Olu Olowogemo, also known as ‘Mr Portable,’ is an actor, director, and producer who has worked in the film industry for a long time and has helped a number of up-and-coming actors to stardom. In this interview with FEMI OGUNTAYO, the award-winning actor, who is most known for playing comedic characters in films, discusses his career and the Yoruba film business. Excerpts:
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We have heard of how you helped a lot of actors grow and become stars in the movie industry, can you tell us how and when you joined the industry?
In 1992, I began working in the film industry as part of the Olaiya films platform. I consider Olaiya Igwe (Ebun Oloyede) to be a brother, and I grew up watching his films and stage productions. We both lived in the same neighborhood, and I became interested in what he was doing. So, in 1992, I went to see him at a movie set, even though he had already departed our town. I met him through Baba Ogungbe’s son, Oyebola Ogungbe, who informed me that Olaiya was filming a film in Baba’s house. So I met him, told him I wanted to join him in the acting business, and then I began following him around to movie sets.
In 1996, I founded my own theatre company, and in 1998, I staged a play in Abeokuta called ‘Ajule Orun,’ for which people had to pay to attend. So that’s how it began: we showed it for a price of N20. In 1999, I grabbed one of these secondary school books, titled ‘Abere Oro,’ obtained the author’s permission, and we began performing it on stages around schools. Then, in 2000, I did a soap opera, from which I made another film in 2001, and then produced another film the following year, in 2002. That was the beginning of it all.
Has your height ever been a challenge to your acting career?
Yes, my height used to be a hindrance to my acting career because when I was just starting out and trying to make a name for myself, there were some roles that I would have gotten otherwise, but right in front of my eyes, I would hear some directors say, ‘No, he can’t play the role, he is too short.’ Now that I have the name, even though it is short, I may play the part of Ronke Oshodi’s husband in a movie. (Smiles)