As Producer, I Gave Myself  – THISDAYLIVE

Roles That Challenge Me to Be Better

Susan Jimah is like the lady next door, simple and unassuming. Jimah has had her fair share of the industry, which she describes as the good, the bad, and the ugly. The actor, producer discusses her growing up, career, and challenges encountered. Ferdinand Ekechukwu presents the excerpts

Can you share a bit about your background, growing up, what fond memories do you hold?

Growing up was fun. I was the only girl among four brothers, the second of five children. I was one of those kids who won’t say lockup, but the guards were really high, it’s from house to school and school to house. We just find a way to play around with what we have within ourselves in the family house. I was called a seller back then, in the sense that when they give me food, I won’t eat my meat and my mum always gave me big meat as the only girl. I will ‘sell’ my meat for ‘sweet wraps’ and it was like money to me then. My elder brother and cousins always gave me the sweet wraps in exchange for my meat. That was funny for me. Another is that when you beat me, I won’t cry, but the moment I hear my dad’s car, that’s when the crying starts. It might have happened in the morning and my dad comes back in the evening. It was really fun memories.

Was there any aspect of your growing-up years that influenced your present career?

I actually can’t place my hands on any, aside from watching Hollywood movies, dressing up, and acting it out in front of a mirror. I also think my family influenced it too. We stayed in the family house with cousins, uncles, etc., different characters with different drama. Till date, they play in my head, the different characters.

Take us through your journey into the movie industry?

I have always wanted to act. As a child, my mum says when I watch Julia Roberts’ films, I will go in front of a mirror and start acting it out. My mum always knew that I would go into acting and entertainment. I started in 2007 in a feature film. I was in the University of Benin then and the director called me. I came to Lagos and did two scenes with known actors. The director called me again to Asaba in 2008, and I also featured in two scenes. I graduated, moved to Lagos and started going for auditions and doing gigs like that, and pushing myself and I was also working with some marketers in Festac. I was getting more jobs. Then I got married in 2014 and paused for a while until 2017, ending 2018 as a producer, so I can project myself as an actor. A lot of people think that I am a producer who became an actor. I didn’t want to come back after four years and still be struggling and begging to get roles, and thankfully, God has given me the resources. As a producer, I gave myself roles that I fit into and also the ones that challenge me to be a better actor. The first production came out well and was embraced and it pushed me to do more.

How lucrative is acting and movie production for you?

It’s quite lucrative, it’s quite challenging sometimes, but lucrative. I’ll say on average, it’s fair. I can’t say very, very lucrative because the market actually went down, but it’s fair to me and on average. Not too low or too high for an actor and a producer. Cinemas might be different but I’m talking about the TV movies that I produce.

Share with us some of the movies you have featured, produced?

Hellcat, Inner Tension, Daddy’s Princess, Boss Down, Black Dove, In the End, Sharon’s Call, The Perfect Guy, Bloody Weekend, The Expectation, Once Upon a Heartbreak, etc. There is a movie ‘Remember US’. It’s special for me. It focuses on mental health awareness. Another movie is ‘Trouble Makers Bodyguard.’

What has the experience been like working in Nollywood?

I always like to avoid this question. Let me see.  I’ve had the good, the bad and the ugly really, mixed feelings and I’ve had my fair share of it. So far, I kind of choose the good above the bad because there has to be a balance. The good thing is that I’m a working producer and that makes me a working actor. So far so good, I thank God and its fine. Criticism will come with the job but where I have issue is people wanting you to lick asses or pretend to be something you are not to please them and that’s not my kind of person. A lot of people have problems with people who are like that.

What are the challenges you experience?

Different productions have different experiences; you just learn from past experiences and mistakes. There is no production I’ve done without its own unique challenge, no matter how small. From the writing to the production proper and worrying about the feedback from the audience, sometimes the challenge is unforeseen, but I have this mindset when going on set, “hope for the best and expect the worst”. And I learnt from my mom how to be calm under pressure while finding a solution. I took that from my parents. My dad, especially, is a solution person anytime. In all I do, there is always a God factor in it. Most people wonder how I do it, I sometimes wonder too. But I know it’s certainly the God factor in me.

Who do you consider the greatest influence in your life?

The greatest influence in my life is my family, I have the best family. My kids are the best support system. I can be on set for days, but once I stay at home for a week, my girls are already reminding me that I need to go back to set. They push and motivate me. They remind me daily that I need to keep going. 

Are there things you treasure most in life?

Let’s start with humans. My kids are my greatest treasures. I treasure my children a lot. I can’t imagine my life without them. It’s impossible. Material things I treasure are fashion, clothes, perfumes and more money, everyone likes money (laughs out loud).