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Tag: Emem Isong

  • Emem Isong, Jerry Mofokeng for TAFF honours

    Nollywood filmmaker and CEO of Royal Arts Academy, Emem Isong Misodi alongside South African actor, Jerry Mofokeng will, on July 3, in Dallas, United States, receive the African Film Leadership Awards from the organizers of the annual The African Film Festival (TAFF).

    According to information, the awards will be presented to the duo at this year’s festival which opens June 29 and runs till the July 3 at the Dallas City Performance Hall, Dallas, Texas, United States.

    Speaking on the awards, TAFF founder, Mr. Kelechi Eke, said that it will be presented to Emem in recognition of her immense contribution towards the development of the African film sector.

    According to him, Richard Mofe Damijo who hosted last year’s edition will be teaching the Master Acting class again this year, while popular film director, Lancelot Imasuen will teach a class in directing. The classes, he said will be held at Southern Methodist University, one of the most prestigious universities in Texas, which supports TAFF initiative in promoting African Arts and Culture through motion pictures.

    While the festival opening night will be a folklore of storytelling sessions by Eclectic Vanessa Danso from Ghana; Ben Amushie from Nigeria, Dallas Poetry Slam, Juliana Musical Drama from Tanzania, and Ruth Ndulu Maingi from Kenya, the festival director revealed that the Association of Nigerian Physicians in America, ANPA, will be part of this year’s event, as its members will be holding a convention in Dallas ahead of the opening of the festival.

  • Emem Isong’s ‘Body Language’ goes to cinema

    Emem Isong’s ‘Body Language’ goes to cinema

    When notable filmmaker, Emem Isong-Misodi’s Royal Arts Academy teams up with proprietors of rave Nollywood content providers, Rok Studios, for a cinema movie, the result is an unprecedented blast.

    This is what cinema goers should expect, as ‘Body Language’, a product of this partnership is released in cinemas this Friday.

    A psychological thriller, promoters say ‘Body Language’ will keep viewers glued to their seat from start to finish.

    When a mysterious stranger comes into a stripper’s life, at the same time a serial killer goes around town murdering ladies, one has to wonder if it is a mere coincidence or an ominous design of fate. This is the crux of the movie that was screened to great applause during a private show, last Thursday.

    Distributed by Blue Pictures, ‘Body Language’ is packed with talented stars such as dreamboat Ramsey Nouah,  the very lovely Tana Adelana, Kenerics, Lauretta Richards, Emem Ufot as well as several talented actors from Royal Arts Academy.

    Produced by Emem Isong-Misodi, and directed by Moses Inwang, ‘Body language’ which combines experienced crew with brilliant acting, has Tom Robson as Director of Photography while Screenplay was by Kehinde Joseph.

  • Emem Isong inspired my movie production, says Moradeke Adegboyega

    Emem Isong inspired my movie production, says Moradeke Adegboyega

    Rising Nollywood producer, Moradeke Adegboyega, co-producer of ‘A Million Baby’, has said the delivery of a good production is the use of publicity, which can be used to get to the target audience.

    Speaking to The Nation, the actress, who became a movie producer, after working with Emem Isong as a welfare manager for three years which made her love for movie production grow said, “publicity is the major challenge of getting a good production to the target audience. This requires huge funding. It is not about the money used for production, but the money needed for getting the promotion of the movie to different cities is the major work.

    The actress who started producing in 2012, kicked off her career with the movie ‘Moberu’, starring alongside the likes of Ayo Adesanya and Ayo Mogaji. The movie was directed by Femi Ogedegbe.

    In 2013, she produced The Courier, starring Ramsay Nouah, Joseph Benjamin, and directed by Saidi Balogun. Also in 2015, she produced the ‘Catch Me If You Can’, co-produced with friend, who came in as an investor.

    “I didn’t get into the industry as an actress; I got into the industry as a producer. And as an actress, I had to play the role in the movie I wrote ‘Moberu’, because the person that was supposed to play the female lead role was not done at another location. After trying to get someone else, it proved abortive, so I had to play the role myself. Acting is not really easy’ it is funny when people criticise actors, but it is a great job,” she said.

  • EMEM ISONG fuses old and new in ‘Ayamma’

    EMEM ISONG fuses old and new in ‘Ayamma’

    NOLLYWOOD producer of repute, Emem Isong-Misodi, has described her latest production, Ayamma,as a classic Nollywood movie done with contemporary touch.

    Emem said that the new movie will bring the old Nollywood classic back but without any form of shoddiness as it is produced with such high quality associated with present state of technology.

    Set in Akwa-Ibom, Ayamma tells the story of Prince Daraima (Wole Ojo), the fascinating heir to Obong Ikpaisong, who repeatedly dreams of Ihuoma (Adesua Etomi), a poor but radiating maiden whose beauty is matched only by her voice.

