PTV News Media: Gabriel Okorie: The Trailblazer Of Nollywood SFX Makeup Design

By Perekeme Odon

Groundbreaking make-up artist, Gabriel Okorie is a Nigerian multiple award-winning filmmaker, actor, art director, production designer, a stunt coordinator, and of Africa’s most decorated makeup artist renowned for special effect make-up designs in the Nigerian motion picture industry; the global African brand tagged Nollywood.

Gabriel Okorie

Gabriel has lived a lot of life with a roster of clients far beyond his years and has been painting famous faces such as Omotola Ekeinde-Jalade, Genevieve Nnaji, Stephanie Okereke-Linus since far before he could start winning awards without parental consent.

Raised in Owerri, the capital of Imo state on the Eastern coast of Nigeria, Gabriel spent his childhood unconsciously creating all kinds of art while always feeling a gravitational pull towards drawing.

With over 26 years of industry experience, Gabriel’s status as one of the pioneer makeup artist in Nollywood is renowned and unparalleled. Having served at the Ogun State Council for Arts and Cultural, Abeokuta with the hope of securing a job with a bank or oil company, he found himself in Nollywood as an actor courtesy of Basorge Tariah Junior whom they served together until he met Zeb Ejiro at the audition of Faces.

Gabriel On A Pose With His Awards & Plaques

“After facing minor roles, one day I attended an audition and was cast to play a lead role in the movie ‘Faces’, but when Zeb Ejiro who was the director of the movie showed up, he signified his interest on someone younger to play the role since the character is meant to be in the secondary school. Afterward that encounter, Zeb Ejiro showed interest in me and introduced me to his brother, Chico Ejiro and his associates. ”

He was engaged in the Chico Ejiro’s Grand Touch Picture family as a production assistant even though he wanted to become an actor, but discovered his strongest point was not in acting and decided to take up makeup since he was good at sketching and hairstyling. Chico Ejiro noticed his drawing and styling skills and immediately sent him for further training to apprentice under the tutelage of the iconic Dagogo Diminas-Jack who recruited him into his professional production design management team, 13 FATMAN & Associates as a makeup assistant in 1995 to horn his skill in an age when the concept of beauty and special effect makeup was still new to Nigeria.

Gabriel has stayed current on the emerging techniques and a force to reckon with in the industry with major classical commercials and documentaries aside lending his magic touch to an array of films like, After School Hours, Lost Kingdom, King Jaja of Opobo, Out of Cage, festival of Fire, and Egg of Life amongst many others. With decades of experience in Nollywood, the list of players who rely on him day in and day out run long.

Gabriel Okorie On A Movie Set Of 'Call The Sun'

The filmmaker who developed an obsessive knowledge of the industry sees every job as a challenge. “I have been lucky enough to be surrounded by lots of talented creative minds, and have come to learn not to see any work as easy because if you do so, you may find yourself performing below expectations. What makes GabaZzini Koncept standout is because we take all genres of production seriously and don’t compromise standards. Even when a script is flat, we try on our best to bring life into it by creating good characterizations through makeup effects.” He declared.

The makeup designer world over is hired by the producer during pre-production and begins by reading the script. “He or she must identify the period, location, mood, and any specific descriptions in the text that must be reflected on the actor’s face; like scars, wounds, or other significant physical features. This is especially challenging when preparing for fantasy, classic, and epic productions comparable to Azima and Egg of Life. Depending on the skills of the designer, a special effects makeup designer may be hired to concentrate on latex work and other facial prosthetics.” He stated.

Gabriel Okorie & Prince Jide Kosoko On 'Posh Battle'

Since his first expedition to climb the Nollywood rock along with his talent and ingenuity, the Isiala Ngwa North, Abia State-born filmmaker who is popularly known as GabaZzini by his colleagues who generously shares his knowledge on filmmaking has gone on to achieve countless national and continental accolades.

His multiple awards include Best Makeup Artist, Pan Africa Movie Award in Ghana (2003); Best Achievement in Make-Up, Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA 2007 Azima,), Best Achievement in Make-Up (AMAA 2010 The Child); Best Make-Up Artist, Nigerian Movies Award (NMA 2012), The Mirror Boy, South East Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) Best Make-Up Artist 2010, 2012, 2015, and 2018 respectively. He also won the 2017 Golden Icons Academy Awards (GIAMA) Best Makeup Artist of the Year with the movie Invasion 1876 directed by Lancelot Oduwa-Imasuen.

