One of Nollywood Diva and Cross River State born actress, Shan George in this chat with us began by expressing her love for her home; which she said slowly but seriously that her “love for Cross River state and the whole Akwa/Cross is too much”.
It was on the occasion of the auditioning of her new movie, King Idi which will soon start shooting. The audition held at Petes Ville hotel where the star actress expressed herself freely without reservations to CrossRiverWatch.
She said she has spent almost all her life in Lagos. Her business, career and office is in Lagos. So you see that she is original Lagos Babe.
About her vision; while looking me directly in my face as if searching for the words to express her big vision, she pulled herself together, smiled and stated that her vision is to bring and create platforms for the people of Akwa/Cross whom she says she loves so much. These people have little or no access to opportunities to show case their talents, but she is bringing home her resources and encouraging her colleagues to look back home and encourage young people at home. If not to give them fish literally, to teach them how to fish and bring them to the limelight.
This is basically the reason she has decided to shoot most of her movies at home. Is that not amazing?
She couldn’t stop talking about her home. She said she loves the people of Cross River state because there are too good. In her words, “I am not trying to be bias or say things because I am from here, but I have traveled far and near and the people at home here are too good and wonderful.” That is why she loves her people and intends to help them in her own way.
On past experiences, she has trained a lot of people, both in lighting and sound. A lot of people who passed through her training, today are doing excellently well in their various fields, especially those in her other award winning movie titled: LOOKING FOR GOODLUCK.
Slowly she took a deep breath and let out a huge sigh while she said, “I love my people, I’ll just probably die for this people.”
Almost taking over the chat, the gorgeous actress/movie producer expressed her views on how to help and empower people.
When you attend a certain level, you should help people instead of collecting from them. When helping someone to build a career, you shouldn’t collect money from the people. As it is always obtained in different cases.
She frowned at the idea of empowering youths by giving them liabilities instead of encouraging them with capital to start up their business and learning skills. “Sometimes I wish I had a lot of money”, she said sadly, “I would have helped more people.”
“A youth is given a motorcycle for instance as a means of empowerment, after two to three months, the motorcycle is bad and he needs to fix it using all the money he has probably earned, at the end of the day, he is back to where he started.
“If all the energy of purchasing and distributing those motorcycles is channeled to teaching someone to repair and fix a motorcycle, tomorrow that person will even end up buying a Ferrari. Don’t give them something they have to maintain, give them what to do to be able to buy something bigger tomorrow.”
She expressed her disappointment on the way people pay less attention to intelligent ideas while explaining how she has sent many proposals to different people all in a bid to help youths, but the proposals were paid deaf ears and left unattended.
But the way she intends to empower youths was different, “give them what you have and let them build on it even if it has to be from your pocket.” Little wonder the audition forms for her new movie, King Idi were shared for free as a means of bringing more people to discover their talents.
On the movie King Idi, herself, in collaboration with a movie producer, Mr. David Omon who she described as a younger brother, are working hand in hand to get people to do the movie, which is centered on the Efik tradition and requires skills and talents.
She gave her final words to her people. She said her message to all youths was that they should develop themselves while embracing education even if it was informal education. “The need will always arise in the society where your services and skills are required. You just have to be ready to give your best. Make yourself relevant.” She stressed. “If you do not make yourself relevant, you will end up doing follow follow which obviously does not last. Instead of sitting and waiting by the gate side of big men, work on yourself, and make yourself relevant.” She concluded while flashing us a bright smile.
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