Susan Nwokedi

Susan Nwokedi

• Susan Nwokedi is a Nigerian movie producer cum actress based in America.

• In an Interview with Nollywoodgossip in December 2011, she said: I started acting in early years in high school and in some Hollywood movies.

• And four days ago, she released the trailer of her latest movie Mind Of The Enemy featuring Nollywood stars, Chidi Mokeme, Clems Ohameze, and Van Vicker.

• In an interview today, she tells Nollywoodgossip: “I do both Nollywood and Hollywood films.”’

• She says: “I have been in the film industry for more than 15 years and have industry experience that includes acting, scriptwriting, producing, SFX makeup and directing for both film and theatrical productions.”

• She says: “I am the Founder and current President/CEO of TopLine Production & Entertainment Co.”

• She says: “My previous film credits include:  Ricochet/Flight to Africa, Return of the Exile, Blood & Destiny, Secret Past, Side Kicks, Jason’s Lyrics, Trial Crime of Passion, Resentment, Till Death Do Us Part, Royal Dilemma, and Dirty Pastor.”

• She says: “Being a producer takes commitment, passion for the art of film making and long hours and of course business know-how.”

• “Some of the challenges I face as a producer are finding good team of like-minded people to work with”

• “My latest movie is a film I shot in Abuja, Nigeria, called Mind of the Enemy.”

• “I wrote and produced the movie and it was directed by Van Vicker and stars Clems Ohameze, Chidi Mokeme, Van Vicker, Jim Lawson, Susan Nwokedi, Banjo Moses and Browny Igboegwu.”

• “The movie tells the story of a president elect Kenenna Chibueze (Clems Ohameze) who wins the presidential election because of his good character.”

• “However, he is ambushed in an attempted assassination orchestrated by the current president (Jim Lawson) two months to the inauguration.”

• “We are looking forward to the premier of the film Mind of the Enemy this summer in Abuja and Lagos. Dates and more details coming soon.”

• “I also produced and featured in a movie called Secret Past and starred in a dramatic movie Tears in my Pillow, both films were shot in the United States.”

By Joy Ubeku (Inside Nollywood With Joy).

Can we meet you please?

My name is Susan Nwokedi. I am a Nigerian American Film maker. I live in the United States but do both Nollywood and Hollywood films. I have been in the film industry for more than 15 years and have industry experience that includes acting, scriptwriting, producing, SFX makeup and directing for both film and theatrical productions.  I have a BA degree from the University Of Houston School Of Theatre and a MS degree from FSO Florida. Both degrees include coursework in film and film making. I am the Founder and current President/CEO of TopLine Production & Entertainment Co.

Please tell us about your previous works (movies).

My previous film credits include:  Ricochet/Flight to Africa, Return of the Exile, Blood & Destiny, Secret Past, Side Kicks, Jason’s Lyrics, Trial Crime of Passion, Resentment, Till Death Do Us Part, Royal Dilemma, Dirty Pastor…they’re too many to list.

What does it take to become a producer?

Being a producer takes commitment, passion for the art of film making and long hours and of course business know-how. You have to be a people person to be a good producer with emphasis on good.  I put emphasis on good because anyone can be a producer but only the good ones make a lasting and relevant impact on the industry.  These are the producers who put out quality work, these are the producers who making strides to improve the film industry in Nollywood. My objective is to continue to make strides and put out movies that help to improve the Nollywood film industry; movies that put us on a leveled playing field with other major film industries—something that’s still far but very attainable.

Challenges?

Some of the challenges I face as a producer are finding good team of like-minded people to work with, funding, marketing, quality production, piracy…these are the general challenges I think a lot of good producers face.  I want to see more quality films coming out of Nollywood and to get that, we need to make more profit from our films so we can put more money back into our film projects to get the quality production and post-production equipment and crew needed to make quality films. It’s a cycle. Since I am also a writer, I write a lot of my own stories, however, when I’m collaborating and I’m not the writer or if I’m producing for another production house, the storyline can also pose a challenge to me.

Latest project.

My latest movie is a film I shot in Abuja Nigeria called Mind of the Enemy. I wrote and produced the movie and it was directed by Van Vicker and stars Clems Ohameze, Chidi Mokeme, Van Vicker, Jim Lawson, Susan Nwokedi, Banjo Moses and Browny Igboegwu. The movie tells the story of a president elect Kenenna Chibueze (Clems Ohameze) who wins the presidential election because of his good character. However, he is ambushed in an attempted assassination orchestrated by the current president (Jim Lawson) two months to the inauguration. The story takes us on several twists and turns and has the right mixture of good dialogues, drama, action, politics and romance.

We are looking forward to the premier of the film Mind of the Enemy this summer in Abuja and Lagos, dates and more details coming soon. I also produced and featured in a movie called Secret Past and starred in a dramatic movie Tears in my Pillow, both films were shot in the United States.

Advise to new actors/actresses.

My advice to new talents/artists is to know what you want…have an objective, network, work hard, don’t give up and don’t burn the bridges because the entertainment world is a very small one.

Nollywoodgossip wishes you the best.

Thank you for having me. I hope to see you at the Nigerian premier of Mind of the Enemy.

Susan Nwokedi

The mind of the enemy