10 Questions For Sammi Rotibi. Hollywood Star
By Joy Della Ocloo Film/TV Workshop | Wed, 02 Sep 2009
I am very grateful to Ms. Leila Djansi, I know, I cannot keep her name out of my mouth because yes, over the past year, she has done me a lot of favors! That is the whole point. Locations for my school projects, cast, and my internship over the summer. I hope you all now understand why I keep on about her. She has gotten me hooked up with a number of African and African American stars who are striving in Hollywood to share their success stories and give us some insight into life in Hollywood. I think our actors back home need this insight as it is their desire to break in. Expect huge surprises from now till December as I hook you up with some great names in the industry. I will start though with stars from Africa.
One of my favorite stars from our very own backyard is Sammi Rotibi. He is simply a delight and I cannot get enough of him. He has done it with some of the best; Nicholas Cage, Bruce Willis.
Enjoy 10 questions for Sammi Rotibi!!!
JDO:How did you get into Acting?
SR: l got in to acting because of a talent agent that kept insisting l give it a shot. l used
to work at a commercial bank in miami, florida, while l was in school and one of our
customers is a talent agency. l decided to give it a try and l found out that you have more
fun, treated nice and make good money doing it. l didn't really get deep into it until l moved
to Los Angeles, California and got involved in a theater group and did a play on stage . l fell
in love. lt was the most amazing experience of my life. And that's where it all really started.
JDO: It is very few persons of African descent who have found mainstream success in Hollywood, what do you attribute to your success?
SR: l think l have being successful, to a point, by not loosing my identity. Being proud of my
heritage and my culture. Because that's what l am. African first. l think a lot people come here
and loose themselves and get caught up in the hype or try to be somebody else. You have to
remember, people like you for who you are not somebody you're pretending to be. You have
to have a foundation. Centered. That's where you grow from.
JDO: Spot on Sammi! Not loosing you identity. Keeping yourself original. That is a tip I think a lot of actors at home need to hear. Do you watch movies from home?
SR: Not that often.
JDR: what is your opinion on movies from home?
SR: l have seen some films from south africa and Nigeria. l think we need better equipments
and technology, because the potential is there.
JDR: Any plans of working in Africa?
SR: Of course l would love to work in Africa. As long as the script is good and we have a professional
crew. l'm always interested in working with different creative directors. And also in a safe and comfortable
environment.
JDR: what was it like working with Nicholas cage and Bruce Willis?
SR: l had an amazing time working with both Nic Cage and Bruce Willis. They both have a different
working style, but l learned a lot from both of them. Also about the business of the industry. Which
is so important for any actor to know. They were both great teachers and good people. lt was my
honor to work with them.
JDR: what advice do you have for those trying to break into Hollywood from back home?
SR: l would say you really really have to want to do it Because there' s no guarantee and there's
a lot of rejections. You just have to have a tough skin and know what your goal is and keep on
striving. For me, l'm happiest when l'm on the set doing a movie or on stage. it's like no other
feeling in the world for me. The best drug ever. lt's mind, body and soul. Period.
JDR: How easy is it to find work?
SR: (LAUGHS LOUDLY) ... it's never easy to find work . Especially now the way the economy is. There's very
few projects being green lit. And there lot's of actors trying out for the same roles. But l have a good
team of managers and agent behind me. So it helps.
JDR: what are your favorite movies?
SR: My favorite movies are mostly drama, suspense and action. Like , 'Lord of War',The Godfather,
'There will be blood' ( with one of my favorite actors, Daniel Day Lewis), American Gangster (w/ Denzle W)
Finding Neverland ( with Johnny depp), etc. Continued
One of my favorite stars from our very own backyard is Sammi Rotibi. He is simply a delight and I cannot get enough of him. He has done it with some of the best; Nicholas Cage, Bruce Willis.
Enjoy 10 questions for Sammi Rotibi!!!
JDO:How did you get into Acting?
