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 Ime N. Etuk, the director and producer behind Hurricane in the Rose Garden, which screened at the Pan African Film Festival recently, studied directing under some of Hollywood 's most prominent and prolific directors. He has directed independent music videos, instructional videos, as well as many dramatic, comedic and narrative shorts. Hurricane In the Rose Garden (2006) is Ime's first film
Etuk has directed various films and television programmes and was second assistant director in the movie premieres Crash and Training Day . He is also an actor and starred as ‘Geordie' in Crash and ‘Lewis' in Intersection.
 Hurricane in the Rose Garden is a family comedy about an American girl married to a Nigerian boy who finds out that it is a taboo for a wife not to be pregnant after 5 years of marriage and that her in laws have no qualms about finding her husband another wife!
Today, given the increasing number of interracial marriages, the movie raises important issues which many couples still find difficult to address and is a reason why some interracial marriages fail.
 Q: When did you decide that you wanted to be a director/ producer and how did you get your first break?
A: I was working as a news journalist, which I enjoyed but I found it all a bit negative and thought I would rather create the stories rather than report the bad stuff. I applied to the Director's Guild of America programme from college, which trains you up to be an assistant director. Only 15 candidates are selected each year and I was one of the lucky ones.
Q: What has been the most memorable moment of your career?
A: Being part of a movie that won an Academy award for Best Film- It is very unusual to get the opportunity to work as an actor and a director, but I auditioned and got the part of Georgie and a double wage!
Q: What do you prefer acting or directing?
A: I enjoy acting but feel more comfortable being the person controlling things behind the camera rather than in front of it.
Q: What is your relationship with Pascal Atuma and how did you come to direct this movie?
A: I directed him in a play about 5 years ago and produced My American Nurse for him last year. We are good friends, members of the same actor's guild and share the same birthday!
Q: This was your debut movie as a director, how did you find the experience?
A: It was fun and exciting
Q: As Director of photography what did your job entail and what challenges if any did you face?
A: As a director you have to take ideas from paper and transfer them to the big screen. It involves transforming words into a story, working with the actors, getting the right camera angle and right background music. There are always many challenges. Our finance ran out before the movie was finished, this slowed us up a bit and we had to be a bit creative.
Q: What type of film did you use, how much of it and what did it cost?
A: We shot it digitally so did not use any film or pay for developing and processing saving about $200k. The quality of film is better of course but digital is improving all the time.
Q: How long did it take to film; were you on time and within budget?
A: 3 weeks
Q: Is that usual?
A: No, but I know how to schedule a movie and was able to do it well and quickly
Q: Post production can be long and tedious; did you find it a painful process?
A: No, it can be but its all about planning, the more you do beforehand the better. You need to sort out your work flow in advance. It can be frustrating when unforeseen things happen due to limited budget, but generally overall everything is going according to plan and the film is going through the festival circuits, which will give distributors an opportunity to look at it.
Q: How easy was it to get the film screened at the PAFF?
A: We submitted it to the panel and they liked it and agreed to screen it. My American Nurse was screened there last year also.
Q: What was it like working with the cast and how did everyone get on? Did you have any say in the choice of actors?
A: Working with the cast was wonderful, they are all high calibre actors focussed on intricacies of character and story and so directing the film was a pleasure. Everyone got on great. Pascal and I made joint decisions and were on the same page.
Q: Have you had any response from Distributors about showing the movie in cinemas yet? How soon will it be available on TV or video?
A: Yes we have had one offer but want to wait and see what other offers may be forthcoming.
Q: What are the 3 main things an aspiring film director needs to know?
A: It will be hard and you need to be driven. If you are not driven it is not for you. There is usually only one director on a set. If the film is good you did well. If it's bad even if it was a bad script it falls on your head! You must be passionate about it, learn and understand how to tell a good story
Q: What is your favourite movie of all time and who would you most like to work with on a movie?
A: I have 2 Constant Gardner and Heat
Q: Which actor would you most like to direct?
A: I have been on the same set with Billy Bob Thornton and would like to direct him.
Q: Do you have any other hobbies?
A: Going to the movies, reading and sports like basketball. I really love the work that I do and helping other people through public service like mentoring. The further I go in my career, the more resources I'll have to bless others and that is a real motivating factor for me…
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