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
