By SIMEON MPAMUGOH
He started off as publisher of Ikebe Super, Super Story and Binta- popular magazines that made waves in the late 1970s. This was after he graduated in Business Administration, from the University of Lagos(UNILAG), Nigeria in 1974.
In 1997, Wale Adenuga, Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) turned the soft sell publications into television drama. Today, the drama series had won for him several awards and national honours. Recently, he launched a new movie; The Perfect Church for cinema audience at the Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos.
In a recent chat with Daily Sun, Adenuga spoke on the industry, his new movie, among other issues:
What informed The Perfect Church?
There is no gift one can give a human being that is greater than that which can change his/her life for the better. The Perfect Church is my latest assignment after Super Story, This Life, Papa Ajasco, Company and Nnena and Friends. It was a divine call I heeded.
Why did it take so long to release the film
This is not a regular and commercial movie. As a matter of fact, if I have my way, I’ll make free copies for every one. I want the message to reach everybody. I didn’t do it for money, but for the message.
About the film
It is an adaptation of a book, The Perfect Church, by Ebi Akpeti. She wrote the book, and brought it to me saying that God told her that I should turn it to a film. Initially I took it with pinch of salt. But after reading the book I felt touched and really decided turning it to movie. It is a message every human being must see.
The essential message is that it is never too late for anyone to repent and be saved. Many people are saved by His grace.
Turning historic Nigerian novels into films
Every producer is a prophet of God with different message, be it romantic, comedy, action or pornography films. But the message in The Perfect Church is very clear. It is about salvation. The grace of God is like sea of water waiting for one to jump into and be immersed. It is not too late and age is not a barrier, whether one is 70, 80 or 90 years, just ask God for forgiveness, and turn a new leaf.
Quality of the cast
The hallmark of Super Story, another programme from the stable of WAP is good casting. We have a committee of producers who handled the casting. It is not a solo effort. We look at every role critically and discover who is best for it. There is no sentiment about our casting.
That is one of the things that have made Super Story a credible drama. A good story can be messed up with bad casting. And the moment I read the book and saw the development, I told myself that the best Pastor in Nigeria for the movie is Ramsey Noah.
How long did it take to release the movie
We shot the movie in about a year. As a movie, it took several processes. It is unlike home video, which can be produced within a short period. After shooting and editing, we also went ahead to do colorations, grading, special sounds and many more.
WAP as a household name and secret of its success
There is no secret. Our first movie came out in 1983. It was the popular Papa Ajasco comedy film done on celluloid. It travelled across the whole country, West Africa and America. The main hall of the National Theatre then was seating about 5,000 people. And the whole place was filled to the brim. The Perfect Church is really our second attempt.
I was not prepared for another movie until I read the book and was touched by the story. And I felt every human being deserves to see the movie side of the book. It is life changing. And if one looks at the church today, there is a lot of holier than thou attitude and pretensions going on. A lot of people feel above God, the Law and reproach. They assume big positions in the church, and believe because they’ve assumed such positions they cannot confess their sins.
Why is the film replete with suspense
That is the hallmark of a good story. Any story one could predict the end, is not a good story.
Movie industry in Nigeria
Nigeria’s film industry started on celluloid. If one looks at the productions in the late sixties and early seventies, Nigerians were producing celluloid films but Nigerian economy went down in the late seventies and early eighties. That was why we abandoned celluloid and embraced home video style. This is because; with a meager budget, one can produce video.
But at the end of the day, due to the pure water approach we usually apply to production, too many films that were released lost quality and standard; piracy also came in and tore everything to pieces. Nigerian producers discovered that the only way out is to look for money and shoot something for the cinema, because as long as this thing is for the cinema and not home video, nobody can pirate it. At least before one turns it to home video, one would have made his/her money. It is the ideal and new trend.
Future plans
A year ago, I never knew I would produce something like The Perfect Church. But the idea came from God and I did it. So I don’t know my next assignment. I know God will give me some six months. But the immediate plan I have now is that every year, I will be releasing a big movie; one movie per year. But my movies must contain enough messages to make the world a better place. I will not do any movie just for romance and laughter. It must go with a message; a life changing message.
What does your payoff denote: We are nothing but a pencil in the hands of the creator?
Loot at pencil, the valuable part of it is hidden in the pencil covered by a worthless wood. What that translates is that the most important part of human being should be inside the brain and not the clothes and jewelries on the body.
How does WAP give back to the community that helps to sustain it
Wale Adenuga Production(WAP) is a television and film production company. It gives back to the society by nurturing its spiritual wellbeing through its comedy programmes: Papa Ajasco and company. If one watches the programme, one learns something new such as how to be a good husband and avoid flirts. There is always a moral message in every story we put on television, which means that we are contributing to the society and cultural beliefs of the nation.
What is your philosophy of life
One’s life is a gift from God. However, parents are just vehicles through which we come to this world. The whole essence of living is to make life change from good to better and better to best so that at the end of the day, one will be able to stand before one’s creator to give account of one’s stewardship.
When do we expect The Perfect Church on home video
The movie would soon hit the cinemas throughout the country. But there is no plan to convert it to home video, until after one year. It is cut for the cinemas.