Recently, actress Uche Jombo recorded a milestone in her acting career when she launched a movie production outfit called, Uche Jumbo Studio, with which she intends to produce a number of films, including the “Damage Trilogy.”
The Damage movies are a collection of three movies with distinct yet interwoven stories, which is already making waves in the cinemas across the country. In this encounter, the actress explains why she decided to embark on the project, and her private life.
Above all, she refutes the allegation that she has parted ways with Emem Isong and Desmond Elliot who are her business partners, saying that ‘those who peddled the rumour will look stupid when she, and the two Nollywood stars will be involved in another project soon.”
You premiered your movie “Damage” recently. How is the movie doing in the cinemas ?
So far so good. The response I have been getting from the cinemas is very encouraging and I’m happy about it. First and foremost, the movie is an advocacy trilogy, an experimental one for that mater. People are really identifying with the project. They love the film, “it’s the Lord’s doing and it’s marvelous in our eyes”.
Trilogy?
Uche Jumbo
Yes, “Damage” is a trilogy movie but this is the first of that trilogy, which is why the responses we are getting are very encouraging. There are two other movies that will be released soon.
The first movie is Damage which dwells on family violence, followed by “My Life, My Damage”, based on the consequences of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS. The last is My Country, Their Damage, which deals on human trafficking.
Basically, the trilogy is an advocacy project from the same socially related subjects that have been talked about over and over again,. But now, seen from a different angle. For example, in Damage ,you will see more of domestic and family kind of story based film.
We decided to explore a situation where couples are violent people to send a strong message to our target audience. Also, when you see films that dwells on AIDS, you will discover that such films mostly talk about contacting AIDS virus through sex or someone living a promiscuous life.
But here, we take the other way around, talking about AIDS that can be contacted through sharing niddles and other unprotected means.
On “My Country, Their Damage”, the last of the trilogy is expository. When people talk about human trafficking in Nigeria, what usually comes to mind are Benin girls.
But in this movie, we tried to look at the other form of human trafficking that has to do with enslavement and labour. That’s human trafficking as far as I’m concerned, and nobody is talking about it. That’s basically what the trilogy is all about.
Are you telling somebody’s story here or your own story?
After the youth Ambassadorship thing, I decided to do a project that would stay and be relevant to the society. I wanted to do a project that people can actually appreciate, call it a propaganda if you like, but at the same time, it’s entertaining and an advocacy film.
After showing the film in Nigeria, what next?
I’m still doing a public screening of the film in my home state, Abia. The governor of my state, Theodore Orji, has paid for Abians to see the film since it is not going to be released on VCD. The success of “Damage” will open doors to the advocacy film making in Nigeria.
My concern is for people to accept the movie first and foremost, especially given the present crisis that confronts many homes in Africa. It’s a film to support.
Without being immodest, “Damage” is a different kind of film, an advocacy film but has entertainment values. So, it is not in competition whatsoever with any other film out there.
How long did you work on the project?
It took me years to put the project together. In fact, the three scripts I’m using for the trilogy are short scripts that I wanted to shoot as short films for festivals because of what the stories or the films represent.
It so happened that when I wanted to do a socially relevant project, I kind of read the three scripts all over again and I discovered that they had one thing in common-”self-damage factor” and that was what gave birth to the idea of producing a trilogy.
And when I discovered the self-damage factor, it gave birth to the titles of the trilogy; “Damage” My Life, My Damage, and ‘My Country, Their Damage”. The films are interwoven.
There is this impression that you are gradually shifting from acting to producing films. What is the true position?
Damage is my third attempt as an executive producer. I don’t think it’s true, because I’m convinced it’s a process. I have gotten to a point in my career where I’m putting my money where my mouth is. It’s quite simple. I have always been a script writer, an actress and a producer.
The desire to set up my own studio was as a result of my project. I would have spent more than necessary if I didn’t set up a studio. However, I wouldn’t call myself a producer, rather I’m an investor in an industry that made me who I am today.
Nollywood as an industry has given me a loud voice, and I will not forgive myself if I bow out of the stage today without doing the kind of films I ordinarily would love to watch. I’m a lover of films. I go to the cinemas to see movies. I have gotten to a point in my career where I don’t want to be known as Uche Jombo , the script writer, the actress and the producer.
I want to be known as Uche Jombo, the film maker. If you like call it growth in the industry. I’m at a point where I want to introduce myself as a film maker and not just a writer, producer or actress. I’m still getting scripts from producers.
Uche Jombo...
But I’m also trying to put everything in proper perspective. I’m a lover of the arts and that’s why when Emem Isong approached me to invest in the Royal Arts Academy, a budding movie production company, I didn’t blink .
As a lover of the arts, you will always want to identify yourself with things that will support the arts. It’s all about finding a balance is which why I work so hard to separate my real life and my work life.
You had an accident last June. Was it in the process of shoot your film?
I was returning from an event organised by LG before the accident occurred. I didn’t sustain any serious injury, it was a miracle for me. I thank God for his mercies and once again. I’m reassured that my work here on earth is not yet completed.
There’s this rumour that you have parted ways with Desmond Elliot and Emem Isong, and that was why they did not attend the premiere of your Damage?
Seriously, I didn’t want to discuss this issue, because I personal felt some person out there wanted to distract people from what I wanted out of life. First of all, when I read the story, it sounded very unintelligent to me.
In as much as I have great respect for journalists, it’s also important that they should try as much as possibnle to cross-check their facts before rushing to the press. I’m granting this interview at Royal Arts Academy, which they alleged that I separated myself from. If you go to the Damagaemovie site, you will see Royal Arts Academy as the distribution network.
