How We Fought On Scene I and My Dad; Pete Edochie

My name is Yul Edochie son of the veteran actor Pete Edochie. I was born January 7, 1982, into a big family; I have five siblings, when I was growing up, I wanted to be a journalist. Its one profession I cherish with a passion. But I think I have this movie background. I was named after a Hollywood actor, Yul Brynner who acted in 1956 movie, ‘The King and I.’ then, my father loved watching Hollywood movies and the actor in question had this kind of my baritone voice. By the time I completed my secondary school and was about to gain admission into the university, I have always loved to watch movies. And my father was already a big fish in the industry at that time. But because of the kind of person I am, I decided to define my own path in life. That’s why I said earlier that I’m not living under his shadows.             
                                           

Then, my dad wanted me to join the industry and start doing little roles that we call ‘Waka-pass ‘at a very early stage. But I insisted on going to the university to sharpen my skill. It was my belief that if I go to the university to study the course,
I will be more professional in what I do. That’s why I went to the University of Port-Harcourt to study Theater Arts. I did acting and directing. I started from the scratch, playing minor roles in movies. That’s how I started my journey into the world of acting.  I’m a simple shy and normal guy. I don’t like to be given a preferential treatment because of who my dad is. I love being myself. And it was my desire to break away from my dad’s shadow and carve a niche for myself in acting. Even before I got to where I am today in my career, some people would want to know if I am Pete Edochie’s son. My answer had always been “no”. 

                          

I said it a lot of times and that’s why a lot of people hardly believe that I’m Pete Edochie’s son. It’s because I don’t like to be given preferential treatment. I think the only thing it has done for me is that it makes people appreciate my worth. I think the first time I saw my dad on screen was when he acted Okonkwo in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. I was about six to seven years old then. We really appreciated him then because coming from that kind of family, we used to watch a lot of Hollywood films. Our dad would slot in Hollywood films and sit at the back of the chair to watch the movies. After he acted in Things Fall Apart, he did not do many films until the emergence of Nollywood in the 90s. I thank God for giving me the talent and I’m doing what he destined me to do in life. Why I said this, is because when I did my first movie in 1995, I was nobody. Before I started getting recognition as an actor, it took me up to three to four years. And that was between 2008 and 2009. I don’t think I’m getting any special treatment because I’m the son of Pete Edochie. I could remember that my elder brother was in the industry before me. He was answering the same surname. But today, he is no longer acting. I don’t think I’m doing well in the industry because I’m Pete Edochie’s son. I am proud of myself and my achievements. 
    

       

Though I’m not a proud or arrogant person. I try as much as possible to be real.  If I narrate my story to you, you won’t believe it. When I came to Lagos, I was squatting with my friend and a senior colleague, Nonso Diobi. Then, I used to sleep on the floor, but today, we are neighbors at Crown Estate, Lekki. That’s the irony of life. Then, he was living in a one-room apartment, and I was sleeping in the parlor without minding the consequences. I didn’t mind because I know where I was going to. I wasn’t concerned about the money I was going to make from this business. I just wanted to show the world that I can act and today, I have achieved a few things for myself.  That’s my story. I passed through this struggle, not because of the name I have. I did it on my own, so, I’m happy with my achievement. I started with playing the lover boy role. 

                                  

Normally, when you come into the industry, as a greenhorn, you are given roles like that. It got to a point, where I grew in my career and I realized anybody can play the lover boy role. So, when I play a role now, it’s like no other person can do it except me. If the script is crazy, that’s when they look for me. I just discovered my strong point and I don’t think I’m special. Everybody is special in his or her own right. I have been married for eight years we got married in 2004. But I started dating her since 1998. I started dating her when I got admission to study Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt. While I was on campus, I saw a lot of girls but I was able to go for her. I saw her as my wife and I relayed my intentions to her. Though I was young then, and it wasn’t about money because I had nothing to offer to her. I asked her if she was ready to embark on the journey of life with me and she replied me in the affirmative.
                         

That was how it happened. I wanted to do it then, because I felt it would help me to be focused, given the kind of industry I was going into. I knew if I had remained a bachelor   I would probably have ran into problems finding a life partner. And since I had somebody in mind, and I resolved within myself to get married to her before venturing into the industry. I can’t say, I don’t know about the women. I don’t care about such things, they don’t move me. I ignore them a lot. 

