Talented costumier, dancer and actress, Millicent jack, the former Vice President of Actors Guild of Nigeria, is the CEO of Kilali Kreative Minds, based in Port Harcourt .

In this interview, the best costumier of AMAA 2006, who has acted in movies like Golden Crown, Labister, etc, spoke on the way forward for the AGN with Eric Jeminiwa.

Excerpts:

BACKGROUND

My name is Millicent Jack, I hail from Akuku-Toru LGA in River State. I started my art career with Nabai theatre group in UST, from where I moved to the popular Willy-Willy theatre group. I am a gradute of Theatre Arts from the prestigous University of Port Harcourt, with specialisation in children theatre.

WHY I PARTICIPATED IN THE PORT HARCOURT AGN ELECTION

First my tenure as the South-South Vice President of the Guild has elapsed and I strongly believe in democracy, though I am not a polititian. Secondly,when I got to the venue of the election, I saw highly respected actors like Sam Loco-Efe presiding over the election, that produced Segun Arinze as the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria with other elected national officers of the Guild, which to me has given the election credibility.

AGN CRISIS

Words are very scarce in my mouth.The on-going leadership crisis is not pleasant to the ears. Nollywood started very well on a good note . In my opinion, the AGN is like a growing child that just started crawling but was interrupted with the distractions from outside. There might eventually be benefits to the crisis. I am not a politician but I suggest we should go back to the tree of love, to love one another because presently the tree of love is being cut off.

WAY FORWARD FOR AGN

The two groups should come together {talking of Ejike Asiegbu and Kanayo O. Kanayo}. It is silly and stupid that two mature people will be at each others' throats. As actors, we are the mirror of the society, a front runner in the nation building and the re-branding project. We should stop washing our dirty linen in public. To the best of my knowledge, the two of them used to be friends. Ejike Asiegu once told me that Kanayo O. Kanayo was his bestman at his wedding. We need to reconcile the two groups, to put the Nollywood industry on the right track. The Actors Guild {AGN} needs to speak with one voice to make the reconciliation a success.

KILALI KREATIVE MINDS

It is the mind of God. God is the owner of creativity. The Kilali Kreative Minds actually started during my university days in 1994 during the long strike, which lasted for a whole year. I told myself that I couldn't sit down doing nothing. It began with Kilali Kiddies, I used to take the kiddies to Shell Club, Elf Club and others. After my graduation, I went to Lagos because I wanted to be in front of the cameras but it didn't work out well because some of the producers then wanted me to pay my dues in bed. I told myself I couldn't do this, I am a graduate of Theatre Arts. One day, I packed my things and headed back to Port Harcourt, but God brought me back to the entertainment scene through costume designing where I won the best costumier at the AMAA 2006. Kilali Kreative Minds is not all about me, but with other like-minded people, we are engaged in costume designing, cultural display, decorations, kiddies shows and event management.

BREAK IN THE INDUSTRY

One day francis duru came to me to make a costume for a movie entittled A King Jaja of Opobo, but I told him to ask the late Dr. Amatu Braide, so I couldn work under her because she was my mentor and mother, she taught me everything I know in the industry. He refused. He dropped the script with me but I didn't touch it for two weeks. One faithful morning after my morning devotion, I heard a voice spoke three times to me, asking me to read that script. I read the script it, after that I went to Nkwerre where the late King Jaja of Opobo was born and to Opobo. I was able to gather my costumes with the help of Adonye people. Then I went for the film in Lagos, and it turned out to be a great success for me. It brought my breakthrough in costuming.

STYLE AND FASHION

Style to me is creativity, it is innovative and originality. Style is an innovation from the creative mind of an individual.

ROLE OF ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY IN NATION BUILDING IN REGARDS TO THE NIGER DELTA YOUTHS

I just concluded a training of sixteen repentant militants who graduated from the River State Social Rehabilitation Programme, which took place in Okehi in Etche LGA. It was a huge success. The youths are gearing up to go to Nolywood. You just watch out for them.

Entertainment is one industry one can't live without. We can channel the minds of the youths in Niger Delta and the Nigerian youths at large from violence to focus on entertainment which will not only put food on their table but can make them a houlsehold name . My advice for the youth is to get educated. Without education, you are nobody. Please put your talent in what you believe in, not violence or drugs. God has endowed everybody with a particular property to be successful, so it's now up to you to discover what talent God has given you.

FULFILMENT

I am fulfilled with what I am doing in the entertainment industry. Entertainment gives life, love and joy. I could remember that my mother wanted me to become a lawyer and my father wanted me to be an accountant, but with the encouragement from late Amatu Braide, I am what I am today. My parents are now very proud of hearing my name linked to all the things l do.

Story from Eric Jeminiwa in Port Harcourt EXCLUSIVE for www.nollywoodgists.com