Shiai Magazine: Welcome Gugu E. Michaels to Shiai Magazine, please tell us about your film career and your interest in the martial arts? Why promoting action films in Africa?


GUGU Michaels: Thanks for having me, well my film career started in the mid 90s. I use to own a record company named REDRUMM RECORDZ, and the label was very popular in Texas, USA. I had artists that needed music videos so me and a cinematographer by the name of Jerome Sheffield started shooting all my artists music videos and from there it grew. In 1998 I shot my first full length feature. As for my interest in Martial Arts? I am a martial artist. I use to fight in full contact sports before it was legalized and now known to the world as MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) in the mid 80s-early 90s. I retired in 1992 with a record of 5-0-0. I'm promoting action movies in Africa because I want the world to know that Africa has talent just like any other countries in the world. No body takes us serious when it comes to movie productions and I think is time the world noticed Africa.

Shiai Magazine: As an African from Nigeria who lives in America; are you aware of the existence of traditional African fighting systems?


GUGU Michaels: LoL, to be honest with you, NO! I'v lived in U S all my life and I was not aware that Africans, Nigerians had a fighting system until I visited Nigeria in 2008. That was when I discovered that Africa is over looked by the world when it comes to fighting and action movies . I saw guys that was doing things I couldn't believe. The same very things that Jackie Chan was doing and being glorified for, guys in Nigeria was doing it with ease! I mean, I was shocked to say the lease.

Shiai Magazine: Do you think that martial arts and sport combats in African movies can revalorize the African cinema?


GUGU Michaels: Yes I do! At the level of the competition thats coming out of Africa, it's only a matter of time before we explored into the global scene.

Shiai Magazine: In the past many Africans grew up watching Asian and American action films. Although today African Americans are becoming popular heroes in big movies but when will Africa have their own action stars?


GUGU Michaels: Well my brother that is what I am aggressively working on but you know it's not easy. Especially when you are doing it right. You have to understand that we come from a very strict culture, even our government have issues with us show casing our talent in that form. We come from a drama/love story culture so anything different from that will wake up the powers that be. When you bring it on the screen in the right way, it looks very believable therefore creating the illusion that it's real. That scares our government! My movie "Dangerous Men" that's coming out in all Cinemas in Nigeria and Ghana July 22nd, was put together very well. I choreographed the fight sequences and my stunt coordinator who  was the 5 times Kung Fu champion "Leo U' Che"assisted with the stunts. I mean this movie looks no different from any movie by Wesley Snipes or Jet Li. I mean, the fight scenes is on the same level as any movie out there right now but the powers that be, had a problem with it in my country. So these are some of the things thats holding Africa back from exploding into the global market with our action movies. Look at it this way, you spend all your money, time, energy and experience and put something together but at the end of it all, the powers that be tells you to take it out of your movie or your trailers. I mean, without the action scenes, your movie becomes drama. So that is one of the major things that's holding us back. I mean, the so called action movies that are done very poorly gets the green light to come out but the one's done on an international level gets banned or held back until they change a lot of scenes. So to answer your question? Africans will have an African hero when the powers that be open their arms to us and give us a little more push and support. That is my humble opinion on that matter...LoL!!!

GUGU Michaels: Nna man!! YES! LoL, making Dangerous Men was very-very difficult at all levels. I mean from pre-production to post-production to distribution, Dangerous Men was difficult as hell. First of, Dangerous Men is a very big budget action movie by African standard. Just the budget alone sets it aside from the rest. Then not to mention the "419" I encountered from those that call themselves location managers and costume designers...you have to understand, this was my first time going to Nigeria and shooting a big budget picture. I was not aware of all the things that goes on in Nigeria when it comes to making a movie. A lot of people took advantage of me..I was spending hundreds of thousands of Naira a day on locations that was N30,000-50,000 a day. My so called costume designer was hitting me with bills that I could have used to shoot another low budget love story. I thought it was normal because I was use to spending that kind of money in U S, that was until I discovered I was being robbed by the same people I hired to do a job, but you know? All that made me a stronger filmmaker. Now, I know how to hunt for locations myself. I know how to buy costumes myself. I learned a lot from that experience. Then after I went through all that, now comes the censor board. LoL..my brother this movie has seen hell ..LoL..They banned Dangerous Men, we had to change a lot of things in the movie. We had to take out a lot scenes in the movie. It took us almost 6 months to finally get the green light to release Dangerous Men. The movie is still powerful may be not as aggressive, political and uncut as I would have liked but still a very powerful movie. Not just for the fights but the subject matter is something that the whole African continent can relate to. After censor, now comes the theaters..LoL, they've changed the release date couple of times now on Dangerous Men so I am praying to God that this new date July 22nd will be our final release date.

Shiai Magazine: Who are the stars of the movie Dangerous men? You even play inside the film? Do we have a chance to see you fighting?


