What about “WOMAN”? – An interview with Filmmaker and Producer – Goretti

There are literary critics that have long maintained that the Biblical account of the serpent deceiving Eve to partake of the fruit from the forbidden tree is all a hyperbolic metaphor for infidelity. By the very least, the story of Adam and Eve unveils how complex relationships between men and women can become. Complexity is the stock explored in the new movie “WOMAN” by Goretti Etchu-Egbe – a London based self-made Cameroonian actor and novice filmmaker. As we learn from her in the following exclusive interview with DUNIA editor-in-chief Innocent Chia, the Bournemouth University graduate, star and producer of her movie, “WOMAN”, is a trailblazer who has decimated obstacles in her life by creating new opportunities. So what if she did not study theater arts or filmmaking in school? It has not blunted her zeal or passion for what she feels is in her soul.

Goretti in WOMAN

DUNIA Magazine: Ms Goretti: Double congratulations!!! You have not only successfully produced the movie, WOMAN, it will premiere at the Odeon theater in Greenwich, London on March 4th. What does this mean to you??

Ms Goretti: To me it signifies hope. Hope for a Cameroonian Film industry that can compete on the world stage.

Before we get lost in the fun of the movie, would you please introduce yourself to our esteemed DUNIA Magazine reader? Who is Goretti? Where are you from??

Ms Goretti: My name is Goretti Etchu-Egbe and I am Cameroonian filmmaker based in London, UK.

You have stated elsewhere that the Nigerian film industry – Nollywood – was instrumental in sparking your interest to get into storytelling and movie production. How long have you been at this and how did you get into the industry?

Ms Goretti: Oh yes Nollywood played a part in that it opened its doors to me over 10 years ago when I relocated to Nigeria to find work as an actor. When I was about 16 years old, I watched an American movie “Love Jones” and that movie changed my life. From that moment, I knew that I secretly wanted to be an actor. Secretly because that was not a career choice that my parents or any African parents wanted to hear about. A few years before I travelled to the UK, Nollywood films started streaming in Cameroon and finally I could see a film industry with which I could relate to. And so the passion was given permission to grow. And so it grew and never left.

Without spoiling the show for those who anxiously look forward to watching the movie, what is WOMAN all about?
WOMAN
Ms Goretti: WOMAN tells the story of 3 different women and their struggles within a romantic relationship. The wife finds herself faced with infidelity from her spouse, the single lady’s relationship choices are questioned by her friend, and the lady in the ‘cam we stay’ [mistress] situation has had enough. So WOMAN follows their stories in its unique entertaining way.

In an excerpt from the trailer that was released on February 11th, your lead female character says she is a confident strong woman. How much reaffirmation does a woman need in her life, and do men need same?

Ms Goretti: I think we all need to reaffirm our personal beliefs confidently when the need arises. Women, men, children, our beliefs tend to shape our choices which eventually shape the person we are. And so affirmations and reaffirmations are a great reminder about who we are.

Tell us about the cast for the movie – and what about the team clicked to produce the desired outcome?

Ms Goretti: Our cast was the strongest asset to WOMAN. As a scriptwriter, you need the right cast to bring your screenplay to life. And we were lucky in that we found the cream of the crop. Their performances will blow your mind! The main cast are: Joe-Richard Pook, Epule Jeffrey, Ruth Nkweti, Charlotte Gobina and my humble self. And apart from myself, my entire cast is Cameroonian and based in Cameroon.

Tell us about your location choices and why they worked so well for this movie?

Ms Goretti: WOMAN is proudly shot entirely on location in my beloved Cameroon. We shot in Limbe, Buea and Douala. It only made sense to shoot WOMAN in Cameroon because we were telling an international story within the Cameroonian context. We believe that every nationality on planet earth can relate to our story but we chose to tell it the Cameroonian way. And so Cameroon was the perfect location within which to tell this story.

Budgetary constraints have not only clipped the wings of the State of Cameroon which reached the status of a Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) in 2006, it almost certainly means movie producers like yourself have to work on shoestring budgets, right? How do you and how did you get funding for this movie?

Ms Goretti: In the past 15 years or more, I think it is safe to say that getting support from the government for the creative arts is like the proverbial ‘camel trying to pass through the eye of the needle’. It is just not there. And so when you chose filmmaking as your career path, you know that building this industry relies on you and a few other young people who refuse to let their passion die, irrespective of the challenges. Once I made up my mind to make this film, I started saving. And with the help of my family, I was able to raise enough to bring this story to life.

I have read a statement from you to the effect of encouraging the government of Cameroon to open up theaters that have long gone out of business. With the scarcity of theaters, particularly in the English speaking regions of Cameroon, what is the distribution plan for a movie producer like yourself?

Ms Goretti: I think we all need to join in the cry of encouraging the Cameroonian government to reopen cinema halls and basically encourage the creative arts. The creative talents in Cameroon abound and it so heartbreaking to see some of them have to kill this talent and chose other ‘suitable’ career paths in order to survive financially. Thankfully in this digital age, we do not have to rely soley on cinema halls in Cameroon to reap some financial benefits from our work. Here I am in the UK doing a premiere for a Cameroonian film. Isn’t that hopeful? Also there are several online media platforms through which you can sell your films, there are different African TV companies that are actively buying African content, and so on. As a filmmaker, the responsibility also lies on you to find different channels through which to sell your films.

One would suppose that your parents raised more than an eyebrow when you told them that this was how you wanted to make it in life. Who has supported and mentored you along the way?

Ms Goretti: When I relocated to Nigeria to pursue a career in Nollywood, my parents gave me their blessings. I had the support from every single member of my close and extended family.

Can you speak, in your capacity as Executive Producer and Founder of The Goretti Experience, to what the Goretti Experience is all about and whether it will be a platform of inspiration to young people who are interested in following along your footsteps?

Ms Goretti: The Goretti Experience is my platform to showcase some aspects of the creative talents in Cameroon. Before filming WOMAN, I also organized the first ever ‘spoken word poetry night’ in Buea. And I was amazed by the quality of poets that made it to the show. I was so inspired and decided that it was not enough to just tell stories through film. So we are working on how to make this spoken word poetry night a yearly event alongside making films. I just want to inspire and encourage at least one person to actively pursue this route as a career path.

Now that WOMAN is out, what is the pipeline for Goretti?

Ms Goretti: This year we have a few premieres lined up. We are coning to the US In June and our dates are as follows:

  • June 17th – Premiere Maryland
  • June 25th – Premiere Atlanta
  • July 1st – Premiere Dallas
  • July 2nd – Premiere Houston

And then Johannesburg, South Africa in August, Cameroon at the end of the year. So we have a busy year.

After that we have a few buyers who are very keen on WOMAN.

I always like for my readers to go away with a sense of knowing a little more about our guest than they knew at the onset. What intimate detail about yourself would you share with us and how does that affect the passion for what you do and how you do it?

Ms Goretti: Growing up they called me ‘star’ and I think this was because they could see something that I didn’t. And so now, with my work, I carry the responsibility of not letting my family down. I want to be that star’ that they all see.

Thank you so much Team DUNIA for offering me this platform to share my story. Thank you.

MOVIE TRAILER

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womanthemovie/


Innocent is on Twitter: @InnoChia. Blog: www.chiareport.com

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