The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Afolayan

  • BoI visits Kunle Afolayan’s movie set

    BoI visits Kunle Afolayan’s movie set

    THE Managing Director of Bank of Industry (BoI), Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, and other directors of the Bank have taken a tour of the location of Kunle Afolayan’s ongoing film production, The CEO.

    The visit by the top bank executives was meant to give moral support to the filmmaker’s ingenuity.

    The bank had granted the filmmaker a loan, which forms part of the budget for the pan Africa film project. Mr. Olaoluwa, who was impressed with the level of progress the filmmaker has achieved on the project so far, noted that he was at the Inagbe Grand Resort, the present location of the film production, to show solidarity to the award-winning filmmaker.

    Afolayan began shoot of the film two weeks ago, unveiling an impressive cast from across Africa.

    The cast include Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, entertainer and activist from Benin, Angélique Kidjo; Haitan actor and model Jimmy Jean-Louis, best known for his role as The Haitan on the NBC television seriesHeroes; consummate actor, and founder of the New Nigeria Cinema movement, Wale Ojo; French-Ivorian actress and model, Aurelie Eliam; South African actor and presenter, Nicolaos Panagiotopoulos; Nigerian actress, Kemi Lala Akindoju; Moroccan star, Fatim Layachi; Kenyan actor Peter King, and Nigerian actress Hilda Dokubo, among others

    Briefing the BoI boss on the progress he has recorded so far, Afolayan said the team will be moving to Nairobi, Kenya, and South Africa to shoot some scenes soon.

    He assured his visitors that his new film will lead a revolution in African cinema.

     “It is no longer about Nigeria,” he said. “It is taking Africa to the world.”

    Responding, the BoI boss said, the bank is proud to be associated with the filmmaker, who he described as a pace-setter in the movie industry in Africa.

    “We are proud that you are a pace setter in this regard. You have done very successful productions in the past; we have no doubt that this film is going to be a blast.”

    According to him, being the first beneficiary of the NollyFund, which the bank introduced recently to support filmmakers and to take the industry to the next level, he has no doubt that Afolayan’s new film will raise the bar in African cinema.

  • KUNLE AFOLAYAN, AKON, OTHERS TEAM UP FOR AFRICA

    KUNLE AFOLAYAN, AKON, OTHERS TEAM UP FOR AFRICA

    QUARTZ, a news outlet, has chosen 30 innovators in Africa for their creative approaches to local problems in business, politics, culture, health and more. This was made known by Yinka Adegoke, the editor of Quartz Africa on Monday September 14, at the Quartz Africa Innovators summit.

    Among those honoured at the event was Nigeria’s filmmaker of repute, Kunle Afolayan. Afolayan, got off to a great start this year when his award-winning drama, October 1 became one of the first-ever Nollywood movies to get signed up for distribution on Netflix, the world’s largest Internet-based video on-demand platform. October 1, had one of the biggest ever budgets for a Nollywood movie.

    On the list is American pop singer with a Senegalese background, Akon. The singer is known to have sold more than 40 million albums worldwide and worked with artists including Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga and Gwen Stefani. He is is reinventing himself beyond American pop music by returning to his African roots and lending his name and media brand to a groundbreaking Lighting Africa initiative.

    Nigeria’s novelist, Chimamanda Ngozi  Adichie, is also one of Quartz’ 30 innovators. One of the continent’s most celebrated authors, Adichie’s novels; Purple Hibiscus, Half of A Yellow Sun, Americanah, and her collection of short stories, The Thing Around Your Neck have reached a global audience, introducing millions to modern Africa, and especially to her native Nigeria.

    Also on the list is Nigerian Singer, songwriter and music producer Cobhams Asuquo. Regarded as one of the most talented musicians in Nigeria, Cobhams has produced hits such as Ordinary People. Though he was born blind, he has never let that dissuade him from being ambitious. Asuquo has been one of the few to stand firm and encourage a new generation of African musicians to retain an “African” sound in their music. He has done this most notably as a judge on the American Idol-like TV show Project Fame.

    Others who made the list of innovators are Jamila Abass, Kunle Adeyemi, Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, Eric Charas and Didier Drogba among others.

