Afeez Oyetoro is a comic actor, popularly known as Saka. Born in Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State, Oyetoro obtained a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Theatre Art from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and the University of Ibadan (UI), where he is also pursuing a doctorate degree. He is currently a lecturer in the Department of Theatre Arts at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Lagos. Known for his clown role in Nollywood movies, he has also featured as the main character in a 2013 MTN advert where he announced “I don port o.” Movies in which he has featured include: Taxi Driver, Ojukokoro, The Wedding Party, The Call, Small Chops, Shadow Parties and The Miracle Centre. In this interview with IJEOMA THOMAS-ODIA, he shares his thoughts on concerns in the movie industry.

Having been in the industry for years, how will you compare the quality of movie productions and contents back then to what we have now?

There are two different eras; you can’t compare the movie content back then to what we have now because in the 70s and 80s, movie productions were full of morals, philosophies and values, but this period, movie productions are more concerned with the aesthetic and commercial value rather than morals. Although not all productions are bad these days, a lot of them are good, interesting and entertaining just that there is more aesthetics and commercial value. Technologically they are advanced, they have good cameras and a lot of things are ejected into the production. In technical areas, it is better than before.

You have not been on our screen recently. Any deliberate reason for that?
I have been working in a few sets, and don’t forget I am a lecturer and I have concentrated on doing my PhD, which I am currently rounding up soon. I am still working, just that I am not in the public face at the moment.

Do you think that those who studied Theatre Art are better informed in terms of performance than those who see the profession as a hobby?
Of course stage act is the mother of all acting. You cannot compare someone who learnt how to drive manually to those who learned automatic. Everything on stage is done manually. You study your lines and the handouts unlike in movies where they just cut and continue. Stage acting is the best.

It is the mother of all acting. A lot of people who are just into films will not have the patience to cope with stage because they get on set, they just act little and get paid heavily but in stage production, with all the stress of studying your lines, getting the right blockings and stage movement that can sometime take about four weeks to perfect, you get paid little. But the fulfilment about stage is that your audience is fulfilled and you can tell from their facial expressions. Also, one truth is that any stage actor can act on any medium be it radio or television, but our so-called superstars right now can’t do that.

So, which do you find comfortable; acting on stage or the regular movie set?
As a trained actor, I find the stage more fulfilling that any amount you give me, I see it as been paid for the effort done on stage. But in terms of good pay, I think working on normal movie set will help pay a lot of bills.

On the cinema culture, how would you rate the Nigerian experience?
In terms of cinema viewings in Nigeria, we have improved to a certain level as a lot of people have embraced the cinema culture of taking their good works for screening. The truth is when you have a good film in cinema, other mediums like Netflix, Prime, Showmax will be interested in your content. Another thing is that every filmmaker must work hard and must not be carried away by the commercial value, whether Netflix or not. Some people prefer sitting down in their home and watching movies and I can’t blame them because of the security issues when there is theatre around them. If someone is living in Badagry and they can’t drive to the nearest cinema, they watch from home. If the cinema houses are plenty people will watch. People want to watch and share comments. That makes it very interesting.

Women are seen as sexual symbols in Nollywood. What is your view on this trend?
I am a trained actor not a producer and I am not in a position to cajole someone to take a role. If you go into the film industry, you will see bodies. I am trained so I can go into any movie or location but the women should not be picked after sex. If you are good your talent and work will sell you. Very few ladies do all these things that we are talking about. We respect people in the industry who work and do not sell their body for roles.

I condemn it totally and I condemn the idea of having sex before giving people roles. One honest truth also is that those ladies who claimed to have been sexually harassed by directors are often ladies who are lazy and want to be superstars overnight. As a professional, I stand on the thought that when you are hardworking and your acting prowess is commendable, you will stay long in the industry and every filmmaker will want you in his or her production. Shockingly, in the industry today, women are the ones harassing men, about 90 percent of women harass men by bringing themselves and offering to do anything and a man that cannot control himself will fall in. Desperate female filmmakers do it with men who have no say. A good director will pick a good talent without having sex with anybody. As such, everyone needs to be careful. I’ve never done this and I will not.

Recently, a veteran called out filmmakers on the need to pay attention to their work, citing an example of a female actor who is presumed to be sleeping at night still with full make-up on

That is where professonalism comes in. I blame the directors, where did they train? There are so many gatecrashers in this industry, people can go in and come out. We try to have associations but it is not working.  I believe by the time we have an association, actors and actresses will start behaving normally and there will be discipline.

A lot of ailing veterans have taken to social media to solicit for assistance. What are your thoughts?

For me they are not begging. They are only allowing meaningful Nigerians know their current state. Truth be told, most of these veterans have been neglected and they don’t have food or houses or cars. They will be running around to get to locations. They have been forgotten by the industry and we do not know about them until they come out to express themselves. If people want to help them, let them do so. Anybody making it in theatre will not believe that some producers will not pay artists. I don’t want to talk in that area. Let the veterans come out because the association cannot do it alone.

What is your candid opinion on the current state of the nation?
I think it is too early to express anything now. Let’s give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu six months and then we can evaluate and comment.