From now onwards, we will be bringing reviews of foreign movies. Skeleton crew is just the begining. Enjoy!


In the early 1970’s, a remote mental institution next to the Russian border was shut down by the police. Before it was closed, Dr. Andersson made a series of snuff films using his patients. The doctor filmed all the murders in 8mm, and started to call himself ‘The Auteur.’ Thirty years later, an American film crew arrives in Finland to shoot a horror movie about the massacre, and are unaware that they are about to become the stars of their director’s real life snuff film. This was a great movie. It is very unique. There are some surprising parts. There are a lot of sense that would capture a sadistic’s heart. I give this movie a rating a 10. In the beginning I will warn you it is sort of slow, and stupid, meaning you scream use common sense to the characters, but that it the idea of the movie at first. Then it does a total switch-a-roo and fulls the audience. It is a fabulous film.

Networking with Genevieve

Nollywood diva Genevieve Nnaji is breaking new grounds with her brand new face book-like social networking forum website. It is place where all her friends, fans and even critics can network directly with her and with each other. The site, http://www.genevievennajifanbook.com, is just another testament to the fact that Genevieve is a star that has the interest of her fans at heart.Blockbuster learnt that the new site is part of the rebranding and repositioning strategy for Genevieve, which is being packaged by her new US-based managers, Stingomania Entertainment Inc. owned by Mr. Ope Banwo, former M.D of Dove Media Plc, who is also planning a return to the industry as an Entertainment Attorney and Manager.Genevieve has promised to formally unveil the site in May.

Coutesy:

Sun newspaper.

Nollywood in limbo as Kenya, South Africa rule AMAA Awards

But for Funke “Jenifa” Akindele, Mercy Johnson, Tunde Kelani’s Arugba and wonder kid actor, Richard Chukwuma, who gave the home audience something to cheer at the 5th African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) held at the Glory Cultural Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State last weekend, Nigeria’s outing at the grand awards ceremony would have paled into insignificance.Funke whose role as Jenifa in the movie of the same title had earned her multiple awards at the Future Awards held earlier in the year, won the prestigious Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role ahead of her compatriots, Stephanie Okereke, Nse Etim, and Stella Damasus. Mercy Johnson, who like Funke was also absent at the ceremony clinched the Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role plaque for her role in Live to Remember while Chukwuma was rated AMAA Best Child Actor, for his role in the movie, Small Boy.Kelani’s chart-buster, Arugba, which had ten nominations, was only successful in two categories: AMAA Achievement in Costume and Heart of Africa Award for Best Films from Nigeria. Others who also made the country proud included the make-up artiste of the film, Live to Remember, which was voted best for AMAA Achievement in Make Up, and Izu Ojukwu’s Cindy Notes, which won AMAA Achievement in Cinematography.However, the evening of glamour and variety entertainment, which had in attendance Governor Timipre Sylva, Oscar award-winning American actors, Forest Whitaker and Danny Glover, and a galaxy of Nollywood stars witnessed the home crowd watching bemusedly as Kenya, Egypt and South Africa carted home the major awards of 2009 AMAA, sponsored by the United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Bayelsa State government.It was an evening the acclaimed prolific Nollywood went to roost. In fact, a hush fell on the capacity-filled hall as Kenya’s entry, From A whisper stole the show, clinching the Best Picture, Best Original Soundtrack, AMAA Achievement in Editing, Best Director and Best Screenplay diadem. Egyptian actor, Farouk Alfishawi was voted the Best Performer by an Actor in a Leading Role, and the country’s entry, Seventh Heaven had clinched AMAA Achievement in Sound prize.South Africa’s entry, Gugu and Anadile produced the Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Film in African Language, and Most Promising Actor and Actress respectively at the show compered by the irrepressible Julius Agwu, screen diva Kate-Henshaw-Nuttal and Ghana’s Kofi Bucknor.The verdict, to movie aficionados was a vindication of AMAA as a true pan-African movie awards. It was also a wake up call for Nollywood hitherto immersed in self-deceit as Africa’s prime film market. The development may have prompted Nigeria’s ace-cinematographer, Tunde Kelani while receiving the plaque for Heart of Africa Award for Best Films from Nigeria to throw a challenge at the visitors, “I can see that this year, AMAA has introduced real competition to the movie awards. Mark you, we’ll go back to the drawing board and I promise that they won’t have it easy next year.” With that statement, the battle line was drawn between the home industry and it’s counterparts in Africa and in the Diaspora. How strongly Nollywood can respond to this challenge, time would tell. AMAA 2009 recorded the widest continental presence with entries coming from Egypt, South Africa, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, among others. From over 400 entries received, the works were pruned down to 20, listed in the 24 categories vied for in Yenagoa last Saturday.Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, CEO, AMAA, in her opening remarks reminisced on the journey so far in building the AMAA brand. She lauded individuals and corporate Nigerians especially the United Bank for Africa (UBA) that has identified with the organizers since inception.The show also had its sober moment when the organizer paid glowing tributes to some of the fallen Nollywood stars. It was one of the pulsating moments of the awards as the audience rose to their feet to catch glimpses of the deceased on screen. The chief host, Governor Sylva equally reiterated Bayelsa’s commitment to the awards. He stressed that he is looking forward to a time film practitioners would flood the state to shoot films. The governor, who was accompanied to the event by his wife, Alayingi promised to provide movie infrastructure that would make the state attractive to movie investors.


