PASSION FUELS ME - Saheed Azeez

Kindly tell us about yourself and what you do for a living?

Saheed Azeez is an actor and also growing to become a production designer. I have participated in a few productions in the area of art direction/set design, both for television and stage. From Oyo state, born and raised in Ajegunle, Apapa.

Having earned a Diploma in Business Admin from Osun State Polytechnic Iree , I advanced to Lagos State University for a degree in Theatre Arts, and since then, always been in the world of the arts. Been part of many stage productions both as actor and crew (set/light designer). As actor, I have been involved in various stage project like; Death and the kings horseman, The gods are not to blame, The king must dance naked, Kurunmi, just to mention a few. I have also been part of various projects including Mnet; like the Africa Magic Original Films [Amof] both as actor and set designer. I also took part in the Africa magic telenovela HUSH, where I was a member of the crew as set dresser. I am best known as a fellow willing to put my very best into work and being part of great things. I am always ready to put forward my creativity ideas for the success of every project I find myself.

List some of the films you’ve starred in.

Okay.

Dagger, Protégé, koboko [Yoruba movie], Vigilante, Hush, just to mention but few.

ON PERSONALITY

What was your childhood years like – did you have pre-defined hopes and dreams?

My childhood years were neither fun nor rough. I was born and brought up in Ajegunle, where most people refer to as AJCity. Amidst the struggle to survive even as a child, I also had loads of fun. Apart from the fact that Ajegunle is notorious for having the tendency to influence you negatively, one cannot over-emphasize the positive impact it has on any child with big dreams, because it prepares one for the harsh realities of the world. A ghetto-child who has been through thick and thin, but remains tenacious, is always ready to combat and win eventually in this competitive world. In Ajegunle, our parents made it their utmost responsibilities to make sure we trend the right path, by making sure we had the best education they could afford to give us. I’m most grateful for that, and everything I must tell you.

As a child, I always had dreams and aspirations-at some point I wanted to be an engineer (chuckles).

You know, every child wants to live well and do something tangible for his/her family. We believe then that only doctors, engineers, lawyers could afford such a life. So why not hop on the bandwagon. And I almost did. But while in secondary, the wind of life took me to art class, and later I would soon find myself thrusting business papers in the polytechnic. Then, the silver lining came in the university when I gained admission into LASU to study the arts of the Theater.

You seem to be a man of so many passions, what else are you involved in other than acting?

Aside acting, I’m also into production designs i.e. art direction, set dressing, props, stage design and construction, voiceover, etc. Often times, my nifty fingers find themselves in interior decorations too.

Has it been easy trying to achieve your goals and aspirations as an actor? Describe some of the challenges you’ve had to face?

You know nothing in life comes easy especially when its not handed to you on a platter of gold. Sincerely, I never wanted to be an actor, because growing up and while in the University studying Theatre Arts, I always had this feeling that anybody can act. So, why don’t I do what everybody cannot do? I decided to opt for designs instead since am very good in drawing and painting. But as a Theatre arts student you have to pass through acting either you like it or not. That’s how I fell in love with acting.

When it comes to challenges, there are truckloads one would face in acting or as an actor. It is never easy for me especially when you have to combine acting with set designing on the same set. For instance, in “Hush” and some other movies I featured in, I’ve had to shuffle between being an actor and a set decorator, or dresser. So, it was never an easy task for me at all. But when you love what you do, you have to find a way around doing and enjoying it.

In getting to where you are today, how much hard work did you have to put in?

Getting to where I am today took me a lot of hard work, determination, and focus. However, there’s still so much more to be done to get to that height I’ve always wanted to be in life. It’s not going to be easy but it will be worth it. Hard work surely pays but working smart pays way more.

Are you particular about the roles you play?

Kindly tell us how you deal with challenging roles?

