2010:Taking Nollywood
out of the woods (1)

If what happened last year and the previous years is anything to reckon with, then the motion picture industry, otherwise known as Nollywood, is surely on the right track to redefine the entertainment industry in Nigeria.

However, while the ovation is loud, industry watchers posit that there's  need for practitioners to return to base as a way of consolidating on the gains of the previous years and charting a new direction for the industry in this new season.

For the fact that the advent of home video culture in the early 90s, seemed to have quickened the extinction of live theatre as well as the cinema culture in the country, the renewed efforts by some committed industry operators to raise the bar and rescue the industry from the stranglehold of mediocrity by returning to the cinema cannot be ignored.

Before the revolution, the industry was seen as a business venture powered by the Idumota and Onitsha based businessmen, whose interest was to amass profit and never to place value on professionalism, as they threw caution to the wind, doing everything possible to submerge the growth of the industry.

Then, the purposeful standard raised by the early  movie producers and thespians like Hubert Ogunde disappeared on our screen.

What became the bargain of movie bluffs was a replacement of a display of violence, inordinate storylines and over-advertised and unrealistic ritual practices that portrayed the nation as a haven of witches for the greater part of 90s and early 2000.

Nollywood, apart from being made on shoestring budgets ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 a piece, spanning seven to ten days, were devoid of showing firstly in the cinemas ever before going to the public domain.

Produced and filmed straight on VHS cassettes, and later on VCD, without premiers,  the movies were released and consequently distributed for sale to the public randomly and without proper regulatory system in place.

Though, recent movies indicate a slight shift from the videos of obscenity to family and societal cherished  films, the fact still remains that there is a sharp contrast between what obtained during the days of Hubert Ogunde and the present day movie culture.

Industry watchers believe that for the practitioners to consolidate on the gains of the previous years, efforts need to be made to establish a link between the past and the present, by taking the movies back to the cinema as it was the case.

It was recorded that for about 40 years after the play 'King Eiejigbo', written by D. O. Oyedele (in 1904), there was no notable development, in the Nigerian Theatre/ home video culture, until Hubert Ogunde came to the scene in 1944.

Ogunde, who wrote both in English and in Yoruba, more than any one else, created the awareness of the modem theatre tradition in Nigeria, operating a travelling theatre company, and taking his plays to various parts of the country, via cinemas and also to other West African countries, particularly Ghana and Sierra Leone, for about 40 years. We need to return to this tradition.

Already, some  practitioners are bracing up to return to the old tradition. Stephanie Okereke's award winning movie, "Through the Glass", which gross N10m in two weeks after it premiered at the Silverbird Galleria, Lagos, in September, is a case in point.

The movie, still in the cinema, also premiered in America, where it was shot and parades Hollywood stars, and others from Ghana and Kenya. Having gained international acclamation, it has turned out to become the monster hit that put Nigeria on the world map of movies, followed by Vivian Ejike's 'Silent Scandals" which premiered recently in Nigeria, and Silverbird cinemas in Ghana.

Other recent  movies which identified with this tradition included, Emem Isong's Guilty Pleasures and Nollywood Hustlers, which premiered the same day, at Silverbird cinemas and jointly produced with the duo of Desmond Elliot and Uche Jombo. Mahmood Ali-Balogun's big budget movie "Tango with Me" raised the bar last year  in Nollywood.

Most Nigerian movies are screened at international film festivals and are winning laurels.For the first time, Irapada, a Nigerian movie, was accepted at the British film festival.

However, before the coming of these movies, the likes of Kingsley Ogoro, veteran producer Zeb Ejiro and many others had blazed the trail producing monster hit, which made waves in the box office before hitting the market.

Ogoro's "Across the Niger" movie, which many described as blockbuster grossed not less than over $1m in the box office. Today, many actors and actresses are becoming producers, which many described as a welcome development but however expressed  reservation that too many hands are likely to spoil the soup.

According to recent reports, "Nigeria is losing estimated $50 m yearly because of international piracy of Nigerian movies and films in America, Canada and other African countries as well as Europe, meaning that Nigerian movies are in high demand outside the shores of the nation.

