Who would you say
Ella Chikezie is and what part of the country is she from?
Ella Chikezie is a survivor and a storyteller and I’m from
Eastern Nigeria, Abia state precisely.
In brief summary,
how was growing up like for you?
Growing up was interesting for me because I grew up around a
lot of people. Being a preacher’s kid, that meant early exposure to people because
then my parents, mom precisely, would always put me and my siblings in
spotlight and honestly I didn’t like that. I was this quiet shy person around
strangers and at school, but once I was at home or in church, my mom would make
me sing in the choir and I’ll have to interact with other church members. So,
although I was quiet and shy at first, I learnt to be more social and outgoing
from a young age. Secondly, I grew up reading a lot of books because my Dad had
a big library at home so, I learnt to read early and started reading a lot of
Shakespeare’s work and foreign literature from an early age. This early
exposure kind of sparked my interest in literature and the arts.
Is it the
Nigerian factor that made you to abandon a certificate degree in Bio-Chemistry
from the University of Port Harcourt to venture into filmmaking?
Honestly, I wouldn’t say it’s the Nigerian factor because I
knew that i always wanted to be in the creative business. Studying science was
mainly because of my mom. She always wanted an engineer or scientist at home
and it just so happened that at the time, I wasn’t assertive enough, so that’s
how I ended up in sciences. Although, I wouldn’t say that I don’t like science,
as a matter of fact, I was doing well in science subjects at school but art
have always had my heart.
What was truly going
on at the back of your mind that prompted you to enter for the 2019 edition of
Access Bank’s Accelerate Filmmakers Workshop, considering the fact that you had
no prior background in Filmmaking?
My journey into accelerate filmmaker project was a leap of
faith. I always wanted to venture into filmmaking but I didn’t know how. Some
years back, I had seen someone I knew go into the project and became a
successful filmmaker afterwards, and as you said, since I didn’t really have a
background in film even though I was in the church drama group as a teenager, I
took the bold step and applied. It was my first time and I was lucky to have
made it to the program.
Your 60-secs
short on “Patriotism” made it to the top 25 shortlisted filmmakers and secured
you a spot in the training. Can you share with us how you felt when you made
the top 50 list and the final shortlist for the training workshop and how has
life been for you afterwards?
I was excited and overwhelmed with emotions at the time.
Like it felt surreal for me because I had only tried for the first time and
gotten in. At that point, if I had doubts about my decision to venture into
film, that opportunity was the confirmation that I was born to do film. Life
after accelerate filmmaker project has been great for me because almost all I
learnt from the program has helped me in my short filmmaking career, also I
have moved on from that to other bigger things and training programs even
internationally. I was also a beneficiary of the African International Film
Festival (Afriff) screenwriting program last year and a beneficiary of the
Ladima Foundation (SA) and DW Akademie (Germany) women in film and animation
training program in January this year. I have also worked on several big
projects including an animation and documentary film for the African Union.
Should be out later this year.
According to UNICEF report, an estimated 275 million children globally are exposed to violence in the home front. Too often, children who witness these violence are usually the forgotten victims of violence at home. [Read more on Instagram here]
You are a poet,
writer, producer and an animator, mind you share with us your excitement whilst
preparing to make your directorial debut with your new short film “ANYWHERE BUT
HOME”, set for global release on Wednesday, July 1, 2020?
Having the opportunity to direct my first short film, is an
experience I’ll love to go through again. To start with, my short film,
“Anywhere But Home” was inspired after I came across a short film competition
that Ladima Foundation in Collaboration with DW Akademie were organizing for
female filmmakers in Africa. We had two weeks to submit our films which must
have been made during the covid or post covid lockdown, so we created the film
on such short notice. I feel very blessed to have had one of the best people in
my team and to have gotten a lot of support from my family, friends and
colleagues. Honestly, I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and love
from people and even strangers and I hope that when the film comes out on
YouTube, people would embrace it with the same enthusiasm that they have shown.
You had quite an
interesting special thanks credited to some notable organizations and
individuals (for their support in making your first short film) like, Michelle
Dede, Orange Vfx Studios, Comfort Arthur etc., what further message do you have
for them via this medium?
Yeah they say we have to give honor to whom honor is due and
these individuals/organizations have played a huge role in my journey so far.
Michelle Dede, many years ago, had discovered me online and since then she has
supported and encouraged me through my trials and triumphs, I call her my
mentor. She was the one who had seen I had the gift of writing, 4 years ago, and
had encouraged me to write. Comfort Arthur is another mentor whom I adopted
from my animation training program at Ladima Foundation this year, she taught
me animation and is one of the people who encouraged me to make my first short
film. Orange vfx studios has also been a huge part of my success because the
people there gave me an opportunity to utilize my talent for what it’s worth. I
grateful to God Almighty and especially grateful to these amazing people whom I
feel humbled and blessed to have met and worked with.
Do you have a
Nigerian female filmmaker role model and if yes, who is that and why her?
Yes I do. I’ll say Mo Abudu because she is someone who has
contributed a lot to African Cinema and has given a lot of creative people,
especially women in film and entertainment, an opportunity to leverage on and
explore their talent.
Are your parents
especially your father, in support of your chosen carrier as a filmmaker as
against being a bio-chemist?
Well my dad never really had a say in the matter, when he
was alive he used to be someone that didn’t judge or have an opinion on how
others chose to live their lives. He’d always say that life was meant to be
lived once and so we had better do what made us happy while we had time. But my
mom didn’t support that and was a major influence in my life, so it came as a
surprise when I told her I wanted to be a filmmaker. She didn’t accept at first
but now she’s one of my biggest supporter. She’ll always tell me she’s praying
for me and that God has got me.
You have had
work experiences with notable organizations like DStv, Airtel, Gotv, UAC,
Access Bank etc., how has these imparted your life as a filmmaker?
Getting the opportunity to work with these brands has helped
me so much because I have learnt a lot about brand imagery and I have been
exposed to many great people in the business circle. Working for these brands
isn’t a walk in the park as they mostly aim for perfection and believe in
churning out great work so that has affected my work ethics and right now I
always strive for excellence in all I do.
In your own
words, who would you consider a successful filmmaker?
For me a successful filmmaker is one who is able to tell an
authentic story using technology and make people feel different kinds of
emotions while doing so. It is reminding people who they are and helping them
see themselves in the eyes of these characters in every story they tell. It is
knowing you have your audience glued to their screen and making them disappear
into the world you have created.
Where do you see
yourself as a filmmaker in the next 5 years and what are the calculated steps
you are taking to getting there?
In the next 5 years I see myself as an established producer
in Africa. I see myself collaborating with more creative people globally and
churning out great works that audiences within Africa and beyond would love. I
am intentionally improving my craft, learning, networking and exploring as I
go.
What advice do
you have for upcoming and aspiring filmmakers in general, irrespective of
gender?
My advice to aspiring filmmakers would be to never give up.
Consistency is key in this business and no one would really give you an
opportunity if you don’t put yourself out there. So by all means, be willing to
try new things and do not let fear and doubt keep you away from living your
dreams.
Published by:
Nnadi Duke
pr.vntmedia@gmail.com
08050900120
