Veteran Actor/film director, Francis Onwochie was a guest on this episode of #wakeupnigeriaontvc and he told us about his latest projects and what he has been up to.
Francis Onwochie is a creative content architect, Motion picture Consultant, Television/Film Producer and Actor. In the course of his career, he has acted, produced and directed several films in Nigeria, prominent amongst which are ‘Raging Storm’ (1997), ‘Final Onslaught’ (1998), ‘Father Tansi’ (1999), ‘Saving Alero’ (2000), which won Best Actress and Best Film at the National Film Festival.
‘Claws Of The Lion’ (2004), which won Best Short Film at the Zuma International Film Festival and the Abuja International Film Festival in 2005 and 2006, respectively, is another title in his filmography.
On the professional association front, he is a member of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria (ITPAN) and Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN).
Onwochei received the Nollywood Distinguished Veterans Award and was also awarded Fellow of The Arts in 2018.
Speaking about what he has observed and thinks can be better in the movie industry, Francis Onwochie said, “a bit different from a lot of my colleagues, I have had the privilege of being at the beginning. I was less than 20 when I began to make a little impact as a live performer. Some of us were also privileged to be young people working in NTA before the emergence of Nollywood.
I am excited about one thing because if you trace the trajectory of growth I am very glad because the work done 8 years ago they are different from 10 years and the work happening today. So many levels and areas of development and growth. Yes, there can be a few more improvements but I am happy about where we are now as a motion picture environment.”
Speaking about how he became part of the Stage performance “Motherland”, he said, “for a long time in my life I was an actor on stage and television and film has a way of soaking one away so temporality I forgot about life performance and all of a sudden Bolanle Austen-Peters brought me out of retirement to participate in what she was doing and I have the experience absolutely amazing to the extent that I want to continue and do more.”
According to Austen-Peters, Motherland, the Musical tells the story of Nigeria’s past, present and future. Situated in a town hall narrative, the conflict areas also look at the issues that are uppermost in the minds of young Nigerians and youths today.
See the video below for more!