Story:

Sun News

Olu Jacobs is Made in India for Papa Ajasco + AMAA Best Actress Crown

Olu Jacobs is Made in India for Papa Ajasco
The face of Nollywood star, Olu Jacobs is set to grace the popular television comedy series, Papa Ajasco and Company. The veteran actor will be featuring in the new series of the programme entitled Made in India.Jacobs, who’s playing the role of a Vice Chancellor in the series, says he feels good working with Wale Adenuga, the producer because “the script is treating a prevalent issue in our campuses”.Made in India dwells on the nagging issue of sexual harassment in the campuses, with the attendant tug of war between the lecturers, who indulge in it and the authorities that are equally bent on sanitising the system. “It is a good script, because it’s been a relentless war, quite traumatic for the female students. Some struggle to pay their school fees only to be harassed by some lecherous lecturers or cultists,” Olu Jabobs adds.The actor commended Adenuga for his creative ingenuity, and the subtle but consistent way he highlights the ills in the society and proffers solution through his drama programmes.“I have always been a fan of Wale Adenuga right from the days he was publishing the hilarious magazine, Ikebe Super. He’s a hard working and dedicated artiste, who infects people around him with the same kind of joy and excitement,” he states, adding, “Wale Adenuga is a detribalised Nigerian who where you come from does not matter to him but the creative talent in you,”Made in India, which would make its debut on screen soon parades adept role interpreters like Nnena (Yinka Olukunga) of the Super Story fame and a host of others. The programme was directed by ace director, Bolaji Dawodu.

AMAA Best Actress Crown: Funke ‘Jenifa’ Akindele, Stella Damasus or Stephanie Okereke?

