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Movie Icon, Big ABASS Tells City People
Your talent they say determines what you can do, your motivation determines how much you’re willing to do while your attitude definitely determines how well you do it. Veteran actor Adedamola Ajiboye popularly known as Big Abass has been in the movie industry for the past fifty four years. He joined the industry in 1970 and since then, he has become a force to reckon with.
Featuring in numerous movies and producing his own films has proved that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, he’ll meet with success unexpected.
Interestingly, not only does Big Abass act and produces, he also creates Effects on sets for film making. City People’s ADERONKE FAKEYE, met him at the movie premiere of the film titled “Ojo Ale” produced by U.K based Actor Doyin Amodu held at Jara Mall located at Ikeja, Lagos and he opened up about his life and fulfilment in the industry.
Big Abass is a popular name in the movie industry , when did acting start for you?
I am Adedamola Ajiboye.a.k.a Big Abass. I started in 1970. In those days , you’ll agree with me that there was nothing in the industry then compared to these days. Then we were only interested in making people to see us. We never knew it would be so sweet and interesting now. I was nineteen years when i started. I will be 54 years on stage this year. I am from Oyo State.
Can you recall the movies you’ve featured in and produced and the lessons learnt?
I can’t remember because they are too numerous to recount but the one everyone knows me for is titled “ Abass Ologun ika”. It was produced by my group named “Kokoro Aiye theatre group”. In 1980, I produced one titled “ Soso Meji “, “ Ojo Iberu”, then it wasn’t video. This was the days of optical and reversal. I have been producing film since the days of black and white. We are lecturers., we are pastors and we are Imams. So definitely our movies must pass messages across to the people. So all my movies pass across one lesson or the other that teaches and impacts the people who watch them . So every film must pass positive messages across to the people.
But not only do I act in films. I produce films, I also do Effect on set. I started manual Effect when digital wasn’t even the order of the day. Effects like Cutlass on air, cutting one’s leg and you see blood gushing out. Or even Effect of making someone burn to ashes. So many effects for film making. But nowadays its now division of labour.
What can you say about the difference in the movie industry then and now ?
There are difference and its glaring due to digitalization and social media. Afterall, not the style of clothes that they wear then are being worn today . we are in Computer age, the difference is clear.
Your advice for upcoming artistes sir ?
They should be focused on what they want. They should create time because without time for rehersals, they cant go places. They shouldn’t backbite and say evil against those in the industry. They should be disciplined.
What have you come to do here today, seeing many Veteran Actors around?
We thank God for our daughter Doyin Amodu. She brought us together here today. She created a platform called “The Great thespian”. The platform is all about Veterans in the Movie industry, those we havent seen in years,those are the people who are in that platform. We came together and produced the movie titled “ Ojo Ale”. That is what we’ve come to premiere today.
What can you say about the movie?
Its a film that talks about one’s old age. It talks about what is happening in the society, it’s talks about how the government is treating the aged and the senior citizens in the society. Its a movie that teaches lots of lessons but as many people who watch, will agree with me that its a film to reckon with for lessons to be learnt.
Do thespians truly receive support from the Government?
What I’ll say is that if they have been supporting, they should do more. In other countries,film industry receives lots of support and encouragement. They shouldnt wait till they start begging money from Nigerians on our behalf.
Tell us about your Educational background?
Theatre wasn’t about Education then, it was when it became big that most people now deemed it fit to further. But I went to First Baptist School at Fiditi in Ibadan. Proceeded to Odo Abore in Mushin for my Secondary School. I came to Lagos in 1966 and that was when theatre started for me , my brother Osuolale Ajiboye brought me to Lagos then.
