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Tag: Jeta Amata

  • Jeta Amata partners US govt on reality show

    Jeta Amata partners US govt on reality show

    •To train 21 Niger Delta youths in filmmaking

    Having swelled his fame with the production of Black November, a film that chronicles the turmoil of an unending oil spill in the Niger Delta, young filmmaker, Jeta Amata, will be partnering the United States government in a reality show on the same subject.

    Amata, who flew into the country from Los Angeles, United States, for a press conference at the US Consulate in Lagos, said on Monday that the project becomes necessary to find lasting peace in the Niger Delta region, by distracting the youths from restive tendencies and engaging them to tell positive stories about the region as filmmakers.

    “I tell you one reason why I want to do this… It’s the first time I’m coming home with my daughter. She is five. What kind of Niger Delta do we want to leave for our kids? Do I want to bring her home in another 10 years and hope that it’s going to be safe? The responsibility now rests with us. It’s no longer time to play the blame game. If tomorrow it goes bad, it is us; our children will blame us. So, I’m doing this so that we can have a better Niger Delta and a better people for my daughter. I welcome all of you to do the same for your children too, even if you don’t have kids yet,” he said, flanked by Jeffrey J. Hawkins, Jr. U.S. Consul General, Lagos, Nigeria.

    Although Black November followed a local community’s struggle against its own government and multi-national oil corporations to repair the lives, land and environment that is being plundered by oil spillage, the reality show underway will showcase stories of non-violent transformation in some of the Niger Delta communities.

    Tagged Dawn in the creeks: A Niger Delta Legacy, he said the reality TV series will follow teams of Niger Delta youths as they embark on a journey to create films in the Nollywood style, showcasing stories of non-violent transformation in their communities.

    He said the effort is being guided by a board composed of distinguished Nigerian thought leaders, with support from the U.S. State Department, adding that Dawn in the Creeks is the centerpiece of the wider Niger Delta Legacy engagement aimed at forging a legacy of peace and transformation.

    U.S. Consulate General Lagos and the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO) in September 2013, launched a conflict mitigation initiative in the Niger Delta. Hawkins, Jr. said the U.S had a strong interest in supporting the country’s peace, prosperity, and security, especially by stabilizing “the resource-rich Niger Delta – an economic engine of the country, but a region historically prone to violence.”

    He noted that the Niger Delta is still vulnerable to renewed conflict and that “reducing that vulnerability is in the interests of both the U.S. and Nigeria.” He said the U.S is delighted to support Nigeria, knowing Nigeria also plays a critical role in Africa, “as an economic and cultural giant with a growing and dynamic population.”

    Speaking on the modalities of the reality show, Amata said: “We will choose people from here whom I will take to a school called Nollywood Academy. There, we will teach them how to make films the Nollywood style. It sounds crazy but I have just a couple of weeks to teach them how to make these films. If I could do it years ago, and see other people who learnt the way I did, that means these people can do it.

    “In Ozoro (headquarters of the Isoko North Local Government Area in Delta State), we will pick seven people to do this, then we will move to Nimbe in Bayelsa State, where we are taking another seven people. From there, we will go to Rivers State, where we will also take seven people. We will fly the 21 people to Lagos and put them in an academy where we will be teaching them how to do these films. After that, we are giving N1million to each group of seven, and also give them state-of-the-art equipment which they will take back to their communities and make these films.

    “Now the ‘reality’ part of it is from the moment we start talking about it, like now, till when we arrive in Ozoro. The coverage continues, as we pick the people and teach them up to the point that we see them making these films. This way, Nigerian can see the process of bringing people up from the creeks and transforming them into filmmakers in a couple of weeks.”

    Asked how he will be able to achieve success with the project within a short period of time, Amata smiled, recalling that the Americans were awed by the same thought. “They keep telling me are you sure? And I told them, yes! I know my people and I’ve done it before. We are even going to do more, premiere their films in cinemas and get them to attend film festivals around the world. They will transform from just local people into celebrities. That was how Nollywood grew and that is how these people will grow,” he assured.

