ACTOR INTERVIEW: “Learn things anew everyday, so with acting create room…” Oma Iyasara
I am Oma Iyasara born 4th December. I studied Mass Communications. I am an alumni of The Royal Arts Academy, Nigeria. My first acting role was in the film ‘Damage’ – an Uche Jumbo Production. It was only a scene but, it was very special to me because, I was on cinema and it kicked off my acting career.
Did you study acting
I have always been a fan of movies and I always said to myself, ‘I can do it’. So after I graduated from University. I sought out an acting school. Fortunately, my friend and mentor Nse Ikpe-Etim introduced me to ‘The Royal Arts Academy’ founded by Emem and Uduak Isong, the rest is history. My teachers Kehinde Joseph, Sukanmi, Ebi (Mrs) and the mentors we had, helped me understand I was a good acting, and if I kept my head up, I had all it takes to do what I wanted to do.
What acting technique do you use
Method Acting does it for me, because it helps the actor ‘Give Life to a Character’. You live the life of the character, it no longer reads as a script that is handed to you, but the character leaps of the written pages and becomes a person who has a life. When I use Method Acting I can always bring the character to life. I carefully consider the characters psychological motives and I can reproduce the emotional state of the character by mentally recalling such emotions from my real life experiences.I personally identify with the character using the magic ‘As If’.
What wrong impressions do actors hold about acting
Acting isn’t just fame, it’s a way of life. Actors don’t decide to act for the wrong reasons, you have to weigh in tough options. Options such as ‘you may not become an A-List actor overnight. It takes dedication and hard work. Also one has to know that your privacy is no public. So before you decide to act sit down and ask yourself this question, ‘am I ready for this?
Do you take courses to improve your craft
Yes I do exercises to improve my craft. I do loads of improvisations and mimicking of the actors I adore.
Coming SOON! In CINEMAS,2nd May,Watch Trailer http://t.co/2F1B01xKcK CC @omaiyasara Please RT.
— Support @GSR2015 (@iSupport_Club) March 18, 2014
What acting books do you read
The Acting Bible by Micheal Powell
How do you keep fit as an actor
I skip to keep fit physically. I am not the skinny type. So, I skip a lot. I watch my diet. I watch a lot of movies, and I read books to improve my speech and knowledge.
When you’re offered a role, what do you do next
When I get a script, I read the entire material to understand the storyline, before I start to rehearse my lines.
How do you take a character in a script to a honest, believable and breathing person
First, I give my character life. I give her a social, economic, political and religious views. Because to be human one must have a point of view. With this I can play Ada – a character as a human being, than Ada in the script.
How do you stay fresh on set
I always stay in character willingly on set. I keep practicing in my head and aloud so I don’t get out of character.
Describe creative choice you made on set of a production
On the set of ‘Finding Love’, I had to play a baby mama that is desperate to be loved and I have never been in such a situation. So it was hard for me. So after a chat with the director, who told me to live the character and then put in a real life emotion of a past experience it came easy and the director was impressed, thanks to method acting.
Describe a memorable character you played
It will be my character Soyibifa in Last Flight to Abuja’ – Obi Emelonye. I had to play a Port Harcourt working girl with a Hollywood actor. At first I was scared, but as I understood my character it became easy and Hakeem Kae-Kazim made it easy.
What do you want most from a director
I love it when a director listens to the actor. It creates a better working environment, in which creative artistes can communicate freely, without judgement and mistakes can and will be.
What actors do you long to work with
Genevive Nnaji, Olu Jacobs , Joke Silver and Richard Mofe Damijo
Why
Because they are great at what they do and it will be amazing to work with them
What advice would you give actors
Like education one must learn things anew everyday, so with acting create room for improvement
Write about your career
Damage : I played the doctor (it’s out on DVD); In ‘Last flight to Abuja’ I play Soyibifa; In ‘Finding Love’, I play Joecy; In ‘Dream Walker’, I play Bisi; In ‘Crippled Kingdom’, I play Barbra; In ‘The Bride is Mine’, I play Helen; In ‘When Fishes Drown’, I play Mrs Ikom; and ‘Village Babes’
