Interview with Cameroon Movies Marketing Corporation on Film, To Kill a Killer

Ntemfac Ofege's interview

Mr. Ntemfac Ofege, journalist and film maker talks to CMMC's Denis A must read interview!  CMMC: Hello Sir, this is CMMC, Camer Movies Marketing Corporation. We are a young private owned company promoting Cameroon’s film industry. It’s a great honor for us to interview you. Please kindly introduce yourself to our readers.   Ntemfac Ofege: My name is Ntemfac Aloysius Nkong Nchwete Ofege. Long names run in my family.  I was born on June 26th 1962 at the Bamenda General Hospital. My father came from Dschang in the Western province of Cameroon to settle in West Cameroon. My mother is Jukun. Her family came from the Takum-Wukari-Sunkuru area of Northern Nigeria to create the Ndaka-Gidajukun chieftaincy in the Ako-Misaje area of today’s Donga and Mantung Division. The current Kru or Chief of Naka is my uncle. I guess you can say that I am a child of different worlds. I attended primary school at the All Saints School, Bayelle, Nkwen in Bamenda; secondary school at Sacred Heart College, Mankon; high school at the Cameroon College of Arts, Sciences and Technology, CCAST-Bambili, where, believe it or not, I majored in Biology, Chemistry and Geology.   CMMC: Sorry for cutting in Sir, just to mention I am an ex-student of CCAST Bambili too. Ride on with your introduction Sir.    N.O: The opportunities opened to English-speaking Geology students after high school have always been limited. Geology majors from CCAST have always faced the dilemma of braving the hostile cursus of the university system in Cameroon which, across the board, was never conceived to accommodate the critical aspects of the education system that obtains in the English speaking provinces. That is why most graduates from the high school system in the English-speaking parts of Cameroon have either had to change course or flee abroad to continue their education.

I did study Journalism at the University of Yaounde’s Advanced School of Mass Communications. I got into the School of Journalism under strange circumstances. I had gone down to Yaounde to visit with my auntie, Mrs. Judith Paul Niboh, the wife of the legendary Mark Niboh. Uncle Mark and his friends, Zachary Nkwo and Fai Henry Fonye would disappear to Yaounde’s Nkolondongo to check out the Gold Harp. And, you guess it, before going, these strange old men would leave me with the baby…write something for us to read on Luncheon Date, the still-famous CRTV radio programme. Uncle Mark probably thought I had some bright ideas for after one month in Yaounde he cornered me one day. Why don’t you forget this geology stuff and write the Competitive Entrance Examination into the School of Journalism? After all, you write very well. So I wrote the ASMAC Entrance. And came out second. I thus went into the School of Journalism and majored in TV. News and Production. There are times I still think I should have made a great Petroleum Engineer, or something. Dr Njilah Isaac Konfor, my classmate in CCAST, is this day a sort of the man in charge of Cameroon’s Volcanology; another classmate Batupe Marcel became a top dog at the National Hydrocarbon Corporation, SHN, before he died. Unfortunately.

CMMC: Interesting background!

N.O: Finally, Denis and CMMC, most importantly, I am a born-again Christian. I am way beyond a simplistic Bible Scholar. I was the Prophet of the Word of Faith Bible Institute, WOFBI, class of 2007 in Bamenda and since then I execute the Ministry of the Prophet in my local congregation. WOFBI is the training programme of the Living Faith Ministries International also known as Winner’s Chapel. You may want to check 1 Cor. 14: 3 to understand the full import of the Prophetic Ministry. I exhort, I encourage, I comfort and I strengthen all who cross my path – believer or non-believer. I am a Winner and you can see the signs of that.You see Denis and CMMC, mine is a complicated and fulfilled life. I have been trying to put my life’s story together in a sort of autobiography. I am currently at 1340 pages of material. To think that I have not even lived half my life yet.

CMMC: I was just a high school boy in the late 80s when your name was a household name in Cameroon. Journalism became a dream job to many of us inspired by you. So you can imagine the pride in me interviewing you. But today, here you are into filmmaking. How did the transition come about?