As movie lovers begin the countdown to the 4th African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) billed for Yenagoa, Bayelsa State next Saturday April 4, 2009, a tough battle for the treasured award of “Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role” is imminent among six top actresses from Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya.Nollywood divas Stella Damasus, Stephanie Okereke, Nse Etim and Funke Akindele of Jenifa fame will slug it out with their counterparts like Corine Onyango (Kenya) and Uadia Buari from Ghana.Although, the Best Actress Award is just one of the 24 categories of the Africa’s premiere movie awards, sponsored by UBA and Bayelsa State government, the nominations have evoked anxiety among movie buffs as to where the pendulum will eventually swing. The reasons are not far fetched as our own Stella, Stephanie and Funke can hold their own any where, any day.Stephanie and Stella are popular faces and have always joined the yearly train, but if the current form of “Bigz Girl” Funke is anything to go by, then the law graduate of the University of Lagos may be unstoppable in the race for the diadem.But then upsets can not be ruled out from other contenders from Kenya and Ghana. Buari and Cnyango may not be popular faces in Nigeria the final judgment, however, rests with the Academy of International Jurors that will pick the winners few days to the ceremony. Also on the home front, movie fans are equally anxious about the eventual winner of the laurel for the “Heart of Africa Award for Best Films from Nigeria”. Apparently, a leveler for the English and Yoruba genres of the Nigerian film industry, in contention are Izu Ojukwu’s Cindy’s Note, Tunde Kelani’s Arugba and Tchidi Chikere’s Beautiful Soul. Others include Jenifa and State-of-the-Heart by Kingsley Omoife and Richard Mofe Damijo. Surprisingly only Arugba made the nominations for the overall Best Picture Award among the nominees for Heart of Africa Award.Kelani’s film, which is making waves in cinema houses across the country, is competing with works from Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Egypt thus vindicating AMAA as a true Pan-African award. The same even spread of the Best Picture Award is replicated in the Best Director prize which also has Kelani’s Arugba slugging it out with other flicks from Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Egypt. Beside Kelani and Chikere whose films had clinched AMAA plaques in the previous years, many of the stars are actually making their debut. A regular face in home videos coming after the generation of the likes of Ramsey Noah, Jim Iyke and Emeka Ike among others, Mike Ezuruonye is one actor movie lovers cannot just push aside. The widely-travelled dude will be in Yenagoa as a contender for the prestigious Best Performance by an Actor in a leading role for his role in the film, Assassin. Another star who may be making his debut in Yenagoa is the internationally acclaimed dancer and choreographer Peter Badejo. The artiste, who was honoured a few years back by the Queen of England with the Member of the British Empire (MBE) for his immense contributions to the dance art, may jet into the country for AMAA 2009. He was short listed alongside Ezuruonye for featuring in Tunde Kelani’s Arugba.

Why I left Chidi MokemeFrom

Fresh face Nazareth Jesse popularly known as ‘Naz’ was not born with a silver spoon in her mouth. But determined to make it in a world of uncertainties, she knew hard work was her only route to success. And for her, success was not an option; it became a matter of survival to help feed her family. Luckily for her, on life’s journey she met a few people who propelled her into her destiny of becoming a movie star. In 2007 the Abuja based star wooed movies audience us with her role as Joy in the movie Girls’ Cot. Nazareth has continued to put her fans in a trance with her powerful performances, returning again this time in Stanley Ebonine’s yet to be released blockbuster movie Fear Not. The sultry Abuja actress had a chat with Aishat Barkindo of Sun News Publishing on different issues and why she had to spend 10 years in three different schools to get a Higher National Diploma. Read On:

You look so innocent and young. How old are you?

(Laughs heartily) Any woman that tells you that can tell you anything. Beware of her! A woman should seem quintessential. Never tell all, yet remain graceful. Anyway I am over 25 years old.+

What motivated you into becoming an Actress?

The passion first, then the need to try to make some extra cash to help train my younger ones. Most people don’t know this about me, but growing up was tough. I was the first of six children. Dad was a hall porter at a polytechnic and mum was a petty trader. I had to hawk foodstuff on the streets for her. Now when I look at where I am coming from to where I am now, I know God has really been faithful to me.

Your name seems to be on the lips of every Abuja big boy as the one to ‘take home to Mama.’ How does this reconcile with your being an actress?

Men love fantasies. But still am flattered. My roles at times tend to reflect my true nature of gentility, calmness, all essence of being a true African queen, so naturally men get attracted.

How many movies have you featured in?

Over 20 movies and still counting

What’s your background?

I taught you would never ask. I am from Rubochi village in Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory. So I am Gwari by tribe. But growing up days were spent in Bida, Niger state. I attended Government Girls’ Day Secondary School, Bida after which I spent close to 10 years trying to get a HND because of constant sexual harassment by some of my lecturers. Some would even want to have you in their office. I finally graduated from the department of Business Administration and Management after attending up to three universities. It wasn’t easy. Government should do something about some of these lecturers.

What of sexual harassment in the movie industry, that is Sex-For-Roles demands made on actresses?

Honestly Aishat, it’s not as prominent as experienced in the universities. Those students are really going through hell. In the movies, the stakes are higher for the girls, you could either walk away or say no. In the university you could be like me, insist on “no” and go through school for 10 years! Sanitizing the schools on this issue should be one of the Seven Point Agenda for Mr. President. I get more surprised when I read about sexual harassment in the movie industry.. I think most of these producers and Directors are the most harassed. Some actresses just for roles entice them by knocking at their doors at night and wearing nude dresses during the day. And you know these are ‘men’.