     

  • Mbong Amata’s new lifestyle

    Mbong Amata’s new lifestyle

    A few months after parting ways, estranged wife of Nollywood actor and filmmaker, Jeta Amata, seems to be relishing her freedom.

    Mbong, as she is popularly called, had complained that her estranged husband didn’t allow her to express herself and do things her own way, bringing about a collapse of their marriage and causing them to live apart.

    Photographs recently released by Mbong showed that Mbong is bent on expressing herself to the fullest. This comes after over a year of being separated.

    Jeta and Mbong first met in Calabar in 2001 during a movie audition, where the then 16-year- old girl featured in .But she had to wait until she was 18 before they started dating.

    In 2008, they had a daughter and decided to get married.

    Following their marriage, the couple moved to Los Angeles, the movie hub of the US, so they could be close to Hollywood.

    They have been married for five years, but after one year of being separated, the couple has decided to make their split public after they failed to mend fences.

  • Celebrity marriages are not the first to crash–Chica

    Celebrity marriages are not the first to crash–Chica

    Actress, TV presenter and singer, Andrea Chika Chukwu, is no stranger to the arts. She started out singing with Eedris Abdulkreem, also played with the late Sammie Needle and his band but her first solo effort was many years ago the soundtrack for Jeta Amata’s movie titled Tears of a Woman. In this chat with OVWE MEDEME, the artiste who goes by the stage name Chica, a coinage from her three names, talks about her latest video, Music from the Soul, which was shot in New York City.

    WHAT have you been up to lately?

    I have been very busy putting my album together. I just finished shooting the video of my song Music from the Soul in New York City. The song was written by me and another singer, Aramide. It is already trending all over the internet but the official release date is December 1.

    What is Music from the Soul all about?

    I like to describe it as a neo-soul jazzy song borne out of the need for something that was deep enough. The concept behind the video is to key into that warm feeling of New York in the summer time; that feeling of the calm, classy look that New York brings to you. That was what I wanted; I also wanted to put in the whole African print.

    How did you manage to pull off shooting a video in New York?

    It was a solo journey. I was responsible for the financing. I had a very good team to work with and I am proud of the work I have. The video was directed and produced by Stacey Holman. From the time Stacy and I first spoke, we hit it off. She was amazing from then till the video was done and I am looking forward to working with her again.

    You are better known as an actress. How did music come into the picture?

    I actually started out doing soundtracks. After doing that for a while, I started getting movie roles which was quite lucky for me. It just kicked off from there. I did my first individual soundtrack for Jetta Amata for a movie called Tears of a Woman. In his new film, Black November, I also did soundtracks in it. Going back, there was a time I used to sing with Eedris Abdulkarim. We did songs like Player Meji, Life in Yankee and a host of others. I also sang with the late Sammie Needle and his band. At a certain point, I figured that I love music and I had just finished doing Peace AnyiamOsigwe’s GRA Women, which is a soap opera. I then decided to go ahead and pursue my music career.

    As an artiste, where do you draw your inspiration from?

    I admire great women artistes who have for generations done music and done it well and succeeded at it. Also, I have come to realise that people have varied ideas about my music. They tend to think that it is a battle of voices. For instance, the song Rocking My Freedom was one I did with a lot of influences. It wasn’t about the voice for me where that song is concerned. It was about just expressing myself, being happy and rocking my freedom.

    It is a bit of an 80s pop rock thing, so if you did listen to Cindi Lauper’s Girls Who Want To Have Fun and you liked it, then you would like Rocking My Freedom. My influence for the song Beautiful is Indie Aire. A few years back, while I was schooling in London, Indie Aire released an album and it was phenomenal. In it, she had a song called Good Man. I have shot a few videos anyway. I have another one called Music from the Soul. I shot the video for Rocking My Freedom and Music from the Soul in New York last year and so far that is what I have been doing.

    Most of your influences are foreigners. Are you not concerned about acceptance?