As a trained actor, I don’t think you should be particular about the roles you play. You should be ready to play or take up whatever role is thrown at you. The ability to switch roles is what makes you a good actor. Aside the rugged street thug roles that I have been cast for most time, I have also played some roles that I’ve had to be cool calm and collected. Basically, I don’t think I’m particular about the roles I play. Although, in Nigeria most actors are particular about the roles they play because of ‘branding and packaging’. Mind you, every role given to an actor either big or small is challenging. How I deal with roles given to me is to consciously or subconsciously make myself that character. I also tend to do my research if needed and some personal rehearsals.

Describe your personality.

What three character traits would your friends say you possess?

[Smiles]. If you ask my friends this question directly, you will be amazed the response they will give. But I think they will say;

Witty

Hardworking

Complicated

What do you HATE about yourself and why?

Bad temper

Procrastination

I sometimes get angry on the slightest things. And I also sometimes procrastinate until it becomes a big responsibility to handle. [Smiles] Although, it’s not a problem anymore.

How was your first experience on set, did you feel intimidated by anyone?

If you say my first experience as an actor on set, we will probably be referring to my first performance on stage. I can remember being nervous, standing in front of an audience. Therefore, the stage experience I had over the years gave me some form of leverage in acting in my first ever role on television. Acting alongside some of Nigeria’s best was not that intimidating but a big privilege.

ON HIS CAREER

What has been your biggest role in a movie and how prepared were you for it?

One of my biggest roles so far was playing the street thug Alabama in “Hush”. The irony is I wasn’t prepared for it. I was brought on the project as a set dresser, and later cast as one of the street thugs who later became Alabama. So, talking about preparation, I was not prepared for it at all. But when I got the role, I knew I had to give it my best. Therefore I took the time to study the character very well, and with my background coming from the hood I borrowed from my ghetto parlance to further help elevate my characterization as described by the script and I will confess that the wonderful and talented actors on that project also helped in enhancing my interpretation.

What do you do to infuse yourself in a given role?

Do you easily get into character?

That depends on the kind, be it a movie, series, or a telenovela. After reading the script, I try to understand what the script, story, and message been passed across. I make sure I understand the character or role I’m playing coupled with other characters in the script. If necessary, I carry out a research, and then I proceed to making myself the character in the story with constant rehearsals and lines digestion.

Do I get into character easily? I will say I actually get into the role I’m playing easily as long as I understand the character and what the script and director is asking of me.

What do you think is the greatest challenge facing actors in Nollywood today?

Talking about challenge, it will be hard to say what the greatest challenge is. Because there are a lot of challenges and whatever challenge an actor faces is great on its own. I also think it all depends on the angle you are looking at it from. But for me, one of the major challenges is getting a good script. It’s hard to get a good script that will challenge you as an actor. There are good writers with awesome scripts and story-lines I must point out, we have good writers in Nigeria.

Timing for instance, can pose a challenge to the actor. You get a script today and they want you to come on set for shoot next day, more like an impromptu shoot, because they believe an actor is a magician. Well, I sometime think actors are magicians because you find out that even in this kind of situations, the actor still delivers. But the stress they go through in interpreting the role is not often encouraging.

Another problem is good pay, most actors are paid meager fee. They don’t get paid their worth, maybe because the project is low funded or otherwise, this unconsciously kills the actor’s morale to give his all. We can’t shy away from the fact that we are doing the job not only for the love, but also for the money. ‘Man gat to pay bills mehn’. Low funding is a big challenge on the actors and the production in general because whatever affects total production affects the actor.

There is also the ‘Padi Padi’ trend.

In view of your achievements and experience as an actor, what ‘bitter truth’ would you give someone who is aspiring to delve into acting?

The bitter truth is Acting is a talent, not a hobby. If you cannot act you cannot act. But if you must be an actor, go for it! Get trained if you must. Even those with the talent, that are born actors still get trained and continue to get more training. Don’t allow anybody talk you down. Let every project or set you find yourself be an opportunity to better yourself. Be ready and willing to work because acting is not child’s play as most people feel. Go for auditions, don’t expect to get role handed to you easily. You have to fight for it because there are other actors in auditions that are as good as you. This is where determination comes in. It is usually frustrating getting roles so you need to stay focus and do not get tired to try and try again. Most especially, you need the grace of God.

