie at hand. In this interview with DUPE AYINLA-OLASUKANMI, she talks about her challenges in producing her first job and achievement so far. Excerpts

TELL us about your new movie……………………………….. I thank God almighty for giving me the opportunity, because it has always been my dream to tell a story of my own right from school. Actually, this was not the first that I thought I would produce because I had one particular story that I wrote while I was still in school. But I wrote it for the stage while in my 300 level.

As I was writing it, I was seeing it on screen; I was not seeing it on stage. But since I was still a student I wrote it for the stage. So when I graduated I converted it from play to screen play. I won’t say I am a filmmaker like my boss Tunde Kelani, but I will just say I have a story to tell in my own little way. That is what I am doing presently.

Are you saying this new movie was written while in school?

No, this particular one I am working on currently was written after I graduated. But the one I wrote while in school was the one I thought I would produce first. But looking at the logistics I kept it aside. Probably, it will be the next.

This one you are working on, is it on a lower budget than the other one?

Well, I decided to do this first because I feel if I want to achieve the other one, a lot of things have to be put in place because it is traditional. I feel every story or movie has its own challenges, this just came by and I just started writing and decided to do it first.

What about your experience as a new producer?

It gave me a lot of experience, like being a producer and also acting at the same time. Being an actress and a producer are two different things. Producing and acting at the same time is the most challenging situation anybody in the industry could find him or herself. I tell you, you will have to concentrate on the success of the production because sometimes you might be waiting on an actor, or one is not even going to show up.

And probably you are shooting somewhere and you are being given problems, like you are not sure they are going to let out the place for you to shoot. And you have to pick up your script and act again. It is like swinging from one mood to another. Honestly speaking, if I would have my way, if I want to produce, I don’t think I would want to act.

Why didn’t you drop one for the other when you discovered the challenges?

It was my first time, because the story was written by me. I saw everything and the storyline was written around the things I could do, because the character in the movie sings, and I sing. I also did the songs and wrote it myself to the glory of God. So I felt I could do it; since it was written by me, it would be best delivered by me. But on getting to the set, I saw a different ball game on location.

Sometimes I would wake up at 5am and sleep at 5am. It is as good as not sleeping at all, and I have to be awake by 8am again and start shooting. I feel to really concentrate on production, just be a producer. But for people who have done it severally, it is just a piece of cake for them. But for me it was very challenging, because I wanted everything to be perfect.