BECOMING AUNTY FIFI - by Emetekefe Akpovwovwo

Everyone else had seen their names, found out who they were paired with, and received their scripts the day before. Yet, there I was, script-less, partner-less, but not clueless because I knew I was going to get all the necessary information before the day came to an end. It was film school. I was in the acting class and we were about to have our mock shoot. I had eagerly anticipated being in that acting class, not just to improve my acting skills, but also because I was confident I would receive top-notch coaching. The acting coach was renowned for his exceptional coaching skills, and I was eager to learn from him. So, when I got the admission, I was over the moon with excitement. After how many attempts?! *Sigh* Our first day in class was memorable. The Aristotle, Plato and Socrates in us came to play. *hehehehehe* I literally laughed my stomach to a rumble in my head. It was a day we all referenced till our last class. Our coach had asked us to express our unique personalities through objects, and let's just say, the interpretations were... creative. Some of us were trying so hard to impress that we practically turned into philosophers overnight. *hehehehehe* Everyone was on their best behaviour, acting all proper and polished but as the days went by, we loosened up. When I finally found out who I was paired with, I was so excited until I saw the script and my role. I was cast as an aunty to a guy who was physically much bigger than me. He was huge, and let's just say I didn’t exactly look like the typical “aunty” considering his size and look. Of course, I knew makeup and costume can make me age and fit into the character properly but that was not my issue. When one of the directors first saw me, she jokingly said, “I was expecting someone big to play the Aunty role because of his size.” We just laughed about it. For me, it wasn't about appearing too small for the role; it was about fully embodying the character from the inside out. I asked myself, “What kind of aunty am I? How old is this aunty? What state is she from? Is she educated? What is her relationship with her nephew like? How does she sound when she speaks to her nephew? How does she react to the things he says?” The director also wanted me to include a bit of Yoruba in the dialogue. So, I threw myself into the role, researching and rehearsing diligently, even brushing up on my Yoruba. I was fully committed. I chose “Mother of George,” directed by Andrew Dosumu, as my filmic reference and carefully studied the mannerisms of George’s mother and other Yoruba women in the film. I wanted to give it my best shot, so I approached everything with great intentionality. My co-actor was incredibly helpful; we rehearsed together multiple times, both in person and over the phone. By the time we had our first rehearsal with the directors, they were very impressed, offering only a few notes. It was no surprise, considering our coach had drilled preparedness into us. The shoot was both enjoyable and smooth, even though we had to rush through some shots because we were running behind schedule due to some crew members being delayed by traffic. Once we finished, the HODs and the academy’s admin team reviewed the rushes (the raw footage from the shoot). Unfortunately, I couldn’t be there for the viewing, but I received a text from one of the people present at the screening that made my day: “You made such a fine aunty.” My face lit up with joy and a sense of accomplishment. After the editors completed the final cut, we had a screening session in our acting class with the directors. Following the screening, the actors and directors were asked to discuss their processes in front of the acting and directing coaches. I shared how challenging the role had been for me and how much research I had done to make sure I delivered my best performance. When I asked for feedback, my coach told me I did well, and that filled me with happiness. I usually prefer roles that push me to work harder, as I love the challenges they bring. It helps me gauge whether I am truly growing as an actor. That’s it on Becoming Aunty Fifi!

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