Stan Nze has steadily grown into one of Nollywood’s most bankable stars, admired not only for his depth on screen but also for the clarity of his convictions off it. From blockbuster films to television hits, the award-winning actor has become a recognisable face in Nigeria’s evolving movie industry.
Beyond the glamour of showbiz, Nze speaks with refreshing candour about the business of Nollywood, the pressures of marketing in the digital age, and why spirituality remains his anchor.
In this interview with ADENIYI ADEWOYIN, the actor opens up on YouTube’s growing influence on Nollywood, his personal philosophy about life and leadership, and the unexpected joys of fatherhood.
As a major player in Nollywood, what are your thoughts on the influx of YouTube movies lately? Would you say it’s all for the craft or for the money?
Well, I’m not in the hearts of people to say what exactly they are doing it for. Whether you’re doing it genuinely or I’m doing mine genuinely too, nobody knows. However, content is key, content is beautiful, but my advice is that whenever you are doing it, make sure you have something you are offering to people. It just happens that there are eyes on Nollywood, so, there is nothing wrong with people giving people content. People are going to make a living. At least they no dey do yahoo yahoo, they just want to make films, whether you say na money them they find or whatever, it is business. We have a lot of creative people in our industry. And people will find what to do to get their hands busy to tell the story that they want to tell, whether it’s on Prime Video, YouTube or cinema, it doesn’t matter, it’s a platform.
When it comes to marketing, actors resort to different marketing strategies on social media, movies and all that, some have resorted to dancing and other strategies. Do you think it is putting actors under pressure?
Some actors say that it is putting them under pressure. However, it is what it is. We have to sell our market. People just need to properly start diversifying and thinking outside the box. Not everybody is dancing. Not everybody has to dance. However, your movie has to be marketed. Like you said, a lot of people are doing YouTube. A lot of people are doing movies, making movies, and are moving on all platforms, you need eyeballs on your movie. Then, it will be irresponsible on the part of the producer to make a movie and not market it. It is part of it. So it is like you are saying to the producer, ‘oh, this is your marketing plan, I do not know how to dance but I know how to do comedy.’ The bottom line is that we have to market this film because these people spend a lot of money on the films and they need to recoup it.
Story telling has improved but what do you think still has to be done in Nollywood?
People are telling a lot of great stories. However, we just need to spend more time creating these stories. I know that one of the major problems is the fact that people releasing movies at a certain time sort of limit the writing and the writer because you also set a time for it to be released and the movie has to be made and ready before then. I have been in that situation where I had to release a movie for Father’s Day because it was time specific and I had two options – I either forfeit it or shoot it.
What role have you not played in movies?
Maybe nude; I have probably never gone nude because I don’t see the need for it but if I see a story that requires it and it is going to be short, modestly well to convey a particular message, why not?
Would you risk playing a role where you have to jump from a dangerous height?
Why would I? I have done films when characters jump, but it is done by stunt guys – it is their job. We have stunt actors who get well paid to do their thing. They have the experience, they have the knowledge of how to jump and whatever else that they need to do. I’m not going to be foolish and say, because I want to be the best actor in Africa, and then I would jump down and people go do one minute of silence and then move on, it is stupidity. I’m going to be alive, get the right training and do the ones I am meant to do, so that the stunt men can do their job.
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You seem to me as a spiritual person, how important would you say spirituality or a connection with God is in your personal and professional journey?
I think it is very important, and you don’t need to wait for things to happen or for you to be in situations; it is a part of our daily lives. Apart from showbiz, generally, you can’t know what the manual of life would be if you are not keyed to the person that owns the manual, it’s like living a wasteful life, and I’m not saying you have to be a regular church goer but you can’t make an impact without the creator.
What is your personal philosophy when it comes to making an impact in the world?
The reason that God has created us is so that we can be a blessing in our community and affect lives. He said that which you did not do to the least of your brothers, you did not do to me, and that is what I believe, and that is my philosophy for life.
Looking at Nigeria today, why do you think it is so difficult to find genuine leaders who will truly effect change?
I think it is important for governance and everyone. Why is it so hard to get a governor or president who would effect change? It is because there is no genuine love, everybody just wants to eat and go, but if there is real conscience, real godliness in leadership, there are things that you will naturally not do because you will understand that we came to this world with nothing and with nothing, we would leave.
