INTERVIEW WITH
Actor/Producer Aurelien
Henry OBAMA
Cam
Movie (CM): Good day Aurelien Henry OBAMA
Aurelien
Henry OBAMA:Good day to all the readers in the world
and to you my brother
CM: Can you tell us about your place of origin?
Aurelien
Henry OBAMA:I am from clan Ngoe from tribe Ewondo from village
Oessoessam in department of NyongetSo’o of center region of Cameroon.I am the
great maternal grandson of the famous African chief Ahanda Noah Mbia who died
at age of 125 years old in the 60’s who had more 70 wives and 300 children of
the village Mfida and of the clan Yanda of the Tribe Ewondo of the ethnic group
Beti-fang of the Bantu people.
CM: Can you tell us about your academic
background?
Aurelien
Henry OBAMA: I studied Earth science in University of Yaoundé I and later I did
Industrial chemistry in Romania but I realized that it was not my path that God
had chosen me to do in life; I knew at that instant I had to do follow my
dreams.
CM: when did you first join Collywood/CFI and in what
capacity?
Aurelien
Henry OBAMA:I think that should be around 2010/2011
as an actor;Cameroon Actor Guild
CM: What inspired you to
become a Film Maker/Actor?
Aurelien
Henry OBAMA:
As a child I grew up watching Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Chuck Norris; Jean Claude
Van Damme and many others. I wanted to be like them that is why I studied
martial arts and became an action film actor.
Nobody in Cameroon even in Africa at that time where doing action
martial art movies; I was forced to become a filmmaker; putting my money and
know how to make action films. Africans need to have their own action heroes in
the movies. I want my children to see a black hero in the movies not only
African American but an African who can inspire many children that their dreams
can come true.
CM: where are you based?
Aurelien
Henry OBAMA:Soa-Yaoundé, Cameroon, Africa
CM: Do you have any other career other than Film Making/Acting?
Aurelien
Henry OBAMA:I’m a 3rd Dan Black belt
karate instructor in University of Yaoundé II Soa; a member of Cameroon Karate
Federation. I’m the writer and publisher
of Shiai Magazine “The International African Martial Arts Magazine” www.shiaimagazine.net
. I’m also a script writer.
CM: How many movies have you produced/Acted?
Aurelien
Henry OBAMA:I have produced three action martial art
short films: Money Bag (2006), Lost Brother Waka-waka man (2009) and Triple
Threat (2011) which was projected at French and German cultural centers in
Cameroon during Yaoundé Tout Court short film festivals. I had lead roles in these films. These movies
had positive reaction to public. In
2012, I produced my first feature film Slave’s Dream 1h45 minutes long where I
played an aging hero Chief Warrior Mandem where I showcase my fighting
skills. Now in 2013 I was an associate
producer of the University Campus series called Campus life promoting young
talented university actors from Soa. Apart from movies I have produced I have
also acted with various filmmakers of Cameroon such as
Feature
films
-Student Cot, year 2009,supporting role, produced by L.T NJECK
- Living my Wrongs, year 2010,supporting role, produced and directed
by L.T NJECK
- Fleshes, year 2011, lead role produced and directed by L.T NJECK
- Touch Not, year 2012 lead role, produced by KHC YAYA and directed
by TANUI PAUL
-Invisible Affection, year 2012 supporting role, produced by KHC
YAYA and directed by TANUI PAUL
-Fleshes part2 and
part 3: Return of Beast, year 2013 produced and directed by KHC YAYA
CM: What is your take about CFI right now are we on
track?
Aurelien
Henry OBAMA:By human nature we always like to give
negative criticism; first of all as filmmakers and actors we are pioneers in
Cameroon, if we don’t try to make things change, thinks won’t work at all.
There is a new bureau in place and we hope that they can look for a new
strategy to promote our cinema. I can only wish them the best but I believe
that it will have been preferable that new president work with people he feels
comfortable with and not imposed to him.
If he fails, he will say that they had imposed him collaborators, he was
not comfortable with. Good luck!
CM: You are hardly seen on CFI red carpet events can
you explain why?
