Filmmaker Uche Jombo has said becoming a producer has allowed her to decide the kinds of roles she wants to play instead of waiting for opportunities from others.
Speaking in an interview with Potpourri, the filmmaker said producing has changed the way she approaches acting and storytelling.
“I wish I knew, actually, but I always say to my fellow filmmakers, tell your story. I think if we continue telling stories that are authentically ours, we are moving in the right direction. That’s just it, tell our stories,” she said.
Uche also spoke about the creative freedom that comes with producing her own projects.
“No, now, I give myself roles. Any role I want to play, I’ll give it to myself. That’s the power of being a producer,” she stated.
The actress, who has spent close to three decades in Nollywood, said passion has kept her motivated through the years despite the pressures of the job.
“I love what I do; it’s stressful sometimes, but it’s the love, the passion that keeps me going. Once in a while, I sit down and ask myself how I want to proceed to the next phase of my career. It happens when you have been here for almost 30 years. I’ve been doing this since I was 17. So, you have to do that to keep yourself inspired; it’s just part of it,” she added.
Uche rose to prominence in the late 1990s and has featured in several Nollywood productions including Visa to Hell, Games Men Play and A Time to Love. She later expanded into filmmaking and launched Uche Jombo Studios, through which she has produced and directed a number of projects.
In recent years, she has remained active in both cinema and streaming productions while also supporting younger filmmakers and advocating for more authentic African stories in film.