Given the strides the motion picture industry has made in recent times, especially since last year, experts are of the opinion that there's need for the nation to explore the gains of the industry as well as work out modalities to use these new resources to improve the nation's economy.

With the high emphasis intellectual property skills is attracting in terms of recognition worldwide of Nigeria skills in Arts, Music and Film, experts have argued the obvious, insisting that the nation should brace up to the challenges of turning things around for the better by earning high income "like other knowledge, brain based economies like Japan, India, Korea, Israel, Malaysia, Brazil amongst others."

In this new season, practitioners in the movie  industry should strive to consolidate on the gains of the previous years, as submitted by Ugo Harris Ukandu two years ago. There is the imperative need for the industry operators to learn to reach out in a highly organized form to engage the government, corporate entities and international organizations to seek grants, loans from banks to support and encourage the film industry. In as much as this effort is being made, effort should also be placed on high quality of the Nigerian movies, good story to tell about Nigeria and Africa, less emphasis on negative portrayal of our national and traditional lives.

The positive story about our villages, our culture, our towns, our elders, our youths, our schools, our government, democracy, respect of rule of law and decency should be encouraged and emphasized.

Also, while commending  the steps taken by industry operators to work out plans to work with Film makers of Nigerian based in USA(FAN USA), to organize their marketing and distribution strategy internationally in USA and Europe to cut out piracy and to repatriate their money and efforts back in the Nigerian economy. This is commendable but more need to be done.

Examples are the dubious contracts each individual film makers, marketers, actors, actress and producers are undertaking individually with dubious individuals, internationally and within Nigeria for their personal marketing and distribution rights.

And these contracts are not biding or enforceable in the international copyright laws or anywhere in the world . Such hasty contract to produce and distribute Nigeria arts and Films internationally with no money coming to them or into Nigeria, is a win-win situation for the pirates and copyright violators.

The time is now for the movie and music industry in Nigeria to come together and have a conference, workshop for days or weeks for a way forward for our new impressive industry, so that Nigeria can earn money from the sweat of her people and not to let this industry become a curse like oil, cocoa, coal and palm produce which has exposed Nigeria as a nation that does not value its people or its God given resources and talent.

Also Nollywood producers must learn to toe the line of Bollywood in terms of quality production, storyline, sustainable distribution network and exploring themes that recapture personal life.

Bollywood Model

Indian ace-producer and broadcaster, Deepak Jain, said while many film industries across the world largely depend on the government support to survive, Indian film industry thrives on private sector initiatives. This means that the level of government involvement in the running of the industry is rather minimal and not holistic. This model is recommendable for the Nigerian movie industry.

Deepak Jain believes that the impact Bollywood has made in recent times on the international scene is traceable to the distinct way the industry is fashioned to operate in India.

Jain, however, argues that while Nollywood is on the way to Bollywood, Nollywood, unlike Bollywood, has a lot of grounds to cover, in terms of storyline, good acting and quality production. "Nollywood is on the way to Bollywood.

But what makes Nollywood different from Bollywood is because of the fact that Bollywood thrives on emotions, relationships and other thrilling themes. We do action movies, documentary, emotional as well as sport movies," he said during a recent encounter with HVP.

Jain oversees Mauritius based Zee Network offices across the countries of Africa. As a major stakeholder in Bollywood, Jain 's Zee Network brings Bollywood closer to people of different races and origins, including the South Asians and mainland Africans.

Outlining various ways in which Nollywood can toe the line of Bollywood in terms of improved  production quality, storyline, distribution and sustenance of the industry, Jain stressed how every movie as done in Bollywood explores one's personal life.

"There are varieties of religions in India, cultures which are reflected in our movies. We also do movies exploring the themes of how women climb the ladder of success in their various professional endeavours. Every Bollywood movie you watch gives you enough relaxation, connects you to one's emotion, and that's why Bollywood is breaking grounds across the universe," he added.

"Talking of production quality, Bollywood movies have improved over the years. We have invested a lot of time and money into assembling production facilities.  Today, when you watch Bollywood films, you will notice that the production quality has appreciated a lot, " he added.

