Earlier this month, J.K. Obatala spent three days on location, where the sequel to Willis Ikedum’s successful light drama, “Mummy Dearest” was being filmed. Interviewed in Port Harcourt’s swank Sasun Hotel, the director opens up about friction on the set and his unshaken faith in the Garden City—despite a lack of local support.

“Mummy Dearest” (subtitled “The Wedding”) was shot in the highbrow Trans-Amadi area. It is a nascent franchise, which Ikedum hopes to develop into a distinctive cinematic brand. Excerpts.

Willis Ikedum and Godwin Dixon, cinematographer for “Mummy Dearest.”

WHAT is the difference between the initial “Mummy Dearest” and this sequel?

First of all, we’ve added a new character (“Kozby”) – which Uti Nwachukwu plays. Recall that, in the progenitor version, he wasn’t there. Then, there was a change in the supporting actress, who played “Boma”. When I approached Wendy Elenwo, she said she wasn’t “emotionally fit,” to reprise her role in the sequel. So I had to replace her with Mary Lazarus. Mary is more established in the profession. Still, I wouldn’t have minded if Wendy had returned.

That, I should explain, is also why I added Uti. I needed a known actor, who had high market value and could help compensate for the loss of Elenwo’s market clout…I used to see Mary in movies. But I didn’t know her. She and Elenwo look alike, sort of. It was because of this resemblance that I went for Lazarus. Another difference, is that the previous “Mummy Dearest” production was a drama. But it had lots of comedy. This one has more drama.

I see you have inserted a choreographed dance sequence, in this production.

You are referring to the “wedding” scene. Yes. It was Uti Nwachukwu, basically, who did the choreography. He’s a good dancer.

It seems to have worked well.

I think so. Someone used a phone to make a video. I posted it online – on my Instagram – and it had over 400 views.

I’ve not seen the script. But you may get a similar reaction to the film. Because what I’ve observed is very impressive.

Thank you so much. You know, this is the second installment. But it is subtitled “The Wedding”- instead of “Mummy Dearest Part-2”. I don’t like labeling things “2,” “3.” “4,” etc.

Can we expect a television series?

No. I don’t know if I’ve told you, but “Mummy Dearest” is a franchise. It’s not just a movie. It’s a franchise that will, hopefully, span decades. I don’t want to do a television series. I want it to be like the “James Bond” franchise—which continues to thrive… The actors may come and go. But the name is still going to be there….

In other words, you’re creating a brand?

Yes. I’m creating a brand, for the name “Mummy Dearest”.

Is it always going to be anchored in religion?

No. Even this one is not tied to religion. There’s only one religious scene – and that’s the wedding. Remember, you advised us against that, in your review of the first installment. That’s why I didn’t set the wedding scene in a church. It was in a garden. I’m considering my market.

I was surprised to learn that you’ve already filmed “Switch”—the movie we discussed in our last interview. I was not informed.

I’m sorry. I’ll make sure you’re invited to the premiere. Actually, the “Switch” storyline was compromised. Somebody I gave the script to, did something from it, without telling me. So it’s not coming out, as early as we’d planned. We’ll now release it sometime next year. Meanwhile, I’ve done two television film. I don’t know if you are familiar with “Rok TV”? …

No. I’m not.

It’s a platform, like Netflix; and they have a television channel. They’re on DSTV. I did “A Perfect Date” for Rok TV, and “What A Girl Wants” on my own. But I will sell it to Rok.  Both are romantic dramas.

Is Rok Nigerian?

Yes. It’s Nigerian – from Nigeria to the world! …When are you going to release this latest episode of “Mummy Dearest”? We’re aiming at Mother’s Day, next year…

Do you have any other movies planned?

Yes. I had planned to shoot four additional ones this year. But there’s not enough time left now. So we’ll probably shoot just two more.

Can you discuss these projects?

No, no, no! We haven’t done anything yet. So I am not permitted to reveal any detail. But I can give you their genres. The first one I’m shooting is called “Infatuation”. It’s an obsessive, psycho-sexual drama. After that, we’ll shoot two typical dramas. You know, drama works very well in Africa – as do comedy.

I was discussing “action movies” with one of your starring cast yesterday. Are you looking in that direction?

Yes. I already have an action script – a kind of caper movie. I’ll probably film it, between next year and 2019. It’s going to be huge! We’re shooting it in Port Harcourt, Lagos and Abuja.

Do you see yourself venturing into science fiction or detective movies?

Detective movies, yes. Science fiction, no.

Why?

Because science fiction is not my thing. I like to tell real stories—fiction that is rooted in reality. I don’t like to tell completely fictitious stories…

But science fiction is not all imagined. The plotting is fictitious. But the science must be either real or at least plausible.

Well, take dinosaurs, for instance. Nobody has ever seen or taken a picture of one…  

Is future collaboration likely, between you and your former “’76” colleagues?

Willis Ikedum, directing The Wedding scene, in “Mummy Dearest

Well, no one knows the future. But we all have our own careers now. Actually, it was I who brought Izu Ojukwu, the director, and his main co-producer together. Before I went to film school, I used to appear in Ojukwu’s movies. So when Adonija Owiriwa – who is my cousin – said he wanted to get into film, I linked him to Ojukwu. Ojukwu did a movie with Owiriwa, called “Nnenda”. It was a medical drama. So a certain interested medical organization took it over… No use identifying the group. But they’re concerned with child welfare, support for orphans, peace within the healthcare sector and that kind of thing – which is what “Nnenda” was about.