  • LYDIA FORSON TO AFOLAYAN: You gave the best acceptance speech of the night, well done

    LYDIA FORSON TO AFOLAYAN: You gave the best acceptance speech of the night, well done

    The Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA) has come and gone but, snippets of the glamorous event will occupy social discourse for a while. JOE AGBRO JR. captured some of the remarkable moments.

    After a victorious outing at this year’s AMVCA, actor and producer Kunle Afolayan was full of gratitude to all those who supported him through the years.

    Upon receiving the Best Director award, Afolayan expressed his gratitude to the cast and crew of October 1, saying without them, there wouldn’t have been any movie.

    And after October 1 won Movie of the Year, Afolayan beckoned on members of the October 1 cast and crew to join him on the stage. He then enthusiastically asked to be given time to thank people as he launched into singing Olamide’s song, Eleda mi, which is sort of a ‘prayer song.’

    “Thank you Africa,” Afolayan began, basking in the euphoria of winning. “We have so many winners. All my colleagues are winners. Everybody in that category  Steve Gukas, I respect him a lot. Thank you very much. Mildred Okwo, you’ve been a friend for long. In fact, you inspire me a lot. I say thank you to you. Ayo, AY, we talk every day and we need to sanitise the industry. All the people who have supported this cause somehow  Guinness Nigeria, Sovereign Trust Insurance, Maami, thank you for your prayers, my mother, my children, my wife, everybody.”

    Afolayan who also revealed that he was working on another project called ‘The CEO’ also thanked the federal government and Africa Magic for believing in his work.

    “I want to say a big thank you to the federal government for trying so hard to help develop the Nigerian film industry and for the grant that was given to me to promote and push October 1 globally… And Africa Magic, when I make content, I will consider you guys first before sending to other people.”

    He also thanked Chioma Ude, Founder of Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) and urged other African movie producers to keep up the tempo. “We are all one,” he said. “Let’s just keep telling the African story.”

    To this, Ghanaian actress, Lydia Forson, gave Afolayan a pat on the back when she caught up with him later in the crowd, saying, “You gave the best acceptance speech of the night… it captured everything and everybody… well done.”

  • We need more sponsors, says Kunle Afolayan on $2m- budget movie

    We need more sponsors, says Kunle Afolayan on $2m- budget movie

    AWARD-WINNING filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, is taking a bold step with his next movie, having done 18 days on set with finances that is about half of his total budget. Indeed, big names like the Lagos State Government, Toyota Nigeria Ltd and Deola Sageo may have partnered with the astute movie maker, their contributions, most of which are not monetary, the actor cum director said cannot see the script to the end.

    Afolayan is, however, optimistic that support will come in as work progresses. The cast, including four Hollywood stars and an all-Nigerian crew, began shooting at the old Railway Quarters in Lagos from where they proceeded to Ilaramokin in Ondo State where they are at the moment.

    Entitled October 1, Afolayan had unveiled the cast and crew of the movie at the Toyota office three weeks ago, at an event attended by Mr. Kunle Adeojo, Executive Director of Toyota Nigeria and Dr. Aderemi Desalu, Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Lagos State. The filmmaker expressed delight for the support given to his project by the Lagos State Government and Toyota Nigeria. He also announced the third partnership as coming from notable fashion designer, Deola Sagoe, who will be providing the primordial costumes of the 60s, especially ones depicting the colonial era in Nigeria. He described Sagoe as a woman wearing two crowns on the movie project, as she will also be playing the character of Funmilayo Kuti, mother of legendry king of afrobeats, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

    The four cast members from Hollywood who will be depicting the roles played by the colonial masters during Nigeria’s pre-independence era include Nick Rhys, playing Rupert Winterbottom, the District Colonial Officer; David Bailie, for the role of Fred Ackerman, the Chief Superintendent; Lawrence Stubbings, playing Lord Sebastian Tomkins and David Reese, playing Dowling Colin.

