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2010-06-23T17:44:00.000+01:00

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The Nollywood monolith and other industries

2010-01-30T23:25:00.000+01:00

From the stalls of Brooklyn's Odyssey African market in New York to its European headquarters in Peckham, London to the streets of Accra, Ghana, Nollywood's dominance and growth beyond the shores of Nigeria has no boundaries. The question is has its emergence silenced other West African film industries?

The themes of corruption, police brutality, rags-to-riches tales, witchcraft and the continuous fight between Christianity and the powers of darkness is one factor that has succeeded in captivating the attention of Nollywood's audience. Its popularity goes across the board, from West African, countries like Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, to the African Diaspora in Europe and America.

It is the focus of countless Facebook appreciation groups dedicated to promoting its stars. Described as a rare instance of self-representation in Africa, Nollywood producers over the years have said their foremost aim is to tell their own stories. Stella Damasus is one of Nollywood's biggest female stars. She has worked in the industry for more than 13 years and starred in over 30 films. She says Nollywood is "One way Nigerians in the Diaspora have been able to connect with home, even as far as learning languages, nuances and general lifestyle practices."

Attracting others

Nollywood seems to place no limits on itself, attracting actors across the ocean to appear in some of its productions. Chet Bashari Anekwe, a Nigerian-born actor who grew up in Brooklyn and has worked extensively as a theatre actor in New York, made his first Nollywod feature film, ‘30 Days' in 2005. It is an experience he describes as a homecoming because it was totally different to what he was used to. Anekwe says he was attracted to Nollywood because it is an industry that "Celebrates the culture of Nigeria and African heritage." Anekwe and Damasus believe this is why it has appealed to the broader West African community, due to the similarities in culture and social backgrounds. According to Anekwe, "Nollywood shows a different side of West Africa contrary to what the world media shows."

Nollywood is Nigeria's burgeoning film industry, and is just over 15 years-old. Behind Hollywood and Bollywood, it is the third largest film industry in the world. Over 2000 films are made each year, meaning an average of 50 films are churned out each week and distributed widely in Lagos and Onitsha, two of Nigeria's most commercialised cities. The industry is estimated to be worth more than $250 million dollars and contributes to Nigeria's annual GDP.

The proliferation and success of Nollywood films in West Africa is due to a number of factors, according to Jonathan Haynes. A Professor of English at New York's Long Island University, Haynes has written extensively about Nollywood and the Ghanaian film industry. He says that both industries started at the same time and have been quite parallel. However, "The difference is that the Nigerian industry is much larger simply because Nigeria is a large country of 130 million people in comparison to Ghana's 20 million."

He also highlights the fact that Nollywood producers seized the opportunity of using digital technology rather than Celluloid to make films. This gave them the opportunity to make films straight to DVD and VCD discs, making them readily available to the masses. In comparison to films made by other parts of West Africa, such as the ones shown at FESPACO, which are made on Celluloid films, with foreign sponsorship and go to foreign festivals. Hence, they become elite forms of filmmaking and do not reach the masses. Haynes said, "What's interesting about the video films is that they are much closer to the grassroots audience as an expression of popular imagination."

Attention from the West

A cultural phenomenon which has caught the attention of the West, Nollywood is the basis of three documentaries in recent years: "Welcome to Nollywood" by Jamie Meltzer, "This is Nollywood" by Franco Sacchi, and "Nollywood Babylon" by Ben Addelman and Samir Mallal, which premiered at the Sundance festival in January.

Sacchi, who directed "This is Nollywood", is a Zambian-born Italian film maker based in Boston. He says one of the fundamental factors which have contributed to Nollywood's success is that "Nollywood has also created a star system which is really the foundation for a movie industry in any country. Where you have recognisable lead actors the audience can identity with and it is nice to see a brother." He adds that though Nollywood films are popular with Africans in the Diaspora and Caribbeans, he thinks it is yet to get the full recognition it deserves from the West.

Chris Obirapu is regarded as the godfather of Nollywood because of his pioneering contributions to the industry. "Living In Bondage," his ground-breaking 1992 blockbuster movie is credited for revolutionising today's booming industry. He believes Nollywood's biggest success was its ability "to break the stranglehold of Hollywood and Bollywood influence in Nigeria." He says these industries can no longer compete in Nigeria and across West African countries.

Can other industries thrive?

Asked if Nollywood had silenced other film industries in West Africa, Obirapu says, "Yes, for sure yes. The Ghanaians are trying to come up but they cannot meet up with the numbers being produced by Nollywood." He cites the emergence of cable television like Africa Magic, which shows Nollywood movies 24 hours a day and is carried on the South African owned MultiChoice DSTV. A multi-channel satellite television service in many parts of Africa, this means the West African film industry market is indeed crowded with Nollywood movies. However, he points out that this is because Nollywood producers have taken advantage of a vacuum that had been created due to the lack of a home-grown film industry for many years.

Anekwe, who also adds that the presence of Nollywood spread so fast, taking a lot of people unawares, says it is yet to fully tell the stories of Nigerians and West Africans the way it should be told. "I think we are really lacking in the areas of telling historical stories. There are some really great, rich and deep historical and traditional stories akin to Roots and Braveheart that are yet to be told.

"There are deep intricate things that go on from the political, cultural and social side that we are yet to hear. The deep background stories, is what Nollywood should be telling next."

There is life beyond Nollywood in West African cinema and the floor is open to all. In the meantime, Nollywood producers have the uphill task of making films that are of international standards and can confidently compete with its Hollywood and Bollywood counterparts in order to attract a bigger market and audience share outside Nigeria, West Africa and the African Diaspora.

Van Vicker and Nadia escape death in Haiti

2010-01-30T23:02:00.000+01:00

Van Vicker and Nadia Buari escaped the catastrophic earthquake that hit Haiti on 12 January 2010 when the two failed to honour their plans to shoot in the devastated Caribbean country.

According to Van, it was due to their busy schedules that changed the traveling dates as they would have been in Haiti during the 7.0M earthquake.

'We were to be in Haiti with other stars from Haiti and Caribbean to shoot my new movie. I already discussed the trip with Nadia Buari and plans have being concluded on shooting. It was work engagement from us that changed the travelling dates. We were lucky to have escaped deaths and we give glory to God. But in our moments of gratitude, I identify with people of Haiti in their moments of pain'.

Like many other stars around the globe, Van has decided to raise money to help the people of Haiti through his humanitarian foundation, Van Vicker Foundation.

'My heart is heavy over the death of over 150,000 people. The loss is palpable and the pain is great, but they should take heart in the fact that God will always be with them. I shall do everything within my power to help alleviate the pain in whatever way I can', he told Bigsam Media.

Van developed the interest to shoot in Haiti after his latest movies; The Dancer in America and Raj were highly patronized by the Haitians.

Ini Edo - Nollywood’s Number 2 Sexiest Woman

2010-01-23T13:40:00.000+01:00

We waited for more than a year for Ini Edo, the first runner-up of last year’s edition of Sexiest Lady in Nollywood event, to show up. And when she finally showed up, she was full of apologies on one hand and praises for the Saturday Vanguard team for the good job they are doing for the entertainment industry, especially Nollywood.

This is her story as captured by Ogbonna Amadi, Entertainment Editor and Ben Njoku

Why didn’t you attend our awards ceremony for winners of Sexiest in Nollywood last year?

I couldn’t attend the event because I was working somewhere in the East. I tried to obtain permission from my producer but he wouldn’t let me off the hook. Again, while we were there, some of my colleagues travelled out of the country, meaning that I had to stay back till the production was through. After that, I have been working ceaselessly, and at the same time, travelling within and outside the country. Along the line, I got married.

So, you have been pretty busy?

I have been extremely busy. I think God has been merciful in that direction. I have never had a dull moment at all.

What do you think of Nollywood today?

At the moment, I think the industry is experiencing some setbacks, financially. I don’t know why! May be, it could be as a result of piracy and other militating factors which are affecting the industry. But it’s not as if the industry is not going to improve in future.

How many movies have you done in the last few years? I can’t put a figure right now because every week I’m in Nigeria. I have been working consistently.

Do you still make much money as usual from the industry?

I must confess that we are no longer making much money as we used to make in the recent past, simply because the producers are no longer making much money as they used to make. Definitely, it’s affecting whatever they are paying to the artistes.

You always travel out of the country. Why?

I actually have something very important that usually takes me out of the country every now and then.

Is it marriage?

Of course, yes.

Couldn’t you decide to settle down at a particular place, either in Nigeria or over there? Is it because of the craze of acting ?

It’s not just about the craze of Nigerian movies. It’s my profession. Acting is my profession. It’s not just because of the money but it’s as a result of my love for acting. Moreover, I have one or two things that always bring me back to the country than acting.

So, each time I come home to attend to those things, it would require me to stay back for a period of time.

As a newly married woman, you need the fruits of the womb to solidify your marriage.

I think, my husband and myself have a plan towards that. I have discussed with my husband over it, and I have decided what and when we have to do everything that we have to do.

Isn’t distance a barrier in marriage?

It doesn’t matter. I’m always there with him. I just returned to the country last December. And he’s coming home before the end of this month. So, before he got married to his wife (referring to herself), he knew what his wife was doing, and he also knows that his wife lives in Nigeria.

Does it mean that you can’t secure a place in Hollywood, in case you want to settle down with your husband over there?

Hollywood is not a place you can get into easily. Right now, this whole thing started last year. It’s not as if I have been there for a very long time. But I’m working out something to enable me be at a particular place for a long time to come.

How do you cope with your lonely moments?

Just to get busy working.

I mean lonely nights and cold…?

Laughs.. Which cold? What about those sisters in the convent? Like I said earlier, it’s not an easy thing, and I can’t tell you that it’s something we both are enjoying. But at the same time, we have to make sacrifices. It’s the little sacrifices we have decided to make at this point in time.

Are you saying in time to come you may want to quit acting?

Definitely, something will have to give way for another.

So, when are you hoping to settle down completely?

I have already settled down.

Why are you always controversial?

I used to ask myself , why am I controversial? I wouldn’t know why people decide to talk about me every now and then. I wouldn’t know why! I just do what I know how to do best and go back to my house. For some reasons, even if I’m in the States, they will continue to talk about the things I’m supposed to be doing in Nigeria. The most important thing is that 99 per cent of the things people say about me are nowhere near the truth.

What’s your relationship with your fellow actresses?

Cordial.

But the last time your sister represented you in Vanguard, we noticed some kind of face-off between herself and Genevieve?

Genny didn’t know her. I have no problem with Genevieve. She’s a good friend. All the same, everybody has got the right to do whatsoever that pleases him or herself.

Let’ talk about Sexiest in Nollywood. When you first noticed the competition, how did you react?

It was very flattering, in the sense that I couldn’t imagine my name being listed among those stars who were leading during the contest. For me, I felt flattered, and thereafter I resigned to fate, saying, let’s see how it goes. Then, I knew I had a lot of highly placed in society who were calling me on phone to inform me concerning the proceeding of the contest. It makes me thank God all the more.

Were you disappointed that Genevieve carried the day at last?

No, I was not. Genevieve is a pretty girl too. It could have been anyone of us that was in the top three. There were a lot of other girls who couldn’t make it to the top three. What would they have done? They wouldn’t kill themselves either. For me to have made the 1st runner- up, it remains a thing of joy because it wasn’t something I was expecting. I didn’t know I was going to go that far.

How about family life- growing up among your siblings and your parents?

It was fun. I came from a family of four, three women and one boy. I’m the second child of my parents. My parents are all that I have got in this world. They are the two most precious people to me. They can’t afford to hurt me because it will be like hurting themselves. Whatever affect me equally affects them too. So, my parents have really been very helpful.

While growing up, did you start off as an actress?

No, I didn’t . I have always had too big ambition. I had always wanted to be either a lawyer or a television broadcaster. Those were the two professions I wanted to belong to. That was why I went in to study Mass Communication. Initially, because of the fact that I was not lucky enough to pass my JAMB, I took up a diploma course in Theatre Arts at the University of Calabar, and later switched over to Mass Communication.

At the time I was studying Mass Communication, I found myself falling in love with the stage. In that process, there came a time , when ASUU was on strike, and there was this guy in our Department called Emeka who informed me about an audition that was taking place in Aba.

A lot of girls from my school went for that audition, including students from UNIPORT, and at the end of the audition, I was given a minor role to play. And after featuring in that movie, I went back to school, and two years after graduating from school, I returned to the screen.

During that period, you were not given any major role?

Not at all. That was why I was trying my hands on something else. If you ask me, ‘when did your acting career start?’ I would like to trace it to the time I really started featuring in big budget movies and playing prominent roles, and that was in 2003.

What movie was that?

It was called, “Thick Madam’ and I played a prominent role in that movie. Featured in the movie were Eucharia Anunobi, and other big names in the industry. That was the first time I met with Eucharia, and she really encouraged me. After that movie, I did a couple of other movies, which brought me to limelight. But the major movie that gave me a break was “World’s Apart” featuring Laz Ekwueme, Liz Benson, Kenneth Okonkwo and many others. It was awesome.

I didn’t expect to get the role because then, I wasn’t the producer’s familiar cast. Somebody else was assigned to play the role , and along the line, the person disappointed the producer. Out of desperation, because they needed to shoot the film, and at the same time, wanted somebody that has a similar posture with the person they had in mind. There and then, I was invited to come and pick up the role, even though the producer had some doubts concerning my ability to deliver the role.

Actually, the character I was to play in that movie was very deep. In fact, I didn’t have the confidence that I could do it as it was a very challenging role. I had to try my best to prove I had got the talent. At the end, the movie came out fine.

How do you feel seeing that those things you used to do in the past, you don’t do them anymore?

It’s overwhelming. Naturally, I have always not been an ordinary person. For some reasons, I have always been in the middle of so many things, both positively and negatively. I have always been that person you must encounter first before encountering other people. It didn’t just happen. All of a sudden, I started having jobs here and there. I was like trying to do all of these jobs at the same time, and also, getting myself into troubles.

I mean, sometimes you find yourself stepping on so many people’s toes and all that. You are either on one set or the other, trying to do so many things at the same time. In coping with the situation, I found myself in the habit of delaying productions a little, because of the pressure that was on me at a particular time.

What was it like, I mean your love life…the men that crossed your path?
The men would always make passes.

Even now that you are married?

Yes, I kept changing my lines every now and then. In fact, I do change my lines at least twice in a year, because of the unwanted calls from men that want to make advances to me.

Any embarrassing moments?

Yeah, I recall a situation where somebody walked up to me at the airport sometime ago, and dragged me from the rear. I was putting on this loosen top, and when he dragged me rudely, I felt embarrassed because I was not expecting the action, at the time he did it. I immediately held on to my top, thank God the rope didn’t cut. But it was an embarrassing situation.

I screamed at the guy, but I think, he was a fan who was trying to draw my attention, while I was rushing to catch up with a flight. I screamed seriously.

There was this rumour that you had to fight over your husband with his ex-wife, Ruth, and that Ruth has something to do with Jim Iyke’s fiancee, Keturah. Was it true?

I have nothing to say on this, because I didn’t have to fight over anybody here. I was just on my own when the man came asking for my hand in marriage. I never met with her, nor set my eyes on her. As for Jim Iyke, or whatever ,I was not in the picture. I didn’t need to fight over anybody’s right.

You have not told us how your husband won your hand in marriage?

It’s all about compatibility for you to find someone that is a friend. That was what I was actually looking out for in marriage. I did not want a rich man, or someone that throws his wealth here and there. Perhaps, I would have gotten married long time ago. I wanted to marry my friend, someone that can tolerate me, as well as me tolerating him.

How did you meet your husband?

I told you, we were talking on phone until he visited Nigeria where we met with each other.

Was he married at the time you knew him?

He was separated. I met him when he was separated from his ex-wife.

How did he get your phone number?

Phone number! They always can get phone numbers…. Anybody’s phone number.

How come you are the lucky person?

There’s always a lucky person.

What did he say that ignited your love for him?

We became friends first and foremost. The idea of marriage was not pronounced then.

Then how did he propose to you?

He proposed to me while we were in Dubai. He went on his knees, with the diamond ring and asked me to marry him. The ritual took place in our hotel room in Dubai. We dated for close to a year before we got married to each other. I think I saw the signs coming and I was not surprised that he proposed to me then.

Did you break anybody’s heart or someone broke your own heart?

I don’t think I broke anybody’s heart. But breaking my heart ! I think I had the experience once.

Did your husband work very hard to win your heart?

He didn’t work very hard for anything. We just found out we could work together and live together as husband and wife.

But how does he feel when he watches your movies, especially when you are playing those romantic roles you are noted for ?

He doesn’t smile at all. Rather, he keeps mute. It’s okay. This is my wife, it’s getting too much. But he understands the fact that am doing my job, and right now, I’m beginning to cut down my approach to those romantic roles.

You mean you are drawing a limit to playing romantic roles?

Yes, for some reasons, I’m married and bearing somebody’s name. My husband has a family. Even if he understands my profession, he has to put his family into consideration.

What’s it like being married, after years of being a single girl?

It’s memorable. A different world. But naturally, I love to serve people. I love serving my guests. Sometimes, I would cook a enough food and invite people to come and eat with me. I like local food, and I also like to cook for people to appreciate me.

Let’s take your mind back to the time you met with your husband, and how he bought you a ring that got lost on board an aircraft in the States. What does that ring signify in your life?

It was my engagement ring. The ring got missing while I was on board on a Delta plane in the United States.

What was the worth of the ring?

I have no idea.

But it must be a special ring?

Yeah, it was a diamond ring.

How did you feel when it dawned on you that you had lost the ring?

I cried like a baby, not just because of the money involved but basically because of the fact that the ring was something. I valued so much.

Even when he replaced the ring, you went ahead to lose it again?

Surprise…! Where did you get that information from? Na wa oo! Anyway, the second ring was actually robbed from me by bandits in Lagos. Some bandits armed with guns accosted me around Apogbon bridge in central Lagos and robbed me of my priceless ring.

How did your husband react for losing the ring for the second time?

He felt very bad. But he also know, naturally I’m not a very careful person. And that is it.

Before you got married, you had expressed worries concerning negative publicity that trails your career as a star. How much of these prices have you paid?

I think I have paid the overall price for the next generation to come. Are you not aware? I have paid the prices for every other actress in Nigeria. And I have had the height of it all.

Which one is the height of the prices?

Were you not aware when they rumoured that I was caught in London for a drug related offence?

Also, what of the rumour that your husband went bankrupt, resulting in a crack in your marriage and again that you funded your own marriage pending when your husband would refund your money?

These days, I don’t know how I feel anymore. May be, I have got used to the rumours. I’m just hearing all these things you people are asking me for the first time. I must state here that there’s no crack in my marriage. I don’t bother myself anymore. I just need to go and anoint myself.

Did your people oppose your marriage to your husband?

No problem. My people were very supportive. Initially they had reservations about the distance but it was resolved thereafter.

Was the same thing applicable to his own people?

They all supported the marriage, and for the fact that they all attended our wedding ceremony was an indication that they supported the marriage. Similarly, his people had their reservations like my own people. These days, families don’t like their wards to marry, especially celebrities. They had their reservations but at the same time, we both did our home works and convinced our people to give the marriage a chance.

The first time, you did your first movie, what was the pay like?

Little money. Though, I didn’t negotiate for the fee. I asked the producer to pay me whatever he felt was okay for me. And it was a lot more than I had ever taken then. It was too much money for me at my level at that time.

Right now, how much is your take home after a production?

I’m not comfortable talking about my fee, because there is no fee tag on what we are paid as movie stars. A friend could approach me to star in his/her movie for a lesser amount, and I oblige him the request. That does not mean that I will settle for the same amount when another person approaches me to star in his film. I have done a movie where I collected no fee from the producer.

People always accuse you of being combative and unnecessarily ambitious. Do you possess any of these qualities?
Those are not the qualities you can use to qualify whom I am.

Then, who are you?

I think I’m a very real person. I just like to be myself. I don’t like to put myself in any situation that’s not real. I like to be myself anywhere I go. Am I really combative? I’m actually one that does not know how to keep malice. I’m this kind of person that does not know how to hide her feelings . If you offend me, I will be blunt to tell you to your face that you have offended me. I have never fought anyone in the cause of my career.

Again, why are you regarded as one of the bad girls of Nollywood?

I don’t know.

Maybe, because of the kind of roles you play on screen.

I want to believe so.

When playing romantic roles, kissing yourselves, does it move you?

Not at all . It’s not as if it’s a private thing. While they are filming us, there are other people around who are watching us. So, you cannot allow that kind of illicit thought to come into your head.

You just produced your own movie last year. What are you working on currently?

The movie titled “ The memories of my heart”, was directed by Desmond Elliot, and features, Ramsey Noah, Nse and many others. The script was written by Emem Isong. I’m yet to premiere the movie. And am working towards premiering it.

Any charity works ?

I do some charity works whenever I’m not working. I do visit some orphanages. I actually did some charity works in Liberia sometime last year. It’s going to be posted on my site very soon. For three days, while I was in Liberia, I visited old people’s homes, war survivals. I want to see how I can use that project to set up a foundation. Back in my country home, I have a lot of people on my pay roll.

‘Red day’ for Star Nigerian Actress, Clarion Chukwurah

2009-08-11T14:44:00.000+01:00

Screen goddess, Clarion Chukwurah, was at the centre of many celebrations last week. First, she toasted to 30 years of being on stage and screen. Second, she marked her 45th birthday. Third, she organised a formal public presentation of her Legacy Initiative.