N.O: Thanks Denis and CMMC for your gracious and kind words. I thank My God, and Your God, for his grace. I thank him even more that somebody somewhere remarked our poor efforts and that we affected some lives. I guess my training at the School of Journalism set the foundation for my current roles in filmmaking. You see our training at the School of Journalism at the time was holistic. We were trained to be camera operators, soundmen, directors, etc. All in one. It is a simplistic matter of taking the things that you are taught seriously working on them and perfecting them. I recall that in second year at the school of Journalism, even before we went into TV production full time, our then teacher, a Frenchman, I forget his name, was contacted to produce the movie, Meyong Meyeme au Royaumme des Morts. He invited me to assist in this production..mainly carrying the camera and moving props around and about. I forgot my Easter vacation and joined the production. I learnt a lot from that production.  It was great presenting shows like Tam Tam Weekend, Tel-a-Word, etc at CRTV, but I always dreamt of writing and directing a great film. I recall that in the early CRTV days, Kenneth Komtangi (Director of Trials of Passion I) and your humble servant watch the Colour Purple again and again. We were stunned by the simplicity and intensity of the film. That is to say that I was dreaming about movies all those years at CRTV. I started work on my first book, Namondo (Child of the Water Spirits). The initial title was, A Coffin on the Train. I look forward to rolling out Namondo in a blockbuster someday. So you see, Denis and CMMC, we are all moving violations of our history our culture and our training. The Bible says study to show yourself approved. I have been studying and learning all my life. You see Barack Obama today and you marvel. He has not told you where he was all these years. He has not told you the pain and the hardship, physically and spiritually, he went through trying to improve himself. You see the beautiful butterfly with its coat of many colours, floating in the winds. You forget that some time back that butterfly was an ugly caterpillar in a cocoon. Let’s just say that the transition took time and effort.

CMMC: In fact, a lot of time and a lot of efforts. Script writing, producing, directing! I bet these are not easy jobs. How do you manage the three Sir?

N.O: They maybe difficult but they are also fascinating tasks. I wonder which one is the most fascinating – crafting the story for a film, negotiating to have cash from hard-nosed bankers and /or friends, plotting the budget or handling a bunch of unwieldy actors. The script is, however, the key. There is nothing as stimulating as putting together a great story. How do I manage – simple. I can do all things through him who gives me strength. I know who I am and I know what I carry. Christ in me, the hope of glory. I know the intensity of the spirit in me. I can do all things that I set my heart to doing.

CMMC: Beginning with script writing, tell us some you have written, be they still in your drawer or already produced.

N.O: United Media Incorporated Common Interest group has over 4000 pages of drama, docu-drama-sitcoms-comedies, etc on its schedule. This material is for two 52-part drama series, a 30-part docudrama, a comedy series, and 05 action films. The rest of the information is CLASSIFIED. I hope you understand.

CMMC: I do Sir. M -m well, would you sell your scripts if someone offered to buy them?

N.O: Definitely. For a huge fee. However, scriptwriters who are also directors and producers are usually militant in the manner in which they craft their scripts. They usually write scripts for their own directing pleasure.

CMMC: As a director and producer in this underdeveloped film industry of ours, has it been easy? What have your biggest challenges been?

N.O: The very nature of our film industry; the quasi absence of professional people at every level of the chain and the grand disorganization existing means that the knowledgeable few must be ready to do everything and supervise everything. It is a punishing process, but, until we train people and until folks acquire the humility to be trained, the trailblazers and light carriers must show the way and let their light shine in the industry. Listen, I am not being arrogant or anything like that. I am just putting the truth on the table. Now my greatest challenge has been to whip up enough motivation and enthusiasm to go from one stage to the next and complete projects. After writing To Kill, and after casting and developing them, I wanted to see if it were possible to shoot a film in 10days maximum and on a budget of less than 5.000.000FCFA. That was done and in ten days flat. It took me another three months to find the motivation to proceed with the editing. And even after the editing, it needed time to say, let us launch the film. When you have the ability to write books and scripts, when you have the ability to produce a film and when you can direct your own films, there is the propensity to be motivated for one phase of the process and not the others. You can be hyper motivated to craft the ultimate drama..after that what next? The script is not the film. You can be motivated to direct the drama. After that what next? You must have the same motivation to oversee the editing and then the mixing and so on. Even when you have the finished product, the film only exists when it is mass-produced and launched. You have a script in your drawer...good for you. You do not have a film. You have the final cut of that blockbuster in your drawer, great for you. You do not have a film. Release it and after that put it in the market for mass consumption.