    I have a song I am doing and my influence for it is Onyeka Onwenu because I love her. She symbolises everything strong about a woman. She is one of those people who are evergreen. Every time I see her, I hope I have as much strength as she does. As artistes, I think we shouldn’t worry about who accepts or who does not accept our works. Music is universal. It shouldn’t be about the country where you come from or where you live. It should just be about communicating and I think every kind of music finds a way to its audience. It shouldn’t be about your nationality. I think we should all seek to be free as artistes in order to bring out what we believe in.

    What is the title of the album?

    Right now I just have the singles but the album itself is titled Live Love Leap. I think that is what we should be doing as individuals. We spend too much time worrying where to go, where not to go, what to expect, what not to expect while the moment we are living in is passing by. People who we see today die tomorrow. We waste too much time thinking as individuals. Live where you are as best as you can. If you are struggling, allow yourself struggle and come out of it. We tend to think that life is a mystery for us to solve, but it is not. It is a journey which we should take on and you go through it and keep moving till you get to the end of where it is for you.

    Would you agree that Fuji House of Commotion is what made you who you are today?

    Yes and no. I say that in the sense that, I haven’t shot Fuji House of Commotion in a while now and the last time they were actually in camp for a shoot, I was in America. You get to a point where you want to delve into other things but once you are a Fuji House child, you are always a Fuji House child. I don’t think nobody would take away the fact that I am Jumoke. I still do answer the name. The fact that people presume that I am as young as Jumoke is the greatest gift I can get from that character.

    There seems to be a transition in the kinds of roles you play. Is that deliberate?

    It is not so much a transition. It is more the fallout of working for different directors which I am elated to do. It feels good to be back on the screen again. The character I played in Phone Swap, this outspoken, Lagos, hybrid waffi chick who thinks she is hybrid. I work with the lead character, Nse Ikpe Etim. She is a loud character. For The Meeting, I play an older woman from the East. I say that for everybody who was a part of that production is phenomenal. The same thing applies to Phone Swap. I had an amazing time on both sets.

    Is Chica married?

    I tend to want to keep those kinds of things out of my business but no, I am not. Marriage is a fabulous thing. I know because some of my younger siblings are married and two of them have kids. When you find the right partner, it loves. Let’s just say right now, I am happy to be Chica.

    Is it right to say that your career path is coming in the way of marriage?

    I don’t think so. That would depend on what clause or shelf you decide to place it. I do know that most females tend to get worried about what they would do when they get married, like what they are doing now is not a job. If it is, it is not to my knowledge.

    Would you marry an artiste?

    Yes, I would. The truth of the matter is, I think for a lot of reasons we all get it slightly twisted. When you are looking for a partner, you are looking for your friend, a support system, a lover, somebody who without a doubt will follow you through fire and water. Does that mean that there would be no down days? No. The reality of it is that some people think that when some of the blues go away, it means that the relationship is dead. Some of us don’t really try hard enough. Some of us try but if one person is trying, it wouldn’t work. Celebrity marriages are not the first to crash. Marriages crash everyday but people just talk about the ones who are artistes just because we are public people.

  • Jeta Amata separates from wife

    Jeta Amata separates from wife

    After five years of marriage, Nollywood producer Jeta Amata has called it quits with his wife, Mbong.

    Reports say the separation has been on for one year, but the couple decided to make it public when they failed to mend fences.

    It is not clear, the reason the two couldn’t get their marriage to work again, but a close source said it is connected to Mbong’s insistence over her acting career. The couple met in 2001, during a movie audition the young girl partook in, in Calabar. She was barely 16 and he just had to wait until she was 18 before they started dating. In 2008, they had a daughter, and decided to get married. The couple moved over to Los Angeles, the movie hub of America few years ago, just so they could operate at the level of Hollywood.

    Amata, who broke the news to a notable blog, is quoted to have accepted blame for the separation, describing his woman in warm terms: “Mbong is an amazing mother, an incredible wife…all the time we were together she would never let any other person cook my food…she was faithful and good to me and gave me the best gift in the world, our beautiful daughter. If I didn’t cage her so much maybe we would still be together. I stole her youth and didn’t let her live her dream so it was better to let her go and find new adventures. She’s happy and so am I. Despite the fact that we are no longer together, we are still good friends. She even lives close to me here in LA. Things are great between us and I’m happy to see her happy.”

