Celebrating Her: Faith, Film, and Purpose with Ezinne Akam and EBE Talent Collective

Can you tell us more about yourself?

I am a Christian Igbo woman with 6 years of industry experience producing films, acting, and writing local Nigerian stories. I grew up in a Catholic home in Lagos, Nigeria as the first child and daughter of six. From a young age, I loved to write and create scenarios in my head, fueled by the movies I would watch and the songs I listened to. My dad was a music lover so the weekends were dedicated to enjoying music and watching movies as a family.

In high school, I found myself creating stories from scratch and rehearsing the lines with my school mates, so every Wednesday was dedicated to students and teachers sitting back in the school hall to watch me direct the students in plays. During my undergraduate studies, I worked for production houses as a producer, casting director, writer and actress, and the journey taught me a lot of lessons which I used in my personal movie projects, "Blind Date" and "Silenced", which you can watch on my YouTube channel "Ezinne Akam TV"

So far, I have contributed to the success of great movies and series like Shanty Town, Breath of Life, Soft Love, A Perfect Arrangement, When Love Strikes, Slum King, among other beautiful titles.

In April 2021, I lost my father. It was a rough time emotionally as that was the first time I was losing someone very close to me. It made me confront grief, brokenness, my feelings around God, and what He permits to happen. I have gained understanding in my journey so far, despite the ups and downs.

Currently, I am writing my first novella, a contemporary literary novella which explores grief, identity crisis, complicated family relationships, and forgiveness. I am also looking to develop my startup talent and production company and position it for impact in and for the African community.

Can you tell us more about your career and EBE?

EBE Talent Collective is a startup talent and company dedicated to recruiting, managing, and providing authentic African and International talents to film and TV productions and adverts. We are intentional about promoting quality client-talent experiences that are unique to each project.

The word "EBE" is short for "Ebeikwesiriibu" which means "The proper place to be" or "The proper way" or "Where to be". This name came to me from God during the production of "Slum King" as I was reflecting on the values I wanted the company to reflect. I wanted to build a brand that made everyone feel deeply welcome and accepted. That is how Jesus makes me feel, and I want to be able to extend that warmth to others through my business.

We are looking to expand from a talent agency to a production house that creates original content from script to screen. We are also working on helping talents leverage on their unique skills for financial and social empowerment. Gone are the days that you sit back as a talent and wait for the next big thing. We are helping talents make active moves in this digital age, through consultations and short courses, to refine their skills and help them earn money independently.

We are more than a representation.

How is your relationship with God guiding the way you do business?

Making films is hard work for everyone involved. From the writer of the story, to the producers and directors, to the actors and crew. It takes a different level of discipline and passion to stay consistent in the entertainment and media industry, Nollywood in this case. It is also a fairly new industry so structures are still being shaped and policies are still being considered. So it is not a strictly regulated one yet, and as a result, there are times people don’t feel adequately compensated or acknowledged for their time, effort, or skills. Overtime, they grow resentful or they shrink to fit into the system to survive. This affects the quality of work overtime and just generally the spirits of real African people.

And here is how my idea for EBE Talent Collective was shaped: I wanted to change that by making every creative, actors and extras especially, feel respected and supported. That is what Jesus would have wanted. It ties perfectly with the idea of purpose. Leaving a lasting impression. Making people smile. Making them feel that all their efforts is appreciated. It is in the little things, the words we say, the times we apologize for delays in shoots, the encouragement and tips, rehearsing with them to help them get their lines right, and simply the excellence we apply in our daily work. I wanted the company to pay attention to these little details that are often overlooked but are extremely powerful. I believe that my startup company, EBE Talent Collective, is backed by God as a result.

What is your favourite bible verse and why?

Romans 12:2 - “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Renewing your mind requires you to first admit that you need support, the kind that only God can give. It requires you to consider the flawed nature of humanity and lean into the perfect nature and will of God. It helps you see past yourself and look up to God for His saving grace, for His healing power, and for divine alignment. It helps you realize that we are nothing outside of God, and that one with God is majority.

Social Media Links: Instagrams: @ebetalentcollective & @ezinneakamnachi

Youtube: Ezinne Akam TV

Website: http://www.ezinneakam.com