Acting Comes With Lots of Challenges - Elvis Chuks

Elvis Chucks is indeed a seasoned actor who knows his onion. He
started acting at a tender age of three and plans to quit the trade
anytime soon. In this interview, he talks about his film and
television production company, his latest movie that is about being
premiered and his life generally. Enjoy!
What would you say life has taught you?
Life taught me diligence and uprightness as well as give my best to
get the best out of everything l do.
What would you say prepared you for what you are today?
I cannot say I was really prepared because I grew up acting; I started
acting quite early in life. I didn't act because of the money or the
fame. I was only doing it because l loved doing it. I was a child when
it all started. But l had to work on my arts when my parents found out
that l was all for the screen as against their plans for me to read
medicine. I went back to school to become what I am today. I studied
Film and Television production abroad in South Africa, City Varsity
Film and Television school, Cape Town, South Africa.
We have been seeing your face for more than a decade now, when and how
did you become an actor?
I became an actor at the age ofthree, and I started with productions
like 'Tales by Moonlight' and the others. I am over a decade in the
industry. I cannot say I set out to become an actor because l was
pretty young when l started, but as l grew up, I eventually fell in
love with it. My parents actually wanted me to study medicine, but
they dropped the idea when they noticed I love doing what I was doing.
We do not always see your faceon TV, why?
I do not have to take all the scripts given to me to prove that l can
act. A good actor cando a few movies and still make his or her mark. I
was with RMD the other day on a set when he talked about the movies he
has featured on.
According to him, he has featured in about fifteen movies, but that
didn't stop himfrom making his mark in the movie world. I haven't
featuredin many movies, but the few I have featured in are timeless.
My feature in Super Story was shot in 2001-2002, yet, I still get
recognized till date. It is not about the quantity, but the quality of
your work.
Elvis Chucks
What if you are opportuned to become a motivational speaker, what
would your advice be?
I would advise my audience to stay focused and believe in themselves.
No matter who youare or what you become in life, your belief system is
what propels the change to become an outstanding person or not.
Were you born with a silver spoon?
I was born into an average home. I wasn't born with a silver spoon.
Did you start off your career with TV series before the big screen?
I started with all the kinds of movies! I have been in a lot in TV
series, but l have also done seasoned movies. I have done movies on
M-net; I did some in South Africa. I also modeled too.
What inspired the soap 'Secrets and Scandals'?
Secrets and scandals was inspired by our everyday life. We keep
secrets and when they are told; they become scandals and all that.
Secret and scandal is what is happening everyday around us.
What inspired your advocacy movies?
I do not always do advocacy movies. But l have done some. Ionce wrote
a script and l was opportuned to visit the Takwa bay, a beach in Lagos
state. I ran into a little child who was running towards the beach
without any form of clothing onhis body. I looked around and l didn't
even see any parent andl wondered at the abuse. My cousin called my
attention to it and l remembered that script. I showed the script to
Joke Silva and she was so touched by the situation. That script
brought about the movie Victims of the Society .
Were there challenges on the job?
Yes there have been challenges, but everything in life has its
ownchallenge. You are on set recording and there is a problem with
your equipment and you lose everything you have recorded while you
don't have a back up! That's a challenge. There are always challenges,
but the beauty of it all is when you manage to save or rescue your
products and when you eventually see the endresults on TV, then you
forget allthe stress of production.
Your fans, how do they react to you?
It is indeed wonderful when you are recognized by people who love you
and your products. I get speechless when l am appreciated by my fans.
It makes you feel that someone out there acknowledges your input and
it is a worthwhile feeling.
What do you do when you are not in front of the camera acting?
I have established a company called Diamond Groove Pictures.It is a
motion picture productioncompany. We do TV commercials, television
production, press media advertisement and cinema movies. We own
productions like award winning Happy Family on NTA network, Secretsand
Scandals on STV and otherstoo numerous to mention. We have been a
strong content provider to M-net and Africast Television in USA.
You have a movie about to be premiered, tell us about it?
The movie title is 'A wish'. It is acomedy movie that gives insight on
cancer and early detection as a remedy to save lives.
Cancer is not comical why is it a comedy movie?
Yes, cancer is not comical, but the way the movie was acted and
directed. It through light into the sickness known as cancer, the way
the victim of cancer detected cancer in the first place, how she was
treatedand the whole package of the movie is indeed comical.
What is relaxation for you?
It has not being easy because oftime and work schedule, but l have
managed somehow. When l can, l swim and l visit the gym. They are my
form of exercise and that way l relax. But when l am chanced, l
travel abroad for a holiday.
How have you coped with the women fans?
They come with the job, but if you are focus and responsible, itwould
save you a lot of stress and untold problems in your life.
Your relationship, if any?
I am not married yet, but l am in a serious, healthy relationship. I
would tie the knotsoon.