For Nollywood, it's time to go international and improve on the production quality. Bollywood has not only shot many movies in Bombay, or India but also, we have gone outside the shores of India to shoot our movies. We have gone to places like USA, UK and other European countries to shoot our movies.

"The same thing could happen to Nollywood. They can come to India to shoot their movies, while we come to Nigeria for our movies. We have featured a few foreign actors in Bollywood movies, just as Hollywood has also featured a few of Bollywood actors in their movies.  Growth is exceptional in this regard, and we have to pull our forces together to work in relationship with each other."

On the need to engage in exchange of production technique with Nollywood producers, the Zee Network African head said, "it's always better to learn from other people's  mistake or their breakthroughs. The storyline should be such that people have moved out of Nigeria to experience a different kind of life outside their locality.

"Let's learn to educate the populace by means of the screen. Nollywood, coming new on the block, can learn from Bollywood's production technique. And because we have some similarities in our cultures and lifestyle, there's a lot that we can learn from each other."

However, according to Jain, Bollywood is private sector driven, and does not enjoy the  government's  participation.  Hear him:  "Bollywood is a business venture. People invest their money to run the industry. The success Bollywood has recorded in recent times is not because of political infusion of funds into the industry but the fact that the government create enabling environment for the industry to thrive.

"They support every project embarked upon by Indian film makers. For instance, if Indian film makers are coming to Nigeria to shoot a film, our government will write to the Nigerian government, officially soliciting the Nigerian  government to give the film makers every assistance they would require to make their mission a success. My government does not fund the film industry, but they only do the ground work for us."

Distribution of films in Bollywood

"Everything is commercially oriented in Bollywood. Distributors carry out a kind of feasibility study about a particular movie- what the budget will be like, the cast, and the storyline as well as the duration of the movie. As a result, some of the funds needed to make a film in India are provided by the distributors. Every distributor invests  his or her money in the making of a particular movie, hoping to partake in the sharing of the profits equally when the movie becomes a hit.

"In terms of distribution network, if the government is allowed to get involved in it, then, there 's a problem. We have a regulatory  body like the censors' board as well.

But it's not involved in the distribution of films in India. What the body does is to ensure that a film maker conforms to the rules of the game,  determine the age bracket in terms of watching a particular movie. Movies must be devoid of sentiments or religious bias. The board does not control the distribution channel. This is because the distributors finance the making of the movies and therefore, detect how the movie will be distributed."
Source: Vanguard, 10^th January 2010.

2010: Taking Nollywood
out of the woods (2)
By Benjamin NJOKU

This year, practitioners in the  movie  industry should strive to consolidate on the gains of the previous years. As Ugo Harris Ukandu submitted two years ago, there is the imperative need for the industry operators to learn to reach out, in a highly organised form, to engage the government, corporate entities and international organizations for grants and loans from banks to support and encourage the film industry.

In as much as this effort is being made, effort should also be placed on high quality Nigerian movies, good stories to tell about Nigeria and Africa and less emphasis on negative portrayal of our national and traditional lives.

The positive story about our villages, our cultures, our towns, our elders, our youths, our schools, our government, democracy,  rule of law and decency, should be encouraged and emphasised.

Also, while commending  the steps taken by industry operators to work with Nigerian film makers based in USA(FAN USA), for marketing and distribution in USA and Europe, anti-piracy, repatriation of their money and efforts back to Nigeria. This is commendable but more efforts  need to be done. For examples, the dubious contracts individual film makers, marketers, actors and producers undertake with crooks internationally and locally for their personal marketing and distribution rights should be checked.

And these contracts are not biding or enforceable in the international copyright laws or anywhere in the world. Such hasty contract to produce and distribute Nigerian arts and films internationally with no money coming to them or into Nigeria, is a win-win situation for the pirates and copyright violators.

The time is now for the movie and music industry in Nigeria to come together and have a conference, workshop for days or weeks for a way forward for our new industry so that Nigeria can earn money from the sweat of her artistes, and not to let this industry become a curse like oil.

Also, Nollywood producers must learn to toe the line of Bollywood in terms of quality production, storyline, sustainable distribution network and exploration of themes that capture family life and society. The experience acquired during the ION International film festival, which held in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state capital, last month, is still valid.