Aurelien
Henry OBAMA:Ah,ah,ah (laugh)!!!Even in America,
action filmmakers and actors are sometime considered to be second zone artists.
I’m an outsider both in Anglophone and francophone cinema in Cameroon; I’m rare
people doing action and martial art movies in country. The organizers have film
festival in country prefer to invite those who do popular genres in Africa. But
I do recognize that most of time; I’ve always been busy doing my movies and my
various projects.
CM: You did not attend DAMA Awards 2012 and CMMA 2012
will you be part of this events this year?
Aurelien
Henry OBAMA: Life is a mystery my friend; I will
likely be there but I have just been contacted recently to take part in an
action martial art film outside the Cameroon. If I’m free I will come. Don’t
blame me, its business bro!
CM: You have acted in these movies you mentioned but we
never knew you as an actor until now, why?
Aurelien
Henry OBAMA:Mystery! Every great man, every great
hero and every great actor has a mystery indeed.As I told you before I’m a
pioneer of action martial art film in Cameroon and Africa in general. Even
Jackie Chan and many great action film stars had to produce their own movies
and promote it. Just imagine you’re the filmmaker, writer, lead star actor,
fight choreographer and person who is putting his money into the project
because no one in your country believe that it is possible to make a good
action film. I’ve been in business for almost ten years and it is now I’m
making the name. Patience is a virtue with faith of Almighty God.
CM: We learned that you are one of the most celebrated
Martial Actor in Cameroon and people
call you the Cameroon Brue Lee, what is the secret behind your success?
Aurelien
Henry OBAMA:Ah,ah,ah (Laugh)!!! I will say Determination, hard work,
believing in myself and faith in God. With God everything is possible even
impossible. I have studied various form of martial arts be it Karate,
Taekwondo, Kickboxing, Sambo, self defense; Kung Fu; bodybuilding, African
fighting system and many more. As an actor I trained regularly to improve my acting
skills.
CM: We learned
that you have been invited in other African countries as well as in the US for
martial films can you tell us about it?
Aurelien
Henry OBAMA: Thanks to internet; I have been
able to post my short film action martial art videos and photos of me acting
and fighting; many people were impressed that in Cameroon such skills were
found. I was able to share my dream across the world that an action hero can
come from Africa.
In Mali, I’ve been casted in the upcoming action
film Countdown starring Malian action film star SekouDoucoure; I will play his
master and military trainer in the film. I’m guest star in the film. I took
part in screen playing the story and will do fight choreography. If it wasn’t
for instability of country, we would have shot film since.
In South Africa, I’ve been casted in upcoming movie
Dragons of South Africa starring South African martial art film star Job
Magagula; I will play henchman of the main villain. I will have the chance to
beat up the main hero before he kills me in the film. I’m also doing script play of the film.
I’m also proposed to play in martial art movie in
Puerto Rico in South America by my friend Miguel but I cannot yet give you
detail info.
Good news is that I’m going to participate in Blood
brothers an action packed adventure martial art action film produced by South
African filmmaker and writer Sebati Edward Mafate. Blood brothers will be
filmed in Botswana and Los Angeles, USA.
I will be playing role of Sahili an evil African
poacher who kills wild life animals in Africa.
I’m also one of producers of the movie.
I also have been casted in the American upcoming
action film Trigger Reaction starring Tony De Leon in USA.
CM: You are one of the SOA University Actors and leader
how do you cope with academics and showbiz?
Aurelien
Henry OBAMA:I live in Soa; I teach martial art in the university, I
don’t study anymore for the moment. But be it a worker, student, businessman,
it is all about a good timetable. To be
a good actor, you need to have a good memory and think memory development can
help students to succeed in their exams. Most University actors are so busy
that they don’t have time to go out drinking in bars which gives them only
sufficient time to study.
CM: Do you agree on the name Collywood for CFI?
Aurelien
Henry OBAMA: I don’t believe in names, I believe
in action! It is you who make your name interesting or not by your action! Collywood
will have weight once our movies are competitive in Africa and across the
world. I’m famous not because of my family name but the actions I do promoting
martial arts across Africa and international black community.