What is the most challenging role to date?

Ha! Having to play the role of a crack up prostitute in the movie Love and Likeness.How do you see the issue of lesbianism in the industry?I prefer men honestly, so I don’t know how to answer that question. It’s their choice and their body.

There is gist in town that a very powerful South-South Governor is madly in love with you?

(Smiles shyly) Honestly every man has the right to fall in love with a woman but it depends on the woman to reciprocate. I should say ‘no comment’ to this question.

Have you ever been hear- broken?

Not really, but I used to go out with Chidi Mokeme a.k.a GQ till I found out that we were too many for him to count so I bailed out. Then there was Jim Iyke, we were not lovers but very close, he could advise me like his younger sister. Chidi actually brought me into the movies in 2004.

How do you relax?

I’ve learnt to make some “me-time.” Sometimes I get so busy that I don’t even remember to eat. Then I get selfish for “me”. I always try to figure out those moments when I have to take some quiet time to reflect and breathe. I think for everyone it’s important to recharge yourself, whether you’re lying on the sofa, soaking up in the bath tub or hanging out with people you love, or you’re just walking around enjoying God’s beauty.

How do you see Nollywood in the next 10 years?

Ten years is too far. Nollywood will be the toast of the world in the next five years! Nigeria is a blessed country, with all our inadequacies, good things always happen to us. I’m especially happy about the way Globacom is trying to use Nollywood actors for endorsement.

What is favourate dish?

Tuwo shinkafa and miyan kuka.

Courtesy:Sun News Publishing

After my failed marriage, I’m a better person— Stephanie Okereke

So, how are you doing today?
I’m alright, thank you.
You’ve been away for quite sometime, what happened?
I was away to do my movie and after shooting, I returned home to attend the BOBTV event where many people demanded to see the movie, I think BOBTV is good platform for film makers to interact.
So how was the response at BOBTV?

