Kenneth Gyang, the director of award-winning film, Confusion Na Wa, is a young man with large vision. He had lived most of his dreams, making commercials, TV drama series, TV reality series and documentaries for BBC Media Action, Heinrich Boll Foundation, PATHS2/New Media Network, EbonyLife TV and Newage Network. He shot into limelight at the AMAAs, where he won the Africa Movie Academy Awards. His impressive resume is captured in this chat with Entertainment Editor

SO many people have wondered who Kenneth Gyang is. Who would you say he is?

Let’s just say that Kenneth Gyang is an award-winning filmmaker from Plateau State. He has been around Nigeria’s filmmaking scene since 2006. But I guess some people are thinking that he’s just a new bloke that’s coming into the picture now. I have worked with BBC Media Action as director of the critically-acclaimed drama series, Wetin Dey.

I also worked as the co-writer/producer and director of Televista’s Finding Aisha. I am the co-founder of Cinema Kpatakpata, a Nigerian film production company, built to make films in Nigeria and throughout Africa. The other members of the company are Tom Rowlands-Rees and one of Nigeria’s best cinematographers, Yinka Edward. As you already know, my directorial debut, Confusion Na Wah, which is Cinema Kpatakpata’s first feature film won. It won the Best Nigerian Film and the sought-after Best Film (equivalent of Best Picture at the Oscars) at the 2013 African Movie Academy Awards.

Are you in any way related to Jeremiah Gyang, the musician?

Haha! Funny thing is, I always get asked that question a lot, and I have always wondered why I am not linked with my more illustrious ‘cousin’ Asamoah Gyang instead? The closest that I have been to Jeremiah was back in the same secondary school. But he opted out of that school before me.

Looking at your frame and what you have been able to achieve, a lot of people find you quite unassuming. How old is Kenneth Gyang?

I still enjoy the speculation going out there in the media about my age, and I know I’ve been ‘bounced’ a couple of times in certain clubs in South Africa, and recently in Lagos for being an ‘underage’. I’ll say this to club bouncers around though; I am of age, really.

What did you study in school?

I was an Art student in secondary school because I managed to convince myself that I don’t have the aptitude for sciences. After secondary school, I went to study Film Production at the National Film Institute in Jos, Plateau State, where I was in a head-on collision with a lot of science-oriented subjects. Scripting, producing and directing ended up being my major

What inspired your career as a filmmaker?

To be honest, I came into film by accident. I know it started with my love for shortwave radio in the dead of the night. But I happened to visit a few film set around the museum of Jos, and I liked what was going on. One day I saw a poster advertising the NFI. I went there, checked the school out and was convinced that it was the place of learning for me. That was the beginning of my journey into the world of filmmaking

Would you say you are a Nollywood filmmaker?

I have realized a long time ago that it will be foolish trying to always be on one side arguing that I am an alternative filmmaker when everywhere I go people will always refer to me as a Nollywood filmmaker. I remember introducing myself to the famous cinematographer, Christopher Doyle, in a hall full of people in Berlin back in 2006, and the first thing he said was “Nollywood”. So yes, I am a Nollywood filmmaker and proud.

How involved are you in the art, business and politics of filmmaking?

Well, you can’t be a filmmaker without dabbling in some of these things. Your work has to be a reflection of what you are and what believe in as an artiste. It is not always enough to have that art in production alone. You need to know how and where to make this Art available to be consumed because you didn’t do it for yourself and family alone.

What or who are your foreign influences?

The works of Latino filmmakers like Fernando Meirelles, Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu and Alfonso Cuaron have heavily influenced me. But the biggest foreign influence in my filmmaking ideology would be Quentin Tarantino. I love how all the works of these filmmakers deal with issues that will get every scholar writing away. Most importantly, instead of their works being didactic, they could still serve as topnotch entertainment for those who are out looking for ‘fun films’.

Tell us about some of the talent campuses or film festivals you have taken part in.

I was part of the Berlinale Talent Campus in Germany with my first short film, called ‘Mummy Lagos’. That was a seminal hit,as it brought out the creative originality I showcased in my later works. Mummy Lagos was part of the official program of films in competition under Hunger, Food and Taste. And I was a wide-eyed kid sometimes visiting the red carpets and seeing paparazzi screaming the names of George Clooney as he came to showcase the political thriller Syriana, Natalie Portman with V For Vendetta and Vin Diesel with Find Me Guilty. I had a glimpse of those stars on my Mini DV camera. I was also in South Africa for the Sithengi Talent Campus as part of the now defunct Capetown International Film Festival.

Let’s talk about the film of the moment; Confusion Na Wa. What would you say inspired the story?

If we look around us, not only in Nigeria or Africa alone but also in the world, there’s always this sense of great injustice going on. We wanted to make a film that reflects on the small role individuals play, which always ends up having a big ripple effect on other people around them. We decided to tell a multi-layered story that’s kind of inspired by the film Amores Perros. The message is basically for individuals to be aware of how their little actions could have a major effect on the lives of others around them.

Did you imagine that Confusion Na Wa would go places?

