Veteran actor Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD) has revealed the biggest challenge he faced while filming his new movie Revelations.
The 64-year-old said in an interview that the naira crash nearly derailed the project.
“I bought a dollar for N1,900,” RMD said, adding: “So it was quite a challenge, but when you’re passionate about something you don’t let money stop you. You just go ahead and tell the story. If you don’t have the money you’ll raise it from other people.”
The actor noted that Revelations was a story he had carried in his mind for years.
“I’ve had that story in my head for a long time and I was just looking for how to tell it differently, and the result is Revelations,” he said.
On the theme of the film, he added: “Every character has something to hide … something they would rather not go back to.”
RMD also recalled how he had to take on horse riding for the role.
“Up until this production, I had never ridden a horse. My horse training was in one hour … I was trained in less than an hour and I was riding,” he said.
He disclosed that while the shoot lasted about “sixteen days”, planning took much longer because of funding constraints.
The movie, which tells the story of a Nigerian immigrant and his American wife battling infertility, cultural differences and hidden secrets, stars RMD alongside Chioma Akpotha, Nnamdi Kanaga, Chidera Adiele, Seun Akindele, Tanya Price, Alex Boyé and his son Oghenetega Mofe-Damijo.
It premiered in Nigerian cinemas on August 15.
According to producer Tanya Price, the idea for the project started when RMD approached her about producing his first film in the US. She said filming in Utah exposed the cast and crew to snow for the first time and even led to a terrifying whiteout incident.
The movie also marked RMD’s first on-screen collaboration with his son Oghenetega. The pair were recognised at the Utah International Film Festival where RMD won Best Actor and Tega received an Honourable Mention for Best Supporting Actor.
Revelations has also been praised as the first Nollywood film shot in Utah, the first to be filmed in snow, and the first with in-depth surgical procedure scenes.
