The Nation Newspaper

Tag: The CEO’

  • The CEO: Ogidan excited about Afolayan’s creativity

    The CEO: Ogidan excited about Afolayan’s creativity

    A veteran’s account of Kunle Afolayan’s current film project, The CEO, has indicated that another blockbuster movie is about to come out of Nigeria.

    Conveying is impression via a private message sent to the filmmaker on Thursday, Nigerian screenwriter, cinematographer, film director and producer Tade Ogidan said: “I woke up quite excited about the story telling strength and the creative and technical qualities in the CEO movie. You have done your dad proud with each new project. You have done your family proud. You have done your industry proud. You have done your fore bearers in the film industry proud. You will do your nation and the rest of Africa proud, especially with this new project, CEO. I am sincerely proud of you.”

    OGD as he is fondly called inked his excitement, after seeing a rough cut of the pan-African film at Afolayan’s studio on Bayo Kuku Street, Ikeja, Lagos, praising the courage of the filmmaker in the face of the challenges confronting the Nigerian film industry.

    He said: “You are now like a bull that has charged into a chinaware shop of film obstacles. You demolish all the myths, fears and film making challenges with insane dare, grit and unstoppable determination. Now, that is good. God will always make all good things doable for you.”

    Recall that Ogidan expressed similar love to Afolayan when the latter inked a deal with Air France as the airline’s Brand Ambassador. OGD was so excited for Kunle, that he didn’t just call to congratulate the young filmmaker, but staged a surprised soiree in his Surulere home, inviting other celebrities to a cake cutting, as they toasted to the feat recorded by this younger colleague of his.

    Only recently, Afolayan released the trailer of The CEO, kicking off promotions for the pan African movie.

    The CEO is Afolayan’s biggest movie yet, with part funding of N50 million as loan from the much publicised Bank of Industry’s NollyFund.

    With the 2:30 min trailer, first released on Channels TV website, views and downloads had, within 12 hours, hit a million mark on YouTube,  Facebook and other social media platforms, an indication of fans’ eagerness for the cross cultural movie.

    The CEO is coming on the heels of October 1, Afolayan’s psychological thriller and his fourth shot at filmmaking after Irapada, Figurine and Phone Swap.

    Interestingly, Cote d’Ivoire cinema is yearning for a July 2016 release and has sent their terms, coming from the country’s popular distributors, Majestic Cinemas. Afolayan revealed that the film which will be ready before the end of February will be distributed in Nigeria by Silverbird Cinema, just as it is also targeting South Africa’s over 50 cinemas and other African countries.

    He added that preparations are on ground for massive festival routing beginning from the first quarter of this year.

     

  • Kunle Afolayan releases trailer of ‘The CEO’

    Kunle Afolayan releases trailer of ‘The CEO’

    Promotions have begun for Kunle Afolayan’s pan African movie, The CEO, with snippets of the movie scenes from the different African countries, including Paris, France, where the film pooled its cast.

    The CEO is Afolayan’s biggest movie yet, with part funding of N50 million as loan from the much publicised Bank of Industry’s NollyFund.

    With the 2:30 min trailer, first released on Channels TV website 8pm last Sunday, views and downloads have, within 12 hours, hit a million mark on YouTube,  Facebook and other social media platforms, an indication of fans’ eagerness for the cross cultural movie.

    The CEO is coming on the heels of October 1, Afolayan’s psychological thriller and his fourth effort afterIrapada, Figurine and Phone Swap.

    Interestingly, Cote d’Ivoire cinema is yearning for a July 2016 release and has sent their terms, coming from the country’s popular distributors, Majestic Cinemas. Afolayan revealed that the film which will be ready before the end of February will be distributed in Nigeria by Silverbird Cinema, just as it is also targeting targeting South Africa’s over 50 cinemas and other African countries. He added that preparations are on ground for massive festival routing beginning from the first quarter of this year.

    The now circulating movie trailer stars Grammy award-winner, Angelique Kidjo; Nigeria’s Wale Ojo and Hilda Dokubo; Kenyan actor, Peter King; Hollywood’s Jimmy Jean-Louis among others. The shots also reveals cameo appearances by Nigerian singer, Adekunle Gold and Moroccan Afrobian artiste, Ahmed Soultan.

  • The CEO moves to Paris

    The CEO moves to Paris

    Following the completion of the Nigerian part of its shooting, Kunle Afolayan, producer of highly anticipated flick, The CEO, has said that his crew will resume work in Paris from October 9 to 12.

    The actor/producer also revealed that he is scouting for a talented South African actress between the ages of age 25 to 40 to play a small, but significant role in the movie.

    Afolayan, in an interview with The Nation, also revealed that the movie, which is a pan African project, will also take place in other countries aside Nigeria; South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, Paris, and other parts of Africa.

    The impressive cast of the movie include Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, entertainer and activist from the Republic of Benin, Angélique Kidjo; Haitan actor and model Jimmy Jean-Louis; consummate actor and founder of the New Nigeria Cinema movement, Wale Ojo; French-Ivorian actress and model, Aurelie Eliam; South African actor and presenter, Nicolaos Panagiotopoulos; Nigerian actress, Kemi Lala Akindoju; Moroccan star, Fatim Layachi; Kenyan actor Peter King, and Nigerian actress, Hilda Dokubo among others.

    The CEO tells the story of TransWire Communications, a global phone network with major operation in Nigeria. The CEO, an expatriate, has retired, hence the Global Chairman has decided to send five nominees amongst his most senior level staff across Africa on a Leadership course in order to determine which one to appoint as the new head of its Nigerian branch.

    Five characters arrive from their respective destinations and check into the beach resort where the course is holding. Although they all appear cordial and chummy with each other, they all know what is at stake – they each desperately want the CEO’s chair. And to this purpose, they attempt to covertly outdo one another throughout the duration of the course until a dead body is washed ashore, leading to a stream of intrigues and in-fighting among them

  • I’m lucky to be cast for ‘The CEO’ – Kemi Lala Akindoju

    I’m lucky to be cast for ‘The CEO’ – Kemi Lala Akindoju

    DAZZLING Mirage actress, Kemi Lala Akindoju, has revealed that, she would never have believed anyone if she was told she will be part of The CEO movie cast.

    According to the actress, she was called few weeks to the production, even when she was one of the first to know about the project.

    She stated: “If I was told earlier that I would be part of this production, I would have doubted the person. Though I knew about it early in the year, when Kunle mentioned it to me, but he told me that he was done with the casting.

    “Guess I was surprised when he called me few weeks to the production around 8.00am that morning and told me to get to his office for an audition for 10:00am. I went, did the reading of script and I was told they will get back to me. I was later called and sent the script.

    “That is Kunle for you; the fact that you know him does not guarantee you getting into his production. You will still go for auditioning. And that is to check if you can fit into that role. He already knows you have talent, but he has to be sure that will suit the role he wants to cast you for,” she added.

    Kemi Lala Akindoju ventured into the movie industry in 2007, with the team that started Theatre At Terra initiative at Terra Kulture, with Wole Oguntokun, working in everything from her main goals of acting to managing money and people. And in 2013, she made a debut in Charles Novia’s Alan Poza.

    Earlier in 2013, her production company staged a set of performances of The V-Monologues, starring industry heavyweights like Bimbo Akintola, Taiwo Ajai Lycett and Dakore Akande. She has also worked as a casting director for the NdaniTV web series ‘Gidi Up’.

    Her last work was the female lead in Tunde Kelani’s Dazzling Mirage, playing alongside Kunle Afolayan.