Lagos-based actor, Tope Tedela, savours his nomination for the African Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, writes AKEEM LASISI
Like several other actors that have been nominated for the 2014 edition of the African Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, Tope Tadela hopes that all will eventually be well at the final stage. The actor, who is also a guitarist, believes that awards – especially nominations – are not the only thing that define a professional and success. He says he sees his nomination as an inspiring development.
“I am thankful to God for his kindness,” he notes. “It’s a good feeling to have your work highlighted and it challenges and encourages you. But awards are a very tricky thing. At the last Golden Globes, there were a couple of surprises that sprang up and sure there’s always a winner. That doesn’t necessarily diminish or make light of the work of other nominees in a category. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Tedela got the nomination based on his role in A Mile From Home. A friend of his, on whose short film he had worked on, informed him about the audition for the series.
“I auditioned and got to know that it was an action drama. I really wasn’t sure of our ability to pull it off, but Eric Aghimien, the director, showed me a short film he had done along the lines of that genre. The rest is history. I hitched the job,” he explains.
He concedes that A Mile From Home is what he calls a passion project for all of the people involved – based on the fact that it did not give high fees. According to him, it was a game of collaborations.
He says, “This wasn’t a Hollywood or even Nollywood high-budget film, but despite the obstacles, we stuck to our guns.
“This was independent filmmaking at its peak and though there were very many rough days, we sailed through.”
On how he got into Edge of Paradise, he recalls that he was already trying to become an actor before he got into university. He had done some ‘waka pass’ – casual acting – on one or two productions. This was around 2005.
But he saw the audition notice for Edge of Paradise just after rounding off his first year exams at Uni. He attended the audition and got a call back and I landed the role of Julian.
On the challenges he has faced on the job generally, he says, “There are many sides to the issue of challenges for an actor. I could talk about days of scrambling from one audition to another, sometimes hustling to attend as many as three auditions in a day. Many times, there were no call backs; morale dampened and all that.
“I could talk about days when you think you gave your best to a particular role and then, came under constructive or destructive criticism, as the case may be.
“Personally, I could talk about the insecurity that comes with knowing what it means to have a desk job and then leaving that to meander through the world of acting/filmmaking. There are so many stories to tell, but it’s all a part of life and the journey to success.
Tadela recently concluded work on a supernatural-thriller titled In My Father’s House, directed by Jimi Odumosu. He stars alongside Vanessa Nzediegwu, Paul Utomi, Kiki Omeili, Wale Macaulay and other actors Also, Apostates, another film he is part of, is also due for theatre soon.
He says he got inclined musically in his teen years and he just felt drawn to pick up an instrument later.
I was a member of the choir at church and I was also a chorister in my fellowship while at the university. The guitar was that instrument. And I can also play piano, on a basic level. I’ve always loved the performing arts.”
Many people believe that a lot of romantic things go on behind the scene on location. Our correspondent wonders what his perception is on this.
Tedela says, “Romantic things go on everywhere. It’s not peculiar to any industry. That being said, I’ve realised that it’s better to keep things professional.”
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