I want to be Nigeria’s James Cameron –Sunday Itaka, movie producer

Fast ris­ing movie producer and music video direc­tor, Sunday Itaka aka Sunny Silver is the brains behind movies and soap operas like Blood Rage and Single Ladies. In this interview with NKI­RU ODINKEMELU, he talks about the journey so far.



Tell us about your­self?
I am Sunday Itaka aka Sunny Silver, the CEO of Silver Brand Pictures. I am a movie producer and video director and also a script writer. I am from a family of nine boys. I at­tended College of Educa­tion, Abuja, and Pefti Film Institute, Lagos, where I studied Production Man­agement in 2008.

What informed your choice for movie pro­duction? I like creativity, I like anything that involves challenges and I love pro­duction generally; it gives me joy seeing my works on screen.

At what point did you decide to be a movie producer?
That was about eight years ago. A lot of things were happening in my environment and I felt the best way for me to add my voice to correcting the ills was for me to produce a movie that will help com­municate to society the way forward.

And what movies have you done to this effect?
I produced Blood Rage in 2010. It talked about the influence of bad people particularly armed robbers. Then I did Single Ladies which exposed the lifestyle of our ladies in their closets. Single Ladies is a soap opera which runs on Galaxy and Startimes and some other local stations outside Lagos. I have also produced a movie which is yet to be released entitled Throne of Blood. My most recent job is a soap opera titled Ladies Affair.

What is your take on Nollywood?
Technically we are grow­ing but script wise, I think we need to enhance our cre­ativity. It hurts whenever I see people produce movies devoid of meaning thereby rubbishing the image of the industry internationally.

Who are your men­tors?
My biggest mentor is James Cameron. He is my role model and I want to be like him. In Nigeria I have Emem Isong, Desmond Elliot and Elvis Chuks; they are creative and good at what they do.

Are you married?
No, but I am in a serious relationship.

How do you manage your female fans?
I manage them through prayer. Most ladies believe they can always get any man they want but I make them know at the begin­ning that I am in a serious relationship and whatever relationship we have should be professional and once a lady goes beyond that, I correct her because that work-relationship must be there. I let her know that I am the producer while she is the artiste so we don’t go beyond our boundaries. But sincerely it has been very tempting but prayer has brought me this far.

Tell us about your most embarrassing mo­ment?
My most embarrass­ing moment was the day I walked into an office to request for a movie location and somebody said, ‘you, a producer, how come?’ Maybe, it was because of the way I dressed. I felt very embarrassed.


SUNNEWS