The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nollywood

  • Nollywood all about gossip, envy – Iyabo Ojo

    Iyabo Ojo, a Nollywood filmmaker on Friday urged her fans not to be fooled by the make-belief friendship exhibited in the industry, saying it was all about gossip, envy, backstabbing and backbiting.

    In a post on her Instagram page, she wrote:  “We never truly support our own; we’re just friends when it suits.“How well we’re perfect deceiving our fans,  that is why we are actors.

    “Can I just hint y’all that we are just colleagues in some … competition that no one understands, unfortunately not only two can play the game but hundreds can play the role.

    Read Also: Why Nollywood marriages breakdown –Iyabo Ojo

    “Oh yes, we get along with some, yet we are mindful of our utterances because all they want to know is you, then we act for the Instagram where we seek validation for our not so real relationships.

    “Problems starts when you refuse to let them into your business, you become a rival and a threat, they start rewriting the script and when they’re done destroying you, they move to the next gullible victim.’’

    Ojo, who said the post was straight from the heart, said the motivational writers in the industry change the script every second to suit them.

    “Don’t be fooled,  watch, learn, get entertained and move on.“We are all acting; 20 years of entertainment, different roles, same game.

    “Trust me when I say, the game is not for a learner; you gotta to be rooted. It’s unexplainable,’’ she said.

     

    (NAN)

  • Nollywood mourns filmmaker Chris Ekejimbe

    Several Nollywood stakeholders have expressed sadness over the death, at the weekend, of a notable filmmaker, Mr. Chris Ekejimbe.

    Ekejimbe, a highly vocal director and CEO of 4Screams Studios, died at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) on Saturday morning, after months of managing complications purportedly arising from wrong medical prescription.

    The deceased who hails from Awka Etiti in Anambra State was a board member of the Association of Nollywood Core Producers (ANCOP) and founder of notable Nollywood social media group, Film4Life.

    News of his demise was broken to members of the  famous creative industry WhatsApp group by founding president of ANCOP, Mr. Alex Eyengho early Saturday.

    “Folks! Sad day for Nollywood! Chris Ekejimbe just passed on a few moments ago at LUTH. Lord have mercy. I just spoke with the wife!” Eyengho stated.

    The news sent shivers round Nollywood camps, with condolence messages pouring in, even from Kigali, Rwanda, where filmmakers and actors were gathered for the 14th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) which held Saturday night.

    The late Ekejimbe attended this year’s edition of Cannes International Film Festival in May, and may have been last seen in public in Nigeria at the Nigerian International Film Summit (NIFS) at Protea Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, in September, and at the recent premiere of AY’s Merry Men film.

    Ekejimbe’s creation, Film4Life, is an engaging, strictly film issue-based  platform with industry influences including actors Richard Mofe- Damijo, Joke Silva, Segun Arinze, Kate Henshaw, and Ibinabo Fiberesima – filmmakers and creatives like Mahmood Ali-Balogun,  Uzodinma Okpechi, Alex Enyengho, Obi Asika, Opa Williams, Lancelot Oduwa-Imasuen, Charles Novia, Charles Inojie, Chidi Nwokeabia, Tade Ogidan, Greg Odutayo, Izu Ojukwu, Izu Osuigwe – and heads of film agencies like Executive Director of National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Mr. Adedayo Thomas, Managing Director of Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, and Mrs. Uche Nwuka, Head, Creative Industry Desk at Bank of Industry (BoI), as members.

    Reacting to the passing of Ekejimbe, Novia described him as ‘one of a kind’. “A Man with the perfect Networking skills has gone. His greatest legacy, amongst others, would be this forum where he brought together great and diverse minds for the development of a profession he loved and cherished. I have been so gutted all day. This picture Izu posted here was the last time I saw him at the NFIS. He was weak yet managed to attend and mingle. I asked him what the nature of his illness was and he said it was aggravated malaria. I felt he was very ill and told him so but he waved it aside and assured me he would get better. We should honour his legacy and somehow continue the ideals of this forum in his honour. It would be cruel to disband the group or exit because he’s no more. He was one of a kind,” he said.

