How Actors Can Thrive Despite Coronavirus Pandemic -Tana Adelana

Nollywood star actress cum producer, Tana Adelana is no doubt one of the in-demand role interpreters in the movie industry. Sadly, just like her colleagues, she’s facing the harsh reality of the ongoing lockdown in some parts of the country which is a result of the rising cases of the novel coronavirus. In this interview with Damilare Famuyiwa, the screen-diva lamented how she has been directly affected, and how actors can rise above the present challenges.

Eelive.ng: Have you had any of your gig, production, or endorsement disrupted due to the coronavirus lockdown?

Of course, Yes! As an actor, movies that were already planned for having to be postponed. I have projects I have been working on for quite a while now, that have to unexpectedly hold. The sad part of this project can only pick up after the pandemic. 

Eelive.ng: How do you think actors are leveraging on social media to stay in business during the lockdown period?

Actors have and quite smartly so, begun to show what they are made of on social media. People are at home, people are bored and people are on social media. There’s no better time to make your presence felt than now. Most commercial brands that want to be seen are contacting social media influencers, not excluding actors that are visibly present on social media to help sell their products. This may translate to money now or later. So, it’s an opportunity for industry players to build their social media presence and boost their engagements with fans on the internet.

Eelive.ng: What have you been busy with since the lockdown order took effect as far as your brand is concerned?

I have been engaged in a lot since the lockdown started. The truth is that the government didn’t stop anyone from running his or her own business, people are only stopped from commuting. And since my work affords me the opportunity to run things from my convenience,  I have particularly been working with my PR team. Since the lockdown began, we have our hands more on deck to promote my new ideas and businesses. We have been creating a lot of promotional materials and at the same time committed to developing a commercial website, which will be up in no time. 

Eelive.ng: Tell us the most challenging thing for you since the lockdown took effect?

The most challenging thing for me is staying at home for a long period of time. I’ve never had to. My job takes me everywhere. As a busy actor, I am almost never in a place for more than 2 weeks at a time, so this is quite challenging. However, it has also helped me develop, plan, and execute the things I’ve always wanted to do which work deprived me of. So, I’m equally grateful. I have also been able to spend more time with my family and as we know, Family is Everything. 

Eelive.ng: How do you think actors and movie producers can thrive as the industry is battling coronavirus? 

Like I had stated before, if they get busy on social media and provide amazing content people like, it’s only a matter of time before commercial brands reach out to them. I’d also like to add that it may be easier for actors who have saved up enough and those that have businesses on the side to survive this lockdown. This is because our job isn’t a white-collar job with guaranteed monthly salaries. If you don’t have royalties or you don’t work, you do not get paid. 

Eelive.ng: What do you feel about the government’s approach to curtail the disease spread?

A lot of things have been done wrongly since 1960. Countries that are able to know and reach even the illegal immigrants on the streets didn’t figure it out at the wake of this world pandemic, a framework was already in place, the groundwork has long been done. The Nigerian government we have today inherited the problems the previous government also inherited and it goes way back to times some of us weren’t even born. Everything is wrong. The whole sectors are messed up, including the educational system, health care system, infrastructure, etc. It’s not rocket science, if we had the basics, the approach would have been different and the results visible. Right now, all we can do is pray.