Ageless beauty and veteran actress, Clarion Chukwura has seen just about everything there is to see in the movie industry.
For 35 years, Clarion Chukwura has been doing what gives her joy and fulfillment. She’s been exhibiting her acting prowess on the stage and screen, and this has brought her fame and fortune.
Life is not all bed of roses, Clarion at a time was rejected, betrayed and cast out as a slot as she swum in the river of failed marriages. At the end of the day, the delectable actress triumphed and came out stronger. Clarion says her driving force is her unshakable faith in God, and more importantly, her never-say-die spirit. She recently added a feather to her cap with her documentary series, Footsteps that is set to be premiered on television stations from January 2016. Clarion in a media chat, talks about Footsteps, the motive behind it, her vision for Nollywood and other interesting issues.
Looking this radiant at 51, what would you say is your beauty routine?
I don’t follow any type of routine. If I’m staying indoors, all I do is to brush my teeth. Sometimes, I don’t even have my bath until about 8pm at night. At times, I do a full bathtub or a shower depending on the weather. I also use scent oil and candles to relax myself. I go for fruit base moisturizers like pawpaw , orange, vitamin C base moisturizers.
What is your new project all about?
My new project, ‘Footsteps’ is a reality documentary series that follows my journey from America to the United Kingdom and to East Africa, looking at the issues that are uppermost in the minds of Nigerians. It looks at what these issues entail and what the solutions are. The documentary also focuses on where we stand as Nigerians and where government leadership and values of the people lie.
What was the duration of the project?
Well, I started working on ‘Footsteps’ in 2013 and it’s still an ongoing process but ‘Footsteps’ will be aired on television from January 2016.
How many episodes do you have in the documentary?
It’s a 26-episode reality documentary series but presently we have 11 episodes on ground.
As an advocate gender equality, will this project centre on women and their leadership problem?
The project is not only about women but about Nigerians and issues surrounding our leadership. It’s also about how Nigerians can be wired to a positive mindset. ‘Footsteps’ also talks about how women are treated. I didn’t limit this to Nigerian women, instead we reached out to women in South America, Caribbeans and Africa. In the course of this, we found out that the same issues women face domestically in Africa are the same issues women in America face over there.
Being in the entertainment industry, shouldn’t you be looking at issues within that sector?
With ‘Footsteps’, we try to touch every aspect of human lives. We have episodes with a former female Nigerian footballer who is now a coach in America. We have episodes with Miss Nigeria who also lives outside the country. So, ‘Footsteps’ is about the totality of Nigerians.
How will Nigerians access this documentary?
Well, we are looking at Africa Magic Showcase, Television Continental (TVC) and a couple of others. I enjoin Nigerians to watch out for ‘Footsteps’ from January 2016 and they should learn from each episode.
You’ve been off the screen for some time now, is it due to this new project?
I don’t know what you mean by that, maybe because you’ve not been watching me on Africa Magic. I had six movies in the market this year and last year I had about seven movies in the market.
What were the challenges you encountered in the course of shooting the documentary?
One of the challenges was when we were prevented from entering the Royal Oak with our recording materials. The Royal Oak is a place where top Nigerian politicians have multi-million dollar homes in Houston, Texas and they do know that some of us know about it. It’s a place where you have not just the regular security but the cops. And the fact that I could even take pictures there was because I have contacts there. Also, Houston Texas is a place where Hollywood superstars who made their money from blockbuster movies own houses. Imagine how Nigerian government officials who were on salary could afford to own two or three houses in Royal Oak. A house rates from six million dollars upward at Royal Oak.
Where do you see the Clarion Chukwurah brand in five years?
I see my brand impacting on young people, helping them achieve their goals and also making them believe there is nothing they can’t achieve.
As a non-profitable project, how would you finance the project?
Well the Clarion Chukwurah’s initiative is one that I finance from my purse. I am the executive producer.
Any plan to dump acting for the reality documentary series project?