The birthday party was colourful. It was a red and white affair, including dresses, lighting and the usherettes uniform.
There were many celebrities at the event. Nikki Laoye and Uche Odoputa, who turned to emergency paparazzi, were there.

Madam Kofo was present with her out-of –the-world headgear. Veteran TV man, Taiwo Obileye, Ken Caleb Olumese, Lady D, Konkere exponent; Otunba Tunji Shotimirin, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Sound Sultan were also there.

Also, Iyalode Aduuni Bankole, Seye Kehinde, Ifeanyi Dike, Dejumo Lewis, Tessy Yembra, among a host of others, stormed the event to give her a well deserved honour for her immense contribution to the world of entertainment.
The Director-general, National Arts Theatre and Director, National Troupe of Nigeria, Professor Ahmed Yerima, who spoke on Clarion and the Theatre, used the opportunity to thank Chukwurah for her role in his plays, Yemoja and Idemili, which won laurels outside the shores of the country.

The ageless beauty, who wore white and red dress, looked irresistible at the event. The hall got moody when Clarence, her first son, knelt before his mother and thanked her for her love, care and support.
On her part, Chukwurah said her journey on stage and screen, which was all about passion and not money, started at five, having been inspired by the late Michael Jackson.

Pasuma Alabi, with his two dancers, nearly brought down the roof with special rendition of praises to Chukwurah, which drew people from different areas of the hall to their feet.
Chukwurah’s childhood friends, Mrs Joke Muyiwa and Mrs Stella Otoibe, were with her as well as her cute looking sons and beautiful daughters.

There was a goodwill message from the Lagos State First Lady, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, represented by Mrs. Bukola Folake and Hon. Farouk Umar Abdullahi, House Committee Chairman on Urban Development and key sponsor of the Clarion Chukwurah Initiative for Less Privileged Care Homes. The speech was delivered by Aisha Shown of Laraba Shown Foundation, Abuja, who revealed that there are 17.5 million orphans in Nigeria.

There was also a Clarion Chukwurah Initiative documentary on Nigeria’s Less Privileged Care Homes, which is 10 years old.
The party later moved to Club Psapas for the night grooving.

Source: nigeriafilms.com

Rita Dominic Goes To Malawi

2009-05-15T21:01:00.008+01:00

Indeed, the Nigerian movies star, Rita Uchenna Nkem Dominic Nwaturocha has transformed from just a lady with a passion for make believe to becoming one of the continents best and the toast of just about everyone. Hailed as Nigeria's answer to Hollywood's Julia Roberts and described by the soft sell medium as Nigeria's sexiest actress probably because of her glowing skin and the fact that she is always gorgeously dressed, the actress of Igbo stock who was born into royalty-to the family of Mazi Dominic, a sibling of Eze Nwaturocha, the famous King from Aborh Mbaise in Imo State is by far one of Nigeria's respected and compelling actresses; one of the few with no equal in their own kind of game and perhaps one of the few actors too who drops off acts with fiscal realism.

It is these qualities that have made producers both within and outside the country seek and engage her as long as she was free. A theatre arts graduate of the University of Port Harcourt who with her acting streaks sit pretty comfortable on the chart of Nollywood personalities whose creativity and competence is not in doubt, the delectable and down to earth Rita who enjoys a merited listing amongst the sectors recognizable, top rated and if you like highest paid actresses will be in Malawi for the better part of May 2009 as a guest of the pay Channel Providers Multi-choice.

A star actress who was guaranteed star status after her effort in Basorge Tariah Jnr's 'My Guy' - her debut movie appearance, it is probably because the personable Rita and star of Izu Ojukwu's 'White Water' and 'Distance Between' has become a subject of affection for millions and a screen idol to so many youths across the continent that she was picked for this tour which she admits means so much to her. The old girl and pupil of YWCA Nursery School Aba, Constitution Crescent primary school Aba in Abia state and Federal Government college Ikot Ekpenne.-where she actually got the opportunity to strut her acting stuff speaks on the tour and on her career and life

Rita Goes To Malawi
It's a great feeling. It's an opportunity to meet my fans in that part of Africa and honestly I am looking forward to it. So, it's amazing. It's a good feeling. It's not my first tour outside Nigeria but there is something about this particular tour that I can't just explain. I have been to several other African countries like Liberia and Ghana. It's usually a big event and like I said it affords one the opportunity to meet fans and exchange notes with them. I mean these are people who have been seeing your works on television and now they have an opportunity to see you one on one. I am going to Malawi to meet with my fans. I am going to be holding talks with different groups including those in government like the Cabinet Minister- Minister of Information. I am going to be doing some charity work. I am going to be visiting some orphanages and of course I am going to be promoting DSTV and African Magic especially. I am told that there will be so many autograph signing sessions, cocktails and meetings with different groups. I am seriously looking forward to the tour

Movie Run
I have been working. There has been no break for me at all. I have worked in Sierra Leone and I have worked in Ghana and in London. I have been very busy and I have not stopped working. We just released a movie I starred in called Distance Between into the market. It's directed by Izu Ojukwu. I think it's a very good film. I have some other movies, about six of them that have not been released and I am sure that by the time they are released you will understand what I mean when I say that I have been working.

Rita's Staying Power
I think it's God and also having the passion for the arts and thirdly being very selective with the kind of work you do. You know I have been very choosy with the kind of work I do in the last couple of years, particularly in the last two years. Having done so many commercial movies, one is now more interested in works that will stretch me more as an actor. Most of my movies that have not been released fall in that category. I think it's time to take up roles that will stretch one a bit and I am looking for such stories to feature in.

Rita and Fashion
It comes as a surprise to me when people describe me as a fashion icon and all that. I just feel I dress like any other person. I just pick something from my wardrobe and I wear it. I really don't pay much attention to what I want to wear or think over what I want to wear to the next function. I just pick what I am comfortable in and off I go. But what I know I love and I have a passion for is shoes. I love shoes even more than clothes really. But in terms of whether I am considering dropping a clothing line, well it may not be a clothing line but something else which I will let you know as soon as I am ready. There is a plan for a line and when the time comes, you will definitely know.

Nollywood
Well right now honestly there is a recession in Nollywood and what this means is that we are waiting for a better industry to emerge. We are having problems but I believe that once we get past these problems, we will enter a better future for Nollywood. I strongly hold that given the right environment and the same budget like our counterpart in other parts of the world, we would do far better than them. I mean we have the talents here. So funding has to improve for things to take shape.

Memorable Works
Distance Between and White Waters directed by Izu Ojukwu. I also like my effort in All My Life as directed by Tchidi Chikere. There is this one that I shot with Izu Ojukwu again that is not out. Felix Odion wrote the story. We shot it just this February. There are also four five movies that I shot this year that I hold very close to my heart. Of course not forgetting my earlier efforts like My Guy, Night of Riots, Throwing Stones, I believe in you starring Richard Mofe Damijo, Single and Married and All my life. I still remember Single and Married because I dealt decisively with my husband's first wife. But it was All my life by Tchidi Chikere that placed me on a certain pedestal back then. I wanted my fans to see me play something different. Something outside what they are used to seeing you play in movies.

Gains and Pains of The Profession
Well I am not begging for food on the street. I feed myself and pay my bills and so I think that is most important to me really. As for the pains, Well this is what is it..i live my life for the public. There are things you can't hide. That's the truth. Most times I try, the things I can keep to myself I keep to myself because my life is already out there in the public...I don't pay much attention to rumours or what they say or write about me. There was a time I read that Jim Iyke and I ran away to some Island and got married secretly. But I really don't pay attention to all that because there will definitely be stories about me because of the kind of job I do. They will always write things about me whether true and untrue. There is a recent one they wrote that I was dating someone in Chevron. I even went on my face book and told my friends that if you know you are that friend that works at chevron please stand up! So I really don't pay attention to all those stories. I just be myself and I Just keep doing my work. I am always ready to work and I am prepared to work anywhere, in any country as long as the story is good and as long as the role I am going to play will stretch me to my limits.

Why we play ‘small boys’ in movies – Aki and Pawpaw

2009-05-15T20:27:00.005+01:00

A couple of years ago, the duo of Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme took the Nigerian Movies Industry by storm with their maiden appearance in the popular movie; Aki Na Ukwa. The two diminutive acts introduced a fresh slant to comic roles in indigenous movies with the creation of two naughty kids that are full of mischief and pranks.

But while some critics perceive their roles as being misleading to viewers, particularly children, the movie stars stoutly defended their roles. They argued that rather than glorify certain undesirable traits in children, what they have always done was to draw parents’ attention to their children’s likely pranks and antics. The artistes who have featured in such movies as Two Rats,Tom and Jerry, Magic Cap and Jadon also spoke about their plans to settle down. Although Chinedu was recently linked to a botched marriage, he denied his involvement in such an affair, just as Osita admitted that tying the nuptial knot is not the next thing on his agenda.

How we joined Nollywood
CHINEDU:I came into the industry in 1998 as an actor. I had the desire and enthusiasm to be like the people I watched on television. Initially, I lacked courage to back up my zeal. But given the deep admiration I had for actors and my immediate environment at the Institute of Management Technology (IMT) Enugu where I studied Mass Communication, I decided to combine my course with acting. This was what actually lured me into Nollywood.

OSITA: I came into Nollywood in 2001 out of my love and flair for acting. I used to be a member of my church’s drama group in Christ the King Catholic Church in Aba. I enjoyed watching movies and that triggered my interest in the industry and I can say that acting is my passion.

Coming into prominence
CHINEDU: Aki Na Ukwa brought me into the limelight and this was done alongside Osita Iheme in 2002. The movie was produced and directed by Anayo Uzor Philips and was marketed by Kas–vid Industries. My meeting with Osita Iheme was God ordained, and I can say that fate brought us together.
OSITA: Aki Na Ukwa gave us fame because after that movie, I became popular in Nollywood.

Nollywood
CHINEDU: Nollywood is like a child of circumstance borne out of opportunity. At the time Nollywood came into existence, only a few people were ready to stick out their necks for the industry to grow. Nollywood is doing well today because it provides jobs for people. There has been little encouragement from corporate bodies and the Government. But I think Nollywood has been able to show its potential as an income earner and will continue to create jobs for people.

OSITA: Nollywood is a growing venture because it is no longer where it used to be five years ago. I believe Nollywood is not stagnant because the practitioners have shown a lot of improvement in terms of storyline, picture quality and so on.

Between Government and Nollywood
OSITA: Government should address piracy. I urge Government to put in place strict laws against pirates, laws which when enforced will serve as deterrent to others. From now on, pirates should be brought to book. Government should assist in the provision of equipment and facilities to produce good movies.

Coping with fame and fortune
CHINEDU: Being famous is one thing and the fortune or affluence that beclouds it is something else. It is not easy to continue with the kind of life I lived before. I can only imagine the things I used to do or act them out in movies. I am still myself but the personality of a star limits my going out and the company I keep. Fame and fortune have not changed me because I am still a lovely, easygoing person.

OSITA: Fame and fortune are not easy to manage. Fame is one thing one acquires and it requires discipline to manage the fortune. I no longer do things I used to do before now. I now manage my fortune well. I make new friends and keep my old friends as well. I do this because God has placed me in this position. I do not have to be arrogant now. Stardom has not changed me, it has taught me to avoid friends that can influence me negatively. I am always conscious of what I do. It is challenging for me though I am thankful to God for bringing me this far.

Coping with female fans
CHINEDU: They are my fans. They can admire me and encourage me to keep up my good work. My female fans only encourage me and congratulate me on every job well done. I don’t know about other things.

OSITA: I love them because they are always there for me. I cannot chase them away since they are my fans. Anytime they come around, I give them the attention they require although I tactfully avoid the most annoying ones. This is because if I do not control myself as regards my relationship with the opposite sex, I may lose control.

Plans for marriage
CHINEDU: I am not married. I have never been married. I am not denying anything but the pictures people saw in the newspapers were from my birthday bash which I hold every year. I have not married any girl before. People can say anything, they will not stop carrying rumours. If people have not said anything about you before, it means you are not relevant or important.

OSITA: I am not married, I will reveal it when the right time comes. It won’t happen this year. I don’t even think about it since everything is left to God. When the right time comes, I will disclose.

Background
OSITA: I am the last child in my family. I am an easy-going, hard working, and a God fearing person. Growing up was easy for me because I grew up in a Christian family and my day-to-day activities involved going to church and attending block rosaries. My environment challenged me to fight for greatness. I discovered myself and worked out my destiny. I prepared for my future and my family supported me.

CHINEDU: I am a lovely guy. I hail from Ihuoma Uzoakoli in Abia state. I was born into the family of Mr and Mrs Michael Ikedieze. I have three brothers and four sisters. I grew up in Abia and Imo states. I had a very nice upbringing and attended IMT Enugu where I obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) Upper Credit in Mass Communication.

Any regrets
OSITA: My only regret is that my father died when I was a kid and he is not here today to see what his little boy has become. I would have loved him to be here and encourage me to do more. I really wish he is still alive.

Playing childish roles
CHINEDU: I feel normal doing it because it is a way of educating parents about the pranks, which their children play. A child would always have the urge to play pranks, It is neither odd nor out of place for me to play the role of a mischievous kid because it is a normal day-to-day occurrence.

OSITA: Movies educate and teach lessons. When one watches a movie about the mischief that is prevalent in growing kids, one would readily know what to do when the situation arises in one’s home. What I portray in movies as a mischievous kid teaches parents to learn how to correct their kids early in life. I also act serious roles like I did in A world of our own.

Nollywood and AMAA
CHINEDU: AMAA has become very competitive. Nollywood stars used to think it was their own thing. The event at the last awards reminded us that AMAA is truly African movie Academy Awards (AMAA) and not Nigerian Movie Academy Awards (NMAA). If we don’t take time, we will also take the back seat next year. This is because money and resources put into movies here are nothing to write home about. Producers should pay the actors and actresses well so that they can put in their best. Although Nollywood produce good movies with limited resources, we should try harder to produce movies that can win awards.

Current work
CHINEDU: It is a family story about a careless man who in his youth has children from different women. My mother in the movie is a house help who is impregnated and abandoned by her boss (my father). I return to my father’s house after my mother’s death alongside my brother (Osita Iheme) in order to take our rightful place and to avenge the injustice meted out to our late mother. It has great casting. The movie is produced by Kingsley Okereke, Emeka Igwemba and Ikechukwu Onyeka and directed by Ikechukwu Onyeka. I am optimistic this movie will go places.

Career plan
CHINEDU:I want to be a very successful actor, producer and director. I plan to join my counterparts in Hollywood someday. I want to be a good achiever whose footsteps others will trace and follow.

OSITA: I have a lot of things in the offing. I want to be an international producer and director. I desire to shoot my own movies. I intend to run a childcare centre where children would be taken care of in the future.

Gossip: Actress Anita Joseph Romances Bbayelsa State Governor!

2009-05-15T19:44:00.007+01:00

This is a classified Nigerian movies industry (Nollywood) gossip and it's about our "hot" upcoming actress, Anita Joseph. Don't say I told you, but information reaching us from the Olofofos of Nigeria has it that despite being engaged to....(who?) Anita is currently in a hot romance with a man who has ties to the throne of power in Bayelsa State.

She was spotted in Bayelsa State in April and then on Saturday May 2,2009 . The now very slim actress was spotted in a police convoy. According to the olofofos ''she is the actress who will not let us hear word eeeh, a convoy of three bentleys, the latest model, two hummer and four police car stopped and everyone around moved back and stepped back to see who will step out and lo and behold it was Anita that was ushered out of the hummer and she went into one of the clothes shop to shop.

She was garbed in a blue body hugging denim pant and a loose top and the Afro on her hair was like a big head tie. "The governor is also responsible for the music video she went to shoot in South Africa. Anita has also been on a wild shopping spree lately and her friends attest to this. I really don't know why this actress is galivanting all over the place but please someone should help me alert her that our forefathers say ''An ant that will not listen shall end up in the gizzard of a chicken''..

She should enjoy the romance with the governor and should not bother denying it because ''teeth no dey ever dry inside mouth''. Also help me whisper the words' "please use condom'' into her ears!

Anyway, no be me talk am ooo. All these olofofos sef... na wa o!!!

3 films you should see & 3 films you should ignore

2009-05-10T07:48:00.000+01:00

Of course, we had generous view of Tonto Dike’s breasts and that of others. We even saw the bottom divide and the stars in the movie are almost innumerable but please no matter how free you are, don’t bother to see these movies, Dangerous Beauty and Before the rain.

They are only fit for the trash. The movie started with how pious born again Tonto Dike and Chika Ike met Van Vicker and how they gained admission and their lives were redefined by events and peers pressure. Of course, it is the kind of story you get from Nollywood, but this one was badly told. It is the kind of story Nigerians described as story with K-leg. It was so unconvincingly told that we had to hiss all through the duration of watching the movie. And to say that the movie ran from part one to part four was like adding salt to injury. The biggest part of the decep- tion is that the movies had the biggest kind of stars you dream of in movies.

Imagine stars like, Tonto Dike, Desmond Elliot, Chika Ike, Van Vicker, Halimar Abubakar and the likes. It is the worst movies this writer has seen. Kindly watch out for the reviews of these movies on this page soon. Another movie you should try as much as possible to avoid is ‘Angeli Mi’. It is the Nigerian version of Pretty Woman, the film by Angelina Jolie. It parades stars like Femi Adebayo, Funke Akindele and one other actress. The casts were poor version of the real stars, Julia Roberts, Kathleen Turner and Anthony Perkins and it is a shame on Nollywood that we’ve not grown beyond the level where we have to copy foreign movies ‘word-for-word’. I don’t know if the artistes know the origin of the story.

If they had known, it would have been a shame. It ridiculed their stardom and insulted the audience’s collective responsibility. Despite these bad movies, we still have movies we can beat our chest for. They are movies we can recommend and boldly say if you don’t enjoy we shall return your money. Iro Funfun is the first on our list. It has been a long while that we’ve seen a movie this qualitative in terms of story, acting and picture. If you don’t like Femi Adebayo, the producer of this movie, you are bound to have a change of heart. Femi is fast growing in reputation and some of us are developing the habit of picking movies that have him on the cover.

The dialogue in this movie is second to none and the acting is out of this world. Femi and Funke did well and we know it won’t take long for rumour-mongers to rekindle the age-long rumour of romantic relationship between them. Farayola, which parades the three leading actresses in the industry, Bukky Wright, Fathia Balogun and Funke Akindele is a movie with good storyline and convincing acting. Because this is not a movie review, we would spare you the details of the story.

But we would tell you boldly that this is a movie you should watch. It goes against the norm and still makes lots of sense. Oba Asa, the controversial movie by Saheed Balogun, part two of which would be released tomorrow is a must watch for lovers of good movies. It parades over 50 stars and all of them lived up to expectation. A marketer once boasted to us that the movie would redefine movie mak- ing in Nigeria. If the standard that Saheed has set in Modupe Temi and Gbogbo Ere is anything to go by, the marketer might not be wrong. From next week, we shall begin to run the reviews of these movies.

My body moves - Omotola Jalade Ekehinde

2009-04-20T03:57:00.000+01:00

She has a to-die-for figure even after four children, a face to match, talent that stands out in the Nollywood crowd and a marriage that has loads of made-in-heaven trimmings. She was the 12-year-old girl who grew up in a hurry when her father suddenly died and had to resort to a moneylender to keep her brothers in school.

She was also the schoolgirl who watched victims of Kaduna religious crisis stabbed and slaughtered as they scrambled to scale her school walls into safety while helping to deliver babies of female refugees when she hardly knew what to do.

Try and imagine this same girl being thoroughly whipped by her mother for coming home a minute after 5pm which was her curfew time. Do those descriptions sound like Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde? Well, she is the actress who has lived all these parts not in her movie world but in her real life in addition to singing for armed robbers and listening to their eerie confession, and has turned it all into a money-spinning venture.

The ‘A’ Class act dropped by our corporate office and told us things we are sure you haven’t heard and we also learnt a few things from her apart from tips on how to invest in real estate. For instance, if you have had to speak up for yourself since age 12 and watch out for three younger ones and a widowed mother, bullies do not easily cow you. The journey has been long, very long, from the days she sold the family television set to pay urgent family bills to getting married to a pilot in an aircraft 20,000 feet above sea level.

I got into acting while waiting for my JAMB result.

When I left school in 1994, I was waiting for my JAMB result, and I had to wait for about nine months. A friend of mine, Akorede, who was a model told my mum that instead of wasting time at home I should join him in the modeling thing and my mum consented. That was how I started with entertainment. I was going for auditions. It was during one of those auditions that a lady told me about another audition and she asked if I’ll like to go. I said OK. I accompanied her for the movie audition and that was the movie, Nneka Part 2.

She went for the audition but didn’t get the part. She was quite sad and then she said there were still other auditions and would I like to go? I said no, but she said it was not like they would ask for money. I have nothing to lose. So I went and I got the part. That was my first contact with acting in movies. By the time I heard of the following audition, I was bold enough to go for it. That was how I started.

My widowed mother was so scared I would get pregnant before I was 16 and she used to beat me silly if I came home later than 5pm which was my curfew time. I remember those days when I would finish acting and go back home and I’d be beaten silly. My mum was a disciplinarian and there was this belief that if you are into acting, singing, entertainment you have to be wayward. So, when you mention going for audition for a movie, my mum would say “Acting!”. You didn’t even say you want to go into singing or any such area. My mum just couldn’t understand the difference. She was just being careful and protective.