    Amata, unlike most Nollywood producers is not known for many movies. He start6ed with Amazing Grace in 2006 and had since done another flick entitled Black November (2012), a story about oil spillage in the Niger Delta region. Mbong had only acted in these two movies, including Inale (2010), a film director by Amata, for Bongos Ikwue’s daughter, Keke Bongos Ikwue. Although the filmmaker is currently shooting a $15million budget film for the Haitian government, it is not clear if Mbong is a cast in that country’s historical flick.

    However, since the separation Mbong has featured in two Nollywood movies, one of them; Forgetting June, produced by Emem Isong, which she came back to Nigeria to shoot. Jeta, on the other hand is said to have started another romance with Australian actress Viva Bianca, best known for her role as Ilithyia in Spartacus. Reports say Amata’s upcoming will be starring Bianca. The movie which runs under a working title; Road to Redemption, is said to also have Ghanaian actress, Yvonne Nelson and pop star, Akon, without a trace of Mbong among the cast.

  • Jeta Amata separates from wife

    Jeta Amata separates from wife

    After five years of marriage, Nollywood producer Jeta Amata has called it quits with wife, Mbong. Reports say the separation has been on for one year, but the couple decided to make it public when they realised it was difficult to mend fences.
    It is not clear, the reason the two couldn’t get their marriage to work again, but a close source said it is connected to Mbong’s insistence over her acting career. The couple met in 2001, during a movie audition the young girl partook in, in Calabar.
    She was barely 16 and he just had to wait until she was 18 before they started dating. In 2008, they had a daughter, and decided to get married. The couple moved over to Los Angeles, the movie hub of America few years ago, just so they could operate at the level of Hollywood.
    Amata, who broke the news to a notable blog, is quoted to have accepted blame for the separation, describing his woman in warm terms: “Mbong is an amazing mother, an incredible wife…all the time we were together she would never let any other person cook my food…she was faithful and good to me and gave me the best gift in the world, our beautiful daughter. If I didn’t cage her so much maybe we would still be together. I stole her youth and didn’t let her live her dream so it was better to let her go and find new adventures. She’s happy and so am I. Despite the fact that we are no longer together, we are still good friends. She even lives close to me here in LA. Things are great between us and I’m happy to see her happy.”
    Amata, unlike most Nollywood producers is not known for many movies. He started with Amazing Grace in 2006 and had since done another flick entitled Black November (2012), a story about oil spillage in the Niger Delta region.
    Mbong had only acted in these two movies, includingInale (2010), a film director by Amata, for Bongos Ikwue’s daughter, Keke Bongos Ikwue. Although the filmmaker is currently shooting a $15million budget film for the Haitian government, it is not clear if Mbong is a cast in that country’s historical flick.
    However, since the separation Mbong has featured in two Nollywood movies, one of them; Forgetting June, produced by Emem Isong, which she came back to Nigeria to shoot.
    Jeta, on the other hand is said to have started another romance with Australian actress Viva Bianca, best known for her role as Ilithyia in Spartacus.

    Reports say Amata’s upcoming will be starring Bianca. The movie which runs under a working title; Road to Redemption, is said to also have Ghanaian actress, Yvonne Nelson and pop star, Akon, without a trace of Mbong among the cast.

  • I thought I would be the black sheep of my family —Jeta Amata

    I thought I would be the black sheep of my family —Jeta Amata

    Actor cum filmmaker Jeta Amata is said to always have something up his sleeves. True to that notion, he says that he is currently working on a flick with an international cast, depicting the life of the Haitian figure, Toussaint l’Ouverture. Jetta, who recently made an appearance on the CNN programme African Voices, speaks with OVWE MEDEME on the issues surrounding his movie Black November and the purported threat to his family.

     

    YOU recently shot a film on the Niger Delta. What is the state of the production currently?

    As it turned out, we changed the name from Black Gold to Black November. Just when we were getting ready to release the film, we realised that we could make it better and give it a wider audience. So we went back to the drawing board to do that. It is set for release in the later part of this year. We have started the campaign.

