The fact that you have the power to be anything. If you are given a script whether you like the character or not, you have to act the part. Every role you are given has to be challenging because you have got to do it well. When they say be a madman, I am able to lay it out.
Despite criticisms trailing “Gangs of Lagos’’ movie, some of its cast are unfazed by flaks coming their ways. They are rather upbeat about the new project and are grateful to be part of the new series. Tobi Bakre, who played the lead role, says the movie will open new vistas of opportunities for him as an actor. The University of Lagos graduate spoke with Per Seconds News, DAVID ADEBAYO, about his role and what more to expect from him.
PSN: You seem to be building a name for yourself in the movie industry. Though it took you sometime to come out of your shells but everything seems to be working for you now. How do you feel?
Bakre : I am really happy that I am getting to show more people that I am ready for this big moment. I mean I have been working and preparing myself for moments like this; so seeing it manifest reminds me of how much work my team and I have done and more that we still need to do. Above all, I am grateful to God for this special moment in my life and I hope to sustain the momentum for a long time.
PSN: You have featured in a couple of movies, what makes “Gangs of Lagos’’ different from the other projects you have worked on?
Bakre : Gangs of Lagos (GOL) is a project of many firsts for me. My first time playing a lead character, my first time really is letting myself go to embody a character, my first time staying that long in a character. It is indeed a special project. I believe not just for me but for everybody else that was involved, both cast and crew. The synergy on-and-off set was amazing. We had such a beautiful ecosystem of positivity. We were attempting a lot of things that had never been done before. I loved being on set every single day.
PSN: What was your favourite aspect of being involved in this project?
Bakre : Each day came with its unique experience that just made the whole time shooting and the project as a whole memorable. It felt like my dreams are coming true; I have always looked forward to when I will play a lead in a movie and that is happening now and many more to come.
PSN: Can you describe the bond between the three main characters — Obalola, Gift and Ify?
Bakre : This bond feels stronger than a family bond. It is soaked in love, loyalty and true friendship that was built brick by brick over the years since their childhood. This was done by always being together and experiencing life together.
PSN: You took your role well and many people are commending you for doing a good job. Did you see this coming?
Bakre : I am thankful to for those positive comments. I am looking forward to staying in this space and creating more memorable moments with new projects.
PSN: Can you tell us about your experience portraying Obalola in the movie?
Bakre : The character development for Obalola started immediately. I delved into the script. I started building the character in my head. I also was able to go deeper into the creation process when I took lessons with the producer Lala Akindoju and also shared notes with the Director Jade. This character was who he was because of his background and life experiences. Everything he did meant something or came from an exact place.
PSN: How did you relate to this character?
Bakre : I could really relate to this character so much that we became one all through the time of shooting. The problem then became unbecoming the character after we finished the shoot. I really enjoyed being Oba, and I hope I get to play that character again in the future.
PSN: How did you prepare for the role of a character caught up in the world of crime and violence?
Bakre: For the action scenes, we had to take stunt and fight training with one of the best in Africa ‘director tough’. I remember feeling muscle pains in places I didn’t even know had muscles. We all really just got into it. Everything about the project got all of the cast and crew willing to give their best and more. We shot most of the scenes in Isale Eko, the exact neighborhood referenced in the movie. It felt like art was imitating life right around us. For some scenes we even had the locals join us in the shoot. It felt real on some occasions.
PSN: What do you think audience will take away from the film’s portrayal of the struggles of people living in Isale Eko and the criticisms?
Bakre : I believe what audience will take away from this will be to understand that we are all products of our community and upbringing, whether we turn out to be good or bad people. And our decisions play a huge role in determining our life outcomes.
PSN: How was it working with the director, Jade Osiberu, and the rest of the cast and crew on this project?
Bakre : Working with Jade feels like working with a genius on every level. She comes prepared and knows exactly what she is trying to achieve and will not compromise on achieving just that. As an actor, that gives me a lot of trust and belief that if she says CUT! Then it was definitely a good take. Working with the other cast members felt like bonding with a new family. We all have become one big family after shooting this project. We fend off each other a lot on this project. No one character could deliver in isolation. We all had to be in it and on our A game. Where the energy was low, someone would fill in to raise the spirit of the group. Where they felt I could do something better, they will always share and vice versa. The casting for this project was top class. Everybody really embodied their characters. It really just brought the whole 7 story to life. The crew members are the real MVPs. We could trust the director and the technical teams at every point. It allowed us as actors to focus on creativity and be in the moment while trusting everything else was going on as should. The crew members fell so in love with the project that when need be, they were happy to jump in front of the camera and play as extras.
PSN: “Gangs of Lagos’’ has been described as merging Old and New Nollywood. How do you think this film contributes to the evolution of the Nigerian film industry?
Bakre : We have a number of veterans and new blood like myself on the project. The wealth of experience we could tap from the older actors, and the will to risk it all from the younger actors really played very well. The set and storyline also feels like the old Nollywood movies being told in a totally new dimension. Like I earlier mentioned, I believe this movie will inspire a lot of new collaborations for much bigger projects in Nollywood and beyond.
PSN: What was the most challenging aspect of filming “Gangs of Lagos’’?
Bakre : The most challenging bits for me would be when we had to see the vulnerable parts of the character. In my personal life I have had to build walls to be able to withstand whatever life brings my way. Becoming Oba allowed me to become a really strong and powerful character, but part of that power was also being open to raw unfiltered emotions. I had to tear my personal walls to tell the character’s reality perfectly. It required a lot physically and emotionally. The physical, I am always ready for, but the emotional took me on a whole different journey, deeper than I would have imagined or expected.
PSN: You once worked as a banker and what was the experience like back then?
Bakre : It was very interesting for me actually. I used to be a currency dealer. I traded security straight to currencies. I also worked in the money market desk. It was interesting for me but the banking life generally is a bit routine. And I had a lot more I wanted to do that I wasn’t exploring. I love photography. I wanted to be a media person as well. I am not really an office person. Generally, it is a routine life, every day is the same, but the life that I have now is different, every day is different. I feel better. I feel alive living the kind of life I have now.
PSN: What do you like most about being an actor?
Bakre : The fact that you have the power to be anything. If you are given a script whether you like the character or not, you have to act the part. Every role you are given has to be challenging because you have got to do it well. When they say be a mad man, I am able to lay it out.
PSN: What kinds of role can you not take?
Bakre :For me when it comes to acting you have to be versatile, you can’t really limit yourself, except it is a role preaching immorality to a large extent I am not going to take that.
PSN: With so much on your plate, how do you find time for your family?
Bakre : If you know me well and my other siblings; you will realize we are so big on family; no matter how tight my schedule is, I still make out time for my family because they are my closet circuit. I bond happily with my family; we go on picnics, adventures and others just to make up any lapses.
PSN: What has fatherhood changed about you?
Bakre : Fatherhood has made more responsible and be conscious of whatever I do because my son is watching; a lot of time parent feels their child is still small and act some other ways in their presence, forgetting that this little kids are sharp at grabbing things. Fatherhood has equally taught on how to spend judiciously. Gone are those days when I can just shop anyhow and spend lavishly but with my boy in the picture, I think twice because he needs to feed well alongside his mum, dress well and look presentable.
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