    In Daraima’s dreams, flowers blossom and birds gather when Ihuoma sings. He is in love with the girl of his dreams. In the real world, Prince Daraima is set to marry Princess Ama (Tinsel star, Theresa Edem), the arrogant child to a neighbouring Monarch.

    Prince Daraima is shocked to see the girl in his dreams as one of the maidens dancing at the welcome party of Princess Ama to the kingdom. Unknown to him, this is Iko, a poor maiden in the village who is an exact replica of Ihuoma and strangely possessing her same singing prowess. Princess Ama observes her groom-to-be captivated by Iko and resolves to nip this obvious threat in the bud.

    Comic relief is also featured in the movie which was interpreted by popular Nollywood movie star Bishop Umoh, aka Okon, who played the role of a drunkard and jester.

    “Ayamma is a first of its kind musical movie in Nigeria. It is an epic movie with a village setting. It stars amazing and talented actors from Nigeria and Ghana. It takes a different angle from the usual romantic movies we watch these days. In this movie you will see the blend of music and drama; and there is a comic twist by Bishop Umoh popularly known as Okon in Lagos,” says Emem.

    The movie will be in cinemas from December 23.

  • Emem Isong has twins after baby shower

    Emem Isong has twins after baby shower

    Prolific female Nigerian producer, Emem Isong-Misodi was delivered of a set of twins on Friday, May 27 at a hospital in Texas, US. The happy event took place hours after the elated mom-to-be was hosted to a Baby shower by her Texas based colleagues in the industry.

    Announcing the birth of the twins named Jewel and Divina, she took to her Instagram account to say, “What can I say unto the Lord? All I have to say is thank you Lord. For unto us, a king and queen are born. Our hearts are filled with unspeakable joy as we announce the birth of our twin children, Jewel and Divina. We give God the glory for safe delivery. He is indeed an awesome God.”

    The actress who is married to a Cameroonian had surprisingly broke her bag of water a few hours after the party.

    This is good news for the Royal Arts Academy boss who was heart-broken when she lost an earlier pregnancy midterm not long after getting married in December 2014.

  • EMEM ISONG premieres Champagne…Dedicates movie to husband

    EMEM ISONG premieres Champagne…Dedicates movie to husband

    IT was a day of celebration for Nollywood filmmaker, Emem Isong, as her industry colleagues trooped to the Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island for the premiere of her directorial debut, Champagne, on Friday, December 19.

    Also, for the first time, the movie producer also stepped out with her newly-wedded husband, Misodi Akama.

    Described as a romantic thriller, the movie Champagne tells the story of a young couple, played by Alex Ekubo and Rosemary Zimu, who are in an open marriage and decide to scam unsuspecting people for money until they meet the enigmatic Mr Douglas (Majid Mchel) who takes them on an unexpected ride. The deceit and intrigue continue until it becomes glaring that the couple have bargained for more than they can handle.

    “It was a very challenging project for me and I really enjoyed making the movie despite the challenges. I hope you enjoy watching it. I want to thank the cast and crew, especially my sister who was really there for me. I want to specially thank the cast. They tried or me. It wasn’t easy shooting outside our comfort zone but they pulled it through. I would also like to dedicate this movie to my husband,” Emem stated.

    Champagne also stars Tana Adelana, Mbong Amata, Padita Agu, Susan Peters. Among artistes who attended the premiere of the movie were Alex Ekubo, Majid Michel, Lala Akindoju, Queen Nwokoye, Belinda Effah, Deyemi Okanlowan, Desmond Elliott, Susan Peters, Kunle Rhemmy and Kenneth Okolie.

  • Emem Isong set to release Champagne

    Emem Isong set to release Champagne

    ONE of the popular female producers in Nollywood, Emem Isong, has added another portfolio to her resume.

    Recently, she took on the additional responsibility of directing Champagne, which was shot this year in South Africa.

    In a chat with The Nation, she gave a hint on why she decided to delve into directing. Emem, who revealed she is a spontaneous person, said: “When I saw the script, I fell in love with it and decided I wanted to direct it. There was really no particular reason, except that I want to give it my touch.

    “I hope to score a point when this movie is released. But if I don’t end up scoring a point, I won’t quit directing just because of it. I will still go ahead and direct, if I feel like directing.”

    Though she said the project had not yet been completed, she disclosed that she would be wrapping up work very soon and the movie would be released by December.

    The movie stars Majid Michel, Alexx Ekubo and Rosemary Zimu. It is about a young couple, Tare and Champagne, who fall on hard times and decide to engage in an open marriage to make ends meet. At first, things seem to be going well, until they meet the enigmatic Douglas who takes them in a direction they never thought they would go. The movie was shot with a largely female crew. The assistant director and associate producer on the set was Uduak Oguamanam, while the Director of Photography was Beanca Heerden.

    Tom Robson, who has directed several Nollywood movies, also worked with Emem Isong on Champagne as a cinematographer.