Kelvin Esosa Obazee, popular as as Obatide Kelvin has made quite a name for himself in Nollywood. He has produced movies like ‘Ika Leyan’ and acted in April Showers, Kelegbe, Olokada Oru, Arole, Kokumo, The Devil You Know, Etan, Ojo Ikomo, Akobi. He has also played major roles In Super Story and The Village Head Master of Wale Adenuga Productions. In this interview he speaks on his latest productions, and the future of Nollywood.
What year did you join the industry?
- I started my career in the movie industry under Eagles Cacus owned by Okiki Afolayan. But I originally studied at the University Of Benin.
Tell us about your coming projects.
Currently, I am working on a movie titled Ajeyemi Elegiri.
What’s your take on Nollywood’s growth so far?
Honestly, the movie industry has evolved tremendously with great movies well produced professionally and as time goes on, Nollywood will become a force to be reckoned with globally. It’s obvious the movement has begun already.
Tell us four actors you look forward to working with?
Funke Akindele, RMD, Genevieve Nnaji and Will Smith
The industry is currently in a phase where practitioners have to give their best to stay relevant, how prepared are you?
I don’t think I need more to do than stay consistent, improve on my craft on a daily basis and back it with fervent prayers to God Almighty. I’m also not threatened by any other actor.
Since you became an actor, what has been the most thrilling experience you have had so far?
It has been getting paid for what I totally enjoy doing and seeing people appreciate every bit of my work.
What’s the first thought that comes to your mind when you get a script?
How to get the job done in a way that I believe no one has ever done it before.
What challenges have you faced in delivering roles so far?
Because I enjoy doing every bit of work I’ve done, every work comes seemingly as a proper artisan would see a job given to him, so for me there have been no challenges.
What’s your latest movie project and what should your fans be expecting from it?
Ika Leyan. It is loaded. My fans should expect maximum laughter and loads of lessons to learn from the movie.
What’s your take on piracy as threat to the creative industry?
As I said earlier, the industry is evolving, and with the progression of things, piracy won’t matter anymore most especially with the invention of reputable digital platforms where we get to put our intellectual properties on platforms where we would make our dividends directly from the source. Piracy would fade out in no time, trust me.
What inspires you as a creative figure?
My Family, they inspire me to go the extra mile because they would always wait to watch the next movie I feature in. Also, my fans, their comments online and when I get to see some face to face. I wouldn’t want to water down what they’ve seen of me. That inspires me to extensively intensify my efforts in my craft every time I get a job to do.
Tell us your thoughts on Nollywood hierarchy and apprenticeship growth style?
Nollywood is a citadel of knowledge of its own where you get to learn continuously no matter how knowledgeable you’ve been before you joined the industry and that’s where knowledge of those that have been there before you comes to play in terms of hierarchy.
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