As the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPPAN) gears up for its inauguration and investiture ceremony scheduled to hold on December 20, 2015 in Ibadan, Oyo State, the association’s spokesperson, Yomi Fash Lanso, spoke with Qed.ng’s Bisola Bello about what the association is really about. The actor also dished on his mother’s burial plans and how he feels as the ambassador to the Olokun Festival Foundation.
It is general knowledge that a fraction of the Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP) formed TAMPPAN. Why?
Well some of the people in NANTAP – including their past presidents – formed the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN). That is how it is everywhere. When we wanted to do something different, some of us decided to team up to create something great.
How will this new association differ from ANTP?
The fact is TAMPPAN controls the largest set of actors in the Yoruba circle. The who is who in the film industry, those people fans want to see and watch their films are in TAMPPAN. Knowing that 99% of these people are in TAMPPAN should tell you that we have a very formidable idea and ideology away from the past association.
About two weeks ago, actors and producers did TAMPPAN registration. How does this ensure the growth of the association?
For every association there has to be a data base that identifies who its members are, where they live, what kind of work they have done. We need to have this data in order to have a strong foundation, which is why we have different guilds under TAMPPAN. We have the actors, producers and directors guilds. These guilds are in place to take care of those registered under them. The people under these guilds are also obliged to follow the ethics and laws of the association. These are things that were missing in the past regime that we are now bringing back to ensure order in the association.
Every director, producer and actor cries about the menace called piracy. How does the new association plan to tackle this?
What we are saying and canvassing from the state and federal government is that we need community cinemas. That is one of our major problems. Because we seem to have this idea that it is all about piracy when it isn’t. Piracy will always be there and we will definitely tackle that, but what gives room for piracy to thrive is because we don’t have enough community cinemas or distribution channels to showcase our movies. So, automatically, the pirates just sit in a corner and rip you off as a producer. For instance in India, they have about three thousand cinemas, but here in Nigeria, I doubt we have more than 10. If the cinemas are everywhere and movies are being seen in every cinema at the same time of release, a producer would have made his or her money before the pirate will think of making a cut.
For a country that is one of the most populous black nations on earth, it is unfortunate we don’t have enough community cinemas. We the Yoruba, I am bold to say, are cinema oriented. Way back from the days of Baba Ogunde, Baba Sala, Ade Love, Yomi Ogunmola and co. we have this cinema culture. Which is why we are clamouring for cinemas in Nigeria, because that is what we grew up to do and that is the best way to get your money back from film production. Yes, piracy is there but it is also everywhere. Hollywood is battling it. You can’t conquer it, but because there are cinemas and appropriate distribution channels it is being reduced to the barest minimum.
How would this be of benefit to the government and Nigerians?
Definitely, it would be of benefit to the government because we are not asking for money. The past association made that mistake. I would not blame them because they were not cinema oriented, they went grant seeking. The past government had very genuine intention to do something for the Nigerian film industry, but, unfortunately some fractions got it wrong. They went there seeking for grants. “We want money to train abroad in directing and all that shenanigans,” was the message. That doesn’t make sense and of course what came out of it? Where is the result? Where are we now? If that money had been used to provide infrastructure and build community cinemas, we will all be better for it.
For us, we are saying, don’t give us the money; use that money to put structures in place. Automatically, there will be youth employment. Also don’t forget that each building that houses two cinemas or more will contain shops or outlets. That is another means of tackling the unemployment issue. It is another way to generate revenue for the Nigerian government. No sweat. Basically, what we are saying is that when that time comes that we want to sit at the round table and discuss these issues; only like-minded people that understand the business and where we are today should be included. Because the last time some people who I am withholding their names where called upon, they took the money and squandered it for selfish reasons. I also know when we discuss with the government we can get a better tax incentive, unlike what we are suffering at the hands of this private owned cinemas.
What will this association do for up and coming actors?
Right now, we are focused on positioning ourselves in the industry, which is our foremost drive. We are focused on the reposition of the arts and our trade. Automatically, if that is done, it gives leverage to the up and coming practitioners themselves.
What are the things the association plans on tackling in the Nigeria movie industry?
We have a lot of plans for the Nigeria movie industry. We have had lots of shortcomings in the past that are still affecting us till now. The crop of unprofessionalism in the industry is something we desperately need to tackle. Once we can lay that structure, then everyone will benefit. If I as a producer engage people’s services, I should be able to take care of them. This and many more are the reasons we think that we need to come up with an association that will listen to the yearning of the people and tackle lots of things, which is why we have to reposition ourselves in the industry.
TAMPPAN consists majorly of people from the Yoruba movie industry, does this mean the association only has chapters in the south west region?
TAMPPAN is a national association. It is not only concentrated in the south west alone. We have chapters in Edo, Niger and Abuja. It is a national thing.
The association is expected to hold its inauguration ceremony on Sunday, December 20, which influential personalities will be in attendance?
We have highly placed Nigerians who have pledged their support to us. Not just any highly placed Nigerians but personalities that actually love the arts. We have Dr. Erelu Olusola Obada, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Uganda, Omolade Oluwateru, and of course Senator Florence Ita-Giwa
Along the line, will they be an annual event that celebrates the birth of the association?
Yes definitely, but it might not be tagged a celebration for TAMPPAN but it will be staged and produced by TAMPPAN
As the new ambassador of arts and tourism for the Olokun Festival Foundation, will the organisation you represent be giving its support to TAMPPAN?
Yes, definitely. I actually forgot to mention the phenomenal man, Otunba Gani Adams, the founder of Olokun Festival Foundation. He has been a huge supporter of arts and actors as a whole for a long time. Directly or indirectly, he does it. That is why when I was called upon to be an ambassador; I was blown away because this is someone I have seen as a pillar of culture and traditional ethics in Nigeria. He will go the extra mile to see that this culture or cultural display is put in place and celebrated.
There are reports that say you will celebrate the life of your late mother on December 26. How true is that?
Well, that is coming up very soon. It was supposed to come up by 26 of this month but because of some situations, we couldn’t do it this year. But definitely in 2016, there will be an event to celebrate her life.