My dad died when I was twelve and there’s a thing with your dad dying early. As a widow there was so much pressure on her. I’m the only girl and the first child and I understood the pressure on her. Everybody was talking and saying that I was going to become wayward and get pregnant. They told her to her face that they knew I was going to get pregnant before I was sixteen. She was really scared and when all those things were happening it was like I was doing exactly the things they said was going to happen.

Her response was to be really hard on me to prevent me from getting spoilt. I don’t know what propelled me to go on despite my mum’s disciplines because one, they weren’t paying me well in the movies; two, I wasn’t that interested in acting then, and three, there was nothing really to look forward to in terms of success models then. There was no fame then because the only famous people then were the ones on TV. Even those that were on TV then weren’t so admired. I still don’t understand what really kept me going. It had to be God or maybe because I didn’t have a lot of things to do. There was no money in it for me, there was no fame and on top of it I got beaten.

I was always coming home late, there’s no way you can do this job and still be in control of your time. No matter how much you try something is going to hold you back. I used to go home late I had a curfew of five o clock set by my mum, which I thought was unreasonable. Then, I still didn’t get home until nine or ten o clock and there was no GSM to call.

There are so many producers in this country today that will tell you they’ve met Omotola’s mum. Kingsley Ogoro, Emeka Ossai, Zeb Ejiro, Fred Amata, who has not seen my mum? Who? She never came on set. They had to go and meet her in the house to explain to her why they want to use me, and that they’d take care of me and when they were going to bring me back home. Everybody that had used me during that time had to go to her, all of them had to go to her. She had to know you personally, you have to give her your house address and everything about you. It was terrible I was so embarrassed.

In the initial days, you were into movies more like for the love of it and anybody who got on any pedestal at that time was purely on merit. Nollywood was not as wild as it is now. There was not much of the issue of sexual harassment then. I think Nollywood was decent then. It wasn’t as wild as now. Most of the people I met then were like father figures. It was even worse when they got to know your family. They felt they had to watch out for you. Sometimes when I was loitering around Zeb Ejiro’s office then he would shout and order me home and I’d have to immediately take a bus and go home. We weren’t that many, it was a small world. Everybody knew everybody. There wasn’t too much money in the game so nobody was trying so hard to impress anybody. Most of us used to come around in slippers (laughs) and shorts. We were all family and you wouldn’t even find anybody to attract you for affairs then, unlike now when you look at another colleague and he’s all trushed up, rich, clean.

I was still a virgin when I got married.

Given my mum’s stern attitude, it is natural to think I didn’t date anybody before I got married. But, that’s not the case. I had boyfriends before I met my husband but it’s not something too deep as people may think nowadays. You just go out and have lunch together and all the rest of it. As for deep my affairs went before I met my husband, it is just to say that I got married as a virgin, so that answers the rest of the question.

Everybody already knew my husband in the family before I got married to him and he was just like one of those friends. We actually got to know his elder sister before him because he didn’t live here and when he started coming around it was like an extension of the family friend, though my mum was always suspecting that that he had something up his sleeves. She was like hmnnnnnnnnn(laughs) but my husband is a very humble and likeable guy. I think she just naturally fell in love with him and we became like family. And I guess she knew when something started between us but she was doing as if she didn’t want to know what she didn’t want to know! She didn’t want to hear any story.

When I was 18, I felt I was already an adult. We told her what we wanted to do. She found it very difficult because she felt that this is not America, this is Nigeria, nobody sees you as an adult at 18. She thought I should finish my education at the higher institution before getting married. She knew the guy was good and didn’t want me to lose him. She knew the guy would take care of me but because she was thinking of my dad’s family, she didn’t want things to go wrong and get blamed.

Growing Up Without A Father

I wish I don’t have to answer this question. My father died when I was 12. My younger brother was four while the one after him was just two years old. My mum did not see it coming because my father was so full of life. It was my father’s club Ekimomi Social Club that paid my school fees throughout my secondary school. He was working at Ikoyi Club. I remembered that lots of meetings were done after he passed on so that we can keep up with our lifestyle. I was attending Chrisland, (an elite private school in Lagos) and that was not a cheap school. My mum was like a full time housewife though she had a store where she was selling drinks. Lots of people were telling her about all sorts and incisions were made on our bodies to keep away evil. You can see the one they put on my chest. It was a very terrible period.

The most interesting thing was that everybody would be with you within a few weeks when the incident happened and all of a sudden everybody leaves. It is the worst feeling in the world because you feel confused and alone. That was where I started developing independence. I had two options at that time, it was either I went down the drain or up the ladder. I did a lot crying in private but I never cried in front of my mother. She would cry and I was always telling her everything would be alright. But anytime I left her for my room, I would cry. My brothers had to move to another school because Chrisland was too expensive and by then I had gained admission into Command Secondary School, Kaduna. My mum had to struggle. There were times when we did not have food to eat.

I went to a money lender, sold our TV and Video sets to pay my brother’s school fees.

I tried to keep busy and even though my mum was not in approval of what I was doing it was helping. The modeling and acting helped. And I’ve always been a shrewd person. Though my mum was not willing to take the money I was making but there was no where else money was coming from. I remembered a particular experience. There was this particular actor that was called Black. I used to go to Zeb Ejiro’s office and he knew about my struggles. My brother’s school fees was due and there was no money.

The people that were supposed to pay couldn’t come up with the money. I was at Zeb’s office crying when the Black guy saw me and asked what the problem was. I told him and he promised to help. He took me to one man who did Visa for people to travel out. I met lots of people in the man’s sitting room seeking help. When we met him he asked what my problem was and everybody’s attention shifted to me. I just started crying considering the background I came from. He loaned me some money and I was supposed to pay the Black guy the money from a job I did. Unfortunately, they didn’t pay me on time. The Black guy turned my life into a living misery. It got to a point where I had to sell personal effects from my house. I had to sell our TV and video to pay him which were the only consolation my younger brothers had. My mother cried during that period and it was then that my mother told me never to borrow money again. Yet, I didn’t take it against Black because he was there for me when I needed help. It got to a point where he was threatening my life because the guy was threatening his too. That was the peak of our suffering.

Mortal Inheritance was my fifth movie but it shot me into limelight

A lot of people thought Mortal Inheritance is my first movie because it shot me into limelight. It was officially my fifth but it came out as my fourth, coming out before Abused. Then, unlike now, you first have to be a local star in the movie circle before you’ll now be projected to the world. There was still a measure of formality then unlike now where you come from nowhere, do one movie and you’ll start feeling like a star and they start calling you top actress. In those days you came on set and you see the people that are older than you in the industry and you have to show them respect because you know that these same people are the ones that would recommend you.

I was one of the first to earn N150,000 per movie

The defining period for Nollywood came with Onome and Rattlesnake in 1995/1996. People started turning to it. I was one of the people that started earning good money like N150,000, N200,000 but before that time it was just between N30,000—N70,000. And even the first time, they were telling me I was overpaid and the guy is still owing me N5000 (laughs). That was when the traders started trading with the Nigerian movie industry and later became marketers. It was that period that they came in that it now moved into home video the way it is now.

Stories were very balanced then, not written to project any particular region but towards 1997 things changed. I don’t blame them (the Igbos) for doing what they did, naturally I think you will want to project where you are from. I don’t think the Igbos necessarily buy more movies. Till date, the people that still goes to the theater to watch cinemas are Yorubas. I don’t think Igbos are still buying more movies than Yorubas but I think the bone of contention is that people think they should have been doing the movies in Igbo language so that we’ll know that they are doing Igbo movies. A filmmaker will not do a film based on a belief but because they were not film makers they projected their belief and I don’t blame them.

The Igbos took over Nollywood because they are better businessmen while people like the late Hubert Ogunde made great, in-depth pictures just for the love of the arts. The theater started in the west with the likes of Hubert Ogunde but somehow the Igbos seems to have taken over especially when you are talking about home videos not cinema. I think it’s because they are business men. When Hubert Ogunde and the rest of them started it wasn’t because of business it was for the love of the game. I’ve watched some of these movies that were done back in those days and you could see the depth of art and you could tell that most of these people weren’t paid in millions but they enjoyed what they were doing, pictures that could live to any standard. These days a lot of people are more interested in doing movies for the gains. The first Igbo people that joined then were traders but now we have people who have transcended from traders to producers and marketers but in the beginning they just came in as business men.

I once heard that there was a gang-up to get me out of Nollywood because I was getting too powerful for an outsider. When I started in the movie industry, we had a lot of independent producers then who just wanted to work. You didn’t have to be Igbo, Hausa ,Yoruba then to be in Nollywood. We had people from every tribe in Nollywood but as time went on I remember a notable producer whom I don’t want to name but I’m sure if he’s reading this interview he’ll know I’m talking about him and he’ll probably be laughing. He called me and sat me down because he was like a godfather to me. He said you are a very bright act but there is a gang-up against you and you really have to be careful because some people have vowed to get you out of Nollywood. And I said what did they say I did wrong? He said because I’m not from their place and I’m becoming too powerful as an outsider. Actually, there were two of us that he talked about. The other person was a lead actor and I don’t want to mention his name as well. He is also not Igbo. They said both of us were becoming too powerful and we were outsiders and that there was a gang up to move us out of Nollywood.

He was really scared because the people that they were talking about were powerful. I laughed and said I was not going to bow at anybody’s feet just to win their admiration or anything. I believe I got to where I am on merit and by God’s grace I believe those two things should sustain me and if they don’t I’ll just fall back to business and in the mean time I have a man taking care of me so I won’t suffer. I remember him bursting out laughing and saying he should be discussing with the guy and not me. After that discussion I looked out for the signs of the gang-up. Maybe they came but I didn’t notice. Most of the people that have employed me are actually Igbos. To me there is no balance in that story. Maybe it happened and I didn’t notice, maybe people tried and they gave up or maybe they are still trying.

I don’t know what they mean by I was getting powerful but I think if you comport yourself in a certain way in an industry that was beginning to employ a lot of people with many suffering from poverty syndrome and people talk a lot to curry favour and some people do other things to get work and stuff. When you don’t fall into those categories, don’t greet anybody specially or call them any special name, you don’t attend their naming ceremony if you don’t feel obliged to so that they can count you worthy; at that point they start to feel who the hell do you think you are. Maybe when they meet with their friends they talk about it and end up saying ‘but we need am sha’.

Yeas, I’ve heard those things like producers telling people to change to Igbo names. I don’t think anybody will risk telling me that to my face because they know that I might talk. I might say we have talked about it because we joke about it. People say I look like an Igbo girl. They gave me names like Ugonma. Instead of calling me Omotola they call me Ugonma in the movies. I don’t have any problems with it because my husband is half Igbo. I don’t see it as a slight on my person but as a continuation of who I am. I understand also that people think I’m Igbo because when I went to the market in those days people used to speak Igbo to me.

Top actors and actresses were banned to drive down our fees and pave way for new actors and actresses. Actually before the one-year ban happened I was told it was going to happen. There were so many things some of us heard and then when it happened there were so many other things that you now saw on the news and we were like are they trying to confuse us. The people that we heard were going to be banned were a certain kind of people (I don’t want to say more than that) and then we felt if it was because of this why is this person there or what am I doing there. It was one event that was confusing in a lot of ways. What we arrived at as the reason is that they were probably doing it to push down our fees.

Some people were not from a particular region, also that they wanted to launch some new faces into the industry at a cheaper cost. Obviously, they’d been struggling to do it because of us. There were some personal things also like somebody insulted one person, also that some people came on set with big cars. That was the most ridiculous of it all, and that some people tell the producers to pay their fees into their accounts. But we’ve come to agree that the reason was simply because of the pay because most of the people on that list are the highest earners.

I think initially it worked because they had to bring up a lot of propaganda to justify their actions and to get the whole public to lose respect for us. Things like Omotola is a snob, she’s very troublesome on set and people are like why is she like that now? There were all kinds of rumours about those on that list just to get us on the wrong side of public opinion and tilt goodwill towards the new person that they were bringing. Even journalists helped them hype it a bit but after a while the whole thing just died down.

I invest in real estate

I’m comfortable. I invest. I’m a business woman even before the so called boom in Nollywood. I was making money from other things. The only thing I don’t do is buy and sell because I feel I’m not cut out for that. I don’t think I have the temperament for that. I’ll lose money. I think a lot of us have seen what happens all over the world and are wise. We don’t want to end up being famous and then ending up in poverty. If you are from my generation of actors and that happens to you then they are following you from the village because you should have known better. I think a lot of my colleagues are money-wise.

I invest in estate. As a matter of fact, I studied estate management. To invest in estate you have to check out the history of the property and that’s a major mistake a lot of people make. They forget that all that glitters is not gold. You go to buy a property in a place and you forget that it is dry and that there is something called raining season. And then the property that you bought and thought should increase in value at a point starts to depreciate, the area has a long standing history of increasing and then depreciating because of the condition of that environment. That explains the reason why some places are always vacant. When a place is questionably vacant, that’s why you should do extra check. Ask questions.

Don’t feel like you are the luckiest person in the world. To make money in real estate business, at times, you don’t need to go for the most expensive property, sometimes you can project what the place will look like in the next 10 years. I remember my aunty and uncle then who own Chrisland Schools, they told me that when they bought the place they built Chrisland in Opebi, the place was in the bush and they almost didn’t take it. You also have to project and check with the government to see what the area plan of that place is. Some of them have ten year- plan. The value of a place goes up based on the type of houses that are around it. Other people don’t have that kind of information and they wonder why you buy acres upon acres and later when they see it they want to buy that same place from you or beg you to take that place. You don’t have to sit down and go for high-end property if you don’t have millions. You can actually buy a place, refurbish it, and then lease it out or sell it. A lot of people don’t think like that, they want to buy a property just because they want to live there but you can actually buy a property, refurbish it, bring up the value and sell it.

If you are a star, nobody wants to see you looking very ordinary but don’t borrow money to service the show.

The show has to come before business but don’t forget the business. Yes, you can’t be in showbiz and not be glamorous. It’s called show business, the show has to come before business but then don’t forget the business. I think a lot of people get it wrong when they do the show and they forget the business and some do too much of the business and they forget about the show. You have to find a balance between two of them. People like Puff Daddy became who they are today because they put up an image. If you are a star and you are worth being celebrated nobody wants to see you looking very ordinary, they want to see something about you that they feel like waoh otherwise you are not worth being talked about. That’s what you are there for.

Give them things to talk about, that’s why you shouldn’t be too upset when people gossip about you. If they don’t talk about you, who are they going to gossip about? It’s your cross, so carry it. The moment you sign up to be an entertainer you sign your life out for people to sit down and use. Some people will use you to make themselves feel better which might hurt you. In showbiz you have to be glamorous as much as you can but you must not forget about the business that is what keeps the show.

There were times that I started out that I was not using cars that were very glamorous. I was driving then a jalopy BMW three series but I knew then that I had to be glamorous but I couldn’t afford anything better. Those were the times I had just started and I knew that I had to plan. I was driving that and taking the shame but I was planning. If you are just starting out don’t do more than yourself, don’t borrow money to service the show, and don’t run into trouble to service the show. Take it one step at a time and be focused, know that this is where I want to get to, this is what I’m supposed to be like. So the business can now propel the show and make enough money to do the show.

The day I sang ‘Naija l’o wa’ for armed robbers

I’ve had brushes with armed robbers. The one that stole my car wasn’t an armed robber. He was my driver. The one that took my own laptop was the armed robber. The guy took my laptop by mistake. I was in the Lincoln Navigator that had Omo- Sexy on its number plate. I was coming back from a set and it was very late. I was with my make-up artist and driver. They stopped us, about eight of them.

They had first offloaded everything from the car into their own bus and later said they wanted to take the car away. They made all of us lie down on the floor. It was at night and they didn’t even see me. They were shooting into the air and they were asking us if we had guns and they were checking because my car windows were tinted. My driver kept arguing with them, so they hit him with the gun because he was even speaking Igbo with them and they were like how dare you start speaking our language with us. They grabbed me by the collar to come show them where the security of the car was. I kept saying there was no security and they were like it’s a lie there must be security in this kind car. I was looking down all the while and I now turned to him and told him there was no security, why would I be lying? Would I be lying and let you shoot me?

As I turned they now saw my face and shouted, Omo Sexy. I think they know that my cars are always branded so he went to look at my number plate and he saw Omo Sexy. They said I should sing ‘Naija lo wa’ for them. That was how they returned everything back to the car. Actually the guy that recognized me actually had a long battle with their boss on the phone who was somewhere else because one of the guys that was there did not want to agree, he kept saying ‘oga said we should bring the car’. I think they wanted to use the car for another operation. While I was there they argued a lot about the car.

…The leader of the gang’s wife wanted to be an actress.

That guy really fought for me, I think he was a leader of that gang. He just stood and asked them to return everything. He said he didn’t want any money, they returned all the money they collected from us to the last N20 and that’s why I said that laptop had to be a mistake. He checked and asked if everything was back with us and I said yes. Till today I have his number. After they returned everything he told me that his wife is my fan and she wanted to be an actress. He asked for my number. I wanted to give him the wrong number but my make-up artist said if I give him the wrong number they might hunt me down.

So, I gave him my right number and that day before we got home they called me more than three times because they told us to start driving home. When we got to the gate we sat on the floor and started crying. They called and asked if we were at home now and I said yes, they asked if we have locked the gate we said yes and they asked why are you crying? And, I said no, I’m not crying o (laughs). He said did anybody beat you, did any of my boys slap you, I said no. So why are you crying, you are upsetting me with the way you are crying, so I said we are not crying, we are not crying, so I started cleaning my face, Go inside your house and go and sleep.

…They told me they were going to rob the Marina Branch of a bank

They told me they were going to the Marina branch of a bank (name of the first generation bank withheld) to operate and they would call me if it was successful or not and I was like ehhhhhh, there is trouble today. I was asking my people if I should call the police and they were like which police do you want to call. I was terrified when he told me where they wanted to go and rob. For a long time he kept calling and texting me that if I have any problem I should call him.

I’ve thought about making a movie about the experience and I will someday. The guy actually told me some things that night and subsequently he sent a text that ‘does it mean that when I was telling you my story you weren’t listening?’ He told me some things about his private life, his wife, about how he wanted to leave the job and that was going to be his last operation. I thought he could be lying because most of them say all those same things. He sent me a text that is it that I don’t believe what he said that day and that he wants to meet with me but I refused.

There was another incident before that one, I was coming from location again and my husband was coming back from his flight. He called me to ask where I was. I was in Festac and I told him to you come over since I was on my last scene and we could drive home together. He came over and when I finished we started driving through that express road. He was in front of me, he was driving a BMW seven series, I was driving seven series also behind. They had robbed him and then they came to me and knocked on my window and I wound down and he said give me your bag. I turned to give him my bag and then the other one just opened the door and sat in and said give me your bag and I said I just gave the other guy my bag. He just pushed my head and said why did I give him my bag, they were in a hurry and when my husband saw that there was one in my car and was staying long he came down from the car and he started walking towards my car. The guy in my car came down and pointed the gun at him and all his other colleagues did the same and they told him that if he didn’t go back they were going to shoot him and I started pleading with him to go back into his car. That was another terrifying moment for me.

I play with my phone when my husband is watching me in a romantic scene.

Sometimes when my husband is watching a movie where I’m playing a romance role, he’s like ahh, Omo Sexy, the guy’s hand was going too far o or when it’s a kissing scene I just starts looking at my phone and he will say leave the phone, watch, you are the one that did it. We play about it. It’s not a comfortable thing but I think he’s just matured about it.

As my in-laws, my mother in law is extremely psychedelic. She’s like a white woman.

But, playing a romantic role is not always romantic when you have to do it with somebody with mouth odour and so on. I have had to deal with a romantic scene with somebody who has a mouth or body odour and it’s not a pleasant situation. You have to smile and do the kissing and just try to make it as convincing as possible. You can go and cry afterwards.

Yes, I get tempted when playing romantic scenes but it does not go beyond the set.

As for whether it is possible to get stimulated while playing romantic role, it is possible. I’ll be lying if I say once or twice it had not crossed my mind that I should transfer what’s on scene to real life. Once or twice I’d thought that this guy is not so bad but if you have experience it’ll just be like a flash. You know when you get to work with a person for like two weeks or more than that, naturally you get fond of the person. If you are wise you will understand that this is just a periodic thing. Why didn’t I like this person all this while, why now? And the minute you are not with this person it begins to fall off your eyes, no more getting fond of each other. I think that’s the biggest risk that actors go through psychologically.

I’m a thinker. I have learnt and understudied Hollywood, at some point in my career I sat down and studied how it works. By the time it started happening I already knew how to detach. All you naturally need at that period was to stay away from the person as much as possible. It’s nothing absurd or something to be ashamed of but you just need to control yourself till you finish shooting. The truth of the matter is that once you finish shooting, just like a door was left open it just gets shut and that’s it. The problem is when you start feeling like that about something, you should know that it’s going to end. It’s like couples that are divorced and every other person saw it coming but them, before they got married. Every other person saw that it will never work but they wouldn’t see it because they are so engrossed in their feeling, in their thought. I think the wise thing to do at that period is to know that everybody can’t be wrong.

I have never fought my husband over a girl

Before you get married, there are so many things you wouldn’t take ordinarily because you don’t have to answer to anybody or tolerate anybody. When you are angry you could close your room and not talk to anybody but when you are married and you are angry you can’t close your room

Acting’s cost me my modelling career — Ufuoma Stacey Ejenobo

2009-04-19T12:34:00.005+01:00

She is a beauty and a queen to behold any day. Not many know her as a screen goddess. Starting off as a model before veering into the world of make-believe, she is certainly one of the promising hard knots to crack as far as the movie industry is concerned in Nigeria.

