Tuesday, April 16, 2013 - Experienced actor, acting coach, producer and director Neil Schell has come out to defend the reason why he chose Nigeria’s top actor Jim Iyke to take up the role of Jack Zollo in the film My Life In Crime inspired by John Kiriamiti’s book.
Speaking to Film Kenya magazine he said:
The decision to cast Jim Iyke was not taken lightly. The importance of this film being Kenyan was of utmost importance as was the importance of getting it seen by as many people in the world as possible.
If a film does not make money the production company will not be in business very long and part of making money with a movie is getting as many people to watch it as possible and pay for it too. This is an expensive film to make since it's a period piece and we have to be true to that period. Because the budget is high we need to ensure that our investors have a strong business plan so they are secure in knowing they will get their money back +. Jim Iyke brings a huge audience with him from all of sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and the international diaspora.
But that was not the only reason for casting Jim. Jim loved the script and had to audition. He worked hard and hired an accent coach. He flew himself out to Nairobi from Abuja and auditioned in person. He demonstrated a very high work ethic and superb talent.
Morgan Freeman played Nelson Mandela in Invictus. Daniel Day-Lewis played Abraham LIncoln. Jim Iyke will play Jack Zollo.
I must add this as well, all of the Kenyan actors who will be playing roles around the Jack Zollo character will gain more exposure from having Jim play the lead role than they have ever had before. This puts Kenyan actors in a world-wide spotlight and helps us build the industry here with real celebrities. Kenya needs celebrities that are internationally known and recognized. It is severely lacking for many reasons but lacking nonetheless.
This film will help to remedy that. The Kenyan actors in this movie will no longer travel around Nairobi in matatus. They will become celebrities in their own countries first and then beyond. That helps the movie industry here. That means you can say as a producer,
"Melvin Alusa is cast in my film." and investors will sit up and listen and start writing cheques.
Jim Iyke is actually helping to build the Kenyan film industry by playing this lead role. He will do it justice and I am demanding that he does.
There are many more Kenyan stories to be told with movies. I feel this movie will give the industry a leg up and break open the flood of stories that are just waiting to be told to the world.
I hope I have shed some light on this for you. It was not an easy decision but a necessary one.
The Kenyan DAILY POST