ACTOR INTERVIEW: Interview with Chinonso Young
My name is Chinonso Young Umesiobi. My first acting job was in 2007, a stage production A Voice for Ella, produced by Isioma Onochie Aihie, and directed by Solomon Macaulay.
Did you study acting?
Acting is a passion; rehearsing in front of a mirror, watching movies and observe peoples behaviour, facial expressions, and body movement. I didn’t study acting as a course, but I get to self-improve with materials and informed practices.
What acting technique do you use?
Method acting is a common technique with actors. The actor creates thoughts and emotions of their character to make their acting real and believable. It’s a useful technique all actors should learn. For this technique, I have to move away from my personality, to embrace, the character fully. This way, I can think like the character, talk like the character, and then act like the character.
Describe wrong impressions actors hold about acting
Acting doesn’t mean you have to look pretty all the time, you must be dynamic. Your look has to be different to portray flexibility and diversity.
Do you take courses to improve your skills?
I usually read and watch informative videos. When I get the chance to be educated, I indulge.
What acting books do you read?
It is an e-book, on the Technique of Acting by Michael Chekhov
How do you keep fit as an actor: mentally, physically?
I take lots of nutritious foods, water, and I exercise. I stay away from negative energy, I read to keep learning.
When you are offered a role, what do you do next?
I read the script and absorb the character. I record my lines, play it back and listen to it over and over. It helps to create the dialogue with myself, if I can’t find someone to practice with.
How do you take a character in a script to an honest, believable and breathing person?
It is more than just reading the script and acting it out, I have to keep my personality aside and become that character as much as possible.
How do you stay fresh on a production set?
I often avoid distracting conversations. And I always communicate as my character, this helps to make my acting fluid which appears free-flowing and natural.
Great day shooting with some of #Africa‘s Finest @kikimills @guchiyoung @keirafire007 @adaoraukoh#LekkiWivesSeason2 pic.twitter.com/CFVaqFThoR
— Joselyn Dumas (@Joselyn_Dumas) September 22, 2013
Explain one creative choice you took on set?
The spine of one scene I worked on with another actor required an intense emotional response; I needed to cry. But the other person wasn’t giving me enough to work with, I asked the director to instruct the actor to me a slap. I got a good slap and tears flowed freely, which made the scene work and earned me a good review.
Describe a memorable character you played?
One memorable character I played would be Nkoyo; the character I played in a TV soap, My Mum and I. She was a nerd and a weirdo, she was funny and she had an unusual dress sense.
What do you want most from a director?
Firmness. And a good sense of blocking that resolves a scene into its spine and brings out the best in an actor.
What actor do you long to work with?
Nse Ikpe-Etim
Why this actor?
She is an awesome actor who brings out the best in your acting, doesn’t drop the tempo and engages dialogue properly with a sense for good eye contact.
What advice would you give actors around the world?
Never stop learning and improving yourself.
Briefly write about your career
My first act was a stage production, “A Voice for Ella”, I played a wicked step-sister. On the TV soap “My Mum and I”, I played the character Nkoyo, and went on to do Tinsel, a soap for MNET Africa, where I played a crazy and delusional character, Ngozi. I also did a short film called the “Line Up”, my character Fola was a woman pimp, who trafficks young boys, and there is my latest, Lekki Wives.