I am an actress so it is not possible for me to dump Nollywood because that is what I do best. Nollywood and my work therein is the brain behind ‘Footsteps’. It is about me taking leverage on my brand equity. Since 1999 when I started with the Clarion Chukwurah’s initiative, it was all about leveraging on my equity. It is my passion and will always be my passion to look beyond the entertainment aspect, to look at issues that affect people in my society. I am not just an entertainer, but a multi- talented person. I am not dumping Nollywood, because being in Nollywood doesn’t mean you can’t delve into other things.
How would you advise Nigerian women regarding striking balance between marriage, motherhood, and career?
It is about time management which is very important in this context. However, I don’t support both parents working the same hours. This is affecting our society, it is highly responsible for how our things are going. We are imbibing a lot of negativity from the Western world. When children are left with little or no attention, they engage in online activities, entertainment that’s not properly censored and a host of other things that may corrupt their minds. I suggest both parents should work on how to manage their time to strike the balance.
What’s your perception of Nollywood?
Nollywood needs to be structured. It is not just about improving the quality of movies or equipment rather it involves the right funding and how actors are paid. Nollywood is still in a zigzag which means anybody can do anything. The industry has to be structured in a way that one arm of the organisation will feed on the other arm. We have to make things work in Nollywood, – you have the Guild of Producers feeding on the Director’s Guild and the Director’s Guild feeding on the Actor’s Guild. When you have a situation whereby anybody can produce, direct or act in a movie, what do you think the result will be ? Some of us seem to be selfish, we lack unity. We need to see Nollywood as one corporate entity. We have to change our mindsets as actors, producers, directors etc. in order to make Nollywood work.
Is there any difference between Clarion Chukwurah on stage and at home?
I’m two different persons – the person on the screen is the image, the brand. Simply put, the person on the screen is Clarion while the person in the house is called Nneka.
What’s the story about you being a member of the Church of Scientology?
I am not a member of the Church of Scientology. Church of Scientology is one body that supported the episodes of ‘Footsteps’. It was shot in Hollywood at the celebrity center of the Church of Scientology. This church owns this center in Hollywood. Again, the center and the crew members that worked on ‘Footsteps’ in Hollywood came from Church of Scientology.
What do you think made the Church of Scientology support ‘Footsteps’?
They considered the objective of what I was doing and how it will add value to people’s life.
For 35 years, Clarion Chukwura has been doing what gives her joy and fulfillment. She’s been exhibiting her acting prowess on the stage and screen, and this has brought her fame and fortune.
Life is not all bed of roses, Clarion at a time was rejected, betrayed and cast out as a slot as she swum in the river of failed marriages. At the end of the day, the delectable actress triumphed and came out stronger. Clarion says her driving force is her unshakable faith in God, and more importantly, her never-say-die spirit. She recently added a feather to her cap with her documentary series, Footsteps that is set to be premiered on television stations from January 2016. Clarion in a media chat, talks about Footsteps, the motive behind it, her vision for Nollywood and other interesting issues.
Clarion Chukwurah
I don’t follow any type of routine. If I’m staying indoors, all I do is to brush my teeth. Sometimes, I don’t even have my bath until about 8pm at night. At times, I do a full bathtub or a shower depending on the weather. I also use scent oil and candles to relax myself. I go for fruit base moisturizers like pawpaw , orange, vitamin C base moisturizers.
What is your new project all about?
My new project, ‘Footsteps’ is a reality documentary series that follows my journey from America to the United Kingdom and to East Africa, looking at the issues that are uppermost in the minds of Nigerians. It looks at what these issues entail and what the solutions are. The documentary also focuses on where we stand as Nigerians and where government leadership and values of the people lie.
What was the duration of the project?
Well, I started working on ‘Footsteps’ in 2013 and it’s still an ongoing process but ‘Footsteps’ will be aired on television from January 2016.
How many episodes do you have in the documentary?
It’s a 26-episode reality documentary series but presently we have 11 episodes on ground.
As an advocate gender equality, will this project centre on women and their leadership problem?
The project is not only about women but about Nigerians and issues surrounding our leadership. It’s also about how Nigerians can be wired to a positive mindset. ‘Footsteps’ also talks about how women are treated. I didn’t limit this to Nigerian women, instead we reached out to women in South America, Caribbeans and Africa. In the course of this, we found out that the same issues women face domestically in Africa are the same issues women in America face over there.
