The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nollywood

  • Dear Nollywood,Indian entertainment revenue may double by 2018

    WHILE Nollywood is still being spoon-fed by President Goodluck Jonathan’s largesse, the Indian entertainment industry, according to a new study, is soaring in commercial maturation, and is expected to double its revenue to $37.2 billion by 2018, growing at a compound annual rate of 15 percent.

    An annual report by consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers India and the Confederation of Indian Industry said that in 2013, the Indian entertainment industry recorded revenue of about $18.3 billion, a 19 percent gain over the previous year.

    The entertainment industry has contributed strongly to India’s economy, according to other recent reports. And interestingly too, while TV is predicted to be a big growth driver, the film business reportedly will also grow steadily.

    Against the backdrop of digital migration in 2015, one begins to wonder what will happen in the Nigerian entertainment space when the spectrum is further enlarged for more contents.

    As laudable as the interest of the Federal Government is in the entertainment industry, everything seems to me like a political romance. And as directors, producers and distributors jostle for their shares of the N3billion film intervention fund, actors, who may not have logical reason to access the fund, are playing smart by going into politics where they can tap directly into what they have come to see as a national cake regime.

    Nowadays, films like Being Mrs Elliot, which has no direct national significance, are finding their ways to Aso Villa in the name of presidential premiere. This film, I have on good authority, is not doing well in the cinema, despite hype by its promoters.  I honestly believe that we have lost it, and there is no effort from any quarters to call us back from this path of mediocrity.

    Back to the forecast for India, it is said that the subscription trends are robust, as television continues to dominate the overall industry pie. Total TV revenue (including advertising) reached $7 billion in 2013, up about 15 percent from $ 6.1 billion in 2012. By 2018, TV revenue is expected to double from existing levels to about $14 billion. International production companies have taken note of the growth and looked at opportunities in India.

    The film industry was estimated at about $2.06 billion in 2013 and is projected to grow steadily at a compound annual growth of 12 percent by 2018 to touch $ 3.6 billion. The report states that higher domestic and overseas box-office collections and cable and satellite TV rights for movies will continue to propel film revenue.

    The fastest growth is seen in the digital space, with Internet access revenue touching about $4.2 billion in 2013, up 47 percent over the previous year, thus becoming the second highest revenue generator for the overall industry after TV. Internet access revenues were slightly higher than total print revenues (advertising and subscription), which hit about $3.8 billion in 2013, signifying the growing dominance of digital over traditional media in India.

    Similarly, Internet advertising revenue is also a strong contributor, growing at 26 percent. It is slated to become the third largest segment, with a 16 percent share of the overall advertising revenue pie by 2018.

    Total advertising revenue reached $5.73 billion in 2013 and is expected to rise to $9.8 billion by 2018, registering a compound annual growth rate of 13 percent.

    Given the growth of new media, the report predicts that the share of print revenues in the overall industry pie is likely to fall from 20 percent in 2013 to 14 percent by 2018. Similarly, the share of the film industry is also expected to drop slightly from 11 percent to 10 percent over the same time period.

    Here at home, practitioners seem to have succeeded in blackmailing the government with their chorus of “We got Nollywood to this stage without government support”. I no longer hear that phrase, and it is just an error to imagine that the kind of support we are talking about here is by giving filmmakers money to go and make commercial films, when the most realistic aspect of support could have been policies that support co-production treaties, subsidising the importation of film equipment and instituting auditable structures through proper distribution framework.

    Although we keep hearing that plans are on to direct the larger chunk of the N3billion grant on distribution, there are no visible marks of seriousness on this aspect from the fund managers like the training of filmmakers on short courses abroad and giving producers money to make films. What becomes of these films without the distribution frameworks, which is the only hope for returns on investments? Isn’t this another case of putting the cart before the horse?

    Trust me; the money spent on training directors may not yield good results. I believe too that only few producers would use their share to make good films, if they ever make the films. The reason is simple: most Nigerian filmmakers are tired and only desire shortcuts to make a living.

  • Beware of fake Facebook fan page, Uche Jombo warns

    Beware of fake Facebook fan page, Uche Jombo warns

    AWARDING-WINNING Nollywood actress and producer, Uche Jombo Rodriguez, who is currently in the U.S., where she plans to have her baby, has called on her fans to beware of a fake Facebook fan page account bearing her name.

    Uche, who make this disclosure via her twitter handle, wrote: “This is my only fan page on Facebook: facebook.com/uchejombo. It is verified, so beware of fake accounts, asking for money to send gifts.”

    Meanwhile, the actress, according to sources, is also putting finishing touches to some of her films that may be released in the next two months.

