Covid 19 has indeed affected life in so many more ways than you can imagine--Keppy Ekpenyong, Nollywood seasoned actor and movie producer

 Keppy Ekpenyong, a legendary actor does not need much introduction. Reason is that his name rings a bell in Nollywood and his face is a signature of a sort. In this brief interview with adanneamos.blogspot.com he talks about Nollywood and  how the industry would thrive again no matter how hard Covid-19 bites.
Excerpts: 

How do you think this plague known as Covid -19 would affect the movie industry?
 The truth of the matter is the Nigerian film Industry transcends particulars. The industry has a recruitment of life and a participation of life. The industry in itself is life. So what ever affects the industry affects life.

  The Nigerian film industry reflects and captures the rich diversity of lifestyles domiciled within our geographical and political borders. It becomes even more transcending as it impacts positively on our recruited viewership world over. In climes outside our space, the Nigerian Film industry even becomes a religion affecting emotions and reactions.  So in the immediate, when you ask about the Nigerian Film industry, in truth your question is about the world from the Nigerian perspective.
 Our industry captures the peculiarities of vibrant cultures and of people and peoples, of competencies in creativity and vocation. Tribes with fabled legacies and an audience described as being cult like in practice.
 I look at the industry as ‘a congregation of all competencies in one’ a quick look at participation reveals various departments within the industry that include but not limited to  Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers, Accountants, Electricians, Carpenters, Fashion designers, Caterers, Make-up Artists, Camera Operators, Lights, Sound etc.
Covid 19 has indeed affected life in so many more ways than you can imagine.

 Do you think it will be possible to maintain social distancing at movie locations . Or movies or roles that would warrant hugging and shows of affection?
 The African flavouring is physical  personable and warm. We enjoy our loud  laughs and are exuberant and frenzied in our dances. We hug fervently as much as we share love in intimate handshake.
Our concept developers and script writers capture all of that in our stories. That is who we are, 'Happy people'!  Actors on set interpret appropriate characterizations our viewers see, identify,  acknowledge and celebrate.
Covid 19 has altered this and is charting a new course.
 Nollywood was birth from a desire to satisfy a need. I believe for now we are in a transition and our sustained desire will identify solutions.  Cinemas have been hit hard. Billions lost in Box office. Productions delayed and or postponed. Actors and colleague practitioners quarantined, perhaps financially challenged as the restlessness of creativity indulges life and with no savings culture and a routine of earning off new jobs, our exciting lifestyles may have been punctured.
We wait. We will sterilize this infection. We will find new ways to work with better output.
What is thriving is online streaming. The lock-down was bearable because we provided life. Already creators are looking at this as an amiable option.   The industry will thrive again

 Conclusion
Nollywood is known for inventing and reinventing itself and will adapt. People now know what can happen but will thrust forward into the new, building on the old. So yes, It would be unfair to speculate about various scenarios concerning what the future would hold. Truth is none of us have been through this pandemic and don’t know.

Keppy as he is fondly known as was born in Yaba, Lagos state. He graduated from University of Calabar where he had his first degree in Linguistics and University of Lagos where he had his post graduate degree and masters in International Law and Diplomacy

Story By ADAEZE AMOS