We have always been confident about Confusion Na Wa. When it was written, we beat off competitions to be the only one of four projects to get Digital Production funding from Hubert Bals Fund, which is part of the International Film Festival Rotterdam in Netherlands. Again, that script was selected for the inaugural Durban FilmMart in South Africa. You can see there’s a pattern of success and likeability for the story, dialogue and characters. When we gave our actors the script, they were all eager to be part of it and made huge sacrifices that Cinema Kpatakpata is grateful for.

Ramsey Nouah read the script whilst on an international flight and when he landed, he said it was one of the best scripts he has ever read in his life. OC Ukeje, Ali Nuhu, Gold Ipkonmwosa and Tony Goodman loved it. Tunde Aladese, an accomplished writer herself, dropped her pen and agreed to be part of the film in front of the lens, a first time for her!

Is AMAA the first endorsement Confusion Na Wa has received?

The Africa Movie Academy Awards is the first competition we entered with Confusion Na Wa. It is the biggest and most glamorous film awards show in Africa and we wanted to start at that high level. If you look at how the lives and careers of former AMAA winners, and especially those who held aloft the Best Film of the Year prize, changed after winning, you would know it is an event you truly need to win. The fairy tale of Djo Munga’s Viva Riva and a host of other filmmakers like Wanuri (From a Whisper) started from the AMAAs and I’m glad we scaled that challenge spectacularly.

So, what would you say has changed since your film won the AMAAs?

People have become aware of our existence as a company and now know that there are equally a lot of young people out there who can make good films. Before now, I have directed ‘Wetin Dey’, which was a definite trend-setter in production values for both film and TV in Nigeria.I also did ‘Finding Aisha’ for Televista and a whole host of other productions. But not many people acknowledged those. Last year, as part of the 2012 London Olympics, a political love story I directed for Newage Network, entitled Blood and Henna showed in the host city and everyone loved what they saw at the Royale Theatre Stratford. But I guess no one took notice here. I was reading in some newspaper after Confusion Na Wa’s win at the AMAAs that I am a newcomer and I laughed because I guess if you’re not a filmmaker from Lagos, then you have not really started in this country. Joke!

Did you ever think that the film will appeal to an ordinary film lover?

Look right, the fact that one is making a thought-provoking film doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t attract people in droves to see it. And my personal philosophy is to make appealing films to cater for the different tastes people have. Quentin Tarantino makes films that on the surface are entertaining. But essays are still written on them by deep people, while he still smiles home to the bank, which for me is the hallmark of a cool filmmaker

How were you able to get Hubert Bals Fund for the movie?

We got funding for the film because we wrote a script that is strong in story, characters and dialogue. Again, we tried as much as possible to make the world of the characters believable. After writing, we submitted it to Hubert Bals Fund who totally loved it and gave us the money to do it. We also got some production support from Kunle Junaid’s Refuge Island Media, Noah’s Creed, Cinecraft and Newage Network.

In total, how much did the movie cost?

I would not want to brandish figures around. But the film is a low budget one and that serves as testament to that popular saying in film schools around the world “Story is King”! Yes! You need fancy equipment to make a good film. But generally, films are all about other values than just that. And we have shown that with little money, you make great films that will have people leaving the theatre and talking about it.

How far do you want to go as a filmmaker?

I want to go as far as I can push myself. All that talk of going to Hollywood is not my thing, and I am not interested in such talk coming from some actors and filmmakers in Africa. But my self-belief will definitely take me as far as I can go from my present position.

Have you followed discussions on the N3 billion Federal Government grant for the film industry?

Yeah, I have followed some news on the N3 billion Project Nollywood grant. Right now, there’s no guideline on how to access it, and if there will be a level playing ground getting it at the end of the day. In this industry, there are three kinds of people- a whole lot of people who know how to talk without delivering; a few who know how to talk and deliver and those who don’t even have the chance to talk. The first category, which is the majority, always spoil everything for us. I remember laughing at the 200 million dollars intervention form, I looked at it and said someone must have done a lot of copying and pasting to come out with that laughable document without really looking at the situations peculiar to our immediate environment and industry. A classic case of the rich getting richer! Back to the Project Nollywood grant, the Minister of Finance said they are thinking of distribution, scriptwriting and possibly production. Let’s see how it goes.

Would you or your organization think of accessing the fund?

Cinema Kpatakpata will look into assessing the grant if the conditions are right.

What is your private life like?

I am shy in front of crowds, plus I’m a very quiet person when meeting people for the first time. With time though, I could be silly and make jokes with funny impressions. So my true self is all about taking life easy all the time. I don’t know how to dance, but I can completely say I go with the beats better than white people (Tom had to take serious breakdance lessons to compete).

Would you say you enjoy the fame that comes with being a filmmaker?

I wouldn’t say I am famous, but I love entertaining people, it makes me happy. If I get a little attention after they see my film, of course I’ll be happy.

————————————————————————————————————————-
Posted in Nigerian Newspapers. A DisNaija.Com network.

Source: The Nation Newspaper

DisNaija.Com publishes regular posts on Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Online Nigeria Gist.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Nigerian Newspapers

Follow @Dis_Naija

Your Opinion Counts. Be sure To Leave A Comment, If You Have Any.

Please Like, Share or Tweet. Your Support Is Appreciated.