CMMC: An uphill task indeed! What inspired you to come up with To Kill... one of your movies?

N.O: Five years ago, I was fidgeting with some chapters that I had deleted from my book, Namondo. At the time, I had just discovered the template for script writing. Those chapters had to do with the true story of a vicious character who had traded off his wife and children to an occult society. The story is winding but it is in the spirit of the final triumph of good over evil. I imagined ways of killing the killer. You see, Denis and CMMC, almost all films end with the triumph of good over evil; with the good guy and victor riding off towards sunset with the fair lady to live happily ever after. Imagine a movie where the vicious bastards are not killed; where they thumb their noses at everybody and walk away with the loot; where evil lives on to be fought against another day.  When you watch To Kill, you will notice that the real bad guy in the story returns to his coffin to go to sleep. We will definitely have to resurrect him in To Kill a Killer II to wreak more havoc on his enemies.

CMMC: We look forward to that. Has To Kill been a success? I mean in terms of sales and appreciation from viewers.

N.O: A huge success. Proof of that? The film has been acquired for broadcast by the South Africa based Cable Network, Africa Magic Plus which has already executed its first broadcast. It has also been acquired by GTV in London and the Cameroon Radio and Television Corporation, CRTV.  We are sourcing for other buyers. At home, our problem is that we are not serving the market fast enough with Home VCDS and DVDs.

CMMC: Would you like to say a word of thanks to some close associates in your productions?

N.O: Wow, the list is almost endless. Rene Ngalim of Creative Works, Bamenda for his skills at camera and editing; all other crew members; the entire cast; the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister of Cameroon, Mr. Ephraim Inoni, who has shown his keen interest to organize the Cameroon Movie industry, the Rt. Hon. Minister of Culture Mrs. Ama Muna, Barrister Julius Achu, the Management and Staff of CAPCOL, Edison Fru Ndi of Dreamland Bamenda for his support; Governors Abakar Ahamat of the North west region, Governor Fai Yengo Francis of the Littoral Region, Ntumfor Nico Halle, the Management and staff of the Baptist Health Board, etc.etc.  I am most indebted to those who have bought To Kill…some people even go out of their way to acquire a copy for 100.000FCFA or $200, some for 50.000FCFA or $100, most for 5.000FCFA or $10 and so on. Some people even bring out their widow’s mite 500FCFA for the film. Remember that in this country most families of five and above live on less than $2 a day. For people to go for a film with $10, etc is something. It is as if Cameroonians have decided to sow into my life. When you get that kind of support in cash, you must be up to something. You must be somebody. I say thank you to all those who have bought To Kill. I say thank you to those who will buy To Kill. Next stop, The Return of Omar….

CMMC:  Sir, let’s say a few things about Cameroon’s film industry as a whole. Some call it Camwood, some Callywood, others Collywood and most recently CFI. What’s your opinion on these appellations?