Nollywood practitioners need to network and interact with their counterparts across the world to be able to be meet with global standards.

Bollywood Model

Indian  ace-producer  and  broadcaster, Deepak Jain, said while many film industries across the world largely depend on government support to survive, Indian film industry is driven by private sector initiatives. This means that the level of government involvement in the running of the industry is rather minimal. This model is recommendable for the Nigerian movie industry.

Jain believed that the impact Bollywood made in recent times on the international scene was traceable to the distinct way the industry was fashioned to operate in India.

He argued that while Nollywood was on the way to Bollywood, Nollywood, unlike Bollywood, had a lot of grounds to cover, in terms of storyline, good acting and quality production. "Nollywood is on the way to Bollywood. But what makes Nollywood different from Bollywood is because of the fact that Bollywood thrives on emotions, relationships and other thrilling themes. We do action movies, documentary, emotional as well as sport movies," he said during a recent encounter with HVP.

Jain oversees Mauritius based Zee Network offices across the countries of Africa. As a major stakeholder in Bollywood, Jain's Zee Network brings Bollywood closer to people of different races and origins, including the South Asians and mainland Africans.

Outlining various ways in which Nollywood can toe the line of Bollywood in terms of improved  production quality, storyline, distribution and sustenance of the industry, Jain stressed how every movie as done in Bollywood explores one's personal life.

"There are varieties of religions in India, cultures which are reflected in our movies. We also do movies exploring the themes of how women climb the ladder of success in their various professional endeavours. Every Bollywood movie you watch gives you enough relaxation, connects you to one's emotion, and that's why Bollywood is breaking grounds across the universe," he added.

"Talking of production quality, Bollywood movies have improved over the years. We have invested a lot of time and money into assembling production facilities.  Today, when you watch Bollywood films, you will notice that the production quality has appreciated a lot," he added.

For Nollywood, it's time to go international and improve on the production quality. Bollywood has not only shot many movies in Bombay, or India but also, we have gone outside the shores of India to shoot our movies. We have gone to places like USA, UK and other European countries to shoot our movies.

"The same thing could happen to Nollywood. They can come to India to shoot their movies, while we come to Nigeria for our movies. We have featured a few foreign actors in Bollywood movies, just as Hollywood has also featured a few of Bollywood actors in their movies.  Growth is exceptional in this regard, and we have to pull our forces together to work in relationship with each other."

On the need to engage in exchange of production technique with Nollywood producers, the Zee Network African head said, "it's always better to learn from other people's  mistake or their breakthroughs. The storyline should be such that people have moved out of Nigeria to experience a different kind of life outside their locality.

"Let's learn to educate the populace by means of the screen. Nollywood, coming new on the block, can learn from Bollywood's production technique. And because we have some similarities in our cultures and lifestyle, there's a lot that we can learn from each other."

However, according to Jain, Bollywood is private sector driven, and does not enjoy the  government's  participation.  Hear him:  "Bollywood is a business venture. People invest their money to run the industry. The success Bollywood has recorded in recent times is not because of political infusion of funds into the industry but the fact that the government create enabling environment for the industry to thrive.

"They support every project embarked upon by Indian film makers. For instance, if Indian film makers are coming to Nigeria to shoot a film, our government will write to the Nigerian government, officially soliciting the Nigerian  government to give the film makers every assistance they would require to make their mission a success. My government does not fund the film industry, but they only do the ground work for us."

Distribution of films in Bollywood

"Everything is commercially oriented in Bollywood. Distributors carry out a kind of feasibility study about a particular movie- what the budget will be like, the cast, and the storyline as well as the duration of the movie. As a result, some of the funds needed to make a film in India are provided by the distributors. Every distributor invests  his or her money in the making of a particular movie, hoping to partake in the sharing of the profits equally when the movie becomes a hit.

"In terms of distribution network, if the government is allowed to get involved in it, then, there 's a problem. We have a regulatory  body like the censors' board as well. But it's not involved in the distribution of films in India. What the body does is to ensure that a film maker conforms to the rules of the game,  determine the age bracket in terms of watching a particular movie.