 Anytime, I come on set, it’s always like that. But I can’t do anything to hurt my wife. I must be honest with you; it’s not really easy to play safe. It was more difficult for me to overcome the temptations about four years ago. Nowadays, if a lady confesses her love for me, I will simply say ‘thank you’, and that’s all. I’m happy people appreciate me, let them continue to love and appreciate me. But I can’t afford to hurt my wife and my three loving kids. it has come to a point where I just told myself I have to live with this situation. I could recall one nasty experience I had some time ago when I was shooting a film in Festac town. I strolled into one of the relaxation spots to watch the premier league. Upon recognizing my face, the manager of the hangout ushered me into the VIP section. While I was there, some girls stormed the place. One of them who recognized me shouted out my name and was all over me. 
                               

Before I knew what was happening, she took my wallet, my cell phones and threw them into her handbag. As if that was not enough, she emptied a bottle of red wine I kept on the table, insisting that she was going to spend the whole day with me. I tried to plead with her to give me a breathing space. But she wouldn’t, rather she dared me. For her, she was ready to sleep with me that night.  I was mad at her but she wasn’t bothered. I tried to control myself; it was the manager of the place who saved the situation as he recovered all my kinds of stuff she seized from her. My wife trusts me, she knows that no matter what happens I will always come back home. 

                           

I have known my wife for 14 years (since 1998). And each new day, she finds out that I am not that kind of person. Yes, I travel a lot because of my work but the moment I guess I’m free; I do not hesitate to return to my family immediately. And once I am with my family I hardly hangout. I love staying with my family and I have been able to prove to my wife that aside from my job, I am always there for her. So, she has built that trust in me. Above all, she is used to the situation. There was a day I was going to somewhere with her. I was about entering my car when some girls accosted me and suddenly were all over me. They took pictures with me, some even gave me pecks while she looked on.  After the razzmatazz, we entered the car and drove off.  She is okay with it. My father was always there for me, he is the best father in the world. I really didn’t depend on his money. 

I wanted to acquire my own wealth, I wanted to struggle and do things for myself. He was always there to support me in his own little way but I kept telling him how long you would be giving me money. This is not what I wanted, I desired to go to the university, study Theatre Arts, graduate and be exposed to the world of acting. But unfortunately, I didn’t get the kind of exposure I was looking for through my dad. I don’t know why I think he is the kind of father that will leave you to struggle on your own. That’s the kind of dad I have. He believes that he has done everything for you, he prepared me for the challenges ahead, and I felt it’s time for me to go out there and survive,  never depending on his wealth. Of course, he was always there for me. But my life was never dependent on him doing anything for me. 

                             

I struggled on my own to survive. Whatever I have today belongs to me. People like Nonso Diobi, Ramsey Noah, Jim Iyke, Emeka Ike. Mike Ezuruonye, Charles Inojie, Ejike Asiegbu this are the people I always looked up to, I wanted to be like this people, I kept telling myself, if these people can do this, then I can do it as well. Also, I admired some Hollywood artist Albert Chino, Robert Deniro, these are people I always want to be like I don’t keep killing myself about it because it happens to everybody, you must grow. I’m privileged to be among the actors who have grown over the years in the industry. Some people join the industry and they don’t even have the opportunity to grow and they leave for one reason or the other. 

Currently, I’m doing something with the African Children Talent Discovery Foundation. Though the foundation does not belong to me, it's based in Abuja. I’m one of the ambassadors for the Foundation so also is Jim Iyke, Chika Ike, and five others. What we are doing for the foundation is that when we see children in the street with talent, either in singing, dancing or acting. We try to groom them and showcase them to the world. I intend to start my own project later in the year, but for now, that’s the project that I’m doing. Nonso Diobi is my brother from another mother. He used to live in Enugu, before he relocated to Lagos. Though I was born in Lagos, I started my acting career in Enugu. While my family lives in Enugu Nonso’s family too resides the coal city.
                                       

We met there but he has been in the industry for few years before I came on board. So, he is like a senior colleague to me and sees me as his brother. He told me when he relocated to Lagos. And I was ready to come down to Lagos to hustle, he gave me shelter.  I was staying in his place then. He is a good friend, that’s how I met him. My father didn’t even know when I left for Lagos. He was shooting a movie in Ikorodu, the next day I came to meet him on set and he was shocked when he saw me. He was like asking me, what are you doing here?  I told him, I wasn’t doing anything in Enugu and needed to come down to hustle. And that was all. About my political interest……let me let you breathe story for another day. Thanks, PeopleAroundLagos.