My journey as a filmmaker – Ishaq Sidi Ishaq

Ishaq Sidi Ishaq, aka ISI, is one of Kannywood’s most famous directors and actors. In this interview with Weekend Magazine, Ishaq, a graduate of the National Film Institute, Jos, speaks on his sojourn in the film industry and how the different experiences he has had have made him who he is.
Weekend Magazine: How did you get into the entertainment industry and how long have you been in it?
Ishaq Sidi Ishaq: After I acquired a diploma in Mass Communication at BUK, I went on to the National Film Institute, Jos, where I graduated with bachelor’s degree in filmmaking. I also did courses at the New York Film Academy where I studied digital filmmaking, and Asian School of Media Studies, New Delhi, India, where I did filmmaking and techniques. I worked with some media organisations and currently do some freelance and consultancy services on film, TV and radio for BBC and GBN Communications amongst others as well as advertisements for print, radio and TV as a certified APCON member.
I got into the movie industry in 1994 when I directed my first movie titled ‘Kamilu.’ The film belonged to our group, Nasiha Drama Association. We shot it for the purpose of it being shown on the state television, CTV 67, Kano (now ARTV). This movie gave the late Rabilu Musa Ibro his first appearance on screen. Major stage drama associations in the state like Gyaranya Drama Club, Tumbin Giwa Drama Club, including ours which was Nasiha Drama Association Wudil, to mention just a few, that also produced the pioneers of the movie industry in the north today, were then encouraged and supported to provide scripts and shoot while the CTV 67 provided equipment for both the production and post-production, as well as broadcast the productions. I’m happy and proud to be part of the great historic journey.
WM: Directing and acting, which best expresses who you are?
Ishaq: Directing does express me best. I became famous in acting before I discovered my passion and directing ability. It was and still is in directing that I discover what creativity means and this is evident in my works.
WM: What exactly is it about directing you enjoy?
Ishaq: I enjoy making the actors interpret their roles effectively. The style I adapt in helping the actors bring out the character they are acting out brings me joy. Actors are everything. It is through them that you convey the story to the audience, so you have to really pay attention to them even though directing requires paying attention to detail but actors are one of the major details a director needs to pay attention to.
WM: You were one of the bosses at Farin Wata television station. What exactly did you do there and how did you combine this with filmmaking?
Ishaq: Like I mentioned earlier, I worked with some media organisations and Farin Wata TV was one of them. I’m no longer there. While working as the manager, I kept myself busy with the work, exploring the television broadcast while studying the film industry since I left for studies.
WM: Of all that you do, what’s the most interesting for you and why?
Ishaq: I learnt filmmaking on the job then went back to school to acquire the knowledge. So the most interesting thing for me is my passion, quest for knowledge and learning which gives me an edge in the industry. I say so because, I don’t get tired of learning and filmmaking is always a learning process; the more you do, the more you learn.
WM: Which of your works has been the most challenging and why?
Ishaq: I always remember a film titled ‘Uzuri,’ produced by Ibrahimawa Productions, which I both directed and acted in. In this film the challenging part was how I had to balance myself between directing and being an actor on the other hand. These were all roles that demanded attention for detail in order to achieve proper interpretations from both the director’s and actor’s perspectives respectively. The film eventually turned out to be a huge success.
WM: As part of the jury for MTN Kannywood award. How has this award affected the industry?
Ishaq: I was not part of the jury but member of the organising committee. However, every award should be part of the things that promote any industry and the MTN Kannywood award is no exception. The award instilled and motivated the practitioners who won the award and those who desire to win in the forthcoming editions, to do more qualitative and viable productions.
WM: There were controversies surrounding the award for most popular actor which many fans say they expected should have gone to Adam A. Zango rather than Ali Nuhu. Could you clarify this?
Ishaq: I don’t think I have much to say here because the most popular award category was voted through text messages by viewers. MTN is the only one that can clarify it because it generated the results. Logically, how would MTN sacrifice an award that was “expected” to go to their ambassador and forfeit it for another? Ali Nuhu is Glo ambassador which in my opinion shows how fair MTN was.
WM: Although you were in India not too long ago as part of trainees on the ProjectAct Nollywood programme, generally, Kannywood practitioners say they don’t benefit from the programme. Is this perception true?
Ishaq: There is an adage in Hausa that says: ‘Tafiya mabudin ilimi’ (learning in travelling). For one to have left his country to another all in the name of training, he can’t say he does not benefit from that. Perhaps it was not what was expected that was gotten, but then, we all went to India as professionals and were treated as such.
For the industry as a whole, I have heard such complaints about kannywood not being treated fairly as Nollywood. Nineteen of us went to India but I cannot verify how many went to the US from Nollywood. It would therefore be unfair to draw conclusions when I don’t have the facts. I also think our going to India was by choice because the Arewa Filmmakers Association got India because it was faster in responding. Basically, we’ve benefitted from the different areas of funding and assistance from ProjectAct but maybe not as much as Nollywood has which is the reason for the complaints from Kannywood. But as I said, I don’t have details of the facts and therefore cannot draw any definite conclusions.
WM: There have been uncoordinated reports of a rift between you and Ibrahim Mandawari. What exactly happened?
Ishaq: I don’t want to talk about this because it is not something worth commenting on. As you said, it was “uncoordinated reports.” What happened was a misunderstanding and misunderstandings do happen everywhere. It was resolved there and then.
WM: How does it feel losing Ibro, especially when it was you who gave him his first chance in Kannywood?
Ishaq: Losing Ibro was something that shocked everybody who knew him. It was like losing my own biological brother. It was a great loss indeed.
WM: You have different exposures and interactions. How have they all impacted on you?
Ishaq: I am still on it. It is a journey that shapes your thinking. The impact is immeasurable. But they will speak soon.
WM: Who is your favourite star to work with and why?
Ishaq: Ali Nuhu is. He is a great actor and nice to work with. He respects his career. We have tested many who have made it and they are now no more and some are on the same verge but Ali Nuhu is exceptional. He is one of a kind of actors that the industry gave birth to and still patronises him because of his versatility, humility and respect for the art and craft of filmmaking generally. He is here to stay as he grows with the industry.
WM: Away from the screen, who is Ishaq Sidi Ishaq?
Ishaq: Ishaq Sidi Ishaq is a person that loves to listen and watch musicals, play table tennis, hang out with friends and catch fun.