  • I rushed into my first marriage and rushed out–Nollywood star, Iyabo Ojo

    I rushed into my first marriage and rushed out–Nollywood star, Iyabo Ojo

    In the past years, Iyabo Ojo has literally crisscrossed both the English and Yoruba movie sectors of Nollywood, showcasing her acting skill to the delight of movie buffs.The mother of two has suffered bad press at different times; yet, she has remained unshaken, remaining faithful to her first love: acting. The petite movie producer spoke with some select journalists, including DUPE AYINLA-OLASUNKANMI, about a whole lot of things that her fans have been yawning to know about her. Excerpts:  

    YOU opened a beauty spa a year ago with fanfare. Looking back now, could you recall what motivated you to go into the business?

    I have always been into business and I have always been very passionate about beauty issues. Though I started with mini-mart hairdo, I later wanted to expand the business; so, along the line, I developed an interest in body massage. Therefore, I started learning about it and I found out that the more I learnt, the more my passion grew so much. I am always very particular about my looks, so I decided to go the United Kingdom to study more about fashion and beauty. After the training, I came up with the idea of having a beauty spa in the heart of Lagos. I had been in the business before, but it was on a smaller scale. But at a point, I felt it was time to give it a wider outlook. So, it took me about two years to actualise this dream.

    How did you raise the needed capital at the outset of the business?

    I am a movie producer and a businesswoman. As I said, this is not something that started overnight. I had been planning ahead of time for this and when I discovered that I had saved enough of money to start the business, I didn’t wait the next minute. I was able to raise money from my productions and my husband also supported me a lot. I feel very excited today because it is not easy to have a business like this in this kind of environment. A lot of people have asked me if I took a loan from any bank to execute this, but I said no. I started saving up for this project since 2010.

    Certainly, your new interest must be clashing with your first love, acting. How would you react to this?

    Interestingly, the two have been going fine together. I have always been a picky actress; I don’t act in all movies that come my way. I try to plan and manage my time very well. If I know I am going to be busy with my business, I won’t accept any script for that period. So, I try to draw out a plan for myself, in order not to get myself hooked up on one thing, while the others suffer. I try to find out time to produce my own movie, act in other movies, pay attention to my business and manage my home very well. I don’t choke myself up in one business. For instance, in my spa business, I have professionals on ground who will handle my clients with utmost professionalism.

    So, as it is generally said, it is almost impossible to live on acting alone?

    No, I don’t believe that is applicable to every artiste. I have never relied on acting alone. For somebody like me, I have always been into different businesses, since I was young.

    I have an event management under Fespris World. In fact, I am also trying to venture into other businesses, as I speak with you. This has nothing do with whether the acting is financially rewarding or not; but it is just something I like to do.

    As I said, even before I became an actress, I have always been into buying and selling of goods. I was even into property at a particular point. The most important thing in life is to learn how to manage what you have, so as to make the best out of it. What I do is that I borrow from one business to help another. If I make good money on my movies, I will invest it in my business and when I realise the money back, I will invest it in another movie that I want to shoot.

    Why is it impossible to rely fully on acting in the Yoruba movie sector?

    It is not possible. I don’t know about the actors in the English movie sector. They don’t really pay that much in our own Yoruba movie industry. It is always E wa ba mi se (please, support me).

    So, for most of us, acting is just a passion. It is something that made a way for me and it is something I am still going to do for a very long time. It is not something that puts food on my table. I make more money from producing movies. That is why I try as much as I can to produce good movies, so that I can make a good profit in the long run. I just started shooting my second English movie, Beyond Disability. I am going to launch Beyond Disability and Silence together on December 21.

    You are one of the few Yoruba actresses who have shot movies in full English Language. So, what do you hope to achieve?

    In life, you don’t want to be stagnant. I believe I have done a lot of fantastic Yoruba movies and I am still going to do more. I just want to go beyond where I am today. Yoruba movies are for selected people, but English movies are versatile; so, I am ready now to explore that world by producing my own English movies and showcase my talent and tell my story.

    Has your husband not tried to slow you down?

    Unfortunately, I am a very homely person. He is equally very busy doing one business or the other; so, he’s hardly around. When we have to see, we try to find time to do that.

    You talk so fondly of your husband and the fact that you are happily married. But when you consider the nature of your job, which takes you out of home most of the time, how do you reconcile this with your claim?

    (Laughs) How will I put it? Everything just has to do with God. I think it is about one’s upbringing. I try my best to make sure that my acting stays in the acting world. Once I am off set, I am back to my normal self; and when I am here at work, I am a businesswoman. At home, I am a mother to my kids and a humble woman to my man. So, I try to separate everything so that I don’t have any problem in my marriage.