    For Asika, the late Ekejimbe was true to his beliefs. He said: “Rest In Peace man, Chris kept it real, stubborn to a fault but always true to his beliefs, I’m actually speechless.”

    Nwokeabia on his part reasoned that it was unfortunate, the way the deceased passed, despite his health consciousness. “Chris Ekejimbe dead? Shame on you death. For a man who was always conscious of what he ate, what he drank, was always at the national stadium every weekend jogging and walking, all in a bid to keep fit and healthy, from where then  did death sneak in?  Death, na bastard you be. Chris you died a great man. Irrespective of what anybody thought about you, you were resolute in your conviction and beliefs. Only a few of your ilk are left in Nollywood. Adieu Chris. Rest in peace,” he said.

     Dr. Maduekwe said: “What is all this. Just waking up now . Could I still be dreaming? Never heard he was sick . Whaoooh what a devastating development for the family and the industry at large. Indeed I am short of words for now . May the grace of our almighty GOD uphold each and everyone of us at this very time . It is SAD!”
    Okpechi said: “An X – Ray into our Teaching Hospitals gradually shows they are becoming a place called the point of no return. What perhaps should be one of the best hospitals in Nigeria is fast becoming Golgotha. LUTH on my mind.”

    According to Inojie, no adjective could aptly describe the deceased. “Unapologetically Bohemia! A Nollywood encyclopedia! A mobile repertoire of film knowledge! A don and master of the art of filmmaking! Chris Ekejimbe… No coinage aptly describes you! Rest in peace bro, Nollywood will forever miss you!” He said.

    Fiberesima said: “So very sad.  He touched base with everyone every time.  My heart bleeds…. A fantastic human being indeed.  May his soul rest in peace.  Amen.”
    Osuigwe too was full of fond memories of the deceased. “He would go, “Ogbuefi Izu”, he noted, saying, “Apart from Ernest Okonkwo,  I have never seen a person give associates their own pet names like Chris Ekejimbe!  A very loyal friend,  seeker of knowledge and a man who sees beyond the next step.  Occasionally he makes his probing calls,  you realize he must have information he needs further corroboration before pushing it out,  that was him.  Very upbeat and imbued with fervent optimism. He  Understood and was willing to bear the opprobrium which comes with leadership.  You are no more?  So those calls, late in the night or awkward times would be no more?  Yet to come to grips with this news!”

    Aged 47, the remains of late Ekejimbe has since been moved to Awka Etiti, while his colleagues on Film4Life, who are poised to partake in a befitting funeral had observed quiet period which began midnight on Saturday until Monday. Photographs of the lifetime of the deceased were also being shared by members prior to resumption of deliberations on Monday on the next steps of action.

  • FOLUKE DARAMOLA stages walk for late, incapacitated Super Eagles members

    Having been unveiled last month as the new brand ambassador of SURU group of companies, Nollywood actress/producer, Foluke Daramola, will on October 1st, 2018, lead a charity walk to support the families of late or incapacitated Super Eagles’  members.

    The walk which is an initiative of Suru Group is tagged “The Lagos Walk 2018” and will kick-off at Maryland and end at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

    “The Suru family is set for this walk to support the Super Eagles’  families that are deceased or incapacitated,” said Foluke.

    “Let’s all join in this noble cause and join celebrities, businessmen/women, athletes on the 1st of October 2018. Join in a noble cause to impact into lives.”

    The actress was unveiled on August 31, 2018, to fly the marketing and promotional goodwill of the  of company.

  • My character in AY’s ‘Yoruba Demon’ is different, says Ireti Doyle

    Known for playing seriously roles in movies over the years, Nollywood top actress,  Ireti Doyle, has spoken about her role in AY’s Yoruba Demon, aka the Merry Men.

    In the movie which hit cinemas on Friday, Ireti is involved with a younger lover.

    “I played the character Dem Maduka, in Yoruba Demon, aka the Merry Men. I kinda like it often time it is taken out of context, but it captures this movie, twisty sharp funny guys doing interesting things,” Ireti said, explaining her character to viewschannels.

    “It is an interesting term and I think this movie captures it perfectly. It is a pretty action film, comedy full of twist and action; you won’t see this one coming.”