How does Prince Tonye Princewill, the other co-producer of “’76,” fit into all of this?

Princewill came in later. He’s a friend to both Adonija and me. He said “Hey, I want to co-sponsor this movie. And he joined in.”

I know, from our previous discussions, that one of your driving ambitions is to make Port Harcourt a major centre of movie production. How far?

You know, when the movie thing started, we all moved to Lagos – because that’s where the action was. So Lagos became a very popular destination, for filmmakers. But filming in Lagos, can be very difficult. You can’t just bring out your cameras and start shooting, there. So I said to myself, “Hey, it’s time to move back home!” I returned in 2010. And I’ve been working in Port Harcourt, ever since. I vowed to promote this city. You know the kind of image Port Harcourt has. It’s not good! I’m using my movies, to help change the city’s image. You know, send out a message: “This is an entertainment-friendly city. This is where you can come and invest”.

Are you getting any local support?

I’m not! Funny enough, I’m not! And it’s disheartening. A very typical example, of the attitude here, is the response to my request to film at the new Pleasure Park, in Port Harcourt.

Is it Government owned?

Yes, the state Government owns it. They fail to realize, that people pay, either in cash or in kind, for product placement in movies!  You may have noticed, for example, that we drank one brand of water on set. They paid. There is a certain soda that we have on the set. They also paid.

What about the Chamber of Commerce? Have you had any interaction with them?

No, no, no. I’ve not. As you know, we have a radio show, called “Movie Talk.” We clocked two years, last month. I use that avenue. We give out numbers, for interested listeners to call…

Among the movies that you’ve done, which one has been most challenging?

The last film I do, is always a bigger challenge than the one before it. I try to improve on every production. Raising money, is always challenging for a filmmaker. But that’s not my most taxing task. My big headache, is being able to film everything I wrote into the script! I’ve never filmed everything in the script – in any of my movies!

Why?

I don’t know. It can be time constraint, scheduling, weather – any number of things. The first installment of “Mummy Dearest,” for instance, was 51 scenes. I shot 49.

Are you going to shoot all of the scenes in this one?

I don’t think so [laughing]… What has been your greatest difficulty, in filming this script? Friction on the set: In which someone makes it difficult, for you do what you want to do. One actor – whom I won’t name – left two days ago, for example, after ratcheting up tension. He was trying to stampede me. And I can’t yield to that…

What do you mean, by “stampede”?

Make me go faster…Make me do what he likes. He’s thinking of his own schedule. And doesn’t consider the interests of others, such as myself and his fellow actors.

There was a time, during the “kissing” scene, at the club, when something apparently went wrong and a long discussion ensued.

Yes. Something did happen. Too many things! The actress was complaining bitterly, about the guy she had to kiss in the scene. First of all, he was sticking out his tongue…When he does this, the saliva goes into her mouth. So after I say “cut,” the girl … has to rush away and spit out his saliva!

He wanted a real kiss!

Yes. I don’t know what he was trying to prove by doing that! Secondly, he reportedly had bad breath. So she was asking me to give him some mint or something…

I noticed also, that on the day of the “wedding” scene, there was a long discussion between you and Daniel K. Daniel. What was that about?

It was about the attire his character was supposed to be wearing. He was complaining that the trousers didn’t fit the occasion very well. But I told him the trousers he had on, was what I wanted him to wear. So he didn’t have any choice… You know, the actor’s role is to suggest to the director – not to direct him.

It’s a matter of maintaining control of the operation?

Yes.  As a director, you have to be assertive. It’s o.k., be open to ideas, suggestions and all that. But at a point, you have to draw the line.

You’ve said you want your movies to make a moral point. What is your opinion, of morality in Nigeria?

There is no “bad” or “good” country. Every country has good and bad qualities. Nigeria is no different, from the others. Citizens with sound moral values abound, in our country. But sometimes, the actions of individuals with bad attitudes…tend to overshadow the good behaviour of the majority…

Do you have political ambitions?

Nope!  I don’t. None whatsoever. As a matter of fact, if they were to say, “Hey, Willis, come and run for the office of governor—unopposed” I would decline! I’m strictly for art.

How do you assess the state of cinema, in the country?

It’s growing – tremendously. We have 29 houses, right now; and they’re building more. We should have added two to four theaters, before the end of the year. You know, Nigeria had a cinema culture in the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s. But it died out, in the early ‘90s. We are now resurrecting that culture…

How many cast are you using?

We had over 50 regular cast and maybe another 50 extras. There were more than 100 people in the “wedding” scene. What about your budget? How much money have you spent, on this film? We just cleared N10 million yesterday! And we’re not done. I expect our final expenditure to be around N15 to N20 million.  But our original budget was N18 million.

Where are you going to do the post-production work?

I usually do my post-production in Abuja. The editor I work with, has a studio there. We’ll begin immediately-and work through September, October and early December. The first trailer of “Mummy Dearest, The Wedding” should drop on Christmas Day. We hope to release the film March 9 – which is Mother’s Day weekend.