CM: What do you think we need to improve on as an
industry?
Aurelien
Henry OBAMA:Media!!! Why is soccer football so
popular because of media promotion? To
be honest brother, in Cameroon our famous actor Jeffrey Epule is unknown in his
own country except for those watch Cameroonian films but everybody knows
Eto’ofils across the world. If our local TV stations, radio and newspaper are
not able to valorize our film stars and filmmakers, we are wasting our time.
I’m more famous outside of my country thanks to web but who knows me. Once our
movies will be well marketed, it will encourage sponsors and investors to come
in. We have talents in Cameroon; we need to make them popular. I also believe
that we should be translating our movies in English and French, so that all
Cameroonian enjoy our films not only one particular regions. English and French
speaking filmmakers and actors should work together; by doing so we can be more
competitive across Africa. We should improve marketing and distribution of our
movies, if not we are wasting our time.
CM: How can Cameroonians in the Diaspora get hold of
copies of your movies?
Aurelien
Henry OBAMA:
As I told you before, we have a problem of marketing and distribution of our
films across world. Filmmakers cannot do everything. For moment I’m negotiation with some
Cameroonian and African in Diaspora to help to distribute Slave’s Dream and my
upcoming action movies. So just be patient my fans; very soon I will announce
soon.
CM: Do you have any projects in the pipeline?
Aurelien Henry OBAMA:BLOOD LINK “Le
Lien du Sang” my second upcoming action martial art film which will be directed
by best action film director in country Kelly NTEP starring Jean Vidal NGONO (Cameroonian
Taekwondo martial champion), Alvine DIBA, Blaise ETOUNDI ( JeetKunedo martial
art expert), Langmia Edmond, Senge Grace, Kelly NTEP ( Free fighter) and
Aurelien Henry AURELIEN HENRY OBAMA (martial art film star) as the main villain. We want it to be best action fight martial
art movie in Africa. Many of most top martial art fighters in country will take
part in the film. For moment we are searching for executive producers,
investors and sponsors on board on this challenging film project. Any person
who is interested can write to ngulproductions@yahoo.com
or shiai_magazine@yahoo.com
There is also SAN coming up soon; that is Soa
Actors’ Night which will showcase all talents of actors living in the
University town of Soa. It is going to be a great event. It occur in early
December and already we are looking for support this great gala show that we
believe will be a great event. It is organized by Soaactors’ guild members.
CM: Your pictures often expose your well worked out
sexy body, how do you cope with your female fans?
Aurelien
Henry OBAMA:Ah, ah,ah!!! (Laugh); I generally keep a
long beard and dressed shabby when I’m not acting or participating in show,
generally girls don’t recognize me. Even Bruce Lee and famous actors do keep
beards when they are not acting but to be honest it is not always easy to cope
with female fans who write to you every day in facebook who tells that they
love you.
CM: Are you currently married, engaged or still single?
Aurelien
Henry OBAMA:To reach level of martial art and film
acting, I had to sacrifices my emotional life to make my dreams come true.
Especially at that moment of my life, there was no woman who was seeing my
vision, my dream that Africa can have a hero in the movies. I’m single for the
moment but for just a short while. I’m crazy in love with a woman and want to
tell her how much I care for her. Wish me the best of luck!!!
CM: Give five names of those you will consider your
role models in the Cameroon Film Industry?
Aurelien Henry OBAMA: L.T NJECK for
his boldness, Elvis Tanwie the daddies for his professionalism, Jeffrey Epule
for his acting skills, Agbor Gilbert as one of the first big producers in
Cameroon and Penjo for his humanitarian action. There are many more names I can
mention in the industry who inspire me a lot. They are just great people.
CM: Thanks for taking out time to participate in this
interview with Cam Movie
Aurelien Henry OBAMA: Thank you too
brother, I giving me the opportunity to express myself with Cam Movie. Cam
Movie is doing a great job in promoting cinema in Cameroon even outsiders like
me who are doing different genre of movies not yet popular in Africa. God bless
you and long life to Cam Movies!!!!
Thanks,
Cam Movie
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