    Yoruba Demon which stars Richard Mofe-Damijo, Ramsey Nouah and Jim Iyke, Falz and Fathia Williams, among others, is a follow up to the comedian cum actor’s last feature film, ’10 Days in Suncity’ released in 2017.

  • Nollywood actor, attributes boost in fake lifestyles to social media

    Nollywood actor, Mr Mike Ezuruonye, on Monday said that the advent of the internet and the social media had increased fake-lifestyles among the youth.

     

    Ezuruonye told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that he had had witnessed many fake lifestyles across the country over the years.

     

    “The advent of the internet and social media has put unnecessary pressures on the youth of this country to live fake lifestyles that should not have been the case.

     

    “ You meet several people who feel they have to make an impression to be accepted by the public.

     

    “On a personal level, I have experienced many fake-life habits where people claim to be something but turned out to the opposite.

     

    “We are in a system where the social media has made people leading fake lifestyles to become products of both public success and private failure.

     

    “Such people only show their successes but not their failures on the social media,” he said.

     

    He noted that maintaining a fake-lifestyle could be expensive and be mentally tasking.

     

    “ There are a lot of people who drive flashy cars but do not have a house; people who prefer to stay in hotels where they owe bills but creating  false images about themselves before the public.’’

    Read Aslo: Arsenal’s Iwobi makes Nollywood debut

     

    Ezuruonye advised the public not to put undue pressures on themselves under the pretext that they wanted to maintain high societal profiles.

     

    He warned that such could lead them to depression.

     

    The actor who is also a director, however, disclosed that he used to live a fake-lifestyle while acting to create suspense among his fans.

     

    “The truth is that I live a fake-lifestyle while acting to also interpret the cast assigned to me by my director.

     

    “That may mean faking a character that is not really me,’’ he said.

     

    The director said that for him to attain such class or level in real life would require him to work hard and be determined.

     

    He said that his upcoming project titled: “Lagos Real Fake Life” would address and educate youths on the need to avoid living fake lifestyles.

     

    Ezuruonye said that he would unveil the new movie in November which would address the effects of fake lifestyle in a humorous way.

     

    It would expose the mistakes most youths were fond of making and help the people to understand that fake grass is greener than the real ones.

  • Adisa Afis, Nollywood upcoming star dreams big

    Nollywood actor Adisa Afis Ademola has stated that his primary goal is to be a big director in the movie industry. Though, it’s two years ago, Afis is still relishing his TAMVAAS Award in South Africa where he was voted 2016 Best Upcoming Actor.

    “I still believe I have not done well as far as bringing out my best is concerned,” said the Lagos State Polytechnic graduate who never envisaged that he would be a celebrity and receiving accolades for his acting.

    “That is why I am still driving hard to be the best. My dream is big. I believe people hasn’t seeing much of me.”

    Afis, who was born in Mushin, Lagos, started acting five years ago and in 2017, produced his own movie which is titled ‘Igbo Kadara.’

  • Soyinka to lead delegates to Nigerian Cultural & Film Festival, Bordeaux

    As part of its mission of upholding the image of Nigeria, Content Warehouse Limited, an audio-visual and cultural promotion organization, is set for the maiden edition of Nigerian Cultural & Film Festival; one of the biggest showcases of Nigeria’s creative works in Bordeaux, a notable tourist city in France.

    Taking place from September 16 to 19, 2018, Nobel Literature Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka will be leading a delegation of Nigerian film industry stakeholders to the festival.

    According to Founder of the project, Mr. Ralph Nwadike, other delegates whose agencies are supporting the event include Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, CEO of Africa Independent Television; Dr. Samantha Iwowo; Alhaji Adedayo Thomas, Executive Director of National Film and Video Censors Board; Otunba Segun Runsewe, D.G of The National Council for Arts and Culture; Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, M.D of Nigerian Film Corporation, and London-based Nigerian filmmaker Biyi Bamidele Thomas.

    “The festival will be showcasing our arts and crafts, including our dance and drama. We will showcase our historical pictography and documentary,” says Nwadike.

    Disclosing that one of the highlights of the event will be an agreement signing between Nigeria and France on film related issues, Nwadike is optimistic that the event will put paid to some of the wrong impressions outsiders may have about Nigeria.