    But you had some problems in your first marriage. So, what did you miss then?

    I rushed into marriage. Then, I was not even in the industry that much. And you will agree with me that the older you get, the calmer you become and the more you reason deeply before taking any action. My first marriage was very fast; we dated for about six months before we got married. It was two different people under one roof; we didn’t really understand each other. I didn’t understand my ex’s way of life and I was not even ready to accept his way of life either.

    But he wanted me to understand him. I came from a family, where you go to work in the morning and come back in the evening to stay with your family. But he came from a world, where he could go for one week and when he is back, he’s back. So, that didn’t really work and that was the genesis of our problems. So, I knew it was not what I wanted. I wanted more out of life, so I moved on.

    Now, I have found out that you cannot find the perfect thing in one man, but there is one thing I have found in this relationship that I am into right now – that is peace of mind. When you are experiencing peace of mind in your home, you will see that everything will fall in line. You don’t allow your stardom to get in the way of your happiness. People usually tell me that I don’t behave like a celebrity and I tell them maybe I don’t see myself as one.

    How much have you invested in this place?

    I don’t like to mention money because of security reasons. But I can tell you that this thing you are seeing today is worth millions of naira. Let’s leave it like that. I had to go all the way to China to ship in most of the things you are seeing here. So, it is not cheap at all.

    Some people believe Iyabo Ojo is only fortunate because she comes from a wealthy background

    Yes, I will say I am very fortunate that my dad left me some money before he died. Thank God I was able to maximise the little capital dad left behind for me. It was not easy handling it initially, but God has always been there for me and I am also grateful to my husband for his support and love.

    How were you able to manage your dad’s wealth that you didn’t get distracted in the midst of everything?

    I have always been a mother at a very young age. You know, I married very early in life and I had to mature early enough.

    How old were you when you first got married?

    I was 21 years old.

    So, when did your dad die?

    My dad died when I was 23. At 23, I already had two kids. So, for me, it was to either get it right or wrong at that point. I had to split the money into different things. Then, I used to have a shop at Ilupeju, where I sold things. I used to travel to Dubai to buy things that I sold in Nigeria. A large chunk of the money was invested in acting. There were times when the situation was stormy; there were times when things were just too difficult for me to handle. But I kept working hard.

    So, your dad left you with that substantial amount of money and none of your family members raised an eyebrow about it?

    We are well-to-do in my family. Everybody is busy with his or her life; nobody cares about what I do with my money because everybody has his or her own money. And it was just my brother and me. I thank God that we were able to do things right.

    Could you recall some of the mistakes you have made that you don’t like to remember?

    I think I have rewritten that mistake and that is taking my time before saying yes to my man. Initially, I rushed into marriage and that’s why I rushed out. After my first marriage crashed, I took my time before falling in love again. People say I am difficult, but I am not; I am just being careful. I don’t want to keep telling my kids that I am sorry again.

    In order not to tell them another story that touches the heart, I had to take my time. My son is in Senior Secondary School 3 and my daughter is in Senior Secondary School 2 now; so, they are almost done with their secondary school education. My girl wants to be an actress, just like her mother.

    Was that why you featured her in your movie, Silence?

    There is nothing wrong in acting early, as long as it does not affect her education. She has always wanted to be an actress and I can’t stand in her way.

    Some of your colleagues see you as arrogant and aloof…

    (Cuts in) I am very blunt. If I don’t ‘feel you’ or not connected to you, I don’t have to pretend to like you. I won’t be fair to myself and even to you, if I do that. I can’t be everybody’s friend and you don’t have to be my enemy. If I see you out there as a fan, I will respect you. But I may not want to take it a step further. There is a problem somewhere, if every colleague of mine is my friend. I will love some and keep myself away from others. When we sit down to talk and I don’t feel the reason for us to be friends, I will just let you be. We have different people in the industry, so how do you expect me to relate the same way with everybody? That is not going to work. If the world wants to crucify me for my decision, then I don’t care.

  • BON: NCC DG to address piracy summit

    BON: NCC DG to address piracy summit

    COME Sunday, September 21, foremost intellectual copyright advocate, Afam Ezekude, will deliver a keynote address with the theme: Piracy: Reality Check and The Way Forward at the Talents Meet Class, a Best of Nollywood initiative, scheduled to hold at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos.

    Ezekude, who is the Director General of the Nigeria Copyright Commission, said: “While we celebrate the achievements of Nollywood, we must equally underscore the need to ensure that the gains of this cultural revolution is sustained through a system that acknowledges and rewards the creative input of participants in the movie industry. This is because the various inputs are all products of creative genius of people whose basic resource is their intellectual abilities. The intellectual property system remains critical to the development of the creative industries.”

