After
three decades of theatre Fred Amata is set to host the cream of the society to
star-studded 50th birth day celebrations next month. Activities lined up
include a Novelty Football Match a White Tie Dinner and a Stage Play, THE KING
MUST DANCE NAKED. Already Tuesday, April 23 has been set aside for a reading of
the play, which is being produced by Kepy Ekpeyong Bassey and to be directed by
Muyiwa Oshinaike. Fred Agbeyegbe, the playwright will be in attendance at the
Klink Studios venue for the reading and rehearsals.
Interestingly some season actors have
confirmed their willingness and availability to participate. Those confirmed
are Nobert Young, Bimbo Manuel, Kate Henshaw, segun Arinze, Kepy Ekpeyong
Bassey, Jude Orhora, Dan Cris Ebie. Others expected to be confirmed are Bimbo
Akintola, Chidi Mokeme, Charles Inojie and Julius Agu among others.
He also took time off to reminisce on the
challenges of being born into a legacy of creativity, his talents and passion.
Amata said, “We have watched the industry evolve through the years, yet certain
challenges remain. It is still as exciting now and as challenging as it was 30
years ago.” The theatre arts graduate
of the University of Jos said his birthday will be a celebration of talents and
passion that have driven his career and attitude to life basically.
These
are Charity, Film/ Theatre and soccer. His words: “I will be on stage
performing excerpts from a critically acclaimed stage play along with notable
names in the industry. The other event football that is a passion that is dear
to my heart. I belong to five veteran soccer clubs in Lagos. So I will be
leading a team of actors, directors, comedians, and radio and television
personalities to challenge a team that is made up of 1994 cup Super Eagles.
These are people I play regularly with in the All Stars International Club of
Lagos
We are
planning to stage a short play with the biggest names in the industry at a
White Tie Dinner on de 18th of may. We have de assurances His Excellency Dr
Emmanuel Uduaghan will give us the honour as the special guest with his
presence.
On the three generations of the Amata
dynasty, and his 30 years as a theatre practitioner, he said, “It makes me feel
good being a member of the second generation of the Amata dynasty. Jeta, Zack
Amata’s son, is leading the third generation of the dynasty. In 1956/57 my dad
co-wrote and starred in FREEDOM, the first ever coloured film short on 35mm in
Africa. That film set the pace on what the Amata's would become today because
every Amata that was born subsequently grew up watching daddy (John Amata) on
the big screen.”
“I grew up in an era of cinemas. Then the
biggest name on the screen was John Wayne, and cowboy films held sway. So when
all the young boys were going hysterical about John Wayne,I was proudly
boasting about another John, John Amata, my father in Freedom. The film became
a celebration as it was translated into 130 languages and screened in major
cinemas across the world. Between when I was six and 18 I watched Freedom more
than 1000 times. Each time, it was always a thing of joy to see my father
stride across that screen with crowds hailing him Mutanda! Mutanda!! His name
in the film.”
When Fred graduated in 1986 it didn’t pay to
be a theatre practitioner as the biggest names in the industry then could
barely afforded good things of life. His words: “I ended up being posting me to
Nigeria Television Authority, NTA for my youth service. What else could I have
needed to express myself? By 1987 I was directing soap for National Television!
I started with Ripples produced by Zeb Ejiro, the great Sheikh of Nollywood as
associate producer and director in 1986. I was directing from ’87 till ’91. Jeta, who never enrolled to read theatre arts
ended up reading it under his father, Zack Amata who also lectured me and a
host of other Amatas. He is presently blazing the trail of the new generations
of the Nollywood industry at international level.
On
theN3billion federal government grant for Nollywood he believes that,
“Nollywood is in evolution, and whatever we do now will affect its next process
of the evolution of Nollywood, which has become a relevant factor in the
country’s economy. It has earned its place as an industry that can be invested
in, and can solicit for investment. To support that growth that emerged in the
absence of structures, I suggest that government should find a way of dealing
with the guilds. It is the guilds, no matter what anybody has against them,
that will bring about needed structuring of the industry. It is the way we have
to focus on for a better Nollywood that is regulated and accountable.
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