Movies must be devoid of sentiments or religious bias. The board does not control the distribution channel. This is because the distributors finance the making of the movies and therefore, detect how the movie will be distributed."
Source: Vanguard, 10^th January 2010.

My world came crashing when
my father died
By SAMUEL OLATUNJI
Sunday Sun, December 27, 2009

Mike Ezuruonye has seen it all…or so we think. The vibrant actor was born into a wealthy family and he had everything a child could want. But then everything came to zero with the sudden death of his father. His uncles usurped all Mike, his mother and siblings could lay claims to as inheritance.

They were undaunted. His mother particularly took the bull by the horns . She trained Mike and his siblings and today they are all high flyers in their callings. Read all about Mike's challenges and how he overcame them . Excerpts:

You've been on a roller coaster this year. You were one of Globacom ambassadors and you signed up as face of Malta Guinness. What is responsible for all these blessings?

Passion for what I do and how I do it. First of all God has blessed me with the kind of scripts I get. I've gotten scripts that showcased my versatility. Sometimes you see me as the good looking guy, the village boy, or the dejected boy. I've been able to bring different characters to life. I am not going to be one actor that is boxed to one corner.

If you have to count your blessing from January to December, how many have they been?

A lot. I can't deny the fact that I've been very lucky this year. Mike Ezunronye is by the grace of God a plane that does not know how to stop. I am also very prayerful.

Where is this train coming from?

I grew up in Lagos State, but while growing up I was always involved in TV. I had an headmistress and a proprietress then, who was so involved in the NTA and that made me an NTA child and exposed me to variety shows . So that was where it all started and I started the stage at a tender age. I had one or two things with the Amata family. We were doing things together with Rukky Amata and Fred. Finally, after school, one of the leads I had from work, I actually bombed into Rukky Amata, who is still a director in Nollywood.

Which series?

I got involved in the series by Zeb Ejiro called Ultimate Heroes then but it never saw the light of day. Somehow I don't know why. It was directed by Andy Amenechi and Rukky Amata and on the same day. That was why I said destiny has a part to play, because on the same day we finished, I was having a drink somewhere and I was mimicking someone, and by my side was Aquila Njama. He asked me whether I did movies, but I lied saying no. He continued, "I like the way you talk, what's your name"; so we just got talking and we became friends. In the same vein I went to do two movies with Aquila. They were titled Dinosaurs and Men of rage. My big break came when I went to pick a friend and he asked me to give a friend of his a lift. While I was on phone I started mimicking an uncle and the other dude whom I did not know was a director took interest in me. He asked if I did movies and that was it. That director was Dickson Iruegbu. After that, a big script came courtesy Emem Isong. She wanted to use the male lead character to prove a point. The other characters that surrounded him were RMD, Genevieve, and Stephanie Okereke. He wanted a new person and she said it while Dickson was around somewhere. That is the reason I said that I am a child of destiny. People were vying for that particular character, but Dickson took her to the studio to see one of the jobs we had done and Emem said this is my guy. He convinced the marketer and the movie came out. The title was Critical Decision.That was the movie that gave me a commercial break-through, but the movie that brought me to the fore was Dickson's film, Broken Marriage. Mine is a kind of Cinderella story.

You started acting in 2005 and here you are today as one of the big boys of the industry within a short time. How did you achieve that, I believe it is more than the passion?

Yeah, I know that with God on your side results would come . I will not deny the fact that I have been fortunate, but there is no other magic to it other than God. I am just a Cinderella story. God brought me to this industry at the right time.

Cinderella went through all forms of hardship, but you were born with a silver spoon so how can your story be that of Cinderella?

Believe me, it is. I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, but when my father died my whole world came down crashing. I was born in Lagos, raised in Lagos but didn't know Lagos. Everything was taken away from us. We went back to point zero. Reality just dawned on us that we were on our own. That is why I still respect my mum till tomorrow. She took control and did a whole lot to get us to where we are today. She went to take a job in the banking sector after my father's death. My father didn't want my mum to work while he was alive. It was after his death that I entered public bus for the first time in my life. All of a sudden everything just went to ground zero. There was no driver, cars and other luxuries anymore. I've seen the best and worst of both worlds, nothing surprises me anymore.

