The name Kayode
Babatunde Peters may not mean anything but Coco, the famously
intelligent layabout character in Flat Mates would definitely ring a
bell. Peters started acting while he was an English undergraduate at
the University of Lagos and made his postgraduate acting debut in Wale
Adenuga’s Papa Ajasco television series in 1998. Later on KP, as he is
also called, tried his hand at directing and has directed and produced
soaps like Flat Mates, Half Sisters, Twilight Zone and In-Laws. Now
with 12 years in the soap opera-making business, he speaks to X2 on his
humble beginning and the journey thus far.
Have you always wanted to act?
Not really. But I
grew up watching the Checkmate series and wanted to be on screen like
the actors then. I just liked the way the characters were portrayed and
wanted to be on screen also. I got into acting through my roommate at
the university. He played the lead character in a Theatre 15 play used
in welcoming new students to school and that ignited my passion for
acting. That year I joined the group, Theatre 15, and acted as the lead
character the next year. For the remaining years of my stay in Unilag,
I was a part of all of their stage plays and did little directing also.
I had my big break in acting in 1998, when Wale Adenuga came to our
school to look for actors for his Papa Ajasco series. Then everybody
kept directing him to me; there were no phones to call so he went round
the school looking for me. That became my first out-of-Unilag acting
experience.
What was the inspiration behind the Twilight Zone?
I wanted to do my
own thing which was why I started Twilight Zone. After working with
Wale Adenuga, I featured Wole Oguntokun’s satirical drama, Who’s Afraid
of Wole Soyinka? at the Muson Center. Later on, I directed [Wole
Oguntokun’s] TV sitcom, Crossworld Blues, that aired on DBN TV in 1999.
Five months into the project, I decided to do my own thing which was
how Twilight Zone came to place. Twilight Zone was a situation comedy
series that portrays the everyday life of students on campus. It was an
exclusive Unilag project except two students from Lagos State
University. It featured the likes of Teju Babyface, Denrele, Yaw, and
others. But after a while, the cast had to move on to other things,
which was how the series ended. I started Twilight Zone with a friend’s
camera. I was the director, producer and cameraman because whenever I
gave someone the camera to record, its either they are recording from
the neck upwards or cutting some part of the head. People loved the
series but didn’t know how we struggled to make sure it was on air
every week.
Which do you prefer, being behind the scenes or on the scene?
One part of me
prefers acting but the other is used to directing. I actually started
as an actor and but I had to switch to directing when our director for
Theatre 15 relocated to the US to stay with his wife. That was right
after I featured in Wale Adenuga’s Papa Ajasco. I just used what I had
learnt on set to direct. I have never gone through any form of training
for directing. I am very good with picking up new ideas so I match that
role perfectly that one would think I had gone to a school to learn it.
But now I do more directing than acting.
How do you get inspired for your series?
Really I can’t say
how I get inspired for my stories but that God is my source of
inspiration. Sometimes I can be watching a movie and I will get an idea
or driving or even relaxing with friends. Unlike musicians that have to
drink or smoke something to get into that mode to deliver a song, mine
just comes to me and God has been very faithful to me.
Your series always have comic elements; do you intend to go into stand-up comedy soon?
(Laughs) I have no
intention of going into comedy. Yes, I have friends in the industry but
to join them? No. I can write comic scripts but I don’t think I can go
on stage to crack people up. My cousin recently told me to try it out
that I might be good at it, but I dont think it’s my thing. I like to
be cracked up instead. But I used to have a comedy club called Friday
Nite Laff and I helped my friends to start up a comedy gig every
Wednesday at Koko Lounge.
Will you be going into movie productions?
I was in a movie
three years ago for a friend titled Pansaga but didn’t like the
turnout. But you would be seeing me in movies later on in the year and
I will be producing also. More of the Yoruba movies because except for
the few that goes to the cinema, English movies are not just it because
you would find yourself wondering if you are watching an English movie
or an Igbo movie. So you would be seeing me in Yoruba movies. I intend
breaking into the Yoruba market but I have to be a part of it to know
how it works. I recently was on the set for two movies, Florence and Fi
ti La, which will be coming out soon.
What is the inspiration behind your recent TV series In-Laws?
In-Laws is just
what goes on in the family: how the husband is torn between pleasing
his wife and his mother and how the wife deals with her mother-in-law.
In-Laws is from one of my stage plays we performed about 4 to 5 years
ago in Unilag, the Muson Center and also in Port Harcourt. It is just
something to portray what goes on in marriages.
If you weren’t acting or directing what would you have been doing?
I would have been
playing football. I have always wanted to be a footballer, though my
parents loved when I play football but wouldn’t hear of me going
professional. I was not so strong growing up and the doctor’s advice
was that I didn’t take part in anything strenuous so football was out
of it.
Have you always worn dreadlocks?
Not really; I
started it while at the university. Back then, I always had a comb
which I use frequently because my hair was always scattered. That was
when I started the dread thing which is very easy to keep. The hair has
always been my logo. Though there are times I would cut them which
would give me a different look and feeling. If I cut it this time that
would be it, I won’t grow it again.
Marriage tends to be the ‘in’ thing for our celebrities. Will you be walking down the aisle soon?
I can’t tell you when exactly but later on this year I will be settling down. I would keep you posted on it.
