Nollywood as huge as it has grown over the years, has people who are like god in the industry, who pulls strong strings and call important shots, and one of them is this Nollywood Producer, filmmaker and script writer, who has contributed a lot to the industry and in the lives of many Nollywood stars.
His name is Solomon Apete, popularly known in the industry as Solo Amaco, due to his close and strong business relationship with founders of Amaco Production, Damian and Gabriel, it was there he got the Amaco name into his own name.
On the other hand, Solo Amaco is a Nollywood heavyweight in the industry, who actually through the ranks in the Nigeria movie industry. He was once a Props and Set Designer, but in few years time he has already established himself as a force to reckon with in Nollywood. Without exaggeration, dude has produced and masterminded over three hundred movies in Nollywood, especially in Asaba Nollywood.
He has produced dozens of movie stars, the likes of Chacha Eke, Sammy Lee, Regina Daniels, Nkechi Nweje, Mercy Johnson, Ony Michael, Baba Rex, Mike Godson, Mike Ezuruonye, Junior Pope, Zubby Michael, Shaggy Bees, Nichole Banana, and too many to mention. He equally boosted the career of Yul Edochie and others alike, as he constantly features them in his countless movies. Even several well known movie directors like Ugezu J Ugezu, Amechi Ukeje, Emeka Amakaeze, Austin Soundmind, Chijioke Oguno, Nonso Uzozie, others.
Truth be told, he has actually anchored the growth of many people in different departments in the industry. How was he able to achieve all that? Well, years ago, he was actually the Producer/Associate Producer of over 80% of the movies coming out from Eastern region of Nollywood. It was through this that a lot of boys who worked under him, supervising different movie sets/locations on his behalf, eventually ended up as producers and directors in the industry today.
Even till date, having your name in his book is as good as you being a star already, except you are not talented or not destined to be. Yes, because going by the number of movies he produces, and you got featured in most of them, definitely you would have been a big name in few years after. His influence in the industry is so huge that most people in the industry respects him a lot, even most of your favourite Nollywood stars. No one sees his phone call and not happy even without hearing his message first, that tells you his status in the movie industry.
One interesting thing about Solomon Apete is the fact that he pays attention to details a lot. He reads virtually every movie script he’s to produce by himself, and extremely hardworking, sometimes some of his colleagues do express pity for him due to his work load.
If you really know him, you are sure to understand that he hates laziness, excuses or failure, dude is a practical example of a go getter and achiever of excellence. If you have worked with him, you will know that he does equally believe in impossibilities, he always finds a way out of any challenge before him while filming.
I guess why he’s not that known outside is the fact that Solo is a quiet type who doesn’t indulge in noisy lifestyle, and neither is he a social media fanatic. He prefers his life in a quiet zone. Some of his movies include King Solomon Code, Last Wedding, Dangerous Assassin, The Kingdom, The Birthday, Sign The Will, The Last Day, Icheke Oku, Moon Maids, and too many others.
Unfortunately, story about his personal life and family is not found in the public place. Be that as it may, Solomon Apete has truly earned and deserved his flowers, and he’s such a living legend in the industry.
(Photo credit: Instagram/Solomon Apete)