    A psychological thriller, October 1, pictures September 1960, with Nigeria on the verge of independence from British colonial rule. It tells the story of a northern Nigeria Police detective, Dan Waziri, who is urgently dispatched by the colonial government to the trading post town of Akote in the Western Region of Nigeria, to solve a series of female murders that have struck horror in the hearts and minds of the local community. On getting to Akote, more murders are committed, and with local tension high and volatile, Waziri has a race on his hands to solve the case before even more local women are killed. Matters take a turn for the worse, however, when Waziri discovers that his prime suspect is none other than the highly influential, university-educated son of the King of Akote, Prince Aderopo. Intelligent, good-looking, charismatic, witty and daring, the prince proves to be a most complicated adversary for Waziri. Set against the backdrop of the national celebratory mood of the impending independence, Waziri and Prince Aderopo indulge in a game of cat and mouse as they try to outwit each other… leading to the climatic end in which the life of a popular local female teacher and village belle, Tawa, is held in the balance. Waziri has to race against the clock to capture the prince, save Tawa and solve the crime before the British flag is lowered and the Nigerian flag is raised on October 1, Nigeria’s Independence Day.

  • $2m-budget movie: Afolayan hits location

    $2m-budget movie: Afolayan hits location

    WITH the involvement of Lagos State, Toyota Nigeria Ltd and Deola Sageo in the much publicized historical movie by young filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, the journey towards attaining the $2m mark, being budget for the historic flick appears far. But the actor has already attained four days of shoot with less than fifty percent funds, hoping that more help will come as the camera rolls.

    Entitled October 1, the movie which was initially scheduled to start last month could not be delayed further especially since the cast members from Hollywood have arrived Nigeria. The actor, who is also known for his thoroughness, has secured the time of the Nigerian actors who on Monday took their first reading with the visiting thespians.

    Unveiling the cast and crew of the movie at the Toyota office on Tuesday, Afolayan who sat between Mr. Kunle Adeojo, Executive Director of Toyota Nigeria and Dr. Aderemi Desalu, Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Lagos State expressed delight for the support given to his project by Lagos State government and Toyota Nigeria. He also announced the third partnership as coming from notable fashion designer, Deola Sagoe, who will be providing the primordial costumes of the 60s, especially ones depicting the colonial era in Nigeria. He described Sagoe as a woman wearing two crowns on the movie project, as she will also be playing the character of Funmilayo Kuti, mother of legendry king of afrobeats, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

    The four cast members from Hollywood who will be de depicting the roles played by the colonial masters during Nigeria’s pre independence era include Nick Rhys, playing Rupert Winterbottom, the District Colonial Officer; David Bailie, for the role of Fred Ackerman, the Chief Superintendent; Lawrence Stubbings, playing Lord Sebastian Tomkins and David Reese, playing Dowling Colin.

    A psychological-thriller, October 1, pictures September 1960, with Nigeria on the verge of independence from British colonial rule. It tells the story of a northern Nigerian Police Detective, DAN WAZIRI, who is urgently dispatched by the colonial government to the trading post town of Akote in the Western Region of Nigeria, to solve a series of female murders that have struck horror in the hearts and minds of the local community. On getting to Akote, more murders are committed, and with local tension high and volatile, Waziri has a race on his hands to solve the case before even more local women are killed. Matters take a turn for the worse, however, when Waziri discovers that his prime suspect is none other than the highly influential, university-educated son of the King of Akote, Prince Aderopo. Intelligent, good-looking, charismatic, witty and daring, the prince proves to be a most complicated adversary for Waziri. Set against the backdrop of the national celebratory mood of the impending independence, Waziri and Prince Aderopo indulge in a game of cat and mouse as they try to outwit each other… leading to the climatic end in which the life of a popular local female teacher and village belle, TAWA, is held in the balance. Waziri has to race against the clock to capture the prince, save Tawa and solve the crime before the British flag is lowered and the Nigerian flag is raised on October 1, Nigeria’s Independence Day.

