Nelly Franka Joseph is the CEO of The Adertiza, a PR consulting firm in Abuja. The firm is the organizer of ‘Positive Impact Award’. She is also a Nollywood actress, movie producer and event planner, aside doubling as the PRO of Actors guild of Nigeria (AGA), and the Association of Movie Producers (AMP). In this interview with IBRAHIM RAMALAN, the actress explains why she can’t feature in any film naked, her journey so far in the entertainment industry and her motivations for organizing the recently concluded ‘Positive Impact Award 2015’.
How did the journey into acting started?
I am a very young lady who is very focused in achieving greatness in life. I sat down one day and pondered on why I am here on the planet earth. The answer came simply to add my own quote to humanity so that planet earth would be a better place for everyone. That was the beginning of the journey of acting and other careers am currently into.
Today I am not only an actress, event planner, but also a Public Relations practitioner. I just finished my second degree in Public Relations. My first degree was in Law actually but am not practicing it because my dad has something against the Law practice. And I am more fulfilled in doing what my parents recommend for me.
For how long have you been acting?
Well, I have been in the acting career for like eight years now. Though not consistent because at a time I went back to school and came back and all that, but basically, I would say came into Nigeria not long ago. However, I featured in several movies. My first was Wale Adenuga’s Super Story, then ‘My Mum and I’, which is still running till today. I also featured in ‘Beyond the Sky’, I was also in ‘The Stories of Eve’, ‘Knock, knock: Who is Knocking’ and my very recent movie, which I happened to be the producer, ‘The Wedding Day’. The Wedding Day’ is a classical comedy that one has not seen in Nigeria before, watch-out for it soon.
Who are your role models?
There was a time when I sat down talking to myself about who I want to emulate in the industry. At a time I was like, let me be like Genevieve Nnaji, later I would say Omotola. But truly currently I want to be like Joke Sylver when I grow up.
When I look at the way these actresses do their things I fell elated. Take Genevieve for instance, you know the society portrays her as a single mother who got a child out of wedlock. But she survived the entire stigma in the society and now she is doing very well. She is indeed a woman of great valour that is why I want to be like her.
In the case of Omotola Jalade, you know also the society says actors and actresses cannot get married, but this woman is known all over the industry as a successful married woman today despite her fame. She embraces career and married life that is the best thing that can happen to a woman in this life that is why I have fallen in love her.
What role do you mostly like to play?
Well, I like to play a role of a soft-spoken, beautiful and romantic young lady because that is my kind of person. However, I don’t like to play that role all the time because what makes one a good actor or actress is when one is versatile. You should be able to interpret any part or role that is given to you efficiently. So give me any role and am good to go.
Is there any role you can’t play?
I am not ready to play any nude role. I can’t feature in any film naked, not even semi-naked.
What do you do when you are not on location?
I package events and I consult for my clients. Sometimes I work over night to help businesses that are crumbling.
What is your motivation for the up-coming actresses?
Like the Shakespearean said, ‘the world is a stage’, so let us all play our part efficiently so that we get to our right destination, the promised land. Be the best that you can be.
Your organization in partnership with others recently organised ‘Positive Impact Award 2015’, what was the motivation behind the event?
The ‘Positive Impact Award’ is about people that have impacted on the society positively. It is all about recognizing the unrecognized talents and persons who have rendered service to humanity.
The event actually was organized by three partners: The Advertiser, which is the path that mirrors the side of life, Association of Movie Producers, which is the pillar of Nollywood, and then the Actors Guild of Nigeria, which is promoting unity through entertainment.
Ordinarily, we didn’t want to be like these politicians who get awarded for doing nothing so very life-touching, that is why we went to teachers, doctors, nurses, all the care-givers and those essential service providers in the society who have been saving lives silently in their own enclaves.
For example, why the teachers are also being recognized in this our platform stems from the fact that all of us here must have passed through one teacher or the other. Therefore, that simply means we wouldn’t have been where we are now if these teachers were not there for us. So they have done a great job and we want to say thank you to them.
As for the criteria for selection, how did you come about the awardees?
We went far and wide into different hospitals and started taking records of their individual performances in terms of the surgeries and many operations they have done. We didn’t only want to celebrate these doctors but also those who ordinarily would have been dead but because they have had good hands attending to them, they are alive today. I think that calls for recognition and celebration in our society.
What has been your challenge or set-back so far?
Getting people to believe in you and your abilities is one of my greatest challenges in the industry. When you begin to sell your ideas to people, before you know it somebody somewhere has stolen that Idea. At that point you begin to feel empty and despondent.
Also, financial challenge too is another obstacle, though it is the other side of the same coin. Because, if you don’t get to believe in someone how then do you think that person can invest in what you are doing?
You know, a lot of times when I hit the street and offices as the PRO of my organization to mobilize people and other organizations for partnership and I would say ‘come let’s brand the image of Nigeria’, they would buy the idea. However, when it comes to pooling resources together, you see them start shying away.
What is your take on the Nigerian entertainment industry as a whole?
Well, when you look at the industry today you will discover that it is not what it used to be before; things have changed a great deal. Things have changed for the better. Everything in the industry is getting better, starting from the act, the lighting, sound, picture quality and the story lines too has been receiving a boost day by day. The people behind the camera also, which are the people that matters a lot in movie production, are also doing a good job.
What is your call on the government and private sector to invest more in the industry?
I want people to begin to see prosperity in the industry. We are also creating awareness for people to know that the industry is a viable one. We are calling on investors to invest in the industry.
Look at America, most of their revenue is generated from the entertainment industry and, ironically, we are churning out more movies that they are. Why don’t we look this way and see to it that Nigeria movie industry becomes a viable brand? Moreover, the industry is capable of taking our unemployed youth off the streets. So I am calling on the government and private individuals to try their shots in the industry and the will be glad they did.