In an Interview with African Voice Editor, Peter Olorunnisomo Producer and TV Presenter Rhoda bares it all.
AV: Can you briefly recount your journey so far in the entertainment world?
I was born in Lagos, Nigeria and came to the UK to attend one of England’s top boarding schools, Hurtwood House in Holmbury St Mary Dorking. Following my education and several other jobs later, I ended up as an energy credit analyst working within the oil and gas industry which is ironical as I am a Nigerian. I am a holder of BA in Business Studies and a Masters Degree in Financial Management. So my entry into the entertainment world came during my early years in the UK not seeing many visible positive role models. I wanted to educate and change mind-sets so I went into music promotion thinking that was the appropriate route. I remember securing my first gig. It was a tow nights event with a world music band “Alabina” a New York based million-selling band Alabina (who have played sell-out shows everywhere from Los Angeles to Moscow) at the 2000 seats O2 Shepherds Bush Empire (then it was called Shepherds Bush Empire) it was a huge success and also they already had a captive audience in the UK. Sadly the next few gigs did not do very well and I made huge losses and lost everything including my house in Chalfont St Peters because I had used it for security. I did not give up and continued to hustle because I believed in making a difference in show- casing and educating mind set. Those early times in the entertainment industry were dark and very lonely. It was during one of my hustles and trying to revive my love for world music, perhaps what is now called afrobeat, I went to present a funding proposal to a business man in Stockwell, Ezey Marcel. It was him who told me to forget trying to promote musicians instead that I am more of a role model and I should be on the small screen. I remember him calling OBE TV and speaking to Hamid and the next thing I knew I was in front of the screen and the Rhoda Wilson Show was born in 2005. I was with OBE TV for some 3 years as a TV presenter before moving in 2008 to BEN TV where I was until 2012. During the Rhoda Wilson Show time many of the 30 minute interviews were about lives of inspirational and growing talents across the UK. High Profile guests who have appeared on the Rhoda Wilson Show include: Evangelist Tony Allen; former Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria Mr Lawal, Reality TV star Robert Alleyne; Celebrity hair stylist Des Murray, Interior Design Expert Vanessa Brady and Model agent impresario Sola Oyebade and many more including interviews with several MEPs in Brussels. The trip was sponsored by Eurostar and the production by the EU. Things started to look better and in May 2012, His Excellency President Jacob Zuma and The Government of South Africa invited Rhoda as a guest of the African Union to attend the “Global African Diaspora Summit” in South Africa, one of only 2 members of the British-African Diaspora to receive this invitation. However, in October 2012, I made some disastrous investments in Nigeria and the rest I can say is a painful history and experience which I have not recovered from till today. I spent the next 1 year researching and researching and researching and it was it was during this solitude period that I decided to branch out into other productions, and Housewives & Girlfriends TV series was created and copyrighted. In October/November 2013 we did the audition. The pilot episodes were filmed from December 2013 to February 2014. Pilot was premiered in March, 2014. Fund raising started thereafter. Production started in July and finished in December 2014. We delivered the first 13 episodes in May 2015 to Africa Magic/M-Net (DStv). Housewives & Girlfriends is a 30 minutes drama with comical undertone set in UK under the Nollywood umbrella. The drama takes a searching look at betrayal, passion, cross-cultural conflicts, unhappy love and broken lives. Whilst struggling to balance career, money, success, and personal happiness.
AV: If we view Housewives and Girlfriends TV Series as your trump so far, how well would you say it has been accepted?
My desire to profile members of the African Diaspora in a positive and exciting light in the UK continues through the inspiration in creating “Housewives & Girlfriends”. And this is a unique soap in terms of its themes from the ethnic sector and the colour that serenades the shoot in its entirety. Heralded as one of the most expensive TV series filmed in the UK by Nollywood UK, Season 1 credit roll was a strong cast of 62 which consisted of 53 cast and 9 crew members and included many of the most influential members of the Nollywood Diaspora based in the UK. It is also the first TV series made by Nollywood, UK that was acquired by the international broadcaster; African Magic (M-NET/DSTV). Season 1 was filmed in 4 cities across the UK; Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, Southampton and London, and shines an entertaining spotlight on the African Diaspora experience and currently is taking the world by storm. The fact that it was acquired international by African Magic and recently resold under a different deal to a separate broadcaster eTV of South Africa speaks for itself. That we recently signed a 2 year deal with a US distributor speaks volume on its acceptance. The aesthetics, production value, and the fact that it was filmed in the UK in awesome locations contributed to the TV series many pluses and remains one of the best to date.
AV: Nollywood UK has its challenges, what would you say these are and how do you think they can be combated?
Lack of funding is a major factor but we are getting there, and in the UK distribution is also a contributing challenge. I am fortunate for the simple reason that my experiences acquired as a TV presenter has helped me to apply these to my new production, and even at that I still met with some new and excruciating challenges. We are already combating some challenges, we are marketing and attending events including the likes of Cannes Film Festival, MIPTV and MIPCOM etc Nollywood in the UK is being talked about more and thanks to Housewives & Girlfriends TV series and many others. We also need individuals who are good at applying for funds to assist in tapping grants and funding from so many other channels including BFI, etc
AV: Do you want to let us into what to expect from you in the nearest future?
We have completed Season 2 of Housewives & Girlfriends TV series which is bigger and better with strong, confident cast and amazing locations. Later this year we are starting on Season 3. We are also going online so please do scribed to our YouTube Page. I am looking to finally start fund raising for my documentary the Nigerian-American Dream later this year.