Ufuoma Stacey Ejenobo is her name. And as one of the hottest upcoming actresses in Nigeria, Ufuoma gained international recognition when she won the Miss Earth in 2004, which saw her travelling to Philippines to represent Nigeria in the final leg of that contest. She has also won several laurels as a model in the past. Veering into the world of acting, according to the model-turned-actress is one step in the right direction that she has taken in life.

A promising actress, Ufuoma like Nse Ikper-Etim is not an unfamiliar actress per se, because she’s starred in several other flicks that includes a role in a TV soap, “ Age of Paradise”, where she was compelled to shave her hairs like a widow who was mourning her departed husband. She described her role in that soap, as one that was very challenging, adding that it was “because I wanted to do something different and ultimately challenging.”

Apart from featuring in that soap, “Age of Paradise”, Ufuoma named “Desperate Billionaire” as one of the movies that brought her to limelight. While “Desperate Billionaire” launched her into the mainstream movie world, her role in “Saving Sara”, according to her, got her into different emotions as she was made to play three roles at the same time.

“One movie which I think got me into different emotion was “Saving Sara”. I still give that movie my two thumbs because I played three different characters at the same time. The movie was directed by Lancelot. It was challenging to me.”

“But “Desperate Billionaire” was the movie that brought me to limelight . It was one movie that everybody seems to identify me with, and it paraded a lot of stars. I was fortunate to play alongside stars like Rita Dominic, Jim Iyke, Stephanie Okereke, and Chidima Okeme.

The movie was widespread with good networking.” Ufuoma narrated to HVP, even as described her emergence in the movie world as accidental.Ufuoma was at a location, shooting a new movie somewhere around Victoria Garden City(VGC), along Lekki -Epe Expressway, Lagos, where HVP ran into her few days ago and consequently engaged her in a brief chat. She agreed that since veering into the world of make-believe, her modelling career has been nipped in the bud.

“Acting and modelling are two of a kind profession.’ she replied,Even though, modelling, she continued, “is more of advertising, it’s the kind of job you do that brings you to limelight.”

Honestly, she argued, “ modelling and acting has never been a problem to me. In fact, my modelling profession is suffering today because of my venturing into acting. Right now, I am drifting more and more away from modelling into acting.”

According to Ufuoma, she started modelling at a very tender age, perhaps, while she was in her primary school.

“One Angela Ukuma introduced me into modelling. She was the most beautiful girl in Nigeria in 1999. We worship in the same church. She only saw me and thought I could make a good role model. There and then, she went into action to convince my parents to allow me to make a career in modelling. The first model job I did was for PZ Industries in 2002.”

Ufuoma further narrated.Although, Ufuoma believed that acting like every other profession has its own nitty-gritty. She however frowned at those upcoming actresses who would not want their own time to explode.“The President Must Die”. Since then, I have been a regular face on screen.
For her, there is time for everything that we do in life. She believed that auditioning as it affects movie making is like the final act itself.

“You are bound to encounter certain inevitable difficulties. Just like climbing a ladder, there is a foundation to be laid.Some of us want to see it as a way of paying our dues. It’s basically the same challenges that people face in other professions. If you want to be trained as a medical doctor, you must as a matter of fact be compelled to attend the medical school. It’s the same thing with acting. You have to pass through auditioning. And for me, auditioning is akin to advertising oneself, and not necessarily exposing one’s weaknesses and inadequacy. It’s more like laying a foundation than seeing it as a challenge. I believe that auditioning is as good as the final act.”

Tracing her journey into the world of acting, Ufuoma, who was quick to anger and perhaps, would not want to talk about her love life said, she stumbled into acting by chance.

According to her, “ I met one film producer, Ejeburi some years back who wanted to introduce me into the world of make-believe. But because I was not ready then, I turned down the gesture. Few years later, I put a call across to Mr. Ejeburi, where I expressed my readiness to be involved in the movie industry.”

“Luckily, he was conducting auditioning for a new movie he was producing. As result, he invited me to be part of the movie with the title, “The President Must Die”. Since then, I have been a regular face on screen. For everything you do in life, you are bound to encounter certain inevitable difficulties. Just like climbing a ladder, there is a foundation to be laid. Some of us want to see it as a way of paying our dues.”

“It’s basically the same challenges that are bound to be faced by anyone in any other profession. If you want to be trained as a medical doctor, you must as a matter of fact be compelled to attend the medical school. It’s the same thing with acting. You have to pass through auditioning.And for me, auditioning is akin to advertising oneself, and not necessarily exposing one’s weaknesses and inadequacy. It’s more like laying a foundation than seeing it as a challenge.”

“I believe that auditioning is as good as the final act. Because at that point, the producer is interested in ascertaining one’s ability to deliver his or her lines. It was funny, because when I started, there were several times I was not good at facing the camera. But I was a fast learner. With time, I started to understand such terminologies as master-shot, close-shot, and medium Cus. Right now, I am trying to play around camera angles. I am still learning on the job. One of the things that prompted my decision to express my readiness to join the industry is the fact that I felt I could deliver my lines. Perhaps, it’s one thing for one to believe in oneself, and it another thing, for people to believe in you, and equally give you the opportunity to prove your mettle. I started with TV drama.”

There is this TV series "Age of Paradise”, which I did, where I had to cut my hairs like a widow. For me, I saw the role I played in that TV drama as challenging.

Because I wanted to do something different and challenging . For me, I have found every things I got involved in, very easy to deliver. But I wanted to be challenged the more, and that was why I had to shelve my hairs in that TV series just to suit the character I was playing. Chibuzo, who happened to be a widow.

Again, I featured in the movie called, “Life and Death’ with uncle Zack Orji, Emerka Osahie, Chinyere Wilfred and many others.”

“There was this emotion the director wanted me to express which I thought, I was already expressing. By that act, he made me to take a totally different angle to my role. And I saw the action as challenging. But one movie which I think got me into different emotions was “Saving Sara”.

I still give that movie my two thumbs because I played three different characters at the same time. The movie was directed by Lancelot. I was three different characters in that movie. It was challenging to me.

But “Desperate Billionaire” was the move that brought me to limelight. It was one movie that everybody seems to identify me with; parading a lot of stars. I was fortunate to play alongside stars like Rita Dominic, Jim Iyke, Stephanie Okereke, and Chidima Okeme . The movie was widespread with good networking.”

Other movies which Ufuoma starred in, include, “Twist of Fate”, “Titanic Tussle”, ‘Painful World I &II”, “Passionate Crime”, ‘Queen of My Heart”, “Emotional Blackmail” amongst others.

Growing up without a father made me tough — Van Vicker

2009-04-19T11:47:00.005+01:00

Van Vickers is surely a great actor who has made waves home and abroad. A man of multiple nationalities and a lover of good things, Van Vicker is happily married to Actual Van Vicker, his friend of over a decade years and they have three lovely kids.

With a Ghanaian / Liberian mother and a Dutch father whom he lost many years ago, this fair skinned actor shares his experiences on working with Nigerian artistes which he describes as fun. He also confesses that featuring in Nigerian movies has added to his profile.

How are you enjoying Nigeria?

It’s been great.

What is the attraction for you in Nollywood?

No doubt, Nollywood has gone far and it has been there for a good number of years and people recognise it world wide. So there should be interest there because it would add to my credentials and give me further exposure.

How did you get into Nollywood?

It was a producer that contacted me. It all started with Kingsley of Divine Touch Productions. They had strong links with Venus films and the movie ‘Beyonce’ was the very first one that we marketed here. Kingsley called Nadia and I up to do a film and we did it with Ini Edo, Olu Jacobs and Mike Ezuruonye. That movie was the first that I did in Nigeria. But before that film came out, he had promoted the Beyonce and that is where it all started from.

How has it been working with the Nollywood artistes?

It’s has been fun, but a little different from what we have in Ghana. I have had a lot of experiences as compared to Ghana because the way you guys do things here is slightly different from the way it is done in Ghana. So it has been an added experience for me. As much as it has been fun, it has its own challenges. It has been very interesting and fun generally.

Comparing Nigeria and Ghana movie industry, what would you say is the difference?

People here are more concerned about how soon you finish production as much as they are also concerned in Ghana about how fast you can be. But here the emphasis is more on how soon the production will end. In Ghana, they are a little laid back. Not that they don’t want to finish, but they have their own problems. Honestly, I think may be it is because of the level of experience, they are more on point here than in Ghana. On that negative difference, I don’t think there is any one different from what is obtainable every where.

Sometimes you go on location and it’s not ready. I have not seen anything negative to compare. Positively, they are more on point here and better organised than what you have in Ghana. Advance planning is another good point for Nigeria. Producers will come to you and say I want to shoot on this date and at this time, but in Ghana, it doesn’t really happen like that. I’m speaking from my experience and not about the people.

With Ghana, they will just come and say I want to shoot next week and I’m like it is not going to happen like that and that is why it seems I have not featured in many Ghanaian movies. It’s not that I don’t want to do it but because the time frame most times, is usually too short for me. They have come to realise it, so I do have some up front bookings to shoot in Ghana in April, May and June.

How did it all begin?

I had no idea about acting and neither did I think I was going to do it because I actually wanted to be a doctor. But even that did not happen and I went into entertainment. I started presenting entertainment programmes on Television and later I did on radio. This was between 1997 and 2004. I presented several entertainment programmes but I started radio only in year 2000 to 2004. In 2003, a guy approached me to do a television series, The Sun City which I think was aired here for a while. He offered me a role and I saw it as a new challenge and we did it.

Not long after Venus Films came to me, they want to do a film and they gave me a role and I said, okay, let’s do it and we did it. The title of that movie was Divine Love. Six months down the line, we did another one, ‘Mommy’s daughter’ all in Ghana and six months after, Darkness of Sorrow followed. And when we did Beyonce everything just blew up. Calls started coming in from everywhere but I think it was Beyonce that gave the big break because once that movie came out, there were calls coming in from left and right. So that was how it all began. I had no idea I was going to do this but I’m enjoying it and I think I have always loved entertainment since I started doing it in 1997.

There is this article about you and your demand for rights to buy movies; can you throw more light on it?

Yes, apart from acting, I do other businesses like buying rights of movies. I think the article you were referring to was the one that says I demand for right of movies for me to feature in the movies. But that is so untrue because which producer will produce a movie and give you the US right? It does not make sense. That I feature in his movie does not mean he will give me the US right and there has been several movies that I feature in and I was not given the US right and some that I did not even feature in and I was given the US right. So that is a very untrue statement to make.

What was your growing up years like, where did you grow up?

Growing up for me was a mixture of places. I grew up in Holland, Libreville in Liberia and Ghana. I have been trekking in London, Holland, Ghana and Liberia and that was the reasons why I have not been really able to catch the local languages; It is because I really have not settled long enough in these places.

So you can not speak the Ghanaian language?

I can only pick on some phrases from the language but I can not have a conversation in Ghanaian language, I can understand a lot more but I can not have a conversation in that language.

So what are you doing about that?

Well I try learning, but it is difficult. I think I have passed that level where I can catch languages except I go to school for it. Apart from that, I don’t think I am very much of a language person. I’m sure, if I was a language person, I’d have made effort.

Talking about your skin color, are you fully Ghanaian or of a mixed race?

I am very mixed. My dad is Dutch from Netherlands and my mother is partly Ghanaian and partly Liberian. So I have a mixed background.

So the Ghanaians just hijacked you and your nationality?

Well, Liberians are also laying claim on me. I was there in December 2007; they are also claiming their rights. It’s only in Netherlands that they have not bothered. I mean, it is fun when I’m amongst Liberians, I’ m a Liberian. And when I’m in Ghana, I’m a Ghanaian. When I go to Holland, I’m Dutch guy. It is very interesting.

Did you grow up with your parents?

I grew up with my mom and dad but my dad passed away when I was six. He was an Electrical Engineer. So I have been with my mom ever since. She is still alive. She went to Liberia only last year. I also have an older sister who is my only sibling. She is married and resides in the US with the husband and two kids.

How does it feel to grow up amidst ladies without a father and a brother?

You have no idea. Growing up without a father and without a brother amidst women was very tough. It made me strong and determined. It made me stay focused on things I want to achieve, and if my father was around or I have a brother, it would have been stronger. Their absence in my life gave me an extra zeal to get the things that I want

Big stars gang up against AMAA

2009-04-19T05:28:00.002+01:00

Once upon a time, venue of Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) usually served as meeting point for entertainment stars across the spectrum of Nollywood and beyond. It is not uncommon to see the likes of Genevieve Nnaji, Ramsey Nouah, Stella Damasus-Nzeribe, Omotola, Rita Dominic, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Uche Jombo, Ini Edo, Mercy Johnson, Jim Iyke and the likes at AMAA, but this year witnessed a reversal in fortune as these big stars kept away from the Glover Hall at Bayelsa State, the venue of the award.

Findings by Showbiz Now reveals that the stars decided to stay away to protest some certain grievances they have against AMAA and its organisers. It would be recalled that two weeks ago, we reported and quoted star actor, Emeka Ike, saying he has some grudges with AMAA. And from what played out last week at the UBA/AMAA, it appears he is not the only one that has grudges.

Though no official meeting was held against AMAA, the stars in solidarity with one another decided to stay away from the event. For instance, Funke Akindele and Mercy Johnson, both award winners, were not present to receive their awards. Rita Dominic, Genevieve Nnaji, Uche Jombo, Susan Peters were all at Thelma Okodua’s wedding at Lekki, Lagos where Rita was the bride of honour. Eucharia Anunobi was not there, Ini Edo was on set while Omotola was simply at home. Ramsey Nouah was on set of Kunle Afolayan’s set and Kunle himself whom many see as AMAA’s baby was not there.

These stars Stephanie Okereke (who refused to speak about the award when we spoke to her despite always being enthusiastic about it in the past), Chinedu Ikedieze, Kate Henshaw, Fred Amata, Patrick Doyle were the few handful stars that made it to the event. Though the English genre stars were absent, the Yoruba stars took over and they were heavily represented by Femi Brainard, Doris Simon, Eniola Badmus (Gbogbo Bigz gal), Tunde Kelani and a few others.

One star actress who spoke to us on condition that we keep her name out of print told us that AMAA treats stars as if they are not stars. “Can you imagine an award ceremony that has to do with actors and actresses and they have to sit with the audience as spectators? A colleague of mine that called them for the sitting arrangement at the dinner they had in Lagos was told bluntly that there was no special sitting arrangement for stars. If they want us to show loyalty to the award, they should treat us like stars that we are.”

Another actor who also prefers anonymity said he was not at AMAA because the whole concept was designed to make the organisers rich and nothing is added or given back to the industry. “What do I stand to gain by attending AMAA?”, he asked us when we asked him about his absence at AMAA. I will not only waste my time and energy going there, I would have to leave behind things that would fetch me money and add values to my life. In other parts of the world, award organisers give incentives to make stars want to come, but here, UBA/AMAA goes about as if it is doing us one huge favour by inviting us.”

One top producer queries AMAA for asking filmmakers to submit entries for the awards. “Why should filmmakers submit entries for the award? I expect AMAA, as the foremost award body in Nigeria, to have people who scout for movies and individuals that deserve entries.”
Mildreb Okwo, producer of 30 Days who agreed to be quoted told us on record that for AMAA to continue to hold the interest of top stars, it must get more creative in the way it invites and treats the stars. “I don’t think any big star purposely gang up against AMAA as you said.

The truth is, no matter how big you get or how relevant an event is, you must find innovative ways to bring the stars to your event. You must create a platform that will make them not want to miss it. As big as Oscars has gotten, they still go out marketing to the actors. When stars go the Oscars, they are given all types of gifts that worth millions. I know we are not Hollywood, but you must find a way to make it worth people’s time. As it is, Nollywood hardly work now and you want those that are working to leave their job and go to Bayelsa.

Why should they be committed to you? That is the question every business person must ask. The days of thinking that you ‘it’ and you can get what you want are gone. This is for everybody. You can see the way Governor Fashola goes about with his consultation. Don’t think once you do something everybody must rush it. They should have reason to want to go to your event. You must also infuse creativity into the way you invite the people. We should stop referring to the actors as ‘these people’, they are stars.

They are brand. Samuel, you are also a brand, there are things we don’t expect from you. As brands, you must find a way of getting them to the event. It is ridiculous to do the same thing year-in year-out and keep people interested. Funke Akindele is one of the hottest stars right now. Why should she leave what she is doing and fly to attend your award? You must motivate her. Whatever you do to get these people there, you must do it. You must have people who market the award to them.”

Another actor wondered why the organisers stop giving monetary rewards to winners. “if they get the kind of money we heard they are getting, there is nothing bad if they give monetary reward.”

However, head of screeners College of AMAA Mr Shuaibu Hussan, disagrees. “AMAA is not just a Nigerian affairs, it is an African thing. If some people did not respond to an invitation , it does not mean there is a gang up. I don’t know where you got this from. Invitation cards were sent to people and none of them wrote to say they were ganging up. If they did not respond, that means they have other things they are doing. If you were at AMAA, you will know that the industry was well represented. If people who have private engagements did not make the event, it does not mean there is a gang up against AMAA. AMAA is not a Nigerian thing, it is an African thing.”

When we pressed further that something must have gone wrong for the very big stars to be absent from the event, he requested that we read out names of those that were absent and we did. Responding, Shuaibu says the big stars need to be more professional. “Some of these stars need to be more professional in the way they handle their things. Some of them don’t even have addresses. There are some that you are talking about that don’t have functioning email addresses. Some of them expect you to go and drop invitation cards for them at Ojez. Some of them don’t have functioning offices.

Some of them don’t even know AGN’s secretariat. We called some people and they asked us to drop their cards at Ojez. Is that supposed to be a greenroom for artistes? For instance, Genevieve that you are talking about, I have about six numbers that are supposed to be hers. Even trying to get to her as a journalist has been harrowing, not to talk of somebody that is organising an event. So, what are we talking about? If AMAA invites you and they ask you to respond and you don’t because you are a star, will they now go to NTA and announce that we are looking for so and so?

We have people that are not part of the event that called and asked on how to be part of it while major players can’t even send their personal assistants. They need to be more professional. Call them to send a media kit on themselves and you will be dazed that they don’t have it. On a personal level, I’ve tried to get them for festivals abroad and it’s been difficult. I’m not saying AMAA is perfect, but these people are not organised. There is no star that came to the event that was not well treated. I don’t think anybody will fault the AMAA awards itself, you may fault the logistics, particularly because of high profile of jury.

On Emeka Ike, Shuaibu says whatever view he expressed is his own opinion. He faulted him on claim that AMAA has not developed the industry. “The movie, Stronger than Pain that won last year has been to festivals around the world courtesy of recommendation from AMAA. Kate Henshaw has participated in some international events courtesy of winning. That is not the only film. Whitewaters has travelled to festivals courtesy of AMAA. Look at Irapada by Kunle Afolayan, it has been to festivals around the world, courtesy of AMAA. Again, the AMAA Academy organises training for people in the industry.

The members of the jury participate at festivals around the world and if they see good movies at AMAA, they are quick in making recommendations to other festivals. I know that Kenyan movies and Reloaded have gotten invitations to participate in festivals around the world, courtesy of their participation at AMAA. Some people should not rubbish AMAA because they’ve not won it before.”

Funke Akindele vs Mercy Johnson

2009-04-11T07:02:00.005+01:00

Funke Akindele and Mercy Johnson are locked in a battle for supremacy in the Nigerian movie industry, with one in the Yoruba genre and the other in the English genre. In the days of the defunct G5, the then top reigning five actresses –Genevieve Nnaji, Rita Dominic, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Stella Damasus and Stephanie Okereke, these two could easily have broken into that rank, giving the leading actresses a run for their money.

That Kogi State born Mercy Johnson is the hottest (new) actress in the industry is not a doubt. Testimony of this is her clinching of the City People’s Award for the Hottest New Face of Nollywood, at the 12th City People Award which held recently, and also, her winning the Best Performance Actress in a supporting role in the film Live to Remember, at the African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) 2009 which held last weekend in Bayelsa State.

With just a few years of hitting the movie circuit, she has grown to become one of the industry’s most sought-after actresses. Could it just be luck, or a sexy body coupled with good interpretations of role? all, one might say. It is clear that the budding young lady has worked hard at her task of acting. Her interpretation of roles is her strongest point in her arsenal. It is no wonder that the long hours of trekking from home to the National Theatre to be part of an audition or the other has finally paid off, especially with the awards rolling in. Her grass to grace story is a reference point for many young hopefuls, despite the few controversies that stir up once in a while, the minus of stardom.

Her role in Risikat was also memorable. Her efforts at producing, with blockbuster movies such as Ekuro, Taiwo-Taiwo, Ojo Ketala, Apadi, and very recently, Jenifa, the award winning movie, have put her in a class of her own.

Armed with an Ordinary National Diploma in Communication, from the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ogun State, and a Law degree from the University of Lagos, the delectable and brilliant thirty-three year old Ikorodu, Lagos State-born actress has begun her history making journey in the movie world.