GUGU Michaels: George Davidson and Leo U' Che are the main Characters of the movie. Yes, I am in the movie and yes you will see me fight!

http://www.youtube.com/user/guguemichaels?feature=mhee&hl=en

Shiai Magazine: tell us more about other projects of your company New Era Pictures?  Will we have the chance to see more action coming from Africa?


GUGU Michaels: Well my company name is Gu International Pictures, Ltd (GIP)  not New Era. New Era was a company I was involved with in U S. I shot over 4 movies for New Era before I went to Nigeria to start my own company. There was too much politics in that company. Too many back stabbing and I couldn't trust anyone from that company anymore so I decided to break away and start my own. Yes, you will see many more action movies from Africa coming out of GIP camp. Gu International Pictures is here to stay, along with my partner Christian Nnawpka, we will be creating movies that will compete with any western movies. Though we don't have the budget as Major Hollywood studios, but we have the vision and the eye to make quality international movies.

GUGU Michaels: Well I can only speak for GuGu E. Michaels so this is only my opinion. I have not seen the movies you've mentioned but if they are put together correctly and our government don't force them to take away scenes or re-edit their movies then YES! If the powers that be support our creativity and vision; and give us the creative control over out final edit, then I believe very soon, Africa will have it's first international action hero. It's first notable director(s) /producer(s) and action super stars! I truly believe that.

Shiai Magazine: What advice can you give to African child who wants to succeed in life?


GUGU Michaels: Well I always say this to people. I am in no position to give advice because I'm still learning and growing but I can share my experience so no one will make the same mistakes I'v made. First and foremost, GOD should be the main factor in anything you want to do, then you should have the passion for what ever you want to do in life, not just for film makers but for everybody. Without the passion, you will give up. I promise you that. So that passion must be the first thing. Second, be aggressive in chasing your passion, never take "NO" for answer and never give up no matter how many doors that slam in your face. Lastly, always be fare to others because these things are spiritual and we do reap what we sow. Be a man/woman of your word. Let your "Yes" be a yes and your "No" be a no. Never compromise who you are for money!!!!!

Shiai Magazine: You also work in promoting African hip hop music, tell us more?


GUGU Michaels: Oh yes, music was my first love! I came from music back ground.  I am who I am today because of music. I've put out 5 GuGu albums in U S in the early 90s - early 2000s. I still have fans all over the world with my music..LoL..as a matter of fact, more people know me for my music than my movies...Yes, I use to rapp..LoL. Right now, I have a show called "Naija "A" List" co-produced by Deo KiKi of AD-sHAS. The show is about Naija(African) Hip-Hop. Right now we are talking to couple of TV stations here in the states to put it on air. It may be finally coming out this fall (Oct-Dec) it hasn't been easy but by the grace of God, it will start airing this fall or early next year spring. We'll see how it goes! I'm also working on my 6th Album. It will be a mixture of African flavor with Yankee crunk music and film score sounds. Something different from your regular Naija Hip-Hop and American Hip-Hop! I'm excited about that.

Shiai Magazine: Do you have any projects you will like to talk about?


GUGU Michaels: Oh yes, my plate is full from now till next year summer time. I have the "Nduma Boys" A TV series  (Action) coming next Summer. It's a story about a Nigerian family living in Dallas, Texas and what they go through. Then there's my next African movie "Jacob's Eye" a wicked action horror, coming soon. Like I said before, Naija 'A" List - the African Hip-Hop tv show.  Then I have a graphic novel "HEAVEN SENT" coming soon and the movie follows right after. Lastly but not least, my 6th Album, I don't have a title for it yet but I will definitely let you know once thats done. So thats about it for now..Oh, almost forgot, there's an Italian designer by the name of Giamani...we are in negotiation now with him and his company to bring his clothing line to U S..thats a really big deal for me once everything is concluded..so like I said, my plate is full till next year, all glory to GOD!

Shiai Magazine: What do you think of this online African martial arts magazine? Do you think it need to be supported in any manner?


GUGU Michaels:I love what you guys are doing with this magazine. Yes it needs to be supported by Africans across the glob. To me it's a platform thats needed for us Africans both home and abroad to showcase and promote what we do. It's not easy to do what we do on this level and our people need to see and read about what we go through to bring out these movies. Again, I believe us Africans need to push and support guys like you so you can continue to push forward and make this kind of platforms a global success.

Shiai Magazine: Any last words?



GUGU Michaels: Um, Dangerous Men is coming out July 22nd  in all Nigerian theaters, so if you are in Naija or Ghana, go check this movie. I promise you, you will love it. It's a movie Africans can be proud of and we shot it entirely in Nigeria Africa!

Shiai Magazine: God bless you brother, hope you will visit me soon in Cameroon


GUGU Michaels: God bless you as well and I pray you grow and get the support you deserve from all of us Africans around the world, because you are needed in this arena...I look forward to visiting you in Cameroon! One love, GuGu E. Michaels

http://www.guguemichaels.com/