    “Let it be known that we are not a terrorist country, that we are not a country of kidnappers, assassins and murderers; hence we have put together some of the best known names and personalities to lead this delegation of culture, of music, of fashion, of food, of television and film to showcase to the world. This is who we are; a country blessed with abundance in everything and much more,” he says.

    The Nigerian Cultural & Film Festival is being coordinated by cultural promoters like Barrister Tunji Bamishigbin, Mr. Francis Onwochie, Mrs. Nkechi Nwadike, Mr. Forster Ojehonmon, Mr. Pascal Ojukwu and Mr. Austin Okagbue and Henry Okoro, who are based in France.

    On the choice of Bordeaux for the cultural event, Nwadike who is President of Association of Movie Producers (AMP) says the Consul General of France, Mr. Laurent Polonceaux and the late Pierre Cherruau who was the then audio-video attaché suggested the location, adding that “Paris is already saturated with different festivals and Bordeaux is not just a beautiful city, it is the wine capital of the world.  And Bordeaux deserves something big, something unique with its own class and its own identity.”

    Planned as an annual event, former audio-visual attaché of France to Nigeria, Pierre Barrow will join Soyinka and others to speak on culture, films and government policies.

    The four-day event is expected to close with an awards night, including a posthumous award to Pierre Cherruau.

  • AgroNigeria floats TV series to attract youths

    An Agro-business firm AgroNigeria says it has secured the services of Nollywood and the creative industry actors to produce movies and a television series to encourage the youth to take to farming.

    The Chief Executive Officer, Mr Richard-Mark Mbaram made the disclosure at a news conference on Wednesday in Lagos.

    Mbaram said there was need to demonstrate to the youth the attractiveness, benefits and wealth in the agriculture sector through movies and television series.
    Mbaram said the television series would showcase Nigeria’s agric potential as capable of driving Africa’s economic development if properly harnessed.

    “We want to use the screen to demystify the notion that agriculture is a complex sector; hence collaborating with some renowned figures in the Nollywood industry to showcase the agric sector.

    Read Also: Feg Agro boss emerges NFAN president

    “The first phase in Nigeria will gulp N350 million while the N350 million will be spent at the continental level.
    “The funds will be gotten from our supporting partners, which include the Africa Development Bank (ADB); OXFARM and International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT),” he said.

    Mbaram cited the Cock Crow at Dawn television series of the 1970s aired on Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) as one of the firm’s case study to pursue the Agro Nolly series.

    He said the rural areas where core farming activities were domiciled would be the major focal points for the series as well as highlighting implications of government’s actions and inactions  in the sector.

    “It is time the political class in Nigeria begins to look at the implications of their actions and inactions.

    Nigeria must get its acts together to systematically take on the opportunities in the sector.

    “We need to show and talk about issues as they occur like transportation and marketing. In other climes, transportation of farm produce is easy but in Nigeria, it is hard work because of the state of our roads,” he said.

    AgroNigeria is the organizer and driver of Feed Nigeria Summit, an annual gathering of stakeholders in the agribusiness space globally.

  • Hakeem Kae-Kazim discusses Nollywood with CNN

    On this week’s episode of African Voices, CNN meets actor Hakeem Kae-Kazim who has returned to his roots to help teach aspiring thespians. Kae-Kazim discusses the future of ‘Nollywood’ and why he feels passionate about celebrating African storytelling.

    Kae-Kazim explains to the programme how his acting career began: “My interest [in the theatre] happened from an early age, at 15 or something like that. I trained as an actor, went to the [Bristol Old Vic] Theatre School and then did the Royal Shakespeare Company in the United Kingdom, then the National Theatre… I did some amazing plays with some amazing people. I just walked my way though, doing amazing projects.”

    Known best for his powerful portrayal of a Hutu warlord in the critically acclaimed film Hotel Rwanda and for his role in Pirates of the Caribbean, Kae-Kazim is now returning to his home country to help teach young actors. He explains to the programme how this opportunity came about: “A director had come over to LA from Nigeria, had seen me work in 24, and said, ‘No one knows you’re Nigerian, you should come back, there are people who would love to see you. They’ll be surprised that you are Nigerian.’ So off the back of that I thought, you know, what a good idea. Let me go back and see what’s going on.”