What was your experience like the first time you boarded a Molue?

The first time I was in Molue I fell. I was about to get down and the bus started moving, so I jumped out with my two legs touching ground… I just fell. I had bruises all over my body. This is the first time I am saying it to anybody.

What were the other things you went through?

My mum also did some businesses while she was in the bank. She would buy a container full of goods from Nestle and I think and there was no warehouse. Our house became the warehouse. We would come back from school and carry the cartoons upstairs. We are not talking about 200 or 300 cartoons here. That was how hard we worked even after school. The aje-butter thing cleared off our eyes.

What do you feel about widowhood now?

You can see that I want to cry now. I have passion for widows. My advice is this: every woman should have something doing. I am not supportive of full time housewives. You better have something doing. It is worse when a woman becomes widowed and everything is taken away from her.

Do you remember when everything was taken?

I remember. Everything was just going systematically. I was too little to do anything about it. I was so confident that my uncles meant well for us, but I was wrong. My father invested a lot in the east and that gave them the opportunity to take over everything. But now, they have bankrupted the companies. I thank God that He is with us, some of them want to get attached to me now but it's never going to happen. I've forgiven them but I can't get attached to them anymore. We are now on our own and we are so closely knitted.

How many children are in your family and where are your siblings?

I am the first out of five. The one after me is a successful banker, the next is an electronic engineer with Shell, and the fourth is a medical doctor in the UK, while the fifth is with Chevron. God has guided us real good.

What did you learn?

I learnt how to take life as it comes. I never get surprised. All those things have humbled me. You could be up there today and tomorrow you are down. I've seen it happen, it happened to me. It has made me humble. I have seen it all. That is why I relate with everybody. And I try to give something out to people everyday.

What do you think of the tradition that impoverishes the widow immediately after her husband's death?

It is evil. It is a silly complex. These things are not yours; why not let his family benefit from his labour? Where were you when the woman was contributing her own quota to the upkeep of the family?

Will you forgive those people?

I have forgiven them, because if I don't I wont move on. I don't keep malice.

How did you feel about the Globacom deal?

The first time I was called I thought it was from a 419. I was in the states when the text came in. When I got to Ghana; I got a call from them again so I started taking them seriously. Glo is one company that has given my industry a handshake. I owe Glo a huge gratitude. I am very grateful. Glo has opened the door for other companies to follow through. I have a lot of respect for Mike Adenuga.

Why did you sign up with Mildred Okwo?

She is dynamic. She understands the business. She knows how to manage a brand. If you are going to work with anybody, work with people who see you as a brand. She is it.

When will you marry?

Real soon.

What is your woman doing?

She doesn't want her face out in the media. We don't want to put our relationship in the press. She is a nice girl sent to me by God.

What is happening between you and Tonto Dike, I read that you guys have something going?

Tonto is a sister. She is the least person I will in my silly mind think I want to sleep with and God is my witness. She is like a sister. Don't believe everything you read.

If Tonto is the least person you will sleep with, what qualifies the kind of person you sleep with?

Sam, I don't know where you are going with this o (laughs). I don't sleep around. Stardom is a very thin line you walk on, if you don't manage it well, you will crash.

Sometimes I'm sure you stray with women...?

No

You are not a saint Mike... are you?

I didn't tell you I'm a saint. I am not a saint

(Interruption) It is only a saint that won't stray.

Are you trying to get into my closet?

I am trying to be at the peripheral of the closet

Then you are not invited

(Laughs.)

Would you date an actress?

Will I? I am dating now, but not an actress ... there is nothing wrong with dating an actress. What people don't understand is that they are also human beings too. That is why it's sad when people write negative things about them. You don't know how many marriages you must have destroyed or would- be marriages you would have destroyed because of some silly lies you wrote. They are human beings with emotions too, they are human beings with families too and they are answerable too. Sometimes when certain things are written about them and it breaks their hearts, they break down on set and this is very sad. They are human beings like any other person; the only unfortunate thing is that they are in- the -know of people. We are in- the- know of people as actors but we are human beings. That is what I want people to understand and for your question about dating an actress, I am not dating an actress.

But sometimes on set, in location, I have had somebody say emotions flow?