Society often view celebrity life as all glamorous, is there a contradiction?

I think that is the general view. People often feel once you are in the limelight, once you are a celeb as it is fondly called, you are rich and should live a glamorous and expensive lifestyle. But most often, reverse is the case as not every celebrity you see are rich or are as rich as you think. And some among the rich ones often like to stay low-key.

Tell us about your experience on AM HUSH and what it was like playing your character.

I will say it was not just an amazing experience. It was a great opportunity and honour working with the great and amazing Hush cast and crew. It was a big family where everybody, both actors and crew, worked together to make the show a big success. It was a success because there was a unified vision between the actors and crew. This actually helped me in character interpretation. All the actors on set were pretty much in sync with each not just the story but with one another.

What sacrifices have you made for your career?

Would you say they were worth it?

We have all made a sacrifice or sacrifices to get to wherever we are today. I can’t begin to count the sacrifices I’ve made, but I know they are all worth it. And there are still more sacrifices to be made.

What’s the one thing your fans do NOT know about you?

[Laughing] I’m an addicted bread eater. I don’t joke with bread at all. I eat bread almost everyday. Bread and ewa aganyin.

At what point would you say you’ve reached the pinnacle of your career?

At no point. An artist’s work is never finished.

What your next big plan?

Start a family of my own, and fully established my production company.

ON FAMILY/ Relationships

Are you married?

No

What’s your take on Love and Marriage?

Love is a beautiful thing. When you find love, hold on to it, don’t let it slip away because it might take you long to find it again. On marriage, am not married yet. [Smiles]. Maybe when you come back to interview me when I am married, I will have like an essay for you. But one very important thing is get married to that person that makes you happy and you can tolerate for the rest of your life.

Has being a movie Star affected your relationships in anyway?

I think it has, but not very much.

It’s believed that celebrity marriages seldom last; do you believe this to be true?

Not really, I used to believe that until I came into the movie industry. You can say some are more publicized because they are in the limelight. No one counts the number of break-ups in the medical line and other professions because that won’t sell the papers. Break-ups are everywhere but the one of celebrities take the front page.

Do you sometimes wish you were not in the public eye?

Majority wants to be in public eye. It’s really not a bad idea to want to, as long as is not negative inclined. More so, I recently came into public eye as an actor because I’ve always been behind the camera doing my thing in the Art department. Although, it’s a little strange because I’m more like an introvert that love to stay out the radar.

ON a Lighter Note

(Kindly answer in one word or sentence)

What would get you angry?

The slightest thing sometimes gets me angry and if you happen to be around at that point, you might be wondering what actually I’m angry about.

What’s your most embarrassing moment ever?

Seriously, I really can’t remember.

If you could eliminate one smell, what would that be?

[Sigh]… when I’m not acting, I work in the Art department, set to be precise. I can’t stand the smell of wood polish.

What do you consider as your greatest achievement in life?

I have several accomplishments in my life and career. But my greatest achievement is yet to come, or should I say achievement or achievements are continuous as long as we are still alive. Probably the recent achievement so far was being able to play a dual role in Hush as both an actor and a crew member. This was a year project and I was one of the many team members that work towards the success of the project. What made it great was that my role expanded from being a set dresser to being one of the major characters in the project. It was never easy but it was a great experience. Greater things will happen in time.

If you could only save one thing at home, what would that be?

I will most def save my laptop and my hard drives.

If you could retract one lie you’ve told, what would that be?

[laughing]. Lies don many wey person don lie over the year o. But most of it was necessary at that point in time, and I don’t think they need retracting because they didn’t endanger anyone.

What would I find in your refrigerator?

Sincerely, you will find water, lot of it. [laugh] Man must get vodka inside fridge even if I wont drink it. Malt drinks and other drinks. And my favourite you wont believe is... Star Radler.

If you had the power to make a difference in the world, what would you do?

We all want to make a difference or probably change the world if we have the power. But an individual cannot change the world rather he can only make a difference in his own little way. I think my own little way will be going back to my hood to help as many young ones achieve their dreams by creating an organisation where talents are nurtured.

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