    Kae-Kazim outlines why he wants to share his knowledge: “I’ve come back to do some training with actors and people in production so that we can get to an understanding of the discipline really required to produce a top-notch film or television production.”

    Sharing his skills hasn’t been the only thing he’s been busy doing since returning to Nigeria, he’s also been spending some time in front of the camera, making his ‘Nollywood’ debut in 2010: “The very first thing I did was a musical film called Inale. I then did a little film called Last Flight to Abuja and that was a really lovely little piece about the airline industry.”

    Kae-Kazim describes why he feels passionate about supporting the film industry in Nigeria: “I am very proud of ‘Nollywood’, in terms of what the people have done. They’ve put Nigeria on the map and they’ve done this without any support of any kind and I think they must be acknowledged. I think what has to happen now is that the industry has to expand, it has to get bigger and better. It’s really about upping the technical anti of the film [and] being able to tell stories that are very true to the African voice.”

    Kae-Kazim tells the programme that in order for this to happen, more needs to be done to support the industry: “No one is going to come and shoot there when the lights go off or when you need generators which are going to destroy your sound. That again is a lack of incentive to help build an industry which could be doing tremendous stuff for Nigeria.”

    On why ‘Nollywood’ must continue to produce films and its’ potential to compete with the content being produced by the best in the industry, Kae-Kazim states: “We have to start to tell these stories for ourselves, to me, that’s the most important thing. You know, I’m coming back from Hollywood, not to come and say, ‘Let’s bring Hollywood here’, but to really make ‘Nollywood’, Hollywood. To inspire the fact that we should be the stewards of our own stories. We have a myriad of different stories that we can tell that are all uniquely Nigerian on one level and uniquely African on another level.”

    Kae-Kazim explains that part of supporting the industry would be to make cinemas more accessible in Nigeria: “I think building more cinemas in and around Nigeria would certainly help… I would love to see more cinemas going up in places like Ajaygunlay and Surelee with affordable prices.”

    He describes what he hopes to see from ‘Nollywood’ in the future: “I want to see Nigeria as the hub of African filmmaking, not just concentrating on Nigerian films, but on films that tell you about the African voice from the African perspective.”

    Kae-Kazim offers some advice for aspiring actors: “Just keep loving what you do, but it’s really [down to] working hard, trying to improve not only yourself as an actor but the state of the industry. That also means [improving] the day to day discipline and making sure one is on time and focused when one is at work.”

  • Actors mourn as ‘Omoge Campus’ passes on

    The Yoruba sector of the Nigerian movie industry has once again been thrown into grief following the demise of one of its major players, Aisha Ibrahim, popularly known as Omoge Campus.

    According to information, the thespian passed away in Canada, on Tuesday, May 15.

    The demise of the mother of two was announced by her colleague, Bisola Badmus, who shared her picture on Instagram with the caption “Unquestionably God RIP Omoge Campus. Gone so soon RIP omogecampus”.

    It was reported that the deceased died of breast cancer in Canada.

    Since the announcement her colleagues have been uploading her pictures, to pay their respects.

    Actor/Producer Kunle Afod wrote, “Hmmmm… Another sad one…I never prayed to use.. R.I.P or GONE TOO SOON on my page again…I decided to celebrate my colleagues and appreciate them on my page not until we die or fall sick before we post each other’s picture … Now Aisha Abimbola is gone. Am still in shock .Omoge campus … what really happened? GOD not again; almost same time with Moji Olaiya and Canada again …Sun re ooo…”

    Another actress Liz Da Silva asking for the late actress to be prayed for wrote, “So sad and unbelievable. RIP Aunty Aisha. Vanity upon vanity; hmmmm Please pray for her.”

    Born in Epe, Lagos lsland, Lagos state, the graduate of Hotel Management, from Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), shot into limelight with the movie, Omoge Campus.

    Apart from her acting career, the deceased also ran a catering business.

    It is quite unfortunate as it is about this time last year that late Moji Olaiya passed on in the same country after the delivery of her second daughter.