    Panelists at the event, which will be moderated by writer and film critic, Hussein Shaibu, include veteran actor, Jide Kosoko; president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ibinabo Fiberesima; filmmaker, Zik Zulu Okafor and foremost Nollywood marketers, Aina Kusoro and Abdul Rasaq.

    According to Seun Oloketuyi, Executive Producer, Best of Nollywood Awards, the Talents Meet Class event is a major component of BON’s annual awards ceremony that provides a platform for the stars and stakeholders in Nollywood to interact with the movers and shakers of corporate Nigeria, while exploring areas of mutual interests between them.

    This year’s event, he further revealed, will be hosted by the chairman of Apapa Local Government Area, Hon. Ayodeji Joseph.

  • Child marriage: Stephanie Linus releases movie trailer

    Child marriage: Stephanie Linus releases movie trailer

    Nollywood actress cum producer, Stephanie Linus has released the official trailer of her #ChildNotBride campaign movie, Dry.

    The actress embarked on the movie campaign last year to drum up support from Nigerians and the international community for the revocation of the Senate resolution, which sought to legalise child brides in Nigeria.

    Dry, follows a trail of Zara’s (Stephanie Linus) trip to Africa, her constant turmoil as a result of inexplicable horrors from childhood, her experiences and heartaches while working with young girls suffering from early child-birth complications as child brides.

    Set against the backdrop of a rich African culture, the flich, which stars veteran actress, Liz Benson, has been described as intriguing, suspense-filled and engaging.

  • NAFCA takes show to Hollywood

    NAFCA takes show to Hollywood

    •To honour Ooni of Ife, Alakija, others 

    For the first time, an Africa-centered movie award show will take place in Hollywood, California, a celebrated movie hub in the world.

    The show, Nollywood and African Film Critics’ Awards (NAFCA), according to its founder, Dr. Victor Olatoye, will hold at the legendary Saban Theater, Beverly Hills, California, USA, on Saturday September 13.

    Olatoye who described the show as a glorious dawn, said: “This year’s awards in Hollywood is the biggest to date with dignitaries from around the world gracing the historic event, including A-list Hollywood and Nollywood stars, music stars, diplomats, political figures and over 1500 movie buffs.”

    Speaking highly of the new venue, Olatoye said it will be double celebration in Hollywood, as NAFCA’s event will coincide with the 83rd anniversary of the theater.

    “Our guest will witness the honouring of noble men and women of Africa as we present them with the coveted golden NAFCA trophies. The Saban Theatre accommodates about 1900 people and we are just as excited and honoured to be part of the history of this iconic Beverly Hills landmark, as we join in the celebration of its 83rd anniversary on September 13.”

    He said the choice of the venue is a reflection of the vision of the award scheme for the African cinema. “Looking back at the maiden edition which held at a hotel ballroom in 2011, Carolina Theater in 2012, Warner Theatre in 2013, and now going into the heart of Beverly Hills; it is fair to say we are moving the African cinema forward.”

    Meanwhile, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade has been picked as the first African king to step into the movie city, where he will be honoured with the special NAFCA Legend Award. The award, according to Olatoye, is the highest honour to be bestowed on an individual by NAFCA.

    “Ooni’s historical visit has been attracting a lot of positive interests to this year’s NAFCA Awards. Apart from an African-American cultural group that would welcome the monarch at the airport, the cast of Hollywood’s blockbuster, Coming To America, will equally be on hand to receive him. Also, television stations are booking in advance to have an audience with the highly respected monarch,” Olatoye revealed.

    Also, president of Rose of Sharon Foundation, Chief (Mrs.) Folorunsho Alakija, will be given the NAFCA Humanitarian Award.

  • Otubu to Nollywood: Stop portraying Aladura as evil

    The General Evangelist of Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide (MCCSW), Professor Joseph Otubu, has appealed to Nollywood producers and script writers to stop painting the Aladura churches as occultic, wicked and criminally- minded.

    Though he noted some clerics have misrepresented the movement, Otubu said their practices are not limited to the Aladura Movement, stating that every denomination has its share of bad eggs.

    The gynecologist spoke last Sunday at the 50th anniversary and thanksgiving service of the church at its International Sub-Headquarters in Lekki, Lagos.

    He said although it is very easy to identify an Aladura member when he or she commits a crime, he stated that members of other denominations are culpable of greater crimes.

    He wondered: “Are the Aladura’s church members the worst of all persons in Nigeria? Are the Aladura the only people committing crimes?”

