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| Saheed Balogun |
Saheed Kolawole Balogun is a household name in the Nigeria Movie Industry. He was born in Kwara State on February 5, 1967 and read Statistics at the Kwara State Polytechnic. Saheed started acting in 1981 and has over the years, worked with most of the great actors and actresses in Nollywood. He recently spoke to ADEDAYO SHOWEMIMO on his career and marital squabbles
The state of the Nigerian movie industry…
Well, I’ll simply say that we are getting there. It started in the 60s when movies were shot on celluloid. Then, we graduated to the 35mm. Now, we are shooting with 3D cameras, though it doesn’t sound right, because 3D is a camera meant for shooting mini documentaries. So, to me, we are not growing; that’s why we will continue to beg the government to give us one voice, because now, we have close to 33 different associations.
The government should give us one voice, because the truth is movies have no language. Indians make Indian movies, Chinese make Chinese movies, and we all still enjoy it. So, we should all have one voice. Take for instance here, some people went to see the president and made him their patron. So, the Yorubas too will go and he would have to receive us because he needs our vote. Just imagine if the 33 associations do the same thing. That’s why I always tell people that we should watch before we leap.
I’ve taken a lot of risks in my career…
My country is a very good country that has good shock absorbers to deal with practically everything. If you can struggle and make it in this country (take it from me) you can make it anywhere in the world. I have suffered and struggled a lot. For instance, Kunle Afolayan and some other guys in the industry recently created this new organization called “The Movie Ambassadors”, and they made me their President. So, we sat down and said this is not an association for everybody. The bar is high. So, if you have to be a movie ambassador, you must have something to offer to the future of the industry and you must have gone through the rank and file of the industry. You must be ready to sacrifice and stay focused because a lot of things are going wrong. For now, we are still less than 60 in the association and Kenny G once said ‘now is the time that we can take care of the elders in our industry.’
The role of the movie ambassadors….
If you are in TAMPAN, ANTP, AGN and any of the other associations and you have done well, then you are a movie ambassador. If you’ve really learnt anything from the elders in the industry, then you can come and become a movie ambassador. We can also create a lasting legacy for the generation coming behind. All these associations will still remain; the only difference is that we are ambassadors of them all. We have four categories in the association. We have the Platinum, Senior Movie Ambassadors, the Gold category and the Silver Category. Someone once said ‘why don’t we just join one of the existing associations,’ but the truth is that is not about numbers. It’s about impact. For instance, if we are doing something and a bank decides to support us with N50 million, it’s easy to deal with it in an association of less than 100. But If we are 4000, how do you explain it. If you are an ambassador, you must be worthy.
I am not fulfilled…
I am not fulfilled. I can only say I’m fulfilled when am like 90 years old and I look back and see countless numbers of people that I have helped. Fulfillment is not about material things or what you are worth, but the story and legacy you have left for the generation behind.
I have always wanted to be an actor...
Yes, from the word go, I knew acting was the way to go for me. For me, acting is a spirit. It’s a passion. Acting is me. I am acting, it’s my dream. Someone once said to me that since I know a lot of politicians, I should be a contractor and I said there is a difference between governance, construction and creativity. So, because Governor Aregbesola is my god-father and Remo Adikwu Bakare is my god-mother doesn’t automatically mean I should be collecting contracts.
If you look at it, entertainment is too broad. There’s music, acting, reality shows, comperes, and so much more. So, it’s too broad and I am still exploring it. I really don’t have time to start thinking if anything else away from entertainment. Today I speak Yoruba, Igbo, English and Hausa languages fluently and I am planning to learn French also.
Marital talks distract my creativity….
Well, the situation is that marital talks distract my creativity. Too much talk on this marriage issue did not allow people see what I can deliver in terms of my talent and creativity. It’s not as if I’m shy to talk about it, but the truth is that we have too many other burning issues to talk about rather than dwell on this marriage issue. And people keep saying people want to know what really happened. Well, help me tell the people that want to know that I’ll rather talk of business and money instead of marriage. I want to move forward and talk about how to tackle piracy and move our industry forward.
Dealing with female admirers….
I handle them the way they should be handled. It is not every female that says they love your films really wants to date you. So, I take them the way they come, because in anything you do, women are the first set of people to appreciate you. They can ruin and make you. So, appreciate them and give them the respect they deserve. I just take them the way they come.
Practical ways to deal with piracy…
I’ve said it several times. We have senators and House of Representatives members in charge of entertainment. What laws have they passed regarding the industry in the last 12 years?
All these 33 associations we have should leave ego aside and come together so that we can have one voice and collectively request for that legislation that can save our industry, instead of going one after the other, to lobby for peanuts.
We should stop deceiving ourselves, and stop putting the cat before the horse.
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