Being in the entertainment industry, shouldn’t you be looking at issues within that sector?
With ‘Footsteps’, we try to touch every aspect of human lives. We have episodes with a former female Nigerian footballer who is now a coach in America. We have episodes with Miss Nigeria who also lives outside the country. So, ‘Footsteps’ is about the totality of Nigerians.
How will Nigerians access this documentary?
Well, we are looking at Africa Magic Showcase, Television Continental (TVC) and a couple of others. I enjoin Nigerians to watch out for ‘Footsteps’ from January 2016 and they should learn from each episode.
You’ve been off the screen for some time now, is it due to this new project?
I don’t know what you mean by that, maybe because you’ve not been watching me on Africa Magic. I had six movies in the market this year and last year I had about seven movies in the market.
What were the challenges you encountered in the course of shooting the documentary?
One of the challenges was when we were prevented from entering the Royal Oak with our recording materials. The Royal Oak is a place where top Nigerian politicians have multi-million dollar homes in Houston, Texas and they do know that some of us know about it. It’s a place where you have not just the regular security but the cops. And the fact that I could even take pictures there was because I have contacts there. Also, Houston Texas is a place where Hollywood superstars who made their money from blockbuster movies own houses. Imagine how Nigerian government officials who were on salary could afford to own two or three houses in Royal Oak. A house rates from six million dollars upward at Royal Oak.
Where do you see the Clarion Chukwurah brand in five years?
I see my brand impacting on young people, helping them achieve their goals and also making them believe there is nothing they can’t achieve.
As a non-profitable project, how would you finance the project?
Well the Clarion Chukwurah’s initiative is one that I finance from my purse. I am the executive producer.
Any plan to dump acting for the reality documentary series project?
I am an actress so it is not possible for me to dump Nollywood because that is what I do best. Nollywood and my work therein is the brain behind ‘Footsteps’. It is about me taking leverage on my brand equity. Since 1999 when I started with the Clarion Chukwurah’s initiative, it was all about leveraging on my equity. It is my passion and will always be my passion to look beyond the entertainment aspect, to look at issues that affect people in my society. I am not just an entertainer, but a multi- talented person. I am not dumping Nollywood, because being in Nollywood doesn’t mean you can’t delve into other things.
How would you advise Nigerian women regarding striking balance between marriage, motherhood, and career?
It is about time management which is very important in this context. However, I don’t support both parents working the same hours. This is affecting our society, it is highly responsible for how our things are going. We are imbibing a lot of negativity from the Western world. When children are left with little or no attention, they engage in online activities, entertainment that’s not properly censored and a host of other things that may corrupt their minds. I suggest both parents should work on how to manage their time to strike the balance.
What’s your perception of Nollywood?
Nollywood needs to be structured. It is not just about improving the quality of movies or equipment rather it involves the right funding and how actors are paid. Nollywood is still in a zigzag which means anybody can do anything. The industry has to be structured in a way that one arm of the organisation will feed on the other arm. We have to make things work in Nollywood, – you have the Guild of Producers feeding on the Director’s Guild and the Director’s Guild feeding on the Actor’s Guild. When you have a situation whereby anybody can produce, direct or act in a movie, what do you think the result will be ? Some of us seem to be selfish, we lack unity. We need to see Nollywood as one corporate entity. We have to change our mindsets as actors, producers, directors etc. in order to make Nollywood work.
Is there any difference between Clarion Chukwurah on stage and at home?
I’m two different persons – the person on the screen is the image, the brand. Simply put, the person on the screen is Clarion while the person in the house is called Nneka.
What’s the story about you being a member of the Church of Scientology?
I am not a member of the Church of Scientology. Church of Scientology is one body that supported the episodes of ‘Footsteps’. It was shot in Hollywood at the celebrity center of the Church of Scientology. This church owns this center in Hollywood. Again, the center and the crew members that worked on ‘Footsteps’ in Hollywood came from Church of Scientology.
What do you think made the Church of Scientology support ‘Footsteps’?
They considered the objective of what I was doing and how it will add value to people’s life.
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