Mercy Aigbe-Gentry’s new movie, Life
After Marriage (Leyin Igbeyawo) was said to have gulped about N8
million. The movie, shot in Lagos would storm the country and beyond
soon with its unique storyline and professional production. However,
during an interview with ENCOMIUM Weekly, the delectable actress
disclosedmore about the movie, why she featured Ghanaian actress, Juliet
Ibrahim and much more.
What has been happening to you in recent times?
I
just finished work on my new movie entitled, Life After Marriage (Leyin
Igbeyawo). It was a very big and star-studded movie featuring stars
like Seun Akindele, Olu Jacobs, Saheed Balogun, Juliet Ibrahim who was
acting her first Yoruba movie, Jude Orhorha, Funsho Adeolu, Fathia
Balogun and more. The movie was directed by Lancelot Imasuen, which also
was his first time directing a Yoruba movie.
What inspired the movie?
The
story is about a young lady called Moyeni and her experience, what she
had to go through not by choice but by fate and providence. She did not
have a choice of what`s happening in her life and how to deal with the
woman she turned out to be.
What were the challenges you encountered during production?
My
major challenge was funding because it was not easy for me to get
people to invest in the movie. But at the end, I had to raise some
money. I also had the support of my husband. My marketer, Adekaz
Production also supported me in this project.
What would you count as the pains and gains?
For
the gains I can’t say for now probably when I get the returns of the
money invested in this new movie, then I can count my gains. As for the
pains, I’m yet to see any. This is a movie that would be taken to the
cinemas across the country as we are planning a UK premiere, US, Dublin,
Canada and Nigeria before it starts showing in the cinemas.
Being
a star-studded movie, how were you able to get the likes of Olu Jacobs,
Juliet Ibrahim, Fathia Balogun, Seun Akindele, Jude Orhorha in one
movie?
It was not difficult for me. Once you have a very good
story and technical hands and you approach any serious actors you want,
they read your story and fall in love with it. They’ll always want to be
part of it. Once they know you produce good movies, they will always
want to be with you. When I had the story, I already knew who and who
would fit into each role. I approached them with the script, they fell
in love with it. Uncle Olu Jacobs was on set, because he is a veteran,
an icon and someone I look up to in the industry. He is one of those who
paved the way for us in the industry and someone I have so much respect
for.
How were you able to groom Juliet Ibrahim into a Yoruba movie?
I
had a director who was directing his first Yoruba movie same as Juliet
Ibrahim, but my scriptwriter also played the role of an assistant
director. So, he was the one who took Juliet through her lines. The
character she played was not compulsory for her to speak Yoruba all
through in the movie. She was so excited about learning the language and
as an artiste, it’s also exciting when you are doing something new and
challenging because when you do the regular thing all the time, it gets
boring. Besides, she was also willing to learn
Would you say your marital experience contributed to the inspiration of this movie?
They
are two different things. As a film maker, I`m an advocate for change, a
lot of things are happening either in marriage or other areas. I
believe I can preach change through the kind of movies I produce that
someone out there would feel the movie is talking to him. So, it had
nothing to do with my own marital experience. It is a movie that is
preaching hope and it would correct a lot of things, especially in
marriage.
It is obvious that you are enjoying a blissful marriage, how is it treating you?
I
am enjoying it because I married my own husband and my best friend.
Marriage becomes easy when you marry your best friend because he/she is
someone you can easily relate with.
You featured in the movie, can you tell us about your role?
I
played the lead character in person of Moyeni. The way she saw marriage
and her experience was not easy because she had many nasty experiences,
things she did not wish for herself but was born into it
What are the lessons people would learn from this movie?
With
this movie, I am trying to preach that we should be very careful with
the way we deal with each other. It is also a movie that is telling
parents that in whatever you do, you should be careful because it might
affect not just you but your “generation unborn”.
How much did the movie gulp?
It is a big budget movie but I would not want to disclose the figures.
Apart from Life After Marriage, what should we expect from you?
Lots
of my fans are asking when is Osas Omoge Benin 2 coming out but I
promise them that after this movie, they should expect the concluding
part of. Osas Omoge Benin 2.
What advise will you give to young ladies about marriage?
They
should take their time before getting married. Don’t allow yourself to
be pushed into marriage. At whatever age or time you get married, the
most important thing is to find your life partner because the truth is
that when you find the right person, you just have to be happy. It’s
when you are happy that you can be useful to your society and be
productive.
Maybe because marriage is an institution ordained by
God, it is going through a lot of things. So, I feel the devil is taking
it personal to attack marriages, be it celebrity. Marital problems are
not synonymous with you being a celebrity or not. I just felt it is a
serious issue that needs to be addressed. We should know that marriage
is a divine institution and when we say we are married, no matter the
challenges we should learn to cope and make the best use of everything
we have. Marriage is not a bed of roses.
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