RAFA graduates 2016 set

All roads, last weekend, led to the campus of the Royal Arts Film Academy for the graduation ceremony of the school’s 2016 set. Kick starting the activities was Prof. Osofisan’s play, Esu And The Vagabond Minstrels, which was performed by the graduating students.

The play tells the story of some greedy musicians who would do anything to remain in business. It shows how greed could transform behaviours as was seen with the minstrels. These musicians become rich, but would not help others; they forget that someone helped them to attain their current status. It teaches that humans should be compassionate and selfless.

Speaking at the event, Opeyemi Dada, a lecturer and director of the play noted that with the kind of training given to students, they can hold their own anywhere in the industry.

“Here you don’t teach acting, you can only teach the requirements and how they can channel their energy in the direction of their interest to actualise their goal. Once the students get that, they become the determining factor of how far they want to go as they continue to improve on themselves.”

Artistic director, Makinde Adeniran, who himself is known for directing some of the best presentations, commended the director and the cast for their performance, saying he had not seen such classic play being edited so perfectly for the purpose of time. Advising the graduating students, he said, the industry is about being able to face challenges and encouraged them to put in their best in any performance because they have been trained to weather the storm.

“Yes, you put up an impressive performance, but character is what will take you far, otherwise, no matter how good you are, you will fall by the way side,” he noted. One of Nollywood’s best, Susan Patrick, who was also present advised them to aspire to be relevant rather than popular, as that was the staying power. She added: “When you are given a role, do your research well so that you can put up a good performance. A fine face alone will not take you anywhere. Their screenplay titled, The Last Party was equally commendable, but like any work of art, it didn’t escape criticisms.