    The cleric added: “In every denomination, there are bad eggs but unfortunately our own bad eggs have been overemphasised and Nollywood should talk about sin and its repercussion in every assembly, denomination, association or religious association, not just in Aladura.”

    Praising the prayer fervour of the Aladura churches, Otubu said it is a remarkable legacy that must be sustained till the end.

    “Aladura churches have earned themselves the name because the foundation fathers of the Cherubim and Seraphim churches believed in the efficacy of prayers, God will always answer our prayers in his way, wisdom and in love.

    “I can tell you that the Aladura Church established by Orimolade is an excellent church built absolutely on the efficacy of prayer,” he stressed.

    He lamented that many churches organise prayer meetings with dirty hands and unclean hearts, expecting God whose eyes cannot behold sin to answer them.

    According to him: “If you are committing secretly or openly and have not found adequate time to repent wholly and solely as to receive God’s pardon, there is little or no hope of prayer being answered.”

    On the efficacy of prayers, he said: “Prayer is the key to opening the door to the presence of God.

    “Certain elements are required in prayer as exemplified in the classic prayer taught to the disciples in the Lord’s Prayer.”

    He stated churches must unite together as one big family to stem the tide of sin, unrighteousness and ungodly in the society.

    The National President of The Apostolic Church (TAC), Pastor Tola Odutola, also charged Nigerians to remain committed to prayers to fix the challenges facing the nation.

    “There is no hope aside from prayer and we must continue to pray. Our God will answer our prayer and will take all the problems that we have from Nigeria including the recent upsurge of insurgency,” Olutola assured.

    Dignitaries at the anniversary with the theme prayer is the key include Former Lagos Commissioner for Health, Dr. Leke Pitan; the President of Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, represented by Rev Femi Asiwaju; the President of the Apostolic Church, LAWNA Territory, Pastor Tola Odutola; the head of TEKAN/ECWA bloc, Rev Emmanuel Gigawu, among others.

  • Fati Zanna gets two BON nominations

    Fati Zanna gets two BON nominations

    FATI Zanna, a northern Nollywood actress, has been nominated in two categories for the 2014 BON Awards.

    “I feel great and excited. It makes me realise that I am doing the right thing and I should go ahead,” an excited Zanna said.

    The graduate of University of Jos, who hails from Borno State and lives in Abuja, has featured in over 30 movies and produced about eight movie, including:  One more man & return of One more man, Honest Deceiver, Real Wives, Waiting For The Sun and Our Differences, among others.

    Talking about her love for movie production, she said: “I like being the producer because I am the boss in charge of the production and I love acting because that is where I express myself better, in terms of art.”

    Zanna got married to John Ehua Lawrence, a Nigerian-based footballer two years ago.

  • Omoni Oboli screens Being Mrs Elliot for Jonathan

    Omoni Oboli screens Being Mrs Elliot for Jonathan

    It was, undoubtedly, a momentous occasion at the weekend when Nollywood star, Omoni Oboli, was received by President Goodluck Jonathan during a private screening of her movie, Being Mrs Elliot, at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja.

    The event was graced by other dignitaries, including Vice President Namadi Sambo, AY Makun, Lepacious Bose, Mahmood Ali-Balogun and Chioma Ude, among others.

    Prior to the screening, the actress had promised Nollywood movie lovers a treat when the movie starts showing in Nigerian cinemas. “This movie is one of the best to have come out of Nollywood.  The attention to detail, characterization and professionalism all come together to make it a must-watch.  When you watch the movies, you will see a high level of professionalism and revolution in the way the movie was produced,” she said.

    Being Mrs Elliott is the story of a successful married woman, who is torn between two worlds after a life-changing incident.

    The movie, which opened the Nollywood Week Film Festival in Paris recently, also received 11 nominations at the Nollywood and African Film Critics’ Awards (NAFCA) in California, USA.

  • Segun Arinze returns with No Holds Barred

    Segun Arinze returns with No Holds Barred

    NOLLYWOOD actor and ex-president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Segun Arinze, is back in the news.

    The actor, who is among the cast of a new flick, A Place for Stars, featuring the likes of Gideon Okeke and Dejumo Lewis, has announced the return of his talkshow, No Holds Barred.

    He hinted that No Holds Barred with Segun Arinze, which features exciting interviews with the crème de la crème, will return on Agatha Amata’s Rave TV on Sunday, August 24. According to the actor, the programme, which went off air for reasons he wouldn’t disclose, returns every Sunday from 8pm.

    “No Holds Barred with Segun Arinze promises to be daring and engaging. Do you slam hard on the truth? Do you hit hard with the truth? Do you care about whose ox is gored? It is back, bigger and stronger and with full force,” he said.