    Written by Tunde Babalola, whom Afolayan described as the foundation of the project, October 1 also parades notable Nigerian actors like Demola Adedoyin (Prince Aderopo), Kunle Afolayan (Koya), Kehinde Bankole (Tawa), Kayode ‘Aderupoko’ Olaiya (Sergeant Afonja), Biodun Aleja (Olaitan), Femi Adebayo (Banji), Fabian Olojede (Omoladun), Bimbo Manuel (Canon Kuforiji), Kanayo O. Kanayo (Okafor), Ibrahim Chatta (Seun), Saeed Funky Mallam (Usman), Laide Alabi (Secretary to Winterbottom) and Collins Talker (Emeka).

    Produced and directed by Kunle Afolayan, the movie has Bose Oshin as production manager, Pat Nebo as production designer, Yinka Edward as director of photography, ObijieOru (Costume), Lola Maja (Make Up), while Oge Ugwu is production coordinator.

    Adeojo emphasized during the press conference, of the social responsibility objective of his company. He described his boss, Chief Michael Adeojo, Chairman of Toyota Nigeria as a supporter of the creative art. He said unfortunately, there were no Toyota vehicles in Nigeria in the 60s, making it impossible for them to provide props for the movie. He said his company would however; provide vehicles for use during the making of the movie, including hospitality for the cast and crew who will be shooting in Ilaramokin, home town of Toyota Nigeria’s boss.

    Desalu who appraised Lagos State’s effort at providing support for the film industry under the Nollywood Upgrade Project, noted that there is need to partner filmmakers to portray Lagos and the country at large in positive light. He said the state, apart from promoting local cinemas will also fund the making of certain films and take them through a whole gamut from script to exhibition.

    Young Afolayan is one of the few Nollywood filmmakers who have enjoyed corporate sponsorships for movie projects, because he has come to be identified with award-winning flicks, and his current project, entitled October 1, may just be another blockbuster.

    The producer of Irapada, Figurine and most recently, Phone Swap, is excited about the project that he said is far from anything that as been seen by any filmmaker in Nigeria.

    The audition for the movie which took place at his Golden Effects Productions outfit on Ladipo Kuku, Ikeja, Lagos on June 6, 2013 had over 1000 hopefuls reading for different characters in the movie.

    A visionary filmmaker, Afolayan was recently at the centre of a hit documentary series on the Yoruba heritage entitled Isedale. The work which provoked thoughts about Yoruba Kingdom and culture among AfricaMagic audiences, proved a success when the channel moved the series to prime-time.

  • Kunle Afolayan releases poster for October 1

    Kunle Afolayan releases poster for October 1

    MONTHS after making the announcement, the first poster of new flick, October 1, from award-winning filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, has been released. The producer says that preparations for the production of the film are in top gear. October 1 will star Sadiq Daba, Kehinde Bankole, David Bailie, Kayode Olaiya, Nick Rhys, Fabian Lojede, and Demola Adedoyin, says Kunle, who also directs the production.

    The film has been described as a psychological thriller, set on the verge of Nigeria’s independence in 1960. October 1 tells the story of a police detective in Northern Nigeria, who is dispatched to a trading post in Western Nigeria, to solve a series of horrific murders.

    The director was in Ilara Mokin, Ondo State, in May to scout for locations. He also held an audition for the film, in Lagos, on June 6. Following ongoing trends, October 1 is being touted as one of the biggest productions to hit the Nigerian movie industry this year.

  • Lagos to sponsor Afolayan’s historic movie

    Lagos to sponsor Afolayan’s historic movie

    •As filmmaker scouts for Funmilayo Ransom-Kuti’s double

    FILLING a gap created by the dearth of historical movies in Nollywood, young filmmaker and son of the late Yoruba movie icon, Ade Love, has secured the support of Lagos State government to produce his much talked about documentary feature. Kunle Afolayan, one of the few Nollywood filmmakers who have enjoyed corporate sponsorships for movie projects, has come to be identified with award-winning flicks, and his next project, entitled October 1, may just be another blockbuster.

    The producer of Irapada, Figurine and most recently, Phone Swap, is excited that Lagos State is leading the way of corporate support needed for the huge budget movie.

    He said the support is coming through the office of the governor, as part of his initiative for ‘Project Nollywood Update’, headed by Deputy Chief of Staff, Ms. Moji Rhodes.