N.O: Imitation is a form of flattery, but imitation leads to limitation. Some of these names take their root from Hollywood, right? Hollywood is a tangible place. The Hollywood locus has studios that produce films that are distinctly Hollywood. Hollywood has become so tangible that dreams are tied to Hollywood. Do you know any place called Callywood or Collywood? I know camwood. The Camwood is not Hollywood. The translation of our camwood to films is even irritatingly silly. I am saying that whenever they are not rackets being operated by some con men and smooth operators for their own glory, some of these appellations make us look like fools. The Nigerian film industry is tangible. It has an organization with people who produce films with a distinctly Nigeria flavour. Ditto for the Indian film industry. The Chinese film industry may not be known as Chinawood, but it produces Chinese films. Now what exactly is the Cameroon film industry? What is the content? What is the substance? What does it amount to? What is the spirit? I am not saying that there is not the urgency to invent the Cameroonian film industry, but going from a contentious name to an institution is like putting the cart before the horse or building from the roof.  Where is the beef? Again, any organization is only as good as the sum total of its members. Let these clowns running around with fancy names show me what exactly they represent in the local film industry. Recently a group of racketeers constituted themselves into a so-called Cameroon Film Industry. They created an email address and a headed paper. Naturally, they constituted themselves into a board with a treasurer and a Board Chairman. After extorting some money from some public officials they called a series of meetings wherein they expected mankind to come legitimize their scam. Zero Constitution. Zero Constituent Assembly, nothing. It does not work that way. By the way, the film industry is so disparate that it is most stupid to lump camera operators, soundmen, directors, etc. into one syndicate. Eventually good money will chase out bad currency, but it is not in the interest of film professionals to hook up to some of these structures for now. The mediocres will only sap your energy and drag you down. The Bible says do not be unequally and unevenly yoked for what does night have to do with day. Look at it this way, put even a drop of dog shit into a jar of clean water and you contaminate the entire jar.

CMMC: You have spoken like a true elder Sir. A lot has to be done to develop Cameroon’s film industry. What do you consider to be the most pressing need?

N.O: Training. Training and Training. The movie business should not be the place to rehabilitate dropouts and flops from other trades. It is a profession and as a profession, it needs professionals. Even acting which depends on talents demands training and development, what more of camerawork, sound and editing. Go to Bamenda. Any idiot who can hold a camera is a cameraman...and the neighborhood hobo and village drunk calls himself a director. It is a shame.  Ninety percent plus of those passing around for journalists in Cameroon today are not journalists. They have never benefited from even a two-week seminar in journalism, yet these fellows have the nerves to call themselves journalists. They go about blackmailing public officials and extorting money from them with threats of publishing negative stories. The same misfits are polluting the film industry.

CMMC: Do you think the future is bright for Cameroon's film industry?

N.O: Those who are down can only go up. With a bit of training, professionalism and organization, things will be better. Look at it this way, the current film industry is exactly in the image and likeness of Cameroon. So go the generalized incompetence, mediocrity and corruption in the country so go the incompetence, mediocrity and corruption in the film industry. We are probably waiting for a Barack Obama, but who knows, the Barack Obamas are here already.

CMMC: Do you have a word for CMMC Sir?

N.O: Yes. You show leadership that is why I am interested. Leadership is a vision, a passion a commitment followed through with dedication and devotion. From your website, one can see a great vision. If you do not have a vision, you can only mislead, manipulate and tell lies. Yours is a vision. Remember that without vision a people will perish, but without people, every vision will perish. May my God and Your God bring you multitudes so that you shine and go from glory to glory. May your light shine brightly in Jesus Name.

CMMC: Amen. Thank you very much Sir for your time, critical look, useful advice and facts. We look forward to working with you on future projects.

N.O: I thank you immensely for giving me a hearing. People of Vision are blessed to be a blessing. May we be beyond the beacon of light to our generation.

 

 

 

   

 

Comments

[timbong wanishi rawoul]

my name is timbong wanishi rawoul i am a prolific story writer and an actor but still living in my closet and waiting my own day to hit my limelight i am based in Italy i would like to have a partner that would make me achieve my dreams,here is my number 00393208161633,my email raulduck03@yahoo.com,as a matter of fact i have two good movies on ground at the moment.

[Pa NDEFRU]

good to know Ofege,you have al these talents , I offer to look through My Conversation with Lake Nyos and other poems for acting and story writting .More grease to your elbows.Pa Ndefru