Last weekend at the African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) 2009, Funke Akindele was named by the jury as Africa’s best actress in a leading role. She emerged top ahead of six others including a Ghanaian and a Kenyan. Although, the actress, who interpreted excellently the role of Jenifa, the lead character in the movie with the same name, was not present at the award ceremony at Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, a thunderous applause concurred with the jury’s declaration of her as the continent’s best actress for this year. Mercy Johnson, on her own part, beat fellow compatriots Mosunmola Filani in Jenifa, Chika Ike in Assassin and Aggie Kebirungi and Daphney Hlomoku to clinch the Best Supporting Actress role at the same award.

It remains to be seen where this battle for supremacy between these two extremely gifted and talented ladies gets to, as we wait with baited breaths for more accolades.

Ini Edo Returns, says She’s Not Pregnant

2009-04-11T05:55:00.003+01:00

Even when she is not in the country, she has people talking about her. Some said she was pregnant and others said her husband had asked her to quit acting.

Yet, when Ini Edo was spotted at the local wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport last Saturday, she was anything but pregnant.

Looking beautiful as ever, she sat alone at the VIP lounge of the airport before a fan walked up to her. We overheard her explaining to the fan that she was not pregnant. She said, “I thought people would not recognise me on my return, going by the rumour that I was pregnant. I still don’t know who told these people I was pregnant. They should go ahead and speculate, I am not ready to answer anybody.”

Asked if her husband had asked her to quit acting, Ini said, “No. I am still working. In fact, I am on my way to Benin where I am shooting a movie. I thought people would leave me alone when I travelled but I was still hearing all the rubbish they were writing about me. It is so funny.”

She disclosed that marital life had been sweet and she had been enjoying every bit of it.

For Nollywood movies, no place to hide at AMAA ‘09

2009-04-09T05:19:00.002+01:00

When a person lacks the power and trick to excel in wrestling, he gives the excuse that culture does not permit him to fight in another man‘s village. This Yoruba proverb appears to have governed the spirits of filmmakers from other African countries who came to Nigeria at the weekend and floored their Nigerian counterparts that competed with them in the ring of the African Movie Academy Awards held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

In a show that questioned the touted supremacy of Nollywood and the entire film industry in Nigeria, which is the seat of AMAA, films from Kenya, South Africa and Uganda knocked out others produced in and by Nigerians, thus carting away golden prizes that include the Best Picture, Best Screen Play, Best Film in African Language and the Best Director awards.

Many Nigerian top acts including Olu Jacobs and wife, Joke, were present in the beautifully laid and heavily populated hall of Gloryland Cultural Centre, venue of the event, where the state Governor, Timpire Sylva, was the chief host. So also were Fred Amata, Paul Obazele, Ejike Asiegbu, Kunle Afolayan, Kate Henshaw, Patrick Doyle, Tunde Kelani and Mahmood Ali-Balogun.

Alongside international stars like Danny Glover and Oscar award-winning Forest Whitaker, everyone watched helplessly as the non-Nigerian entries successfully dribbled their ways into the hearts of the 10-man international AMAA jury, which had insisted on quality stories and pragmatic attention to technical details and aesthetics as part of the criteria that define a winning film.

On the jury were Dr. Hyginius Ekwuazi, Ayoku Babu, Steve Ayorinde, Dorothy Wenner, Bernie Goldbatt, Shaibu Hussein, Keith Shiri, Hamida Suleiman and Asantewa Babu, amongst others.In the end, while the Nollywood denizens remained on their seats, clapping most of the time, the visiting candidates endlessly climbed the stage as they collected the awards of their dreams.

Particularly, the producer of From a Whisper, a Kenyan that swept five choice prizes, could not stop thanking the stars around the comet of the movie about which the jury endlessly poured encomiums. It won the Best Director, Best Picture, AMAA Achievement in Editing and Best Original in Soundtrack, beating the likes of Reloaded, Battle of the Soul, Jenifa, Modupe Temi, Arugba, Through the Glass and Beautiful Soul.

The feat shattered the forecast of pundits who had felt that Nigeria was once again poised to rule the continent, based on how its films stood conspicuously on the chart of the AMAA nomination released during the Pan African Festival of Cinema and Television Award held in Oagadougu, Burkina Faso about a month earlier. But because the game is not that of number but professionalism, From a Whisper stole the show, while Egyptian Seventh and Heaven, South Africa‘s Gugu Andile also won in other categories.

Although ace cinematographer, Tunde Kelani, who is generally respected for his comparative painstaking culture in film making, won the Best Costume with his Arugba, and the all-Nigerian Heart of Africa (now Good People?) award at the AMAA ‘09, he was realistic and courageous enough to acknowledge the slump of Nigerian films, and the challenge that the victory of the other African works spelt for him and his compatriots.”

AMAA has created a platform for African films to express themselves,” he said. ”But the competition is not a matter of life and death. What I want to assure our brothers from other African counties is that in 2010, we will be ready for you.”

Well, part of the consolation for Nigeria is that while Funke Akindele won the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading ole, with Mercy Johnson winning Best Performance in a Supporting Role, Michelle Bello‘s Small Boy captured the AMAA Achievement in Art Direction just as Izu Ojukwu‘s Cindy‘s Note won AMAA Achievement in Cinematography.

While the AMAA ‘09 has, however, lived up to its own promise, its organisers must always continue to improve on logistics. In the face of pressure, the crowd the gatekeepers allowed into the hall was beyond capacity. As a result, there were hiccups at the far back where those who had to stand were obstructing the views of some of those who had secured seats, with some soldiers having to come in to enforce order in their own way.

Also, communication between presenters and people called to give awards should be improved upon in subsequent editions. The slow response of some of them gave the masters of ceremonies - Julius Agwu, Kate Henshaw and Ghanaian Kofi Bucknor - a great battle as they had to improvise jokes of mixed tastes at some points.

In an international affair like the AMAA‘s, precision should be the rule of the game.And that is why Peace Anyiam-Osigwe may also have to oil the ribs of its implementation/logistics committee towards achieving further excellence. Where necessary, professionals must be engaged in key areas to, for instance, avoid a communication break down that led to confusion at the air port in Port Harcourt when too many AMAA delegates/visitors struggled to make a 3 pm flight back to Lagos. Had the people in charge given necessary information as due, some of the delegates would have gone with the 8 am flight for which the plane available was said to be under-booked.

Indeed, one thing that AMAA appears to have achieved in the five years of its existence is its having sent the signal to Nollywood that the business can not continue the way it had been done. Apart from having achieved a tourism base for Bayelsa, it has reminded Nigerian film makers of the arrested growth the industry has suffered in the past few years, largely due to professional lethargy that many people have acknowledged.

And the need to up the game formed the basis of Whitaker‘s message for film makers at AMAA.”You must get the story right,” he said. ”Once you have a good story, and the aesthetics is right, people will like to see the film.”AMAA‘s sponsors - Bayelsa government and UBA - did not only stand by it, they also pledged further support in future episodes.

According to Sylva, the awards afford the state an opportunity to express its interest in tourism and film development.”AMAA gives all Africans the opportunity to sit together to enjoy and reflect on the development of the film industry,” he said, while beckoning practitioners to come to the state to make films.

For Anyiam-Osigwe, who was commended by many, including the governor, Whitaker and Glover, it was a time to renew the AMAA pledge to work for a roundly developed film industry in Africa.”

We need to correct wrong media pictures about us. For us to send the right messages about us, we need to do the right films,” she said.

Nigeria’s unconvincing show at the 2009 AMAA

2009-04-08T05:59:00.000+01:00

Quantity doesn’t translate to quality. This was the lesson Nigerian filmmakers and artists learnt at the fifth UBA-AMAA, Africa’s movie awards, concluded on Sunday morning in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, as a single Kenyan movie won the most notable awards.

It wasn’t a convincing outing for the self-touted third largest producer of film in the world as 'From a Whisper' which explores the 1997 bombing of the American Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, took away prizes for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Original Soundtrack and Best Edited movie.

Coming of Age, another Kenyan movie won the Best Documentary (Short Subject) category.Overall, Kenyan productions won six awards at the ceremony while those from Nigeria won seven prizes though not in the expected categories.

Egyptian, Ugandan, South African and Nigerien movies also went home with prizes at the event.

Seventh Heaven, a movie from Egypt won the Achievement in Sound prize while the film’s lead actor, Farouk Alfishawi took the Best Actor prize.

Litha Booi and Lungelo Dhladha of South Africa won the Most promising Actor and Most Promising Actress prizes respectively for their roles in Gugu and Andile.

The judges also declared the film the Best in African Language in spite of the fact that Nigeria also had three films nominated in this category.

Joel Okunyo Prynce of Uganda emerged the Best Supporting Actor for his role in Battle of the Soul.

However, it wasn’t all gloom for Nigeria at the awards ceremony compered by Julius Agwu and Kate Henshaw-Nuttal.

Funke Akindele won the battle of Nigerian sisters as she took the Best Actress Award for her role in Jenifa.

She piped Stephanie Okereke and Nse Etim, Stella Damasus and Nadia Buari to the prize.Michelle Bello’s Small Boy also redeemed Nigeria’s image as it won in two categories; the Best in Art Direction category and Best Performance by a Child Actor prize. Richard Chukwuma took the prize.

Ace cinematographers, Tunde Kelani and Izu Ojukwu’s films also boosted Nigeria’s outing. Kelani’s Arugba won for the Best Costume while Ojukwu’s Cindy’s Notes took the Best Prize in Cinematography.

Similarly, Nigeria’s Mercy Johnson won the Best Supporting Actress Prize for her role in Live to Remember.

In another telling indictment of Nigeria’s effort at animation, no movie from Nigeria made the nominee’s shortlist. Kono from Burkina Faso won the prize.Interestingly, Tunde Kelani tactically conceded defeat to the rest of Africa but made a promise on behalf of other Nigerian filmmakers that it won’t be the same story at the 2010 edition of the awards.

Nigeria’s Zeb Ejiro and Burkina Faso’s Gaston Kabure were given lifetime achievement awards at the ceremony attended by the cream of Africa’s finest filmmakers and artists as well as Hollywood’s Danny Glover and Forest Whitaker.

Africa's Best Actress (AMAA) - Funke Akindele

2009-04-07T04:21:00.003+01:00

Nigeria movie star actress, Funke Akindele has been named by the jury of the 2009 edition of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), as Africa's best actress in a leading role.

Akindele was the jury's choice out of six other actresses nominated in that category, including a Ghanaian and Kenyan. Although, the actress, who interpreted delightfully the role of Jenifa, the lead character in the movie of same title, was not present at the award ceremony at the Integrated Glory Land Cultural Centre in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, a resounding applause greeted her declaration as the continent's best actress for this year.

But it was Kenyan's day at the award, which was witnessed by Governor Timipre Silva and members of his cabinet. The Kenyan filmmakers made it up the dais five times to receive the highest number of awards of the evening.

From a Whisper, the movie by Kenyan Director and Scriptwriter, Wanuri Kahiu, which commemorates the 10th anniversary of the infamous August 7, 1998 terrorist bombing in Kenya in which over 250 people died and 5,000 were injured was adjudged the best African film for 2009.

The movie, which examines the aftermath of the bombing on the lives of the indirect victims of the blast, also got the award for the best screenplay, best director, best editing and best original soundtrack.

The award night also featured stand-up comic acts and musical performances. Filmmakers from South Africa, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Rwanda and Niger Republic also got rewarded for their artistry in the make-belief world of the movies.

South Africa's Gugu and Andile got the awards for best promising actress and actor category as well as the best film in African Language.

Uganda received the award for the best film with visual effect with its only entry Battle of the Soul, while Burkina Faso got garlanded for the best animated film with Justin Zerbo's Kono.

Forest for Nollywood

2009-04-06T05:51:00.000+01:00

With a career spanning over two decades, Forest Whitaker has appeared in over 50 films including the Christopher Reeve directed animated movie, ‘Everybody’s Hero’ and the true life drama ‘The Great Debaters’ alongside fellow Oscar winner, Denzel Washington.

Now the Academy award winner says he is enthusiastic about working with Nigerian filmmakers.The ‘Last King of Scotland’ actor spoke at a private dinner, in Ikeja, Lagos, about his Nollywood intentions and his successful film career:

Q: At the African Movie Academy Awards press conference, you expressed your intention to work with Nigerian filmmakers. How soon do you intend to begin these collaborations?
A: I haven’t had the opportunities as yet to know any of the filmmakers. Hopefully, I’ll get to know some at the [AMAA] show. I’m really excited about being able to work here with filmmakers from here. I’m reaching to find people I would want to work together with. I’m watching a lot of the films. I’ve seen quite a few.

Q: Are there any Nigerian directors that you want to work with specifically?
A: I saw quite a few Nigerian films while I was in Uganda because that’s what they were watching mostly, and I was hanging out in their homes and being with them. I would say those are the type of films that they watch the most in Uganda.I didn’t get a sense of the filmmakers. It was more about the stories which were mostly very dramatic personal tales with some sense of spirituality in them.They were very similar so I couldn’t differentiate the filmmakers as well as I would like.

Q: About your own films...’Last King of Scotland’ could be described as a role of a lifetime. Do you agree?
A: I think it’s a really special role to play. I think I’m really fortunate to have played a character [that] is so complicated, and full of so many layers, and represented some very important things that had to be looked at.

But I’ve been fortunate. I get to play really interesting characters. That character [Idi Amin] was bigger than life and so really stands out for most people. When I was younger the roles I played in ‘Bird’ and even ‘Ghost Dog’, I felt a really strong connection with the character.It’s just being true to every character I play. They are all the same in some ways - they are completely different but I’m just searching for the truth in each one.

Q: Is there any role that you absolutely want to play?
A: I’m developing a few things. I think in about a year I’ll be playing Louis Armstrong. That should be interesting.

Q: You learned to play the saxophone for ‘Bird’...
A: When I was doing ‘Bird’ I could play. If you give me a sax now...it’s been so long and I haven’t been playing... I could play a little bit of ‘Lover Man’ and songs that I’ve played a million times, but I probably wouldn’t play as well [as before].

Q: Okay, because I was going to ask you if, apart from playing musicians, you would consider singing?
A: [Laughs] I think some of my projects would get me to do that, but I don’t know if I would just sign on and start doing a singing tour around the country. No, I don’t think I would.

Q: Are you working on directing any other movies?
A: I’m thinking about one I’ve been developing called ‘Better Angels’ which is about children soldiers. I’m gonna [sic] direct that. I’m working on ‘What a Wonderful World’ which is the Louis Armstrong piece. It’s just a question of finding good scripts and good material.

Whitaker, Glover, upbeat about Nigerian Movie Industry

2009-04-06T05:37:00.000+01:00

Academy-winning actor Forest Whitaker (the Last King of Scotland, Vantage Point) and actor-activist Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon, Predator 2) are in Nigeria to attend the fifth edition of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) in Bayelsa State capital, Yenagoa, this weekend.

In an exclusive interview with NEXT, held in Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday, both actors revealed that this was not their first time in Africa. Glover expressed a passion for a continent which he visits at least three times a year. Although this is Whitaker's first trip to Nigeria, the Oscar winner lived briefly in Uganda during the shooting of ‘The Last King of Scotland', where he was exposed to Nigerian films. Says Whitaker, "...Those are the films they watch the most in Uganda."

Whitaker also expressed his excitement at the prospect of meeting Nigerian filmmakers for possible collaborations. During the press conference shortly after his arrival he expressed the intention to "work under a Nigerian director if necessary."

Glover, an avid activist, was articulate about his belief in the future of the Nigerian film industry.

Both actors are currently working on directorial projects: Glover, with the controversial ‘Toussaint'; and Whitaker with a biopic on jazz master Louis Armstrong.

Uche Jombo’s marriage plans

2009-04-05T05:50:00.000+01:00

When star actor, Emeka Ike came calling at the corporate headquarter of The Sun Newsapapers and he was asked to describe certain actresses, it was only Uche Jombo he described as ‘superlative’. Whatever he meant, we don’t know. But one thing we know very well is that the super actress and PGD holder is still very much single.

We had thought Uche would follow the footsteps of her colleague, Thelma Okodua who got married recently and had fixed an April date for her church wedding, but Uche told us marriage is not something she has the power to bring about.

‘It will happen when it will happen or are you going to marry me Samuel? I can’t tell you there is a plan for marriage in 2009 or not. Some things are in the hand of God’.

Uche, however, reveals that she has a man in her life who is making her happy. But one thing the man has not done is pop the golden question. ‘If you are asking whether I have a man in my life, that is a different thing from marriage. I have a man in my life and I am okay with him. And if what you want to know is whether he has proposed, he hasn’t.’ That means the man hasn’t asked our star actress to marry him. Of course, she won’t reveal the identity of the man but hopefully she would disclose much more when she calls on the corporate headquarters of The Sun soon.

UBA-AMAA AWARDS 2009 WINNERS LIST

2009-04-05T05:28:00.001+01:00

Best Documentary (Short Subject)

Coming of Age (Kenya)

Best Documentary (Feature)

Joint winners:

For the Best and for the Onion (Niger)

Malcom's Echo (Nigeria)

Best Short Film

No winner announced

Best Animation

Lolo (Burkina Faso)

AMAA Achievement in Sound

Seventh Heaven (Egypt)

AMAA Achievement in Editing

From a Whisper (Kenya)

AMAA Achievement in Art Direction

Small Boy - Michelle Bello (Nigeria)

AMAA Achievement in Make-Up

Live to Remember (Nigeria)

AMAA Achievement in Visual Effect

Battle of the Soul (Uganda)

Best Original in Soundtrack

From a whisper (Kenya)

Most Promising Actor

Litha Booi - Gugu and Andile (South Africa)

Post Promising Actress

Lungelo Dhladha - Gugu and Andile (South Africa)

Best Performance by a Child Actor

Richard Chukwuma - Small Boy (Nigeria)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Farouk Alfishawi - Seventh Heaven (Egypt)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Funke Akindele - Jenifa (Nigeria)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Joel Okuyo Prynce - Battle of the Soul (Uganda)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Mercy Johnson - Live to Remember (Nigeria)

Best Film in African Language

Gugu and Andile (South Africa)

AMAA Achievement in Cinematography

Cindy's Note - Izu Ojukwu (Nigeria)

AMAA Achievement in Costume

Arugba (Nigeria)

Heart of Africa Award for Best Films from Nigeria

Arugba - Tunde Kelani

Best Screenplay

From a Whisper (Kenya)

Best Picture

From a Whisper (Kenya)

Best Director

Wanuri Kahiu - From a Whisper (Kenya)

Nollywood not Better than Ghollywood — Yvonne Nelson

2009-04-04T11:43:00.000+01:00

Yvonne Nelson is a well known Ghanaian actress who has endeared herself to a large crowds of fans during her few years sojourn in the Ghanaian movie industry .Cornered at one of her various movie locations in Nigeria, she speaks on how she got into Nollywood, her experience in Nigeria as well as her childhood passion for music which she describes as a stage in life and one which she hasoutgrown. Enjoy;

How is Ghana?

Ghana is fine and great.

What strikes your interest in venturing into Nollywood?

The fact that I want to cross boundaries is something striking. You know it is important to go international so you can sell your country by making other countries know that we also exist. It sounds so good to have this collaboration between Ghana and Nigeria; it is really good because it is helping the industry.

Tell us about your first contact with Nollywood?

It all started this year, and that was my first Nigerian movie. I was invited here to shoot a movie by Kingsley Okereke of Divine Touch Productions, so I came. The title of the movie was ‘To love and to Cherish’

How has it been, working with Nigerian movie stars?

It has been great, only that everybody wants to keep to themselves because of fame. But above all, Nigerians are very nice people.

How would you compare Ghollywood with Nollywood?

I cannot compare the two movie industries because right now, the Ghanaian movie industry has really picked up. Before now, it used to be soaps and with just a few producers but now, things have really changed. We now have so many producers and as you can see, we are doing well. Right now, I see Ghollywood and Nollywood on the same level apart from the fact that you guys have a bigger market than we do in Ghana because as you know, Nigeria is bigger than Ghana and this will in effect impact on the market.

How did it all begin?

It just happened by the way. I took part in Miss Ghana beauty pageant and that gave me a little exposure…

Are you a model?

Not really, I only took part in a beauty pageant; I am not a professional model. I did that in 2005 and it was as a result of this that I was spotted by a producer who invited for a little audition and that was how it all began.

So did you win the pageant?

No, I was the first runner up.

Which was your very first movie?

I played a supporting role in ‘Return of Beyonce” while my first major break was in ‘Princess Tara’.

What went through you when you watch yourself on set?

Before now, I was just doing it but now I have fallen in love with acting and I am so much in love with it that I am very proud of myself and I am trying to make Ghana proud of me.

Being a 300 level Human Resource Management student of the Central University College in Ghana, don’t you intend to abandon acting someday for practicing your career?Not at all; I am planning to work for an event organizing company and I still want to be in the showbiz. You never can tell, I may own my own event organizing company in the near future and I will be doing both the event organizing and will still be acting because I can never let go of acting.

Were your parents happy at your choice of career when you started out?

They were very supportive and my mom had always been there for mean that makes me happy.

Are you fully Ghanaian or you are a mixed blood?

I am fully and truly Ghanaian.

Being a ravishing looking young lady, male advances must be coming your way always, how do you handle these advances?

They are always going to be there and they will always come one’s way but it is left for me to know how to handle the situation and manage it. I believe that you don’t have to be extremely nice to everybody that come your way all the time because they can take advantage of that sometimes.

Who is that special man after your heart at the moment?

I am very, very single and would not love to go into any relationship right now.

Why taking such decision?

For now, I am single and focused.

So that makes your sex life less busy?

Yes, I am really focused now, besides, I am a very boring person. If I am not working and I am not in school, I am always at home; I am quite a boring person.

