It’s been long since we heard from
popular actor, Taiwo Hassan, also known as Ogogo. He was once the poster
boy of the Yoruba movie industry.Though that was then, not a few things
have changed. For Ogogo, as he is affectionately called, it is not a
question of whether he has become less in demand by marketers but that
the dynamism of movie-making has changed. “I just can’t be chasing some
jobs that are not worth it now.
Imagine going to Ibadan now on fuel of
about N30, 000, the producers don’t usually have the fund to pay for my
hotel and I will lodge my personal assistants in hotels as well. I can’t
commit to jobs that are not worth it. It is not every job that one gets
to do at a certain stage in one’s life.” Aside from that, Ogogo said
piracy had caused a lot of actors to become impoverished. “No marketer
can finance a movie project with a large amount of money. .
Imagine releasing a movie in the morning
by 9am and by 2pm the pirated copies will be out. So, how do we get our
royalties or how does the marketer recoup his investment?” Speaking
further on the impact of piracy, the tall and dark-skinned actor said
many of his colleagues are now being fed by their wives. “We solely
depend on God’s mercy now, and the goodwill of those who love us. Only
few have small businesses of their own. As I speak, some actors are
being fed by their wives.
A big marketer in the industry told me
when he wanted to release a Yoruba movie, some Igbo boys in Alaba told
him to settle the pirates so they don’t pirate his movie. That is
happening in a lawful society.” Rejecting suggestions that movie stars
are extravagant, Ogogo said they earned less than many people thought.
. ‘”Footballers and musicians make more
money than actors. Actors are the least paid.” Asked about his next line
of action, Ogogo who still acts, said he was planning to go into
farming. “My parents were farmers. I have partially started the process
of going into farming.”
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