The Royal Arts Academy that I’m involved in, is not the production part, neither is it the school or the distribution part. It is like a three in one company. Why didn’t the journalist asked question first and foremost before taking the stuff to the public to misinform them. Emem Isong is someone I have great respect for; we don’t want to pay attention to that kind of distraction.
Do you think online journalism is doing good to the industry?
I don’t think so, because most times there’s where the problems start from. People who don’t really know anything about you will start commenting on what they don’t know , without understanding that it’s just a gossip and not the truth.
Emem Isong is involved in a project called ‘I take my Chance”, they are doing a post-production in New York, while Desmond Elliot has been on set, even before he went on vocation, where he started his post-production. Let’s not make the story look important by talking about it. The important thing here is that I know the true story, so also Desmond and Emem.
After Damage, what next?
I am still doing other projects. But the trilogy is what we are concentrating on, at the moment. We still have two more movies to produce,. At the moment, I’m still doing post-production as well as something for “Holding Hope’, a counter project I’m doing with Emem and Desmond.
In your acting life, did you ever get asked for sex before you were given a role?
Not at all. May be, it’s because of the way I started out or the way I carried myself. It’s an over-flogged issue as it sounds.
I have one or two upcoming actresses who alleged how some producers asked for sex before giving them roles. When I inquired to know the producers , they refused to disclose their identities, and I was pissed-off because if you are not confident enough to disclose the identifies of the producers involved, why talking about it.
I think sometimes, people are too much in a hurry. They don’t want to crawl before they run, I crawled , and therefore, someone like myself will not have that kind of experience.
What is your assessment of the industry ?
Where we are today is not where we were yesterday, and I’m sure, it’s not where we are going to be tomorrow. We are rated the second largest film producing nation, and it’s something we should be happy and at the same time sad because Nollywood is still a self-driven industry.
I know that Nollywood rreally lack both the manpower and talents. But we probably might lack one or two things in terms of technicality. However, more people that have the right equipment are coming into the industry and hopefully, with time, things will get better in the industry.
What informs the kind of role you play in movies?
I am still a growing actress and I keep maintaining that. I still have some roles I have not played and I would like to play. It’s basically the roles that challenge me as an actress.
What’s the most silly thing you have done in your career as an actress ?
I can’t remember any presently but of course, I have done so many silly things. It’s not possible as a human being not to do some silly thing, things you might purse and say, I’m sorry. But do we learn from it. That’s where the question lies. I am sure I have done somethings that when I look back , I have every reason to regret my action.
Is there vacancy for relationship in your life or are you already hooked?
Are you asking me if I am single : of course I am. When I will get married , you will hear of it .
One observes how much you try to keep your private life away from the public knowledge?
Yes, I do, because I have learnt from the mistakes of other celebrities . It is what sustains any form of relationship you have. It’s better not to talk about it . Every other thing about you is already in the public eye.
You have invited the people into your life , by what you do . There are no apologies if they talk about you in a manner you don’t like. But as a celebrity, you must learn to maintain your silence .There is every need for one to learn to separate what you do, to earn a living from your real life.
You are aware of the too many divorce cases involving celebrities?
I don’t blame anybody , but I just feel that , when you want to get married to your spouse, it’s imperative you separate that person’s life as an artist and also, as real person. It’s also important to know more about the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. Don’t marry an image.
If you have the chance, what would you like to change in your life ?
I am too frank to people. I will like to be more diplomatic, concerning the things I say to people.
Is there anything that would make you want to quit acting?
Will I ever quit acting? No, this is because if you see how I have positioned myself in the industry , it wouldn’t be difficult for you to notice that I am not in a hurry to quit acting.
Are you damming or charming when it comes to relating with men?
I think I am charming in terms of my relationship with men.
How do you describe yourself?
The girl next door
Tell us more about your childhood. Are you aje butter or aje pako?
It wasn’t an easy journey but growing up for me was fun. I’m in between an aje butter and aje pako. I don’t regret anything while growing up because it formed part of what have made me today. While growing up, I stick to my dreams and today, my life is better for it. It was a long journey for me, but I’m grateful and it’s a journey I will like to take again.
What’s your relationship with your Abiriba nation?
I am Ada Nga-nga 1 of Abiriba and also, I’m an ambassador to my culture and to the average Abiriba girl. Because I come from a place where women are seen but not heard, I’m grateful to God for the voice He has given to me. My relationship with my culture is an honour I wear with pride.
What would you say life has taught you?
Life has taught me to be truthful to myself, because I have had so many people who painted me black, cooked up lots of lies about me. So, being truthful to myself is golden. A lot of lies have already been written about me, or negative talks about me. So, the only thing I own myself is to remain truthful to myself. That’s what life is all about.
There is this rumour that you drink to stupor. Are you a drunk?
I’m just hearing that for the first time. Anyway, do I smoke? no! I have also heard people accused me of smoking marijuana(indian heap). If it’s so, I must be a wonderful actress to be able to convince my audience to believe that I take certain things before appearing on set. I live a healthy life and I have no apologies to render to anybody for the life I have chosen to live.
But I take exception to people misleading the public about me. I have never smoked in my life and I don’t go out of my way to over-drink or drink myself to stupor. I do understand what I represent globally. Like I said earlier, it took me a very long time to get to where I am today, and that’s why I take myself too seriously. I have worked so hard to establish myself for anybody to run me down.
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