The Aladinma Housing Estate Primary School, Owerri alumnus got nominated at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA) with The Mirror Boy and missed narrowly to Jacqui Bannermen’s Otelo Burning. He was again nominated at the Best Art Director’s category with Stephanie Okereke’s Dry and Dagogo Diminas’ Stigma at the Best Makeup category in 2016 AMVCA respectively.

The bachelor’s degree graduate of English Language and Literature of Abia State University, Uturu prominent make-up techniques have made him a favourite amongst the Nollywood crowd who are always inspired by his artistic art & design overflowing with beautiful make-ups put together through innovative creativity and artistic vision with his powerful make-up teams to provide insights into their astounding accomplishments that reveals timelessness in beauty.

Gabriel Okorie & Afro Beats Artist, Jaywon On Set

“The design process is about telling a story, and a makeup artist paints that story in colour. The actor emotes through his or her body and face, but it is the makeup designer’s task to enhance that emotion and help convey the character.” He asserted.

The NUJ graduate and University of Uyo post-graduate diploma in Dramatic Arts advises makeup artists to always endeavour to be creatively responsive to their craft with accepted standards of morality, respectability, and decency in expediting their duties. He indicated that “Costumiers and makeup artists get closer to the cast than any other member of the production staff. Dressing bodies and painting faces is an intimate process that requires someone who is both discreet and polite—it doesn’t hurt to be a good conversationalist (with sweet-smelling breath); stay current on emerging techniques. With time and several credits under your belt, you will make the steps forward from makeup assistant to artist and eventually designer. He professed.

The people that work in the effects industry are truly the artisans of the 21st century because it's based on art and not commerce. If the motivation was commerce and money-making, they sure would not be working in this industry but off working in more lucrative fields. Becoming a special effects makeup artist in Nollywood (or any other filmmaking hub) is a difficult proposition. You, therefore, need to get creative. That’s simply because, more so than in other areas of the film industry, the career path for special effects makeup artists is faced with stiff competition. This is increasingly true in all major cities with a thriving film community, cities like Asaba, Enugu, Owerri, and Jos…but especially Lagos. The sad truth is that there are more makeup artists than there are jobs unlike years ago when we started.

Gabriel Okoro With Actor Zubby Michael On Set

“We're in a very unique and special place in the FX industry. This may not always be the case but for the past 25 years that I've been in business, it has always been the case. If we have too much work on offer we pass it on to our nearest competitor. If we need someone, because we're overextended and need to meet a deadline, I'll ring our nearest competitor. Within the industry, we share staff and expertise. We work with the considered thought that there are no secrets and within the model and creature effects industry there are publications where you can share all and everything that you've discovered and learned on each new film because it's the cross-pollination of ideas that allows the industry to grow.” He acknowledged.

At the dawn of the millennium in the year 2000, Gabriel gave back to the industry with the establishment of GabaZzini Koncept; a freelance advanced professional creative art and design company on a wild and wonderful roller coaster ride to inspired young and upcoming make-up artists, which has become a vital part of many professional make-up artists’ education.

“Establishing GabaZzini Koncept 20 years ago is for my own professional development but also to share the knowledge gained over the years to people who are just starting. I'm as passionate today as the day I started out. For me, it has to be fulfilling creatively before anything else. Even if we are in need of work we will turn down opportunities if they are not creatively fulfilling do not offer a creative reward. All I want to do is impart knowledge and create,” he says. “I’m always thinking, what’s the legacy going to be. I want people to look back 20, 50, 100 years from now on my work and think, Damn, that was a time. GabaZzini Koncept will be celebrating its 20 years anniversary in December, and I give God the glory.”

Gabriel Okorie Ad Judas Iscariot On The Set Of 'Our Jesus Story'

Amongst many groups, the Emmanuel Secondary School, Owerri ex-student is a founding member of the Creative Designers Guild of Nigeria (CDGN) in 2002; a guild that oversees the functionality of costume, props, makeup, and property in the Nigerian motion picture industry. He is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) and Association of Enugu state MC and Comedians.

Some of Okorie’s best-known film work includes Azima (2007), Azubuike Erinugha’s The Asylum (2010), The Child (2010), Obi Emelonye’s The Mirror Boy (2011), Obi Emelonye’s Last Flight To Abuja (2012), Dagogo Diminas’ Stigma (2013) and Stephanie Okereke’s Dry (2015). Others include Genevieve Nnaji’s Lion Heart (2017).