    A N2 million budget film, Afolayan revealed that actors already confirmed for the production include popular TV presenter, Sadiq Daba, notable Yoruba comic, Kayode Olaiya (Aderupoko) and some British actors.

    The audition for the movie which took place at his Golden Effects Productions outfit on Ladipo Kuku, Ikeja, Lagos on June 6, 2013 had over 1000 hopefuls reading for different characters in the movie.

    The filmmaker himself is expected to act in the movie, which has been scheduled for locations in Lagos, and Ilaramokin in Ondo State, and shooting slated for July. It was also gathered that the filmmaker is still in a frantic search for an elderly actress who fits the personae of late Funmilayo Ransom-Kuti, mother of the legendary Afrobeat King.

    Reports say Toyota Nigeria and Nigerian Breweries Plc may be keen in coming into the project which is fully in pre-production stage.

    A psychological-thriller, October 1, pictures September 1960, with Nigeria on the verge of independence from British colonial rule. It tells the story of a northern Nigerian Police Detective, Dan Waziri, who is urgently despatched by the colonial government to the trading post town of Akote in the Western Region of Nigeria to solve a series of female murders that have struck horror in the hearts and minds of the local community. On getting to Akote, more murders are committed, and with local tension high and volatile, Waziri has a race on his hands to solve the case before even more local women are killed. Matters take a turn for the worse, however, when Waziri discovers that his prime suspect is none other than the highly influential, university-educated son of the King of Akote, Prince Aderopo. Intelligent, good-looking, charismatic, witty and daring, the prince proves to be a most complicated adversary for Waziri. Set against the backdrop of the national celebratory mood of the impending Independence, Waziri and Prince Aderopo indulge in a game of cat and mouse as they try to outwit each other… leading to the climatic end in which the life of a popular local female teacher and village belle, Tawa, is held in the balance. Waziri has to race against the clock to nab the prince, save Tawa and solve the crime before the British flag is lowered and the Nigerian flag is raised on October 1, Nigeria’s Independence Day.

    A visionary young Nigerian filmmaker, Afolayan was recently at the centre of a hit documentary series on the Yoruba heritage entitled Isedale. The work, which provoked thoughts about Yoruba Kingdoms and culture among AfricaMagic audiences, proved a success when the channel moved the series to prime-time.

  • I like older women but… —Aremu Afolayan

    I like older women but… —Aremu Afolayan

    THE Afolayan brothers certainly need no introduction, whether it’s Kunle, Aremu, or Gabriel. The three have distinguished themselves in different areas of the arts and this has endeared a lot of fans to them over the years.

    Recently, Aremu was a guest on a popular culinary show on TV. The talented actor was impressive not just because he’s one of the few males that have graced the show and dazzled most of their fans with their culinary talent, the actor was very amiable and brought so much zest into the show, making its every moment count.

    To the delight of his fans, the actor opened up on his life and relationship. Aremu didn’t mince words when he said he likes older women, but that what many people think about the women being instrumental to his seemingly flamboyant life style is not true. “I love automobiles and when people see the kind of cars I drive, they tend to think that it must be from my relationships, but no, it doesn’t add up. If there is anything you can’t take away from us, it’s the fact that we work hard. My brothers and I work very hard and I don’t have to wait for someone to come and buy me what I need.”

  • Kunle Afolayan screens works in Tokyo

    Kunle Afolayan screens works in Tokyo

    MULTIPLE award winning actor, director and producer, Kunle Afolayan announced his entry into the Asian movie market as he screened his recent works Figurine and Phone Swap in the city of Tokyo in Japan.

    The moviemakers foray into the Asian market was on the invitation of Cinema Africa, a non-profit organisation established in 2006 to develop understanding and appreciation of Africa in Japan through African films made by African filmmakers or producers.

    Billed to take place between May 18-23, 2013; the festival would see the screening of the movie Phone Swap on May 17 and Figurine on May 18 at the auditorium Shibuya, Tokyo.

    Kunle will also be hosted to dinner by the Nigerian High Commission in Tokyo, Japan for his immense contribution and recognition of his works on the day the festival opens.