By Rachael Okechi

A veteran Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Chiege Alisigwe, has called on aspiring movie actors to prioritise passion over money if they want to make a lasting career in the profession.

Mrs. Alisigwe made the call on Wednesday in Enugu during the ongoing 4th edition of the Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival (ENIF), an event held at Enugu Window on America, University of Nigeria, Enugu campus.

These five-day workshop, ENIFF 2023, aims at creating a platform for discourse, skill development, and exchange of ideas among esteemed academic bodies with topics covering various aspects of contemporary filmmaking, cultural representation, and the evolving role of mass communication in the cinematic landscape

The multiple awards winning actress stated that acting has a lot to do with personalizing a character to get the best for viewers. Mrs. Aligwe posited that, just as the earth has four elements, so does acting, and for someone to survive and be the best, they must be passionate and versatile.

“Movie making takes a lot of passion and hard work. It involves personalizing a character by abandoning one’s original self to make the best out of the role. Acting involves utmost passion, and that is what would bring fame, which will later bring money.

“For an upcomer, it does not often end with having talent. Patience, perseverance, tolerance, as well as commitment, are other virtues that must be taken into consideration.”

“Just as the earth has four elements – water, fire, air, and itself, acting also has them, and for someone to succeed, those principles must be observed to the fullest.”

Mrs. Alisigwe also stressed the importance of talent discovery and nurturing of up-and-coming actors by veterans, especially in the South East region, as that would guarantee fruitful sustainability in the industry.

She decried the pathetic state of the movie industry in the South East zone, and called on all stakeholders to unite and bring back the glory of movie making to the South East, where she said it started in Nigeria.

The event also had in attendance students from the Department of Mass Communication at ESUT and students from the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus, among others.”

ENIFF 2023, a celebration of global cinema and cultural resilience, commenced on November 21st and will conclude on November 25th. The workshops, integral to the goals and visions of the festival and the Eastern Nigeria Film and Arts Initiative, will foster insightful discussions and learning opportunities for attendees.

The Workshop continues today in Enugu.