But how come it is not showing on you?

Yes, I know but appearance can be very deceptive.

How do you unwind?

I unwind by hanging out with a few friends. I have about three friends that I am really always go out with. Whenever I am not doing anything, I usually hang out with them, we watch movies, play some music or we might just eat out. I am also very much into music.

Which is your kind of music and do you sing?

I love hip hop and as a growing child I used to sing.

Who is your favorite musician?

Naesto Jones but he is popularly called NAS, he is an American singer.

How stylish are you and who are your favorite designers?

I am very stylish and I am also into designs. I know what is in vogue and I make sure that I look trendy all the time. My favorite designer is Vera Wang but I also have other designers that I love but Vera Wang is my favorite for now.

Where did you grow up and what was growing up years like for you?

I grew up in Accra Ghana. I am the last born and growing up for me was a swell time because as a last borne of two boys and a girl. I was pampered and given all the attention. It was real fun for me.

Is acting a childhood passion for you?

I can remember in my secondary school days, I used to go on stage and perform rap, I used to sing but never acting.

Are you not thinking of going back to do music later on?

No, that was only a stage in my life. All in my mind then was that I just want to be in entertainment, I wanted to be in the showbiz industry. Now, for me, it is acting, music was only a stage in my life and I have outgrown that stage.

Nigerian Movie Star News: Ibinabo Fiberesima - Gets N4m bail

2009-04-04T07:40:00.004+01:00

Embattled Nigerian movie star actress, Ibinabo Fiberesima on Thursday got a reprieve in her manslaughter conviction as she was granted bail. Ibinabo had earlier been convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment in absential following her earlier refusal to appear in court despite an order to appear in court and defend herself against the charge of reckless driving and manslaughter preferred against her over the death of one Dr. Siraj Giwa.

Justice Deborah Oluwayemi of Lagos High Court granted the actress bail while ruling on an application filed and argued by her counsel, Fred Agbaje.

Justice Oluwayemi while delivering the ruling said her hands were tied to exercise the discretion on bail otherwise in view of the fact that the prosecution represented by the Solicitor General of the state, Lawal Pedro (SAN), did not oppose or challenge the averment in the applicant’s 35-paragraph affidavit in support.

“Where facts stated in an affidavit are uncontroverted by the respondents, the court is bound to admit same as facts,” the court held. She, however, dismissed the ground of ill-health canvassed by the applicant, stating that “the applicant is not in serious danger of health.”

The conditions attached to Fiberesima’s bail are, however, stringent as the freedom was in the sum of N4 million with two sureties who must be residents and landed property owners in Lagos. They must deposit the certificate of occupancy of the properties with the court registry. Besides, they must also show evidence of payment of tax in the last three years by producing their tax clearance certificates.

On her part, Ibinabo was also mandated to deposit her international passport with the court registry as she must remain within the jurisdiction of the court until the matter is disposed off. At the end of proceeding, a subdued Ibinabo covered her face to avoid barrage of cameramen who had laid ambush for her at the entrance to the court.

The frail-looking mother of two, who spotted a black short sleeve shirt atop a white skirt, covered her face with black cloth to shield herself from the anxious photo-journalists.

Nigerian Movie Star Info: Joke Silva

2009-04-02T08:29:00.000+01:00

Joke is a household name in the world of Nigeria movies. Since the early eighties, she has carved out a successful career as an actress on stage, film, television and radio primarily in Nigeria and England (BBC, British Film Institute, Royal Court Theatre Sloan Sq) and the South of France.

Her acting credits include “Secret Laughter of Women” with Nia Long and Colin Firth (’97 Film), Mirror in the Sun (’84 TV), Second Chance (’84 TV), Jero’s Metamorphosis (’81 Stage), Owuro Lojo (’93 Video), Mind Bending (’92 TV), Sisters (2002 Stage), The King Must Dance Naked (’93 Stage), Tight Rope (2000 – 2002 TV), Twins of the Rainforest (’98 Film), The Kingmaker (2002 Video), A Husband’s Wife (2003 Stage), Brave Heart (2003 Film), Shylock (2004 Stage) and A Past Came Calling (2004 Stage) to mention a few.

Joke has also written and directed to critical acclaim: Digging for Gold, Jonah, The Drummer Boy and Footprints. She is an alumnus of Holy Child College, Obalende, Weber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts, London, University of Lagos Akoka and Fate Foundation, Ijora.

Silva is a recipient of several awards, including the EMOTAN Award by African Independent Television and the SOLIDRA Award. She is also a Member of the think tank for the Blair Commission for Africa, a trustee of Advocacy for Women and Children, a board member and a grief counselor for AART of Life Foundation.

There is no doubt that Joke brings a wealth of experience to the character she portrays in 30 Days. Dupe Alade is the president’s most powerful minister and she has been charged with the task of untangling the mystery behind the killing of government officials.

Nigerian Movies Star NEWS: Bukky Wright Takes Movie to GhanT

2009-03-29T07:03:00.006+01:00

Ghanaian stars that have been invading the Nigerian movie industry to the chagrin of Nollywood stars should prepare for revenge from an unlikely quarters, Bukky Wright.

The star actress is set to invade Ghana with her latest movie, Omotara Johnson. The movie, which features Chidi Mokeme in his first full length Yoruba movie, will be going to a festival in Ghana and would be premiered there as well. This might not be the kind of revenge somemajor English artistes would have wished for, but they should be happy someone is taking the battle to the Ghanaians on their turf.

We’ve been wondering where Mama Princess and star actress, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde had been. Somehow we’ve not been able to see or hear from her, but all that changed during the week when we suddenly woke up dreaming of her. We put a call across and were told that ‘The Smoke’ a soap opera from her stable, Red Hot Concept, has been the reason for her unavailability.

The Smoke is the first major project close to movie-making the star actress has embarked on. And from what we were told, it would hit the market in a matter of months. The Smoke centers on four ladies and their lifestyle. One of the ladies is married while the other three are single and searching.

Gbenga Richard, Larry Koldsweat, Segun Arinze, Bhira of Ambo, and Omotola herself throw their weights in the soap that was shot in three estates scattered around Lagos. Unlike other soap where small press conferences herald their coming, Omotola is planning a massive premier in Lagos and major cities across Nigeria. Corporate sponsors are already knocking on her door and she is weighing her options. The soap will be on major TV stations across Nigeria and satellite stations across the globe.

Meanwhile, Omotola had finished works on her album tentatively titled, ‘Feel alright’. The album has 12 tracks and Del B and Paul Play produced it. She is presently shooting videos to herald it release. ‘We want to correct the mistake she made in her last musical journey. She did not shoot any video before releasing the song and that really affected the sales though it did well relatively’, a close source told us. Now that we know what’s been keeping the wife of Captain Matthew whose birthday was lat Monday busy, we won’t go on worrying anymore.

Big back side runs in my family — Mercy Johnson

2009-03-29T05:51:00.001+01:00

She’s been plagued with vicious allegations here and there and very recently in a bid to outsmart thieves she undid herself by ‘giving’ out N200,000 to the side door panel of a Lagos taxi. In this interview, single smoke screen star and third sexiest actress in the Nigerian movie industry, Nollywood; Mercy Johnson, discloses the aftermath of the ‘theft’ allegation and how it caused her an endorsement deal.

How are you coping with the break in the industry?

I’ve never been on break; I’ve been working. Why should I go on a break?

So how many movies have you done recently?

From January till now I’ve done about ten movies. I shot four movies in Ghana, where I stayed for a month. Then I did three movies for Solo Amaco and some others too.

What kind of movies are they?

Among these ten movies, five are not the usual Nollywood kind of movies especially those I shot in Ghana. The story line and production are extremely different but of course Nollywood is still part of it all.

So how did you get to feature in these movies?

They sent me the script through my e-mail. In a particular script, I was supposed to play a twin character. After reading it I saw that it was wonderful. They had their phone lines on the script so I had to call them after going through the script.The next day that called me and we discussed about the movie in details.

You said the movies were different. What made the difference?

Yes it was because in the normal Nigerian movies, we are used to the same characters, segregation and competition and we never agree on stuff. So the same stories keep trooping in. But this one is not like that although they disagree once in a while too.

Recently there’s been a lot of collabo’s between Nollywood and Ghanaian stars?

Yes, it’s not just Ghana but the whole of Africa because Nollywood is like the biggest movie market in the whole of Africa. If you watch any African movie, you’re likely to see one face of Nollywood in it so it’s like a standard and there’s a bit of professionalism too. By doing so, Nollywood is just enlarging its place because as we go over there, we learn from them and we teach them what we have.

So how do Ghanaians perceive Nigerian movies?

Great. They appreciate a whole lot of Nigerian movie and their stars; and they’re very nice and friendly. You also know that a lot of Ghanaians have come here to work with us, so mixing up with them was easy.

Lets come back to Nollywood. Recently there’s been a ‘slow down’ in movie production. What do you think is responsible?

I think the industry is going through a kind of restructuring and we are just sitting down and watching to see what the outcome will be. I really don’t know the basis of the reconstruction or what is going on but I know there’s something going on.

Don’t you think it’s affecting your colleagues?

I can’t really speak for everybody because I have been working. Any time I’m not working, it means I want to take a break. So some of my colleagues too may have decided to go on break while the reconstruction is going on.The film distribution network seems to be taking a lot of time.Yes, anything good takes a lot of time to come by. The world is restructuring and so is everything in it.

Now let’s talk about you. The last time we spoke, you mentioned getting an endorsement deal. Did you get it?

No, I didn’t. I had some small hitches (problems)

What problems?

I’ll like to say here that sometimes bad things happen to a lot of people and I’m just one of those people. I don’t know how it happened but some magazine wrote that some money was stolen by me and all that. We were still talking about the endorsement deal as at the time that rumour broke out, so they (the prospective body) sent me a text that they just couldn’t go on because of what they read about me in the magazine; and I wonder how all that happened.

What was your reaction when all these write ups came up?

My reaction was that of disappointment especially by the company who decided to stop further talks on the endorsement and that’s because such stories come up all the time among stars. Some magazine make up stories that are not true just to fill their paper. I was disappointed again because I didn’t expect such things to come up without getting to hear my own side of the stories.I was accused of stealing and it stopped my endorsement which was really funny. It only means that they (the prospective body) didn’t even think I was worth the endorsement in the first place. If they thought I was worth it, they would have loved to hear my own side of the story.

Initially I felt bad but right now I’m looking at it with maturity. I think if they really needed my personality for their brand they would have heard from me. After all, there have been cases where some papers write about the death of someone and the next day you see those people on the streets. So the fact that they heard that Mercy Johnson stole, ought not to have been enough reason to have stopped that endorsement.

Tell us what exactly happened. Did you ever get involved in anything like that (pilfering)?

No, and it’s funny.

Did you consider taking legal action against the masterminds of the false accusation?

Yes I did. The case has been with my lawyer and I’ve not been around to know what is happening.

What was your parents reaction to the allegation?

I see myself as a fighter. My parents cannot get mad at me because they know the kind of person I am. It’s just so unfortunate that most people don’t know me. So they judge me from what they read about me on the papers and I don’t blame them. I think I’m too comfortable to take anything that’s not mine. I’m too comfortable to even beg talk less of stealing. It didn’t really affect me at home because at one time or the other people have been accused of stealing so I don’t want that to bother me for now. I think bigger things are coming my way so they’re only trying to stop the smaller ones and so it doesn’t bother me. I’m just trying to work and make ends meet.

So what next now that you say you’re comfortable?

(Laughing) I wasn’t comfortable at first when I wanted to make ends meet but now that I am, I intend to go back to school.

Will that be in Nigeria?

No, certainly not.

Why go outside when you can achieve it here?

I just want to be in a different environment where I can concentrate. At least nobody will know when I’m going to school, what cloth I’m putting on or what car I’m driving and so on. I just want to be in an environment where I can practically analyse myself.

How does your boyfriend react to all these stories?

If my boyfriend ever gets upset on this kind of stories, that means he doesn’t know me and we don’t need to date. (Laughing) Certainly right now I’m not dating any boyfriend, so I really don’t need to bother my head about what he feels. No guys for now.

I can’t imagine a pretty girl like you not having a sweet heart?

I think the heart has been squeezed so I’m trying to rejuvenate it (still laughing).

When it happened, how did you take it (the heart break)?

I didn’t eat for a very long time. I sat under the shower for like eight hours crying, but I got over it. My friends encouraged me to get over it.

Does your mum have a backside like yours?

Yes.

On a more serious note, what’s most attractive about you?

I don’t know. People say a lot of things but I think it’s the personality.

What kind of person are you when it comes to relationships?

I’m not a ‘love love’ (doting) person. I get angry once in a while.

What happens when a beautiful girl like you gets angry?

Everything goes open.

What is it that attracts you in a man?

I don’t really talk about the men folk. But the one thing that attracts me to people generally is their personality. I like very genuine people because I’m genuine. I act strictly on my instincts; I don’t hide my feelings. I say it the way it is, I don’t pretend; so I like people who have similar characteristics.

How about the body build?

That doesn’t really count.

Can you tell us one of the most embarrassing moments you’ve had because of your body (back & front side)?

I think the worst of it was when a fan of mine (a guy) kissed me at the airport. It took me about five minutes to recover from the shock.

And how did you feel?

I didn’t know exactly how but it was funny.

What inspired you into charity?

Basically my life is all about charity (giving). I believing in the popular saying that ‘there’s more blessing in giving than receiving’ The ‘Heart of Mercy Foundation’ is strictly for kids because I have a passion for them. It’s all about giving aids to schools and hospitals. Aids in form of money, books, chairs, tables etc. It is aimed basically at putting smiles on the faces of kids.

What are the challenges in doing this?

Ah! A lot of challenges. It’s just so unfortunate that we can’t affect the lives of everybody but we must do our best to positively affect those that we can. Also sometimes the demands are higher than the supply but I believe God, that it (the supply) will grow to meet all these demands.

Do you intend putting up any structure towards that?

Yes but I’m not through with that yet because I’ve had some delays. Certain things that try to bring down the credibility but I’m going to accomplish it no matter how hard they try.

Where is the location?

Here in Lagos.

Have you had any sort of interactions with the government as regards that?

No I haven’t.

Would you like to have an opportunity to do so in conjunction with the state government?

Yes I’ll really love to. I’ll love to know what pet projects she ( ) has in mind so we can work together. I equally intend to have branches outside Lagos but for now I want to concentrate in Lagos first.

You have several Igbo like names- Ozioma, Onyeche... where did you get them from?

I got Ozioma from my mother. Kogi people also bear names like the Igbos. My mother actually has a dual background as her own mother (my grandmother) is Igbo.

You have a naval officer for a father. How would you describe him?

Yes. He is a good person usually reckoned with force. He brought us up making us understand that life is not easy. Life is only for those who fight because you don’t wait for the sheep to come to you, you move out to get the sheep. We see him as an anchor in everything.

So how did he feel when you moved into the movie world?

He was happy for me and he’s been wonderfully supportive especially when it comes to advice. My whole family have been there for me all this while.

Do you see any of your siblings coming into the movie industry?

No, they are not just interested. For now I’m the only person that’s got interest in acting.

Who Gets AMAA Best Actress Crown?

2009-03-28T15:42:00.005+01:00

Funke ‘Jenifa’ Akindele, Stella Damasus or Stephanie Okereke?

As Nigerian movie lovers begin the countdown to the 4th African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) billed for Yenagoa, Bayelsa State next Saturday April 4, 2009, a tough battle for the treasured award of “Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role” is imminent among six top actresses from Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya.

Nollywood divas Stella Damasus, Stephanie Okereke, Nse Etim and Funke Akindele of Jenifa fame will slug it out with their counterparts like Corine Onyango (Kenya) and Uadia Buari from Ghana.

Although, the Best Actress Award is just one of the 24 categories of the Africa’s premiere movie awards, sponsored by UBA and Bayelsa State government, the nominations have evoked anxiety among movie buffs as to where the pendulum will eventually swing. The reasons are not far fetched as our own Stella, Stephanie and Funke can hold their own any where, any day.

Stephanie and Stella are popular faces and have always joined the yearly train, but if the current form of “Bigz Girl” Funke is anything to go by, then the law graduate of the University of Lagos may be unstoppable in the race for the diadem.

But then upsets can not be ruled out from other contenders from Kenya and Ghana. Buari and Cnyango may not be popular faces in Nigeria the final judgment, however, rests with the Academy of International Jurors that will pick the winners few

Also on the home front, movie fans are equally anxious about the eventual winner of the laurel for the “Heart of Africa Award for Best Films from Nigeria”. Apparently, a leveler for the English and Yoruba genres of the Nigerian film industry, in contention are Izu Ojukwu’s Cindy’s Note, Tunde Kelani’s Arugba and Tchidi Chikere’s Beautiful Soul. Others include Jenifa and State-of-the-Heart by Kingsley Omoife and Richard Mofe Damijo. Surprisingly only Arugba made the nominations for the overall Best Picture Award among the nominees for Heart of Africa Award.

Kelani’s film, which is making waves in cinema houses across the country, is competing with works from Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Egypt thus vindicating AMAA as a true Pan-African award.

The same even spread of the Best Picture Award is replicated in the Best Director prize which also has Kelani’s Arugba slugging it out with other flicks from Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Egypt. Beside Kelani and Chikere whose films had clinched AMAA plaques in the previous years, many of the stars are actually making their debut.

A regular face in home videos coming after the generation of the likes of Ramsey Noah, Jim Iyke and Emeka Ike among others, Mike Ezuruonye is one actor movie lovers cannot just push aside. The widely-travelled dude will be in Yenagoa as a contender for the prestigious Best Performance by an Actor in a leading role for his role in the film, Assassin.

Another star who may be making his debut in Yenagoa is the internationally acclaimed dancer and choreographer Peter Badejo. The artiste, who was honoured a few years back by the Queen of England with the Member of the British Empire (MBE) for his immense contributions to the dance art, may jet into the country for AMAA 2009. He was short listed alongside Ezuruonye for featuring in Tunde Kelani’s Arugba. days to the ceremony.

Yemi Solade and Avenette Sirleaf

2009-03-28T15:30:00.008+01:00

This is the question most of the guests who saw talented Nigerian movie actor, Yemi Solade and the winner of the talent hunt show, The Next Movie Star, Liberia’s Avenette Sirleaf together at the birthday bash of Prince Jide Kosoko, at the White House Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos are asking.

Information by a source who was at the bash how the duo clinged together whispering sweet nothing to each other all through the night, fueling suspicion that there is a chemistry between them. Even when guests were called to pose with the celebrant for photographs, both of them left together for the stage.

This growing conviviality between the two stars, kept the guests at the occasion to start asking what is going on between Yemi, a married man and the Liberian movie wannabe.

Avenette turned instant celebrity late last year when she won the reality TV show. The 26-year-old orphan was presented with a star prize of brand New Kia Rio and a whopping sum of $5,000

Nigerian Movie Star News: Chika Ike

2009-03-28T14:53:00.005+01:00

One look at Chika Ike and it is not hard to imagine why this young lady is quickly becoming one of Nollywood's sensations and unlike many others, she is quickly carving a niche for herself in the Nigerian movie industry and coming out with an identity people rather not compare but complement.

Born on the 8th of November several years ago, Chika has always had love for the arts. As a child Chika loved to play short drama's by herself in front of mirrors and her family. She quickly bagged the nickname 'fancy Nancy', but even then Chika never imagined she would one day make 'real movies'. That day was sometime in February 2004, Chika encouraged by numerous peers decided to audition for Chico Ejiro's Sweet Love and got the role.

It was a minor role, but soon enough, she bagged another role in Tchidi Chikere's 'Standing Alone', and weeks later, in 'Bless The Child'. Since then, Chika has gone ahead to make prominent appearances in 'Paradise', last years sensational drama 'Everything We Touch', 'My Prince And My Princess', 'Django', 'Emotional Blackmail', 'Wisdom And Riches' among several others. A student of the University Of Lagos, Chika admits it's very challenging mixing a career in film and an education that means a lot to her.

She only recently flew to Sierra Leone to shoot the upcoming action thriller 'Assassin' alongside Mike Ezuruonye and Step Nora Falana. Chika seems to attract the action genre as she has been placed to play the lead female in several action flicks which include her debut in 'Bless The Child' alongside Sam Dede. While Chika is not working, she is reading, traveling or working out in her school's sport center. She has decided that her career would not encompass everything, instead she would be selective about the roles she plays. Chika is the fourth of six children, and while her dad was initially skeptical about her interest in the movie industry, he has become her biggest fan

Nigerian Movie Star News: Nonso Diobi

2009-03-28T14:41:00.003+01:00

Nonso Diobi is one of top upcoming actor in Nollywood. He has featured in a number of Nigerian movies since he arrive in the scene.

"It's like a dream come true," said Nonso Diobi, 28 (as at 2009), who had snatched one of the lead roles in "Blackmailed" only two months after leaving his home in southeastern Nigeria for Surulere, here in the country's commercial capital. "This is where it all happens, where all the stars are who make big money because they can sell movies. I'm not a big star yet. But when I am, I will fix a big price."

Nigerian Movie Star Interview: Nkem Owoh

2009-03-28T14:19:00.003+01:00

Nigerian Movie Star, Nkem Owoh (popularly called Osuofia) is one of the gifted actors in the Nigerian Movie Industry. He is most popular for his interpretation of roles; a talent which has endeared him to the hearts of many people both locally and abroad.

