Road Map to Acting With Dalton Ashikoto

"Luck is when opportunity meets preparation. An opportunity will not be yours if you don’t prepare – keep preparing.” This advice is given to aspiring artists by the successful actor Dalton Ashikoto.

Ashikoto was born in what he calls the ‘dusty’ streets of Katutura. “I grew up in the apartheid era, where our views and freedom of expression was suppressed. This somehow influenced me to be myself,” Ashikoto said.

The actor might have gotten his entertaining ways from his mother. “My mom, in her way, was an entertainer. Me being close to her, it kind of rubbed of,” he said.

Besides his mother, television also played a major role in shaping the actor. “We were one of the very few people who had a television. I would watch TV all the time. Come to think about it, I was always the one cracking jokes in class – always the entertainer. I remember thinking to myself ‘so many movies on TV, I should be in one of those,” Ashikoto said.

Ashikoto who studied Computer Science in Nairobi, auditioned for his first role in college, which was in the play, ‘Romeo and Juliet’ by William Shakespeare. “Then the bug bit me. I came back home and joined a theatre group and did a number of different plays,” he stated.

Though he was in love with acting, Ashikoto felt his professional life took over. “Life took over and I put acting on hold for about 10 years. Four years ago, I thought ‘I need to do this’ and took up some courses in Los Angeles, dealing with filmmaking and acting.

“I then moved to Johannesburg, where I experienced a lot of rejection. My first break came in a commercial. I then got an agent and started getting various roles in different series and commercials,” Ashikoto said.

His big break came when a landed a role in well-known South African soapie, ‘Rhythm City’.

“My break came when I played Stanley Gwala – a tax commissioner with a weakness for women in ‘Rhythm City’. It was an interesting role to play. I also got to work with Samuel L. Jackson on ‘Kite’ in Johannesburg,” he reminisced.

Recently, in December to be specific, ‘Generations Legacy’ was interested in Ashikoto to play the role of Archie Gumbi, a very successful investor, and businessman. Ashikoto said that his character Gumbi, who is a straight up citizen, is working on a multi-billion rand project with Jack Mambazo, a more shady and sneaky person. “A lot of conflict between Gumbi and Mambazo arises. A power struggle ensues and things are going to get heated in the series,” Ashikoto said.

“Every role is different, and things aren’t always as they seem on paper. Actors should dig deeper. The complexity of a character becomes challenging in a good way. I can add layers to him (Gumbi) making the guy. It is challenging in the sense that so many layers can be out of your comfort zone. It is the most exciting part of character development. I love challenges, I thrive from them – that’s the juicy part.”

Ashikoto mentioned that actors should not rely on their talent alone. “As an actor, talent is one thing, but preparation is still important. I am constantly learning. I at least look to do one thing every day to make up my 10 000 hours leading to perfection. As you grow older as an actor – talent, learning and skills equal working on your craft.”

“Talent alone will not get you there, you must hone your craft. Acting is a business, treat it as a business. Find the balance with passion, and add the business element. I have a business plan s an actor. Get your work out there, network and get an agent,” Ashikoto advised.

When it comes to the growth of the film industry, Ashikoto thinks working together will get the job done. “Actors should not blame external factors. They should be daring and get your work out there. The dependency syndrome should be addressed by actors. If artists put in work, this will encourage support from the public. There should be a platform where people can submit short films. Television stations should provide these platforms. The industry is not where it should be, it will take a collective effort from government, the public and artists for it to grow,” he concluded.

Ashikoto and fellow South African actor, Sello Maake Ka-Ncube will be taking young, aspiring Namibian actors on a journey through film acting. The workshop will run in Windhoek on 1 and 2 April, and in Swakopmund on 29 and 30 April. Only 25 candidates will be selected for each workshop.

“Auditions will be held and and chosen participants will be featured in a web series that will be shot in South Africa.” To register, inbox Ashikoto on Facebook at Dalton Hashondali Ashikoto with your name and email or call 081 253 1064.