By Morenike Taire

Enuma Chigbo has worn many caps, not least of which is that of the stunned nominee who co-produced the winning documentary at the African Magic Viewers Choice Awards earlier this month. She has worn that of journalist, and currently, that of writer.  She is also one of the Creative Directors of the Carnival Calabar Queen Pageant, which holds in the Cross Rivers state capital every year; as well as a consultant  to the Cross Rivers’ state government.

Deadwood, the AMVCA award winning documentary,  is the tale of the Nigerian pensioner or old folk, and society’s growing indifference to the daily odds they face: immobility, loneliness, health issues, poverty- even when they had spent their lives in the service of the motherland.

Describing herself elsewhere as “a keen observer of humanity and the media”, the Pan African University alumnus shares her excitement at the recognition of her work, and her hopes that finally, someone will listen.

*Enuma Chigbo

What role does passion have to play in your creativity?

A whole lot. Creativity is fueled by passion

In what way?

When you are passionate about something the creative juices flow thereafter. To narrow this down to specifics, I am quite passionate about bringing out the best in people; showcasing their talents and this subsequently gives birth to unique ideas and how to achieve results

How did that play out in your production of Deadwood?

The Deadwood originally came from my father. It’s a celebration of the “Almost forgotten.” It talks about the plight of the elderly people and looking back now, I see that the neglect of the elderly had been like burden for my father. He wrote an article about it, which I helped publish in the Vanguard newspapers and I guess that was when it became my passion. From that article and the stories he told me, I was determined to amplify their sound.

How easy was it to recruit your actors?

Fairly easy. Number one ‘actor’ was my father. My producer Grace Edwin-Okon felt he would naturally fall into place as the narrator. The only thing he said to us back then when we approached him in his home in Enugu, “You are lucky I do not have heart problems otherwise I would have collapsed.” I guess that was his way of saying yes.

The other main actor, Lady Grace Ezi-Ashi said, who incidentally is the mother of Obioma Liyel-Imoke, Wife of the Cross River State Governor said “I’m okay with acting as long as I am told what to do”.

Wow! and you had no problems with them at all? Would they like to act again?

We could tell she was excited about it. For the minor actors and extras, I am blessed to have a wonderful production crew in Calabar, where the documentary was shot. The recruitment process was seamless. If you are talking about the main actors, I’m sure they would if their health issues do not get in the way. They have been challenged in that area in recent times.

Lucky for you . Some would argue that documentary is a dying science while some would say it’s still underdeveloped. What’s your own take?

I do not agree to documentaries being a dying science. I guess the way they are presented also matters. There are still so many stories out there to be showcased in this manner. More people go down the docu drama route to authenticate their stories and make them more interesting and this I most definitely subscribe to

I was going to come to that. I was going to ask you about the acting- some really dramatic scenes. Was that necessary?

Yes it was. It’s one thing to talk about drawing attention to the public about the plight of the elderly. When you talk about it, some may listen but there is a greater chance that they’ve forgotten the message minutes after, but when you back it up with drama, it creates a vivid picture which stays much longer in the minds of people

Do you have any evidence of that? I mean is it not dependent on the individual?

My evidence is based on reactions and how much longer they talk about it and how often they watch it. You find that people tend to watch drama over and over again. Though I do not have statistics to prove this, from feelers here and there more people are inclined to watching drama over and over than they would documentaries.

Why do you think you won?

Honestly? I have no clue! I can only say it was something the Almighty God Himself orchestrated

And why do you think He orchestrated it?

Hard to say but I think I will go down memory lane on this one. I recall the very first time my father talked about the issue of the elderly was sometime in October 2001. I’m not sure I paid that much attention back then. But with time, I noticed his perseverance. He then wrote the article which I helped publish in 2010 – nine years later, having also experienced the travails of pensioners himself.

However in more recent times, my attention was drawn to something he said about his father in 1946 – way before my time. His father retired as a railway staff and was not paid his pension for two years. According to my father, he had nine children to feed and I can only imagine what they went through at the time. Where I can go by events and dates told to me, there certainly was someone way bigger than me who perhaps knew and understood the situation far better then anyone of us. His name is Jesus.

They are terrible, are they not? So, now that the word is out, what do you wish to see happen?

I truly wish that Government and all stakeholders would do the needful and be more sensitive to the plight of the elderly and be a whole lot more selfless. Can you imagine that The Deadwood was a name a sitting Governor called our Senior Citizens – people who had contributed son much to society?

The Governor actually said that if the elderly did not have children to look after them they should go home and die. We really need to shift from this ugly mindset. It would be nice to see more facilities for the elderly – places where they can congregate, reminisce and not feel so old.

Was it a financially rewarding project?

Not yet but I truly hope it will and soon

How are documentaries financially rewarding?

You know, I need to really think about this. I don’t believe I have a ready answer for you

What next?

There are a couple of projects in the offing; it’s too soon to talk about them in detail at the moment. One of them interestingly is a feature length film based on an article I wrote and published in the Vanguard in 2009. So I guess it’s a case of good History repeating itself.