Gov’t has no agenda for the Cameroon Film Industry

Vitalis Otia,

- Vitalis Otia, board chair - Cameroon Film Industry

In this exclusive interview with Douglas A. Achingale, the very talented actor gives the genesis of the Cameroon Film Industry, recounts the problems they encounter and calls on businesspersons and other interested Cameroonians to put hands on deck to render the industry more vibrant and entertaining.

You are definitely one of the great movers and shakers of the Cameroon film industry. Please tell our readers who you are.

                I’m Otia Vitalis Suh, a native of Modele in Menchum division of the North West region. Professionally I’m a senior medical laboratory scientist. I work for the research unit of the University of Yaounde I. I’m an actor and board chair of the Cameroon film industry since 2013.

                How did a medical laboratory scientist take interest in film acting?

                I started acting as far back as my secondary school days in Bishop Rogan College, Small Soppo – Buea. It so happened that a member of the drama club was once absent and I was called up to replace him. I played the role well and the Rev, Father in charge, Fr. Humphery Tatah Mbuy, was very impressed and so kept calling me to act.

                How many movies have you acted in so far?

                I’ve acted in over 50 home movies and 3 TV series. I’ve also done 4 adverts on TV and one poster advert.

                You talk of 50 movies; where are all of them found? We don’t see them around…

                That’s true. The Cameroon Film Industry is facing a huge problem, which is the marketing of its products. It’s been a daunting task for us the board members since we were elected to office; but we’re doing everything to put up a perfect marketing network just for Cameroon movies. After a lot of research, we settled on coming up with kiosks that will be placed in specific junctions in all the towns of Cameroon to sell specifically Cameroon movies. Now, building these kiosks is a major problem. We’ve been contacting business partners, who keep procrastinating. Even the ministry of Culture has so far not responded favourably. In Cam, business people are still reticent when it comes to investing in films, even though we see lots of billionaires in some neighbouring countries who grew to that height thanks to investment in films.

                We are calling on the business class in Cameroon to come closer to us and seize this great opportunity to make money for themselves. In every country where the film industry is developed, it is the marketer that makes all the money. If you hear that an actor is paid 100 million FCFA, the marketer must have earned billions.

                We will show them how to do these kiosks and give them on franchise. Products that are not films may also come in but we want to have an efficient and organized way of marketing our films. We have many good films that are made in Cameroon, that’s why we are winning many awards in film festivals all over the world.

                Can you name some of the award-winning films? Have you ever taken part in any of such films?

                There is “Obsession” that came home with the NAFCA awards from the UK, “Nina’s Dowry” which has won over 35 international awards the world over, “Damaru” that has won about 10 awards now, “Belle” with 15 international awards, etc. The cast and crew in all these films are purely Cameroonian. Unfortunately, I didn’t taken part in any of them. But I believe I’ll soon be taking part in such awarding-winning films sooner than later.

                Can you, in your capacity as board chair of the Cameroon Film Industry, assure The Median that the industry is well-organized?

                Yes, we’re in full construction of the film industry. Independent film makers came together in Buea in 2008 and created the Cameroon Film Industry, and an interim board was appointed to organize the guilds and register the organization. They were given six months to do so and then call for a general election. They did part of what they were assigned to do but only organized the first-ever election in 2013. So you will notice that a lot of work still has to be done. And it is very difficult because there are no finances. The Cameroon Film Industry has never received a dime from the government of Cameroon. Members have to make contributions to handle issues as they come up.

                There is a series, “Bad Angel”, in which you feature prominently and which is projected every weekday on CRTV just before the 7:30 news. It looks so interesting. Tell us about the series. 

                This is a purely Cameroonian series. I want to say very loudly that it is the longest series ever done in Africa. It has 312 episodes. So it’s longer than “Tinsel” which Cameroonians love to watch. “Tinsel” has 300 episodes and was shot and realized in three years. But we did “Bad Angel” in just one year and you can see that the quality is exceptional. It cost over 300 million FCFA.

                “Bad Angel” was produced by Ngana Godwin and co. and all the cast and crew are exclusively Cameroonians. The plot is about a rich man, Mindako, the character I incarnate, who has a very poor elder brother, Mesembe. The latter has sacrificed his education because their parents could not sponsor both of them at the same time. This means that each time Mesembe has a problem, Mindako has to solve it; but the latter can’t do so all the time. Mindako is married to Christine and Mesembe knows that Christine is the sole reason why Mindako doesn’t want to give him money when he meets him. I’ll like to keep the suspense on how the film continues and ends since it is still running.

                Are u involved in film writing too?

                For now, no. But I’m sure I’ll get into because I have stories I’ll like to do in future. I encourage other Cameroonians to write too.

                What is your impression about Nollywood which Cameroonians are so used to?

                Nollywood is a great film industry we have a lot to learn from. We have to learn especially their film-making techniques and marketing strategies.

                Any particular actor(s) in Nollywood you admire?

                Yeas, there are respectable actors and actresses like Pete Edochie, Olu Jacobs, Patience Ozukwo, and lots of others. Their ages and levels of education make me feel encouraged. Cameroonians should copy this because we don’t have adult casts here. That’s why I move all over Cameroon to act some of these roles.

                There are certainly some Cameroonian actors too who kindle some good feelings in you. Am I right?

                O sure! There are lots of them. But given my position, I can’t mention names. They are doing a great job, but there are others too who want to bring down the name and image of the Cameroon Film Industry. I condemn this in very strong terms. We are working seriously to protect the industry.