The duo of Nollywood star, Yemi Solade and movie director, Teco Benson, last week took students of Caleb University, Imo Lagos State, into their journey in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

The pair spoke at an interactive session titled: “Cinematography Sequence: Nollywood Then and Now – Focus on the Place of Veterans in Today’s Nollywood Space,” coordinated by Dr. Olugbenga Charles Adewale of the Department of Mass Communication at the university.

Solade and Benson touched on the evolution of the movie industry in the last 50 years, their journey into the world of filmmaking and offered tips on how to succeed in the art for burgeoning actors during the interactive session.

For Solade, he said: “I came into the movie industry because of my passion. I abandoned law for dramatic art to exhibit the talent God gave me.

“I was an entertainer before going into filmmaking. I was a disco dancer and started from zero fees to millions of naira today.”

The veteran actor, however, noted that his journey in the make-believe world was not a smooth sail and listed the requirements for success in the industry.

“The Nollywood industry helps to remove cultural imperialism and that is the major benefit of the industry.

“To succeed in our history requires hard work. Forget about what you hear outside about the movie industry. Let me tell you, there are a few colleagues who found it tough and opted out. They became frustrated and disillusioned and moved abroad.

“What are the recipes for success? First and foremost, you have to be authentic, show passion, upgrade yourself, and follow the trend. It would be best if you also did things for your people as this ensures originality and authenticity,” the 64-year-old stated.

On his part, Benson advised people going into the entertainment industry to be ready, be objective, and identify their goals from the beginning.

“Know what you want and follow the path, be disciplined, and have a sound mind,” the director counseled.

On his unforgettable experience in the industry, Benson recalled how an actor lost confidence when he was paired with a former beauty queen, Regina Askia, during the audition for a movie titled: “Calls from Beyond” in 1997.

“The guy was bubbling with confidence at the movie location. He was to be paired with a delectable former beauty queen, Regina Askia, in a lead role for ‘Calls from Beyond’ in 1997.

“But the moment Regina Askia stepped into the location; the guy lost confidence and started shaking. That was how the plot was lost and we had to start all over again,” he said to thunderous applause from the audience.