In every industry emotions flow, but I don't know about that. I wouldn't say that happens in my industry. I am sure in your company you've had relationships or people must have been interested to have one, but why ours is special is because we are known people.

Well we are just bloody journalists?

I think it used to be before but right now actors don't date actresses now.

I'm not even talking about dating. May be something just happened and you said meet me in my room now?

Nothing like that happens; we are just friends nothing like that happens.

Okay where will you spend your Christmas?

In Lagos, because in the last three years I've not spent Christmas in Lagos.

Your girl, what part of the country is she from, North, East or South?

She is a human being from this earth

Will she be spending the Christmas with you?

She is a human being from this earth

(laughs..).

What should we expect from you in 2010?

Bigger things, bigger charities. Though we have been able to do some little charity but right now, I'm coming out with some charity that is different that. I hope you are not going to ask me Mike what is wrong with you... Why? The question will be why, a big why, and it is not the norm, you know like what you have with HIV or the press people.It's not the norm... I am not disclosing anything now, but some sort of merchandising are coming out, bigger thing are coming out next year. My manager and I have a fore plan, we have a game plan, but we will be doing a lot of charities and within my own fold I made a promise to God. I told God from January I am going to take up somebody I'm going to train, a needy I'm going to train from primary to university. I pray God sees me through.

You are not like ok I'm going into music or I'm going to start a business?

That's not for me, but it could come up.

Tell us the top ten in Nollywood?

Oh! You want to put me in trouble?

No. It does not have to be your view completely

Ok. They include Olu Jacobs, and Odiobi. I don't want to include myself, Ini Edo, and Tonto. She is becoming a force to be reckoned with. Mercy Johnson, Oge have a lot of presence too as well as Ali (Nuhu), Ramsey Noah, Patience Ozonkwo, Rita Dominic and Emeka Ike.

(Interruption) what do you think about the AGM crisis?

I just pray they settle the house because we need a settled home to work.

So who will you vote for?

I'm not eligible to vote. I'm not a delegate, so I cannot vote

Which chapter do you belong ?

Lagos chapter.

Who is your chapter supporting?

I don't want to involve myself in all that politics... all I know is the chairman of my chapter is Ernest Obi.

You know who Ernest Obi is supporting?

I don't know, I don't really know. All I'm just saying is that whatever they do they should try as much as possible to involve known actors in what they do . But they need to settle their house , because if they involve actors who are known they can expand the coast of AGM. They can carry this people along and we can go to different places.

I am suspecting you are supporting Emeka?

Look, I am blank on this issue. I'm not a politician, but I think they should just make sure they carry people along. Whatever they do, let them carry us along.

Drama as Emeka Ike emerges new AGN president

A mild drama ensued on Monday at the secretariat of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, in Surulere area of Lagos, when embattled Segun Arinze's attempt to halt the care-taker-committee of the guild from conducting a counter-election that produced actor Emeka Ike as the new president of the guild hit a brick wall.

Arinze last month was appointed to head the alleged government of national unity set up by the Ifeanyi Dike- led Board of Trustees of the guild, with Emeka Ike as his vice as a way of moving the troubled guild forward.

He allegedly stormed the guild's secretariat with a team of policemen from Area D, Mushin, with an intention of stopping the election. However, he failed as the Kanayo O. Kanayo led- interim government, armed with a court order, refused to be intimidated as they went ahead to conduct the election.

In a court order dated 13th of June, 2009, and which was shown to the policemen that came with Arinze, the caretaker committee exercised the power confined on it to conduct a general election for the guild.

It would be recalled however that Mr. Arinze recently emerged president of the guild in a controversial election conducted by the erstwhile president of the guild, Ejike Asiegbu in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

He was disowned by the Lagos State chapter of the body, which described his election as a "sham", labelling him a non-registered member of the chapter. Ike's election is bound to trigger off another round of crisis within the guild.

Before the election, which was endorsed by all state chairmen and delegates of the guild, Emeka Ike had described Segun Arinze as a 'joker', adding that, "Segun is not AGN president and he cannot be one. Constitutionally, he is not eligible to be a president because I learnt he is not a degree holder and not even a card carrying member.

