Why I cannot do without Funke Akindele – Ayo Makun

30 Days in Atlanta was a success story, how were you
able to conquer the movie industry with just one
movie?
Well I cannot categorically say that I conquer the
movie industry but what I can say is that I got
blessed and I got rewarded as a result of taking a risk,
as a result of getting myself involved with something
that I’m passionate about. I will just say I’m lucky
and at the same time say that it all happened as a
result of hard work and content that was good enough
to share to the rest of the world.
You said you took some extra miles to achieve
success with the movie, can you highlights them?
Yeah, like I said earlier I have always had a
relationship with people like RMD, Ramsey Nouah and
building on the relationship and making it business
was easy because we’ve always known ourselves,
we’ve all been together in the past and it wasn’t that
easy but I just give it to the fact that we had a
relationship going and all of that came as a plus in
trying to get them.
30 Days in Atlanta was in the cinemas for a long time
and made so much money. There has been this outcry
by move producers that the cinemas reap of them,
what’s your take on this?
The cinemas know what they are doing, they set up
their own business just the way we go there with our
movies. The basic thing is not to see that one person
is reaping off the other person. I think the best thing is
to have the kind of agreement that will work for both
parties and that way nobody will complain that one is
reaping off the other.
You are already putting a finishing touch to your new
movie A Trip To Jamaica. First it was Atlanta, now
Jamaica, why names of cities?
Yeah because Akpos is an adventurous fellow, Akpos
is somebody who loves to see the world and
anywhere you see Akpors you just have to accept it
so there is no specific reason why he is touring.
Jamaica yes because they love our contents, they
love our movies. The Caribbean’s and Jamaicans can
trace their root to West Africa so taking a movie to
them is like bringing their brothers to them and at
the same time I also know that Nigerians love
Jamaica as well so I think why we don’t have this
cultural blend. That was what gave birth to the idea.
Can making movies take AY away from comedy
business?
No, movie cannot take more of AY. Stand-up comedy is
still very solid, the AY Live brand is still very solid and
movie is just 10% of every other thing that the AY
brand stands for. Ay Live is coming up on Easter
Sunday, March 27 and it promises t good, it’s
something that we do year in year out and we give
people happiness.
There is this strong bond between you and Funke
Akindele, she is always by you either during AY Live or
in your movie. What is the bond?
Yes, it’s relationship, it is talent. Iron sharpeneth iron;
it is just gaining the right connection with somebody
you believe you can work with. And Funke shares that
same believe like if it is AY I am ready to go. It is
going to be Funke because the connection is there and
she also can deliver so it is not only about connection,
it is about who she is, her gift and her talent as well.
She is somebody who has it and nobody will drop that
idea of working with somebody like that.
When should Nigerians be expecting A Trip To
Jamaica?
A Trip to Jamaica will be coming up in the middle of
the year in Nigeria. It will also go to the other part of
the world; we’ll do a tour of the UK, Canada, Jamaica
and the US.