The Age of Bobby Rak

Provinces have territorial lords. In the arts, Port Harcourt has been, relatively, warming the bench. In music video making, it has been a boring time on TV until the Rak era. 

Enthusiasts pick up cheap and available cameras and shoot whatever it was that was in front of them, poorly edit them and its goes on air. There is little attention on how steady a shot appears, the intensity of focus on the subject, re-dressing of not-camera-worthy images, and angles too.

To a TV critic here in the Garden City, everyday in front of the TV would be complemented with constant headache and plea for the world to come to an end, so maybe there would be a reset of the universe, so maybe, magically, better things might appear on TV, again.

But since art is diversifying, music videos and photography are taking centre stage. And Bobby Rak is emerging as a crowned cinematography lord of the oil rich city of Port Harcourt, particularly because he is dedicated and his works are pieces that can compete with works from around the continent.

His choice of location and artistic flexibility which allows him to work with other professionals based in the city on his set puts him in a dignified class. And when he is not behind a camera capturing an ideal moment, Mr Rak is karate, personified. It is obvious in his walks, his hand gestures and short films.

Karate is my first love, he said. Then film. Then others. His epiphany occurred in 2005 when he was playing around, recording actions. His ‘backyard’ videos got the attention of Charles Granville, a musical artist of the gospel sub-genre, then Hilda Dokubo. In Hilda’s home, he had to answer the question of what to do with his teeming interest in film. His response was expected of a young man. He wanted to be a filmmaker. But being a filmmaker in Nigeria is a tasking venture, just as it is elsewhere. But what makes the Nigeria’s perspective exclusive is the lack of standard movie studios. Everything is independent; including marketing and distribution and no one would give a better scope into the industry than Hilda Dokubo who had spent a greater part of adulthood on screen in Nigeria. 

Bobby took home the advice to start small. From that moment a new man was born. He would begin seeking for jobs and he would hire cameras to cover events and after subtracting expenditures, his gain would propel his next move. About how he picked interest in editing, which came before his love for camera, he had seen Iyke Harris at work. When he approached him to know more about editing, he was guided. He would always refer to him when he met a dead-end. But this is his story.

Today, Bobby Rak is an identifiable brand with digital filmmaking in Port Harcourt. He has not stopped there. He has created a Whatsapp group of professionals with roots in Port Harcourt but based around the world to see how they can rekindle interests and sustain the craft of making film. Their first project would be a short film exhibition which would hold in 2016. It would bringing together filmmakers and serve as retreat for their skills, Bobby said.

When asked for his name in Ikwerre, Bobby laughed and said we could skip that. But he appears honest and carefree with humility. He is married and the union has a daughter who is slightly over a year old.  

Bobby’s interest in the big screen is something that’s gaining weight. His strategies are on course. His first plan of being the people’s choice has worked so far. He is gathering momentum for the next which is feature films. He felt coming through the music video door would enable him again enough followership than moving straight into films. This he is positive would make a successful project, especially from the Garden City, his home.

Tucked quietly in the Elekahia Housing Estate, Bobby barely has an alone time. When he does, he must be too stern, to scare away the teeming younger artist who surround him until late in the night. When I met him, he was negotiating a job that would have him film some dancers who had qualified for the Glo sponsored ‘Dance with Peter.’ Seated a swivel chair in a simple house attire, his master -desktop computer sputtering images of a photo shoot he finished within the week, Bobby listened to the concepts and plea to assist the dance crew. But inside the quiet young man who sat listening is an enthusiastic learner and creator.

When we eventually spoke, he showed me a short film he was editing. The story is of a home run by an abusive father who has chased away his wife with constant battering and who has raped his teenage daughter. Bobby said it was a collaborative effort with an NGO to help sensitize people on the effect of abuse on the psychology of the children in marriage.

Another project he showed me was one he filmed in villages in Bonny earlier this year, about the effect of oil exploration. Villages in the oil rich Bonny barely had drinkable water and electricity. While gas flared all day, killing the ambiance created by moonless nights, the people of the village only had yellow glowing light that only created heat and pollution.

By the time I was due to leave, the neighbourhood was quiet but for light bulbs from the houses that lined to make up Second Avenue. Everyone would be home, in front of the television. One or two of the families would watch some of the creations of Bobby Rak. And hopefully, Rak won’t be on his computer, he would be home, next door to his studio, playing with his daughter, hoping for some ideas that would lead to a better project.  

#Before our meeting, he had responded to our usual Ten Question for Sundays.

At what point do you say you have an ideal shot when filming or photographing?

At the point when proper interpretation has been achieved for whatever concept i'm using for the shot

You are based in the city of Port Harcourt, what makes this city lovable, from your perspective?

Port Harcourt is home and there is no place like home.

I’ve seen some of your works, my favourite is Izurukeme by D Smart. Do you have a favourite of your works?

Yes I have a favourite for now. My favourite is OH MY BABY by BUKWILD DA IKWERRIAN. Reason is that the project was made possible by a massive collaboration of artistic people based here in Port Harcourt (same as Izurukeme) and the working atmosphere was friendly, fun and totally enjoyable coupled with the fact that the music is indigenous, Ikwerre to be precise which happens to be my tribe.

I particularly love the fact that you collaborated with Eddy Isaacs. How was the effort? 

Working with Eddy was everything I expected it to be. We succeeded in interpreting the concept I created.

When someone contracts you on a music video project, what do you consider, the lyric, rhythm or the personality?

I consider all of them.

You are a filmmaker. When would you be making your first feature film debut?

As soon as I have the means. I have a couple of short films to my credit and I believe a feature will come soon.

What kind of movie would you love to make?

Action/comedy

Artistically, everyone loves to move to Lagos, the centre of entertainment. Would you be making such moves soon?

Technology has made the world smaller. I will expand not move

What’s your most preferred play tool while filming or photographing?

The canon EOS 5D Mark iii for now

If you were to make a list of 5 music videos I would catch you watching, who would make that list?

Tough question oh! I watch rock music videos ‘cus they exhibit a lot of creativity... but let me restrict myself to Nigeria... Gollibe by Flavour, directed by Clarence Peters.

The One by Pelli, directed by Adasa Cookey.

Show Me your Rozay by Ketchup, directed by Adasa Cookey

Izurukeme by D’smart

and

Oh My Baby by Bukwild