"You can ask him to present his certificate the same way I'm ready to present mine any time. What he is doing is just a waste of time because the real election is what we have just conducted today."

The spokesperson of the guild's interim national government, Charles Okafor, once noted that "the priority of this interim leadership headed by Kanayo O. Kanayo has a mandate to conduct a credible election that would usher in a new president and executives of AGN, and nothing will change it.

The election will definitely hold."

He added that with the support of AGN members in the country, all hands have been on deck to conduct a free and fair elections.

Elected alongside Ike were Mr. Femi Durojiaye, (National Secretary), Mohammed Odoko, (vice-president, North Central), Sanni Mohammed(vice-president, North east)Yusuf Bako Mohammed, (vice-president, South-South), Nkiru Sylvanus(vice-presidet, South-East) and Victor Edogun(vice-president, South-West).

Others were, Benita Nzeribe(PRO), Ngozi Onoka(D.G.S), Azi Oliver Akalugu(Finance Secretary), St. Maradona N. Johnson(Treasurer) and Amniu Abdaulla Tafia, who clinched the position of Assistant secretary.
Source: Vanguard, 14^th December 2009.

Oprah Winfrey celebrates Nollywood

Nollywood, the African most popular movie industry that has become an international hit, got by far its greatest endorsement yet, when the queen of day time talk show, Oprah Winfrey, celebrated the industry in her programme which aired on Monday, September 28, tagged "Meet the Most Famous People in the World" which had featured top stars in sports and entertainment all over the world.

Africa's place was represented by Nollywood and one of its biggest stars, the popular actress, Genevieve Nnaji was featured lavishly.

Nollywood, according to Oprah, is ranked the second largest in the world and grosses over $2 b annually.

The highlight of the show was when Oprah played a montage of movies featuring the popular actress Genevieve Nnaji whom she called "the Julia Roberts of Africa."

We at The Diasporan Star are very proud of the mainstream recognition that Nollywood has finally gotten in the U.S.

"If the number of calls we have received so far from people all over the entertainment world is an indication of what is to come, then I can make bold to predict that sooner than later, our Nollywood stars are going to strut their stuff at a larger world stage.

The mention of Nollywood on Oprah and the amount the industry grosses a year finally appeared to have jolted a lot of people to the earning potentials that exists in Nollywood.

'We feel vindicated by what this publication has been doing for the past one and half years: celebrating our pop culture and pushing its frontiers across race, creed and boundaries.

We believe if Bollywood, which was also featured on the programme, gave the world last year's hit movie "Slumdog Millionaire" which won numerous awards including the Oscars, that Nollywood, given the rich selections of talents could replicate the same, and we think the time is near.

" We also commend the efforts of Frank Okeyere_the owner of West African Movies located on 1692 Webster Avenue, Bronx, New York, a regular client of this newspaper, for the role he played in putting together the logistics and other materials that the Harpo Productions, Oprah Winfrey's production arm had requested.

"We feel very excited to have assisted Oprah Winfrey in showcasing Nollywood.

All the movies that were shown on Oprah's program were supplied by us. We feel it is a great day for Nollywood," Frank had told me soon after the programme aired."
Source: Vanguard, 2^nd October 2009.

Is Ini Edo-Ehiagwina still married?
By Atim Ikpeme

Many times people have asked what is happening with this pretty Akwa Ibom actress who is married to US-based Phillip Ehiagwina.

Many times people have asked what is happening with this pretty Akwa Ibom actress who is married to US-based Phillip Ehiagwina. Many have even insinuated that the marriage is over even as she returned to Nigeria immediately after the wedding in America. However, she has had occasion to answer these many stories in this way "I am still married to Phillip, we love each other so much, people should keep saying what they want." But a little bird whispered that this actress has been seen hanging out in night clubs as she used to before she was married.

Well one can't totally blame her if what is being whispered is true that Phillip on their wedding night was off having the fun of his life with one of his many alliances and Ini discovered it, made so much noise but was calmed down by friends of Phillip.

Whatever is the true situation we hope this will not result in another Monalisa Chinda and Dejo Richards divorce story.
Source: Daily Champion, 25^th September 2009.