While tracing his career to his primary and secondary school days as well as the university and youth service year, he recalled how he eventually got a job at WACO Engineering Co, where he was sacked and left stranded for quite sometime. But he soon rose from this depth to become a force to reckon with in the Nigerian home video sector.

Background
I was born in Udi, Enugu State. I had my primary and secondary education in Nsukka. For my tertiary education, I had a stint with the University of Ilorin and later IMT Enugu, where I graduated as an Electrical Engineer after which I proceeded on my national youth service in Ogun State. However, I had a stint with television shortly before joining IMT. I was at both the NTA and Channel 8 in Enugu.

Acting career
I know I have always had this acting talent in me, but it was the television that really inspired me. I was so popular in my primary school days for my performances during what we call The Anniversary. I am not sure it is still being done today because some of those things stopped after the civil war. During the period of the anniversary, I always took part in almost all the entertaining activities holding during the festivities.
In fact, in my secondary school days, I was invited to the University of Nigeria Theatre Group. One of the performances was Vengeance of Haba by Chiko Ozuo. It was produced in the early 1970s and since that time, I have never looked back.

Why acting and not engineering
My dad wanted me to study Medicine, because he himself was into Pharmacy, but I preferred engineering. But somehow, something kept bothering me and I felt I should give it some attention. The lure went on and on such that even while studying Engineering, I was still very active in the acting circuit, particularly for the television and radio.

I am an engineer by certificate, but an artiste by practice. I never can tell, events may force me to dust my certificate one day and soon something big can come up; not necessarily in form of employment, but may be through political appointment that requires the candidate to have knowledge of the issues in that sector. So I cannot rule out the possibility of my returning to practice Electrical Engineering in future.

WACO
I worked for WACO Engineering immediately after my youth service and after working for just about one year during the era of belt-tightening policy by the Federal Government, WACO, just like other business outfits in the country then, needed to lay off some of her work-force and naturally without any parameter decided to lay off those of us that were new in the company. After losing my job, I tried to get a teaching job in an institution of higher learning or even a secondary school, but this did not work out. Later I started getting calls from a particular group luring me to come and be part of a particular television production. Unfortunately, I stopped fraternising with drama as soon as I joined WACO.

They sacked me because they were trying to protect themselves and they were putting me in a fix. But that was the way God wanted the whole thing to go in order for me to reach His desired goal for my life. I cannot be grateful to those that sacked me, afterall the fact that Judas was instrumental to the death of Jesus Christ doesn’t make him (Judas) a good man although the Bible had already said that somebody must betray Christ. I thank God that today I have so many people under my employ and a legion of trainees under my tutelage .

From Enugu to Lagos
I was still acting as a stringer on television when NTA Enugu came up and I was invited to do something for the station and along the line, The New Masquerade was relaunched and I joined the crew. At a time, I was the sole-script writer for the series and once in a while I created a character for myself within the play, this is the reason for some of the brief appearances I made in the now rested TV comedy.

Within that same period,the late Ken Saro-Wiwa came up with Bassey and Company. He made me the production manager.This particular offer was very engaging, because I was given an official car, a house, an office and all other required conveniences that aided my job. This was in Enugu although we had our main office in Port Harcourt. At a stage, I was the script editor of Bassey and Company. People did not take note of these. It was when I came to limelight that some went back down the memory lane to discover that I have been around for sometime.

After leaving the East in 1990 when Bassey and Company was rested, I moved over to Lagos. In Lagos, I was also very active in the scripting of Memorial Hospital, I did a lot of writing and acting but most of the time, I operated behind the camera. It was this period also that the serene town of Badagry spurred my creative instinct to write one of my earliest gifts to the Nigerian home-video industry; Taboo.

Later, I was instrumental to the creation and scripting of a number of programmes on NTA Lagos, then. Although I am not a trained writer, but because I had this strong passion for anything creative, I was able to write well enough to become one of NTA’s approved script writers.

How I became a comedian
I have always been known for serious roles in most plays that I take part in and those that know me very well see me more as a business minded actor and practitioner that may never have anything to do with comedy .

In 1987, I was given my own programme slot called Star Comedian Corner by the Anambra State Television (ATV). I accepted the challenge, and went deeper into my person to explore the hidden comical aspects of me. So I went on from one comedy to the other until I was in total control of the goal or let’s say the challenges I have initially set out for myself.

Whenever I see some of my early plays where I played serious roles. I always doubt if anyone can say that I wasn’t good enough playing those roles as I am known to play the comic roles today.

Business
Apart from my acting career, I am also very much involved in the business aspect of showbiz. I have my own production outfit which I must say has been developing in the last seven years. My editing studio too was installed three years ago. I have cameras that I hire out both for high-tech movie productions and coverage of social functions. I also have a film school where I train writers, actors and other talents in the profession. I have a branch office in Enugu where I sell accessories for film productions.

I am thoroughly a show-businessman because I also anchor occasions as the MC in addition to organising shows and what I am trying to do in the long run is to be in tandem with some of my colleagues that have broken into the international market.

Ban by the marketers
I think it was a kind of misunderstanding, since people in the sector usually misunderstand certain positions. I give the marketers kudos ( marketers ,with reservation). Marketing is a different ball game from what they are doing. But if they choose to be called by that name it is fine by me, but mere distributorship cannot encompass the true meaning of marketing. In fact, the issue of distributors sitting down in the market and waiting for the buyer to come and pick up the movies they require is not a good way of distribution. Despite all this short comings, I still give them kudos because they were the first to take the risk of plunging their funds into the movie video sector even when uncertainty was prevalent.

But I can say that this unnecessary show of power has not helped anybody at the end of the day. Let us check how much sales they have made since the ban ,no doubt their action has affected the industry quite negatively ,they are losing and the affected too artistes are losing. But I can assure you that for some of us in this business, it is going to end on a very positive note in terms of us breaking into the international arena as world class artistes that we really are. So at the end of the day, if I now decide to charge my clients only in dollars based on the reality of the time, it is then that the marketers would realize that the Nigeria artiste is still very poorly paid.

Why I was banned
As much as I hate to use the word banned, it becomes quite imperative to state that the arrogance that I was accused of is based on my insistence that no matter the circumstances, I will not shoot on any set that will not shoot for at least two weeks with eight working hours expended each day. I insist that there must be a mini discussion of a production before we embark on any shooting and some producers and directors see the above as arrogance.

We must learn to follow universal standards if the international market is ever to take us seriously. I am not the type of artist that will be running from one location to the other and so I demanded for some level of sanity because I was coming from the old NTA style where things were planned and artistes were camped for a while before recording commenced . I know one or two producers in the past who allowed some suggestions from the artistes and at the end of the day, they were the better for it.

The way some of the producers see the actor is very strange. For most of them, we are making our money, but of what use is money if after you have made the money you suddenly drop dead or fall so ill that most of what you have is plunged back into medical bills? Those people at the International Labour Organization (ILO) who insisted that a working person should put in a total of eight hours a day must have a tangible reason for doing so. Personally, my physician has warned me to take things easy and it is important I obey such medical advice.

New challenges
We are no longer crazy about the local market because we have seen the potentials of the international market and what it holds for us is unbelievable. It is the world that christened us Nollywood and now that the world beckons, we cannot afford to play the sleeping giant any longer.

Nollywood
Right now in this sector, we don’t have a policy, neither do we have the necessary structures to protect what we produce. For me, these are more important issues than the unnecessary bickering here and there. If the Federal Government is sincere, it should quicken the process of putting into legislation some kind of policy to guide and protect the profession.

If we have the right policy, we may not need to be fighting over the little things that we as an industry make for now because by then, the true potentials of the industry will emerge. It would also checkmate some greedy artistes and directors that are so brazenly absurd; many of who actually collect three scripts at the same time and thereby create problems for the producers.

Osuofia in London
Being part of the production was very fulfilling for me. It was an interesting experience because it was a cross-cultural production in which we explored the culture of the white man to see where we have agreements and where we disagree. It was such a production that is far from demeaning to the African sensibility; those who say they have become so European in their own ways that it becomes extremely difficult for them to even appreciate the fact that in Osuofia’s home land, to capture a pigeon and prepare it in a pot of soup is the rule and so, if he finds himself in a land where such a rule becomes an exception, he deserves our sympathy and not condemnation. So despite all his clowning, Osuofia in the midst of murky dangerous waters ferried back his late brother’s money into Nigeria. The movie showed once again, like in Wole Soyinka’s Lion and the Jewel, that most often, native intelligence has a way of surpassing book-knowledge. With this in mind, I want to advise people to see the movie again and they will be very proud that Osuofia went to London.

Reaction of Europeans
When I was playing with them, I was Like a god in their midst. People rushed to get me seat wherever I went. Even the European artistes on set exclaimed aloud that ‘Oh! my God, this is a very big actor from Africa, when am I going to be like him?’ The people on the streets too were so thrilled to see us and all that has shown that it is only when you go outside Nigeria that you get to know the kind of mileage Nollywood has brought in for this country.

Political functions
Because of the level of insincerity on the part of government officials to themselves and the very terrible way they choose to deal with the Nigerian people, I have had to turn down many invitations to come and entertain during government functions right from the Presidency to the local government. I have refused to do anything for them. I am a personal friend to some people in government but I won’t entertain them. It is a way of showing my displeasure to those in power that I am not impressed by the high level of misrule in the land. The government is not doing what they should be doing for Nollywood. Look,we are not begging them for money, all we want are relevant policies to help protect our profession and investments. We have a government, yet people come here and steal our sweats by way of copyright infringements. Until such a time when I am sure that our government can safe guard this industry, I won’t be happy with them and until such a time when they become socially responsible and responsive, I will not touch their contract and this is my own social responsibility and contract with the Nigeria people.

Impact today and the future
I see myself as an instrument of progress, because if I simply align myself to the side of the government or even my co-travelers in this industry, there will be absolute peace and movie producers would taunt me as the best available, but because I have my eyes not only on the gains of the moment, that is why I am totally dedicated to the development of this industry. If God wills it that I am going to succeed in making a positive impact, especially on the next generation of movie practitioners, then no man can take that away.

Most embarrassing moments
Where do I start from? Because it has not been once or twice but many times over. A lot of embarrassing things happen in this industry, it happens during production, when I to get my money or during post productions. Embarrassment crop up at any of these stages probably because I lack some knowledge or some other person lacks some knowledge. It is even embarrassing for someone to come and tell me that Osuofia in London demeans Africa but I take it with maturity, because that is where their own level of interpretation ends.

Nigerian Movie Star Interview: Stella Regis Iro

2009-03-28T14:06:00.005+01:00

For United States-based actress, Stella Regis Iro, there is no place like home. After 11 years in America, the 24-year-old diva has returned to premiere My Drug Brother, her new movie.

In this chat, Stella talks about her humble beginning, her foray into modeling, and above all her steaming romance with an American.

Journey to America
I traveled to the United States of America in 1997, and that was about 11 years ago. It was really not my decision to travel but my parents’. They made all the arrangements; got me the visa and I had no choice but to travel. I was in my JSS 3 then.

In US, I studied Health Administration, graduating with a Bachelors degree.

Getting into movie
I have a passion for movie and it began in my early secondary days back in Nigeria. I was involved in several plays. And while in the university, I got a role in modeling. While doing modeling, I came across several photographers and so many of them actually advised me to get into acting. One of them directed me to a set where they were shooting a Nigerian movie in Houston. He asked me to come in and maybe see if I could develop a real passion for the industry. I went in after they finished auditioning for roles, but early enough to rehearse with them.

Luckily, it worked out and that was how I got into the movie industry and getting my first role. Getting a role was not really easy. The directors actually asked me to do one or two things, which I did and got the role. The truth is that at the time I came on board, they hadn’t assigned roles; so it will be safe to say I had my chances and I used them well enough. That was a little over two years ago. Mind you, I have graduated from college then.

Parental opposition
Well, my parents are not keen about the movie industry, nobody in my family is. So, I’m like the odd one in the set up. I tried to bring them around sometimes to show them some of the things that I’m doing. So the attitude is, if other people are doing the same, it’s okay. They are getting used to what I’m doing right now.

My Drug Brother
The title of my new movie is My Drug Brother. In the film, I played the role of a girlfriend to one of the drug dealers. I guess it was a minor role, but I had a lot of speaking roles in the movie. My Drug Brother is all about two passionate lovers with different upbringing. The guy is an African-American while the girl is an America-born Nigerian.

Despite their cultural differences, they moved in together, unemployed. The question is, do they really love each other or is it just infatuation? Along the line, the past takes over the present. It’s a story about love, tragedy and betrayal. If you watch it, you get your message. People are bound to get different messages from watching the movie for there are so many twists and suspense in the movie. It features Nigerians, Americans, Italians and Hispanics. It’s a mix cultural movie.

The budget
It’s a big budget film. I spent close to a $100,000. Well, by American standard, it’s an okay budget. Hollywood? Yeah, it’s a small budget. I had a partner and we went half on it, and it was from our pockets.

What next?
After this first movie, I hooked up to another agency, which got me a couple of other auditioning and movie roles. And one of the roles I got was in an American directed movie. I was able to act well because I’m very good in memorizing and so it was pretty easy for me. Besides, I had the passion. After my first movie role, I started paying more attention to the profession and less attention to my modeling career. Right now, acting is my passion and I’m giving it my all.

Making the money
I can’t say I’m making the big money because you have to make a lot of sacrifices. But I’m making something. Going through an agency helped me out a lot.

On Nollywood
Well, I think they are getting better. Initially, what we saw over there wasn’t quite tasty. There were a lot of rituals and plenty of mistakes. Sometimes when you are watching, you can see a hand float into the screen, which meant the editor didn’t do his homework well. And the quality was awful, as most were shot with substandard cameras. But the current Nigerian movies are a lot better in terms of quality and the acting kind of similar. Sometimes, there is a mix up between drama and film and that’s why some of them tend to be too dramatic.

Favourite acts
Well, I like Genevieve because she’s very flexible in her role. She can act a little girl; she can also act a bad or a good person. Besides her movie roles, she is into other stuff, like her modeling and the clothing line she’s running. She’s done quite well for herself. Also, Kenneth Okonkwo is my one and only actor. I have never met him, but I love his ways on set.

On relationship
My first boy friend was a US-born Nigerian. We didn’t talk pretty much about Nigeria because he was more like an American. I can’t really compare Nigerian and American guys when it comes to relationship because the Nigerian that I dated was more irresponsible than the American. The American guy that I dated was more responsible than the Nigerian.

Nigerian Sophie Okonedo of Hotel Rwanda

2009-03-28T13:57:00.003+01:00

AS this year's Pan African Film and Arts Festival (PAFF) took off last week in Los Angeles California in the United States of America, a film by British-Nigerian actress Sophie Okenedo will be among the that will be on exhibition.

The Nigerian Actress Okonedo who starred in the very popular film, Hotel Rwanda Her stunning turn as Don Cheadle's iron-willed wife earned her an unexpected Oscar nomination and global name recognition.

Skin which is the title of the film she starred in will be exhibited alongside other films like Kassim the Dream, Zora Neal Hurston, 13 Months of Sunshine and Tight Jeans, amongst others. The actress who burst into tears and collapsed when she met Johnny Depp has also starred in movies like ''lovely and sweet drama, The Martian Child will no doubt be the only Nigerian actress whose work will be shown in the PAFF which was was established in 1992 as a non-profit corporation dedicated to the promotion of cultural and racial tolerance and understanding through the exhibition of film, art and creative expression.

Nigerian Movie "Senseless"

2009-03-28T13:52:00.004+01:00

Hi, folks. How’s the week and the weekend been? As usual, I spent mine watching Nigerian movies, just to please you readers. Soon, I swear, you guys are going to have to start watching these movies yourselves and sending in the reviews. One poor young woman like me can only take so much punishment.

Luckily, the punishment was less severe this week as I watched one of the Project Nollywood movies, Senseless, which deals with domestic violence. Starring Bimbo Akintola, Femi Branch and Kanayo O. Kanayo and directed by Fidelis Duker, it tells the story of a couple played by Akintola and Branch who have a seemingly loving relationship that is however constantly punctuated by the husband’s bouts of violence towards his wife.

The movie starts with three or four very good scenes that made me want to continue watching, which is something rare for Nigerian movies. I loved the first few shots as I felt like the director of photography really thought about them before they were made.
After a strong start and like 25 minutes in, the movie began to taper off in many ways, from the shots, which became mundane and ordinary, to the story, which became a bit sloppy. This ebb and flow continued for a while, as the movie got in turns better and worse.

They ended up adding a few unnecessary scenes, like one where he went to a beer parlour, asked for malt and was practically hustled out by the attendant. The scene had no bearing on any before or after it and only left me scratching my head wondering what that was about. Maybe someone had gone to that beer parlour to drink and didn’t pay and promised the owner a scene in the movie. I couldn’t find any other plausible explanation.

Then there was the odd habit they had of adding a scene of the same roundabout and road in Lekki between every scene. I saw that roundabout so many times I wanted to scream.

I also had a few issues with the casting as I just couldn’t suspend belief long enough to accept KOK as Akintola’s father. KOK is old, but to be Bimbo’s father? He should have felt insulted and stormed off the set for that one alone. Plus, why did they make him always dress up in full chieftaincy regalia of red cap, chieftaincy beads and lion-head shirt, even when he was at home, relaxing? Nobody dresses like that, people. We got the point that he was a rich Igbo man, we didn’t need it constantly repeated to us like we were a couple of retarded children.

Also, they could have done a bit more research for the medical and legal parts of the story as the fact that they didn’t left gaping holes in some parts of the movie. A doctor who didn’t know how to medically describe a condition for authenticity. A lawyer and judge who kept saying, “Any more further cross-examination?” “No, my lord, no more further cross-examination.” This would not have been a big deal; except the lawyer was referring to questions she was asking her own client. Opposing counsels usually does cross-examinations. See, even me, a bloody journalist, knew that one.

All in all, it was a good movie with a good storyline, a number of well-shot scenes, but had a few thin parts in the middle. With the exception of a few people, the acting was okay.
Definitely a good movie to watch. I liked it, overall.

Nigerian Comedy Star News - Rita Dominic Storms Malawi

2009-03-28T12:15:00.000+01:00

Come the month of May, Nollywood star actress, Rita Dominic is expected to flew into Malawi, to give her Malawian fans a bit of the action, following the launch of the Multichoice Malawi- Africa Magic promotion that is being run jointly by South African airways, Malawi’s Sunbird Hotel Group, and Malawi’s biggest newspaper group, Nation Publications Limited (NPL).

Already, the Malawian fans are full of expectations, as they look forward to a grand -welcome fortheir screen idol. “ Rita, I can’t wait to see you here in the warm heart of Africa. May the coming of this diva unveil all the hidden talents in Malawi.” writes one of her Malawian fans.

According to Multichoice Malawi Sales and Marketing Manager Blantyre Branch, Chimwemwe Nyirenda, they decided to bring the movie star to the Southern African country as part of the five years celebrations of the Africa Magic channel.“Ever since this channel started on DStv, it has gained popularity and is loved by many people in the African continent. It’s a channel which was placed to promote Africa and its people.

So as part of the celebrations we decided to bring the Nigerian movie star,” said Nyirenda.He explained that Dominic was chosen, after a survey was carried out by the company, and following a recommendation by the Nigerian movie makers who attested to her outstanding performance in the industry.

Multichoice alongside Nation Publications Limited and South African Airways and Sunbird Hotels has since launched a promotion in the country which its main prize is a golden ticket for people to enter three parties Dominic will hold.

Nyirenda said the movie star will arrive in Malawi on May 12, through the capital, Lilongwe before hosting an exclusive party the following day.“For people to enter the promotion, they need to subscribe to DStv premium, Compact or Family bouquets from March to May 9. Secondly, they need to buy Nation on Sunday newspaper cut all nine Nollywood star posters that will be coming and submit,” he said.

Apart from winning golden tickets to party with Dominic, Malawians according to Nyirenda will also have a chance of winning branded Africa Magic promotion materials.Noting that the objective of the promotion was to increase awareness of Africa Magic and Africa Magic plus and change the mindset that DStv is very expensive, Nyirenda said, Dominic, who is expected back in the country on May 16, will also hold two parties in the country’s commercial city of Blantyre on May 14.

She will also take time to do charity work.

Interview with Funke Akindele (Jenifa)

2009-03-28T11:44:00.006+01:00

One on one with the favorite Nigerian Movie Star (I am sure the name "Jenifa" rings a bell)

Why did you pack out of Akoka side?

I just wanted a change of environment. I have one or two friends where I stay; I think the place is cool. So, you’ve left your parents.No, we all moved out together.

Obviously, things are looking up, the last time we met, you were using cars for small boys like us, now you are riding a Honda Jeep?

A point of correction, that car you saw is not a small car. It is worth more than one million naira. Well, it is just an improvement; I just wanted something bigger.

It seems you are the hottest actress in the Yoruba genre of the industry. What’s the magic?

Like I’ve always said, it is all about hard work and prayer. Whatever you do just do it well because you never can tell which job might land you at the top. So, I give it to God and hard work.I know a couple of actresses who are working hard but not getting as much attention as you are

Like I said earlier on, prayers also matter. Put anything you do before God and if it is His will, you will surely be celebrated there. The industry is large for any good actress to be noticed. I thank God I’m being appreciated.The pay must surely be good.Thank God, I’m not complaining.

People say you’ve been producing so many movies these days?

I’ve not been producing lot of movies. The only movie I have now is Apadi and it’s yet to be released. That is the only movie I’ve ever produced this year, though, I’ve acted in quite a lot of movies.