Stephanie Okereke now freeIt was awesome, they loved it. I showed the movie on a Tuesday at the event and on Wednesday at the workshop, it was full hall when I arrived. There were a lot of young people and they asked questions on how I did it. Everybody is demanding to see the movie, I think the response was great.
Is that your first ever self produced movie?
Yes it’s the first movie which I wrote, directed, produced and acted all in one.
What was the experience like?
(Laughing) It was a lot of hard work but it was fun. All this happened because I wanted to do something different. In the beginning I was thinking about it myself; Can I do this? How do I go about it?. Should I do it I asked myself? . There were so many challenges ranging from funding, location, getting your cars and so on.
So how were you able, to do it?
Well I was able to do it by God’s grace. It’s just like any other moment you face challenges, then you have to tackle it the best way that you can.
How long have you been in the movie industry, do you think experience has anything to do with producing or directing a movie?
I’ve always been there so age has nothing to do here. I mean over there, they have young directors who are about 16, 17 years and above 50, age shouldn’t be a restriction. You don’t have to be old to be a director.
There are lots of young people in movies abroad. Most of the foreign movies you’ve watched were directed by young people. So as they grow in it, they keep improving and that means a lot of experience. I did my first move in 1997 when I finished secondary school.
Eleven years after, don’t you think it took so long to come this far?
First of all, I wasn’t expecting it and it just happened. And also in life, there is time for everything. There is time for you to make certain decisions and move to another level, so I think this is just the proper time for me to do this.
What is this movie all about?
The movie is centered around responsibility and commitment. A parent’s love for a child. It’s about a guy who doesn’t want to come into relationship and suddenly finds an unknown baby. And this baby opens the way of God for him to discover himself. So he’s going through the glass of the situation around him and then there’s his relationship with this Nigerian girl.
So it’s all centered around a man?
Yes, a man, the baby and the girl.
Where was this movie shoot and who are the stars?
It was all shot in Los Angeles (LA), and I used Americans, African American, and also some of our African actors.
And who are the American actors?
Well you wouldn’t know but they are quite big in America
You didn’t use any of the stars here in Nigeria?
No. I didn’t use any of my colleagues that you know. It wasn’t an issue of whether I use my colleagues or not. It was an issue of the script. I had to use only those who are characters in the script.
What was the experience like blending Nolly and Hollywood together?
It wasn’t much of a Nollywood thing but I represented Nollywood in the movie (I’m the girl in the story). Even though I didn’t have to tell them who I was, by the time they heard my name, some of them went to the internet and saw the things I had done and they screamed.
They saw that I had a lot of experience. And at the end, they learnt a lot from the movie and they love the fact that they worked with me.
What do you think could be responsible for low turnout of movies in Nollywood?
I think it’s a whole process of trying to get to a particular level and the fact that ideas are conflicting, different strategies and ways of implementing things. I think right now the Nigerian society is complicated as it is. And sometimes for solid things to happen, there has to be this phase of conflict which will soon be over.
So right now people are waiting to see which direction to go. Soon everything will still come back to normal.
There’s a feeling that the earlier we resolve this, the better for Nollywood because right now the situation is bad.
But some actors and actresses are hungry?.
Yes but when you say hungry, I’m like oh my God....Most people have not actually done any movie in the last one year...
Yes. It’s just like when the writers in America went on strike and everybody was complaining. Right now I think that every sector of the industry has to define their role (film makers, writers, distributor and even the censors board).
Again, since we’re trying to standardise and go global, it’s also important that we draw experience from the international community on how things should be done. People should also stick to their roles because what we see in Nollywood is people trying to interfere with creativity. And you know that creativity is something personal. The way Mr. A perceives is different from that of Mr. B. I believe that if we can do this, we’ll surely make a headway.
Are you saying there’s a lot of busy bodies in the industry?
It’s not about busy body but there is conflict in the industry. At this point, I think we need to harmonise. This conflict has been going on for about two years now. We have to come together this year and harmonise so that we don’t continue in conflict.
With all this conflict, do you think Nollywood can survive?
Yes Nollywood has come to stay and we are not going anywhere. This is just a phase we are going through and we will surely come out of it. The film makers know that this is the time for us to do more quality work and go global. So we have to stop doing movies for ourselves and family members. We should begin to do movies that can cut across several borders so that non-Nigerians can be able to relate with it.
We should also improve on the quality of our work, not this kind of haphazard movies we do in Nollywood. Right now I think there are lot of challenges for film makers.
With all this conflicts in the industry, how do you intend to market your movie?
The major thing is that I have a good work and people are willing to buy. For sure it will work out itself. Right now I’m doing a theatre release of it with Silverbird, then I’ll release DVD later.
Do you think it’s because of poverty that Nigerian movies are produced in part 1, 2, 3 and so on?
I want to let you know that it is poverty mentality that’s affecting Nigerians in almost all sectors of the economy so let’s not restrict it to Nollywood. I want do also let you know that film making pass different stages before it comes to DVD. But in Nigeria we are used to exploring only one stage which is the DVD.
Meanwhile you could make money if you do a theatre release or TV/Internet release before putting it in DVD.
That is why film makers are crying that Nigerians are not buying movies. But I think that they need to win back people’s confidence (give them reasons why they should buy a particular movie). These reasons are in improving the quality of our work. And when this is done even the people who no longer watch our movies will want to watch if they see a good one.
And as per marketing, I think we don’t use the right channel. A movie should be well promoted. A good example of a well promoted movie is the Slumdog Millionaire. Most people never knew the content before they subscribed to it.
People also complain that stories are recycled....
Somebody asked this question at BOBTV and I told them that there is nothing new again. Even in America, stories are recycled. It all depends on what angle you want to take it from and that’s where originality comes in. Julius Caesar has been done so many times but from different angles. Right now there’s nothing original.
What role do you think Nollywood should play in rebranding this nation.America was able to colonise the whole world today through entertainment. When people watch American movies, they want to behave like them. And that is sometime. When you visit America, it appears you know everywhere because you’ve seen it in the movies.
We are talking about rebranding this nation. So I think they should focus more on the movie industry because movies recreates life. While watching a movie, you see your life presented to you. Don’t forget that through movies, we sell our culture, tourism, perception of this country and a whole lot of things. Movies move from hand to hand, region to region so it’s easier to sell this country through movie because that’s how America colonised the world today.
It appears you are talking much about movies, what’s happening to your love life right now?
(Laughing) Right now I’m working on promoting and marketing my movie. Love life is something you don’t plan but when the mind is free and open, it comes. You don’t know who you may fall in love with. So at the appropriate time everything will fall into place.
Are you going to get married because you’re in love or because your friends are all getting married?

