Tag: Mike Ezuruonye

THE federal government largesse for the movie industry, under the Project ACT grant, is beginning to yield fruits. One of such is the just-concluded movie, Breathless, produced and directed by Charles Uwagbai.

Shot on location in the Lekki axis of Lagos, the star-studded film tells the story of the forensic account of the murder of an asthmatic lady in the private beach house of her boss (Prof. Okpodu). The incident sets up a series of events which reveal well kept secrets by the Okpodu and his two estranged rival sons involving the murder of the victim.

The film stars actors such as Mike Ezuronye as Ben (Biological Son), Bimbo Manuel (Prof Okpodu), Uti Nwachukwu as Priye (adopted son), Brysey Bassey (Jenny), Bobby Micheals (detective) and John Njamah as Kwame.

Uwagbai, who described the movie as a crime story, shared a few hints about the intrigues of the film when he said, “The man is no longer married. The relationship between him and the son is strained, and the real son feels cheated that he has lost all  including his mother.”

Uwagbai is particularly happy about the support from cast and crew, which he said brought their professionalism to bear. He noted that although there are, few new faces in the job that include Brycee Bassey, he was certain the actor holds great promises for the film industry.

According to Uwagbai, who is known to have directed such films as Okoro the Prince, Black Sillhuoete, and Drive, his new, Breathless, is a big budget project, hence his choice of high-class equipment.

Corroborating the director’s hype for the film, Ezuruonye said the style of production is worth emulating.

“I have been working with bright young minds who I will call visionaries for what the Nigerian film industry should be. I am not saying that great things have not been happening in the sector. But when you look at the shots, sounds and other aspects of Breathless, you will see that things are going in line with how movie making is moving,” he said.

He described the director as a good listener and team player, who is not boxed up in his own ego or euphoria of the business. “He is an embodiment of what movie directing should be. He is a leader, not a boss. He observes well. He is one who would make noise via his craft and lens,” he said.

For Uti Nwachukwu, Uwagbai is an inspiration. “When I watched his previous projects, I said, ‘I must work with this person’. He is a risk taker. He is deep. There is something just special about him.”

Screenplayed by Doris Ariole and edited by Jenkins Alumona, Breathless is being floated through Uwagbai’s Creative Unit Multimedia in association with Flykite Productions.