    How did you get Akon and Wyclef to be part of the production?

    Akon and Wyclef are here in Black November. You know Akon is Senegalese and when I met him through a mutual friend, the first thing he said to me was that he has been looking for me for three years. He heard that some Nigerian had done a film on the oil industry and the Nigerian was in Hollywood doing stuffs.

    He told me that he had been trying to get across. That was how we became great friends and worked together. It was the same thing with Wyclef. We have a mutual friend and the next thing is that we were great friends. That was it. It is a small industry over here and people meet themselves. If they click, then they can do business together.

    What new thing are you working on?

    I am working on a film. Most of it will be filmed in Haiti. It is on the story of Toussaint l’Ouverture. That is what I am doing right now. I’m back and forth, Los Angeles and Haiti. I have been back and forth three times in the last month, putting everything together. We will be filming part of it in France, UK and the US. That is what I am doing right now.

    How do you hope to sell the Haitian story to Nigerians?

    L’Ouverture is a man who led the Haitian revolution, who led the slaves into fighting for their freedom and declaring their own state as the first independent black nation in the world. That is a universal story; that is a story for everyone in the world to see, especially considering the fact that they are black people and most of them were from Nigeria at that time.

     

    About Black Gold, how real were threats to your life by Niger Delta militants?

    First of all, going back to talk about the threats that came at that time, I believe it was more of a prank. A text message went to my wife saying they know where we live and where our daughter schools and that I don’t have any right to make a film without consulting them. I thought that was more of a prank than a real threat. Obviously I will not sit down here and say that threat came from the Niger Delta because before making the film, I had spoken with most of the guys there.

    Asari Doukbo and I have mutual friends, so I got to meet him. When I was going to shoot in Warri, I took my white crew from the US to Warri. At the time, it was very dangerous but Asari and his wife opened their doors for me. In fact, we had policemen guarding us, and guess what they told me; Asari’s wife told me not to bother about them. She assured me that I was safe.

    How difficult was it capturing the Niger Delta situation?

    I came with my foreign crew and we went right to the creek. We took the boat and crossed over to where the militant s were and they all came out and worked with us. That a threat came was, as far as I am concerned, unfounded. I am a Niger Delta son and if I want to tell a story about the region, I will tell it so long as I tell it right. As I said, I talked with a lot of people before I did the film.

    In fact, I can say that the first person to read the script was Donald Duke. I sent it to him as soon as I wrote it telling him that I wanted to make the film. I needed his take on it and his reply was that I should go ahead. He said that it would be a great movie. I sought so many other people’s opinion on it from the Niger Delta region as well. I went everywhere and I believe that I carried a lot of people along so it was not a case of people threatening my life.

    When the message came, how did it make you feel?

    Everyone’s life is always at some threat but I am not whining about anything. That, I would say, is a cheap way to get publicity in the US here. It is what all the journalists want in the US because they go read about it and they come asking me if I’m in danger. They want me to say yes so that they can put me out there. I will not sit down and gain from something negative. I am not being threatened. The threat we got about three years ago, my wife got it. We don’t know where it came from. It is nothing to be taken lightly but I believe it is unfounded so I am not worried about that right now.

    Is there any truth to the rumour that you flew into the country to take your wife and daughter away?

    This is what happened. At the time that text message came, I just left Nigeria to come back to the US and I was expecting my wife and daughter the following week. The text message came just about when they were meant to be coming to me. They were already on their way to coming to meet me in the US. It was merely a coincidence.

    Coming from a family of movie makers and actors, how much family influence reflects in your career?

    A lot. My grandfather was in the business, and then my father and my father was also a lecturer in the university. While I was starting out in the industry, I had Fred my uncle and Ruke so my family has had a huge influence in my life. Definitely, we have always worked as a team, we have supported each other’s projects; so, yes, they have had a lot of influence.

    Did you set out to be in the industry or you just chanced on it?

    Along the line, I veered into it. I thought I was going to be the black sheep of the family so I just turned white sheep like that.