Right now I’m not married, I’m very single and I don’t want to go into that. No comments please.

You are like a role model to a lot of young ones out there, what advice will you give to them in terms of relationship?
At this point, you really have to think about yourself and what makes you happy as an individual because you have just one life to live.
Yes I went into a relationship and came out of it but what matters is the way you come out of it and what you do with yourself thereafter. It was just an experience I went through but I’ve moved on with my life. And believe me I’m a better person today because I’ve learnt so many things from that experience.
What was your experience like when you...
It was fun and I think it’s a good platform for a lot of young girls to discover themselves and decide which way they go from there. Once you have this platform, how you use it and what you become later matters a lot.
You once took part in the Most Beautiful Girl In Pageant, right?
Yes it was fun
Did it help your career?
Yes it did, it gives you a lot of confidence. Wearing a bikini and moving around a lot of people makes you more confident in yourself. So you’ve got to believe in yourself because if you don’t, you’ll end up being manipulated.
Are you into any form of humanitarian service?
With time I’ll have something an NGO. Sometimes I’m called upon to do some sort of humanitarian service which I oblige to as long as my face or something I say, will make a change.A
Will you remain like this forever?
Of course, I’m not going to stay like this forever. I’m enjoying my life the way it is right now. It’s not compulsory that I must have a man in my life. Life has different phases, there’s a time to be single, married and a time to have children. I am in the single phase.
May be the next phase you meet me, I may be in a relationship or I’m married.
You’ve come a long way in this industry, what trying moments have you faced?
Personally I don’t think I’ve had any such moments. It’s been great all through for me. This industry has made me who I am today.
Where are you from?
I’m from Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State. My full names are Stephanie Onyekachi Okereke.
Are you the only star from your place?
No. My aunty is also a star. She is the Director-.General of Nigerian Stock Exchange and my uncle is the King of my village.
So you are a princess?
Yes. I am.

Corutesy: Vanguard Newspaper

Funke Akindele unleashes the ‘JENIFA’ phenomenon

Suliat kan. Ayetoro kan.
If you dont ‘get’ the words above then you haven’t been touched by the ‘Jenifa’ phenomenon. ‘Jenifa’ is the brainchild of actress, Funke Akindele. Funke has been a successful actress for over a decade. She got her big break on the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) sponsored youth-oriented TV show, ‘I Need To Know’. Since then she has completed her law degree at the University of Lagos and now she is pursuing her movie career in full throttle. Acting in English movies and then producing, writing and starring in Yoruba movie productions.
Her new movie ‘Jenifa’ is making major waves and is selling out fast! ‘Jenifa’ tells the all too familiar story of a young ‘village girl’ who moves to the city to enrol in university. Suliat (Funke Akindele) is a local champion in her humble hometown, Ayetoro. She is the most popular babe of them all and highly influential amongst her peers. She gains admission to university in Lagos and moves there with great expectations. At university, she is ridiculed for her style (or lack-there-of), her accent and manner of speaking then she meets a group of girls, things begin to change and Suliat is transformed to JENIFA….
The movie is actually pretty predictable but the humour, costumes and acting performances carry it along nicely. Its so commendable that Funke also wrote the script and produced the movie. The movie also stars Ronke Odusanya, Iyabo Ojo, Ireti Osayemi, Odunade Adekola, Eniola Badmus and Tola Oladokun.
This is definitely the movie of the moment! You can hardly go anywhere without hearing a conversation about it or some quips from the movie like Suliat/Jenifa’s buzz words ‘ooouushhh’ ‘Bigz Girlz’ etc…
The movie is so popular that it has inspired a song by Amplifyd Ft ID Cabasa