Tell me about the movie, Apadi?

It’s a traditional movie, it’s got some lesson in it and it is technically superb. It had a large cast and was shot in traditional setting of Abeokuta and Ilaro.

Who is financing your movie?

I financed Ojo Ketala myself, but my marketer, Olasco Film financed the others. He brings the fund and I produced.

You must be enjoying acting?

Yes, definitely. Acting is my first love, I didn’t get into acting because I wanted money, I just wanted to exhibit my talent. Acting has always been my first love.
But you never had the intention of becoming a full blown actress when you started acting in ‘I need to know’"

Yes, I just wanted to exhibit the talent in me. I wasn’t after making money or becoming a celebrity.

What is still there in acting world that you want to achieve?

I still have a lot to learn and achieve. When I look at the likes of Bimbo Akintola, I shiver and tell myself that I am not there yet. That is a very deep actress, I give that to her. And there is Kate Henshaw, I saw her in Show Me Heaven. That was her best. I was thrilled. I keep telling myself that I still have a long way to go.

Is winning City People best actress not coming too early?

No, I don’t think so because I’ve worked hard for it. Most of my friends and colleagues sent me texts saying I deserved it. Even people around me feel I deserved it. They gave it to me because they believed I deserved it.

What is next for you after best actress award?

I don’t know, only God can tell. I’ll just keep working harder.

Will you ever produce an English movie?

Why not? When the time comes, I will. It is just that I am sticking to the production of Yoruba movies because I understand the market.

I learnt most movies don’t sell more than 100 000 copies. How true?

I don’t think so. Ekuro, my movie sold more than that. And Taiwo-Taiwo sold more than that. I believe if you have something good in the market it will keep selling. Maybe your first batch sells within that region but later it will pick up if it is a good movie. When my marketer released Ekuro the movie sold 200 000 copies.

What point were you trying to prove in Risikat?

I was called upon to act and I did my best. The character was a street girl and always fighting, that was why I had gloves on.

Van Vicker Reacts

2009-03-26T20:35:00.002+01:00

Van Vicker, Ghanaian - born Nollywood actor has been the toast of many movie marketers and producers in Nigeria for some time now as his face seems to sell the movies.

But we hear the marketers are all set to ban the actor because it was alleged the actor always demanded for the American copyrights to their movies before featuring in the movies.

Some people alleged the actor would always ask for the sole right to market the movies in America or he would not feature in the movie.

But reacting to this allegation, the actor debunked the allegation to us, saying there is no iota of truth in the allegation.

Vicker agreed that he had a company which distributed movies in partnership with another company based in America, but he did not insist that the right to market the film be given to him.

“If I think a film will do well, I approach the owner to buy the film rights for the US. Sometimes, they agree sometimes they do not for different reasons. I have worked with Eagles Wing, St. Joseph, Harrison Productions and many more that I did not get any rights. I am about to work with Venus Films and I am not getting the American rights.

Marketers are smart businessmen and they will not make any business decisions that are not good for them.” Vicker said he had bought rights to movies that he did not even star in. “I pay good money for them. I have bought from Emmalex, Noble Entertainment and many others, and I was not even in their films. The storyline is the first thing that influences my choice of scripts. So, I don't understand where they are getting this story from. I think some people are just being mischievous with this story.”

Mercy Johnson's Ordeal

2009-03-26T20:16:00.003+01:00

One of the Nollywood Stars, Mercy Johnson is at this moment riling the loss of an endorsement deal worth about N30 millions due to a negative media report her close associates believed were sponsored by those out to run her down.

Recently it was reported that Mercy stole the sum of $4000 belonging to Isaac Izoya the most popular international promoter who arranges Europe tour for our Nollywood stars. Isaac was said to have being contacted for his own side of the story and he said the rumour was not true (attached is the bromide of the email he sent to the enquiry).

As trivial as the rumour seems it has cost ‘Nollywood Sexiest Actress 2008’ an endorsement deal said to be worth several millions of naira. A telecommunication company which is known to have slashed several millions on entertainers was in serious discussion with her when the news broke.

The report put a stop to the ongoing discussion which had climaxed at an agreed sum of N30 million. Mercy was supposed to be unveiled as first Nollywood ambassador for the company. The company figured that a ‘thieving’ ambassador will not be complementary so it stopped all form of negotiation with the star actress.

Mercy that is presently shooting a movie in land of black gold, Ghana, is not happy and she is spoiling for a fight with the media, threatening to take those peddling bad news about her to court. Speaking to Showbiz Now in an emotional laden voice Mercy after her hand was stitched due to an injury she sustained on location said some people are out there to ruin and bring her down.

“I don’t know where all these is coming from but I know it is handiwork of those that want to ruin me. Isaac sent them an email that the report is not true yet they refused to publish his response and went to town with response that I did not give. My enemies are planning to ruin me when they caught wind of the deal I was supposed to sign. Now, another report has it that an Israeli bought me an escalade. I don’t even know what an escalade looks like. I’ve never dated a white man and I don’t know the person they are talking about. I only drive Honda Element End of Discussion and Bulldog. Why is it that it is now that all these bad reports are coming out about me, I know is it a calculated attempt by someone out there who want to ruin me? Is it me that gave gift worth over N500, 000 to charity at once that will now steal $4000?”

We learnt that Mercy lost a similar deal recently when a friend of her advised her against collecting sum of N2m for an endorsement deal but that same friend took another actress who was offered N400, 000 to the company and they pocketed the money.

Isaac Izoya who spoke with us on phone denies the report saying Mercy never stole a dime from him. “I don’t know why some people love to bring our stars down. Look, Okocha played better than Beckham but the English press built hype around him to make him look like the best in the world. We spent lots of money on the trip and recorded many successes without trouble.

Mercy did not still a dime from me. All the stars I took on the trip had to and fro ticket so why would she steal money to buy ticket for her return trip. I spent over 50 000 Euro on each of those trips I organize, why would people not see and celebrate that? Why are they looking for smoke where there is no fire? Those saying she stole just want to bring her down. I’ll forward you the message the writer sent to me and what I sent back. This report is false; Mercy did not take any dime of my money.”

Nigerian Movie Star News: Genevieve Nnaji

2009-03-26T20:06:00.003+01:00

For months, fans of Nigerian megastar, Genevieve Nnaji have been asking the question. Where is Genny?

The Nigerian Movie star has kept a low profile over the past 2 years. Last year, she focused on her budding fashion label, St. Genevieve, was on the cover of TW Magazine and also featured in a few select movies.

The only major events that she attended last year were the Genevieve Magazine Turquoise Ball and the Encomium Magazine White Gig. Well, its 2009 and it seems like Miss Genny is back! She was at the wedding of designer, Data Okorodudu of JD7 Couture’s daughter. As a friend of the mother of the bride, Genevieve was garbed in a stunning version of the wedding ‘Aso Ebi’. Beautiful!

Nigerian Movie Star Profile: Omotola Jalade Ekeinde.

2009-03-26T19:41:00.004+01:00

What Nigerian Movie star, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde's got to say:

"To all my fans,if it wasn't for you; I wouldn't be where I am today!!!. Thank you for your love and support throughout the years I have been in the entertainment business"

NAME: Omotola J. Ekeinde
PROFFESSION: Actress
STATUS: Married with four kids
HUSBAND: Capt. Matthew Ekeinde
CHILDREN: Princess, M.J, Meriah and Michael

Biography;
I am from a family of five (5); Mrs & Mrs Shola Jalade (both late) and two brothers Tayo and Bolaji Jalade. I attended Christland Nursery School, Opebi, Lagos and Oxford Children School Santos Layout. I then proceeded to Kaduna for my Secondary education at Command Secondary School. I am currently undertaking an HND course in Estate Management at Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos.

I got married at the Ikeja registry on the 23rd, March 1996, then later had a beautiful white wedding on board a DASH 7 Aircraft flying from Lagos to Benin, on the 19th April, 2001.

Besides acting, I also sing and have an album soon to be released. I feature as a writer for one of the Nigerian daily's, the Saturday's SUN ( Omotola?s Diary). Occasionally I get involved in Social Services for women and the homes. She is another actress who has proved that she is also one of the best around proved her worth in Kingsley Ogoro's movie, "Prostitute",

This mother of four is endowed with a good height and good figure. She drives a BMW with a personalised number plate, "Omotola 1" and a Chevrolet Jeep with a personalised number plate- "Omo Sexy ". She lives with her husband in their eye-popping mansion at Iba Estate.

To my Family:
What will I do without your support, never complaining always encouraging...I love you all

Media:
sometimes sweet Sometimes bitter, but you have been there fore me when I needed you the most, and sincerely I appreciate you. I wouldn't be here without your help.

My Fans:
What can I say about you guys?. You have made me a better person and I strive to please you all the time. I love You.

Movies:
Oyato 1
Reckless heart
No Rival (1&2)
Day Break 1
What I Want
Maniac 1
My Best Friend
Venom Of Justice
Working For Love
Iva
I Will Die For You
The Outside
The Prostitute
The Oppressor
Society Lady
Slave
The Silent Book
Mid Night Scream
Scores To Settle
Pretty woman
Okosisi
No one but you
Market sellers
Two faces of evil
Rescue
Out of love
Mortal inheritance
Lost kingdom
Final step
Blood sister 1
Blood sister 2

After my failed marriage, I’m a better person — Stephanie Okereke

2009-03-26T11:10:00.004+01:00

Stephanie Okereke is indeed a queen and if you think this writer is wrong, then you need to visit our newsroom to feel the pulse of some of my colleagues who were on hand to receive her when she came calling on a courtesy visit to our headquarters. An accomplished movie star in the Nigerian Movie industry and a former beauty queen had several hearts pumping when she sauntered into our newsroom.

Of course she had every reason to identify with us because according to her, “ I’ ve heard about all the beautiful things you guys have been doing to support Nollywood and I want to be part of it”.

Indeed she had a swell time with us and at the end of visit we had a clear picture of Stephanie Okereke and what makes her tick. She also shared with us her experience as a movie producer and more as you’d soon find out. Enjoy:

It’s really nice to see you today in our office...

It’s nice to see you guys too.

So, how are you doing today?

I’m alright, thank you.

You’ve been away for quite sometime, what happened?

I was away to do my movie and after shooting, I returned home to attend the BOBTV event where many people demanded to see the movie, I think BOBTV is good platform for film makers to interact.

So how was the response at BOBTV?

It was awesome, they loved it. I showed the movie on a Tuesday at the event and on Wednesday at the workshop, it was full hall when I arrived. There were a lot of young people and they asked questions on how I did it. Everybody is demanding to see the movie, I think the response was great.

Is that your first ever self produced movie?

Yes it’s the first movie which I wrote, directed, produced and acted all in one.

What was the experience like?

(Laughing) It was a lot of hard work but it was fun. All this happened because I wanted to do something different. In the beginning I was thinking about it myself; Can I do this? How do I go about it?. Should I do it I asked myself? . There were so many challenges ranging from funding, location, getting your cars and so on.

So how were you able, to do it?

Well I was able to do it by God’s grace. It’s just like any other moment you face challenges, then you have to tackle it the best way that you can.

How long have you been in the movie industry, do you think experience has anything to do with producing or directing a movie?

I’ve always been there so age has nothing to do here. I mean over there, they have young directors who are about 16, 17 years and above 50, age shouldn’t be a restriction. You don’t have to be old to be a director.

There are lots of young people in movies abroad. Most of the foreign movies you’ve watched were directed by young people. So as they grow in it, they keep improving and that means a lot of experience. I did my first move in 1997 when I finished secondary school.

Eleven years after, don’t you think it took so long to come this far?

First of all, I wasn’t expecting it and it just happened. And also in life, there is time for everything. There is time for you to make certain decisions and move to another level, so I think this is just the proper time for me to do this.

What is this movie all about?

The movie is centered around responsibility and commitment. A parent’s love for a child. It’s about a guy who doesn’t want to come into relationship and suddenly finds an unknown baby. And this baby opens the way of God for him to discover himself. So he’s going through the glass of the situation around him and then there’s his relationship with this Nigerian girl.

So it’s all centered around a man?

Yes, a man, the baby and the girl.

Where was this movie shoot and who are the stars?

It was all shot in Los Angeles (LA), and I used Americans, African American, and also some of our African actors.

And who are the American actors?

Well you wouldn’t know but they are quite big in America

You didn’t use any of the stars here in Nigeria?

No. I didn’t use any of my colleagues that you know. It wasn’t an issue of whether I use my colleagues or not. It was an issue of the script. I had to use only those who are characters in the script.

What was the experience like blending Nolly and Hollywood together?

It wasn’t much of a Nollywood thing but I represented Nollywood in the movie (I’m the girl in the story). Even though I didn’t have to tell them who I was, by the time they heard my name, some of them went to the internet and saw the things I had done and they screamed.

They saw that I had a lot of experience. And at the end, they learnt a lot from the movie and they love the fact that they worked with me.

What do you think could be responsible for low turnout of movies in Nollywood?

I think it’s a whole process of trying to get to a particular level and the fact that ideas are conflicting, different strategies and ways of implementing things. I think right now the Nigerian society is complicated as it is. And sometimes for solid things to happen, there has to be this phase of conflict which will soon be over.

So right now people are waiting to see which direction to go. Soon everything will still come back to normal.

There’s a feeling that the earlier we resolve this, the better for Nollywood because right now the situation is bad.

But some actors and actresses are hungry?

Yes but when you say hungry, I’m like oh my God....
Most people have not actually done any movie in the last one year...

Yes. It’s just like when the writers in America went on strike and everybody was complaining. Right now I think that every sector of the industry has to define their role (film makers, writers, distributor and even the censors board).

Again, since we’re trying to standardise and go global, it’s also important that we draw experience from the international community on how things should be done. People should also stick to their roles because what we see in Nollywood is people trying to interfere with creativity. And you know that creativity is something personal. The way Mr. A perceives is different from that of Mr. B. I believe that if we can do this, we’ll surely make a headway.

Are you saying there’s a lot of busy bodies in the industry?

It’s not about busy body but there is conflict in the industry. At this point, I think we need to harmonise. This conflict has been going on for about two years now. We have to come together this year and harmonise so that we don’t continue in conflict.

With all this conflict, do you think Nollywood can survive?

Yes Nollywood has come to stay and we are not going anywhere. This is just a phase we are going through and we will surely come out of it. The film makers know that this is the time for us to do more quality work and go global. So we have to stop doing movies for ourselves and family members. We should begin to do movies that can cut across several borders so that non-Nigerians can be able to relate with it.

We should also improve on the quality of our work, not this kind of haphazard movies we do in Nollywood. Right now I think there are lot of challenges for film makers.

With all this conflicts in the industry, how do you intend to market your movie?

The major thing is that I have a good work and people are willing to buy. For sure it will work out itself. Right now I’m doing a theatre release of it with Silverbird, then I’ll release DVD later.

Do you think it’s because of poverty that Nigerian movies are produced in part 1, 2, 3 and so on?

I want to let you know that it is poverty mentality that’s affecting Nigerians in almost all sectors of the economy so let’s not restrict it to Nollywood. I want do also let you know that film making pass different stages before it comes to DVD. But in Nigeria we are used to exploring only one stage which is the DVD.

Meanwhile you could make money if you do a theatre release or TV/Internet release before putting it in DVD.

That is why film makers are crying that Nigerians are not buying movies. But I think that they need to win back people’s confidence (give them reasons why they should buy a particular movie). These reasons are in improving the quality of our work. And when this is done even the people who no longer watch our movies will want to watch if they see a good one.

And as per marketing, I think we don’t use the right channel. A movie should be well promoted. A good example of a well promoted movie is the Slumdog Millionaire. Most people never knew the content before they subscribed to it.

People also complain that stories are recycled....

Somebody asked this question at BOBTV and I told them that there is nothing new again. Even in America, stories are recycled. It all depends on what angle you want to take it from and that’s where originality comes in. Julius Caesar has been done so many times but from different angles. Right now there’s nothing original.

What role do you think Nollywood should play in rebranding this nation.
America was able to colonise the whole world today through entertainment. When people watch American movies, they want to behave like them. And that is sometime. When you visit America, it appears you know everywhere because you’ve seen it in the movies.

We are talking about re-branding this nation. So I think they should focus more on the movie industry because movies recreates life. While watching a movie, you see your life presented to you. Don’t forget that through movies, we sell our culture, tourism, perception of this country and a whole lot of things. Movies move from hand to hand, region to region so it’s easier to sell this country through movie because that’s how America colonized the world today.

It appears you are talking much about movies, what’s happening to your love life right now?

(Laughing) Right now I’m working on promoting and marketing my movie. Love life is something you don’t plan but when the mind is free and open, it comes. You don’t know who you may fall in love with. So at the appropriate time everything will fall into place.

Are you going to get married because you’re in love or because your friends are all getting married?

Right now I’m not married, I’m very single and I don’t want to go into that. No comments please.

You are like a role model to a lot of young ones out there, what advice will you give to them in terms of relationship?

At this point, you really have to think about yourself and what makes you happy as an individual because you have just one life to live.

Yes I went into a relationship and came out of it but what matters is the way you come out of it and what you do with yourself thereafter. It was just an experience I went through but I’ve moved on with my life. And believe me I’m a better person today because I’ve learnt so many things from that experience.

What was your experience like when you...

It was fun and I think it’s a good platform for a lot of young girls to discover themselves and decide which way they go from there. Once you have this platform, how you use it and what you become later matters a lot.

You once took part in the Most Beautiful Girl In Pageant, right?

Yes it was fun

Did it help your career?

Yes it did, it gives you a lot of confidence. Wearing a bikini and moving around a lot of people makes you more confident in yourself. So you’ve got to believe in yourself because if you don’t, you’ll end up being manipulated.

Are you into any form of humanitarian service?

With time I’ll have something an NGO. Sometimes I’m called upon to do some sort of humanitarian service which I oblige to as long as my face or something I say, will make a change.A

Will you remain like this forever?

Of course, I’m not going to stay like this forever. I’m enjoying my life the way it is right now. It’s not compulsory that I must have a man in my life. Life has different phases, there’s a time to be single, married and a time to have children. I am in the single phase.

May be the next phase you meet me, I may be in a relationship or I’m married.

You’ve come a long way in this industry, what trying moments have you faced?

Personally I don’t think I’ve had any such moments. It’s been great all through for me. This industry has made me who I am today.

Where are you from?

I’m from Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State. My full names are Stephanie Onyekachi Okereke.

Are you the only star from your place?

No. My aunty is also a star. She is the Director-.General of Nigerian Stock Exchange and my uncle is the King of my village.

So you are a princess?

Yes. I am.

Nigerian Movies Today

2009-03-26T09:44:00.005+01:00

Indeed Nigerian Movies have come of age. Despite the soaring height of meagerness in terms of capital, equipments and even the technical know-how, Nigerian actors have proved that, given the necessary factors, the sky is not the limit. Considering the quality of movies produced for public viewing these days, it’ll be too pessimistic for anyone to utterly condemn the movie industry in Nigeria despite the fact that there is far road ahead.

Am I praise-singing the Nigerian movie industry? NO! But it’s apparent that Nigerians have abundantly talented actors and actresses in the Nollywood. From the “arrogant” Genevieve Nnaji, “controversial” Omotola Jalade, “lady of the moment” Funke Akindele, “just wedded” Ini Edo, “sensational” Muyiwa Ademola, “my favorite” Stella Damasus, “animated” Nkem Owoh, “overused” Ramsey Noah, “elegant” Stephanie Okereke, to the “little men” Aki and Pawpaw, and lavishly untapped talents walking the streets across the length and breadth of the country. As a matter of fact, from the movies to everyday interaction, I’ve noticed that almost all Nigerians are talented actors! Nigerian actors will compete well with their counterparts in Hollywood and Bollywood given the same factors and conditions.

Come to think of it. It’s apparent that Nigeria is endowed with enormous human and natural resources; nevertheless the dilemma is the inability to maximize these brimming resources for utmost profitability. Hence, the popular question comes to view – WHO IS TO BLAME?

But this post is not about the blame game. It is to pinpoint where the problem actually is and stipulate the solution. It’s not uncommon to read in interviews and publications these days how that the so-called “stake holders” brag about the fact that Nollywood is the third largest movie industry in the world. This a saddening scenario because the Nollywood rates at the third largest movie industry in the world, not because Nigerian movies are the third best in terms of quality, but because it has the third largest market in the world. Should anyone be commended for that? It’s only a natural phenomenon ascribable only to the country’s bobbling population of about one hundred and fifty million citizens!

The last statement above is worth taking into consideration. I help wondering why on earth investors and stakeholders will ignore or get completely blinded to the fact that Nigerians has the largest population in Africa, enormous human resources and huge environmental advantages to produce best-selling quality Nigerian movies! If you’ve watched movies produced by Mainframe, like Ti Oluwa Ni Ile, Ole Ku, Thunder Bolt, Shaworo Ide, out of others, you’ll find exemplary quality. The TV drama series, Super Story by Wale Adenuga is another. Also, Amazing Grace, (the banned) Prostitute that stared Omosexy (Omotola Jalade), Madam Dearest, Dangerous Twins and the recent news-maker, Jenifa, by Funke Akindele are excellent examples of Nigerian movies I found really fantastic.

Nigerians love quality. And they will readily patronize indigenous movies even more than they do the foreign ones if they are well scripted, directed, acted, produced and packaged. But all these must be factored in. Besides, such quality cannot be achieved without Sufficient Financing. Good things are not cheap. So are good movies. Don’t you think so?