SR: l got in to acting because of a talent agent that kept insisting l give it a shot. l used
to work at a commercial bank in miami, florida, while l was in school and one of our
customers is a talent agency. l decided to give it a try and l found out that you have more
fun, treated nice and make good money doing it. l didn't really get deep into it until l moved
to Los Angeles, California and got involved in a theater group and did a play on stage . l fell
in love. lt was the most amazing experience of my life. And that's where it all really started.
JDO: It is very few persons of African descent who have found mainstream success in Hollywood, what do you attribute to your success?
SR: l think l have being successful, to a point, by not loosing my identity. Being proud of my
heritage and my culture. Because that's what l am. African first. l think a lot people come here
and loose themselves and get caught up in the hype or try to be somebody else. You have to
remember, people like you for who you are not somebody you're pretending to be. You have
to have a foundation. Centered. That's where you grow from.
JDO: Spot on Sammi! Not loosing you identity. Keeping yourself original. That is a tip I think a lot of actors at home need to hear. Do you watch movies from home?
SR: Not that often.
JDR: what is your opinion on movies from home?
SR: l have seen some films from south africa and Nigeria. l think we need better equipments
and technology, because the potential is there.
JDR: Any plans of working in Africa?
SR: Of course l would love to work in Africa. As long as the script is good and we have a professional
crew. l'm always interested in working with different creative directors. And also in a safe and comfortable
environment.
JDR: what was it like working with Nicholas cage and Bruce Willis?
SR: l had an amazing time working with both Nic Cage and Bruce Willis. They both have a different
working style, but l learned a lot from both of them. Also about the business of the industry. Which
is so important for any actor to know. They were both great teachers and good people. lt was my
honor to work with them.
JDR: what advice do you have for those trying to break into Hollywood from back home?
SR: l would say you really really have to want to do it Because there' s no guarantee and there's
a lot of rejections. You just have to have a tough skin and know what your goal is and keep on
striving. For me, l'm happiest when l'm on the set doing a movie or on stage. it's like no other
feeling in the world for me. The best drug ever. lt's mind, body and soul. Period.
JDR: How easy is it to find work?
SR: (LAUGHS LOUDLY) ... it's never easy to find work . Especially now the way the economy is. There's very
few projects being green lit. And there lot's of actors trying out for the same roles. But l have a good
team of managers and agent behind me. So it helps.
JDR: what are your favorite movies?
SR: My favorite movies are mostly drama, suspense and action. Like , 'Lord of War',The Godfather,
'There will be blood' ( with one of my favorite actors, Daniel Day Lewis), American Gangster (w/ Denzle W)
Finding Neverland ( with Johnny depp), etc. Continued
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Comments To This Article
7 readers have commented so far on this story. And below this page is a sample of the latest comments published. Or you can also click view all to read all comments that readers have sent in.
Sammi
cat eyes | bronx,ny-usa (Location: United States) | 9/2/2009 11:00:00 PM
Keep up the good work.You know you're sexy as hell!!!
go Joy Go Joy
Your number one fan | lovely Land-Somewhere (Location: United States) | 9/2/2009 11:23:00 PM
you go girl with your bad self!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! do your thing Ms. Mam smile . I do not care I love your write up do not get discourage Joy more grease to your elbow ha ha lol
SAMMI, MY MAN
Jonathan | Accra-Ghana (Location: Ghana) | 9/3/2009 2:11:00 PM
Many notable Africans are makng it big in Hollywood and in other areas of the American entertainment indstry.....Sammi Rotibi is one I really admire.....and he was good in flicks like Yellow, Tears of The Sun and Lord of War......Questions would like Joy to ask them are :
Do they experience any form of racial discrimination as Africans when they go for auditions or a video shoot in Hollywood?
Have they seen any Nollywood, Ghollywood or Ugawood movies lately or ever and what do they think of them...(Are our movies suitable for the international market?)
How often do they travel to their homelands in Africa just to inspire young folks who wold like to be like them
For Sammi, I would like to know how he feels playing a role in a sex-nudity dominated movie in Hollywood...Does his African cultural sense of decency and morality come into play when actng in such movies?
