Popular actor, Prince Jide Kosoko, in this interview with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, speaks on his passion for acting, the death of three wives and the tussle for power in the movie industry
What makes this year different from previous years for you?
The year has been a very good one for me. I have been going from one production to another. As you can see, I am on a movie set as we speak. Once this project is completed, I will travel out of the country. Also, I have not recorded any negative incident this year and I thank God for that.
How do you manage to remain active despite your age?
It is perhaps the grace of God, the will to achieve and the will to continue to prosper in my chosen career. I am in love with my profession and I am always determined to face new challenges. However, I thank God that I am full of experience in my profession and life in general. But the truth is that you must continue to learn and there are certain things where you are still a complete novice.
What profession do you think you would have been practising if you didn’t venture into acting?
I wouldn’t know. I don’t know what would have become of me if I hadn’t taken to acting. What is certain is that I would have been engaged in a profession where I would be able to demonstrate my creativity as well.
I started acting precisely in 1964; I think I was just 10. You know what that means especially at a time when parents didn’t allow their children to venture into acting. I started in primary school and since then, I have been acting professionally. My first performance was Makanjuola, a stage play.
Did you ever think you would attain this level of fame?
I might not have known it would get to this extent, but I wanted to be like my role model, Hubert Ogunde. Then, we both lived in the same vicinity. Whenever he passed, people hailed, adored and respected him. Seeing all that, I said to myself that I would love to be like him. That perhaps must have prepared me for what I am today.
How were you able to cross over to English-speaking movies?
I think an actor should be versatile. If I am given a role in the French language category for instance, all I need is time to master the language and I will deliver. If you talk about English, I think I am learned enough to go with the flow. But acting to me is the same all over the world regardless of the difference in languages.
I find acting in Yoruba and English movies fulfilling and I feel comfortable acting in both. We have people who are in this industry and are desperately trying to make money while others just go with the crowd. However, my passion for the industry goes beyond all of that. As one of its pioneer members, it is my desire to see the industry develop at all times. I will continue to contribute my quota until I die.
Do you have concerns about the movie industry?
When we started, the doors were opened to everyone regardless of your background. Though that made us have an industry today, we are now regretting that we didn’t set standards. Then, we were happy that people were joining us in what we were doing.
Yes, in all sincerity of purpose, the style (welcoming everyone) we started then was one of the reasons we have an industry today. But like any other growing industry, you will see unserious participants and people who could not define the reason they joined an industry.
All the categories of people I mentioned above will soon leave and I am happy that we are now going back to the cinema culture. The cinemas will prepare serious professionals who can produce something good technically and otherwise. Then, people who cannot meet up will have to leave.
In the Yoruba sector where I come from, everyone sees themselves as producers and directors and it cannot continue like that. If you are a producer, produce well. As an actor, act well. So, whatever aspect of the industry you find yourself, try to do it well.
Upgrading is important; people need to train continuously to ensure that th
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