Wale Adenuga Productions gets TV licence
THE Wale Adenuga Productions (WAP) has been granted a special TV licence by the National Broadcasting Commission, (NBC). The licence, a Direct To Satellite (DTS), enables WAPTv to transmit to all parts of the world. The approval of the broadcast permit is in recognition of the company’s meritorious contributions to the development of entertainment in Nigeria and beyond. According to Chief Wale Adenuga (MFR), the outfit’s boss, “since the news came to us, we’ve been in a joyous mood. This is an opportunity for us to give Nigerians a real family entertainment channel, first of its kind. We’re grateful to NBC, our viewers, staff and management of WAP for their support over the years.” WAPTV will start transmission on October 1, airing on Startimes bouquet. The company is famous for award-winning programmes such as Superstory, Papa Ajasco & Company, Thislife, Oddworld and Nnena & Friends.
Desmond Elliot’s In the Cupboard goes nationwide
NOLLYWOOD’s top rated actor, Desmond Elliot, is not only earning applauses as an actor, he is gradually raking in more plaudits as a director. He showed some stuff as director of the romantic comedy, Kiss and Tell, and now, he is ready with another, In the cupboard. A family drama, which began showing in cinemas nationwide on August 17, the story revolves around the lives of six siblings born into the aristocratic Desouza family — a name synonymous with wealth and power. Everything seems perfect until their patriarch dies unexpectedly, and all the children have to gather from different parts of the world to be with their mother, Veronica ‘Ronnie’ Desouza, for the reading of the Will. What ensues is a series of events that threatens to shake the family to its very foundations! Ini Edo, Uti Nwachukwu, Lydia Forson, Alex Ekubo and Bishop Ime Umoh star in the movie. It also features upcoming actors, Morris Sesay Ginnefine Kanu and Tessy Abubakar. Marketed by the Royal Arts Academy brand, the screenplay was by Kehinde Olorunyomi. Austin Nwaolie and Tom Robson were in charge of cinematography. Elliot and Caroline Danjuma are Executive Producers while the publicist and scriptwriter, Bola Aduwo, is Associate Producer.
Patricia Bala is new Censors’ board DG
THE Minister of Information and Communication, Labaran Maku, has approved the appointment of Ms Patricia Bala as Acting Director General of National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), effective from August 7. This was contained in a letter signed by the minister. Her appointment follows the expiration of Emeka Mba’s seven years tenure as Director General. Bala, who was the most senior director and in charge of Verification and Classification before the elevation, has promised to stabilise the Nigerian movie and video industry, and put it on the path of growth, through collaboration with various stakeholders. Bala was born in Garkawa, Mikang Local Council of Plateau State. She attended Our Lady of Fatima Convent School, St Louis College all in Jos, School of Basic Studies (ABU) and Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, graduating with BA Hons degree in Drama in 1975.
Entries open for In-short 2012
THE International Film and Broadcast Academy, in partnership with
Goethe-Institut Nigeria, is organising the short film festival, IN-SHORT 2012, from October 11 to 13 in Lagos. The festival, which debuted last year at the Silverbird Cinemas, will be screening international short films from different genres. The festival is targeted at emerging filmmakers, student filmmakers and tele-movies of up to 30 minutes length from all over the world. Filmmakers from Nigeria are invited to submit their short films to compete for the public audience award. The theme of the festival is Simple Ideas, Great Movies! Entry forms and guidelines can be downloaded at www.in-short.org. According to George Ananhe, who is head of strategy for Afrigong, entries will close on September 15 while selected filmmakers will be notified on or before September 25.
Onwochei, Ebere plan Nollywood lecture series for universities
THE Nollywood Lecture Series For Nigerian Universities, a training programme designed to aid students of Theatre, Performing and Creative Arts in the country, is in the pipeline. The project is a brainchild of Francis Onwochei and Reginald Ebere. According to them, the Nigerian motion picture industry, has, over the years, provided employment opportunities for youngsters and many others who have become very successful in the industry. “These series would berth a new and more vibrant creative industry,” Onwochei said. He added that the intervention would cover key areas as Introduction to Nollywood, Ethics of the Profession, Business of Film in Nigeria, Networking for Success in Nollywood, and the core subject, Getting started in Nollywood. The project, fashioned along the line of Town and Gown series, has “been designed as a full day programme where different facilitators would be brought to share in these areas and also serve as an opportunity to mentor the students.” Frankochei Prodcutions (run by Francis Onwochei) in collaboration with The Scriptfactory (run by Reginald Ebere) would facilitate the series. Onwochei, an established actor, producer and director, has facilitated courses and delivered papers on Nollywood matters in Nigeria, South Africa, UK, Germany and the US. Ebere, a writer, producer, director, blogger and media entrepreneur, has facilitated training courses in Nigerian universities. He has over a hundred movie credits to his name.
Last Flight to Abuja grosses N8m in first week
REPORTS by Blue Pictures, a leading theatrical distribution company in Nigeria, has indicated that Obi Emelonye’s new movie, Last Flight to Abuja, has grossed more than N8 million at the Nigerian box office, just one week after it was premiered at the Genesis Deluxe Cinema, Lagos. The report also said that the film beat major Hollywood blockbusters such as Spiderman, Think like a Man, Avengers and Madagascar, and was second only to the highly rated blockbuster, Dark Knight Rises. According to the report, Last Flight to Abuja grossed N8.35 million in its first seven days, with an attendance of 9,638 as against Phone Swap, which sold N3.72 million in its first week and recorded an attendance of 3,859, Married But Living Single made N2.35 million and 2,602 in attendance and finally, Maami, which made N3.30 million with 2,602 in attendance. Meanwhile, Obi Emelonye’s previous movie, The Mirror Boy, grossed N6.98 million and recorded an attendance of 7,501 in its first week of release in Nigeria. The only movie that bettered this record was Return of Jenifa, which made N10 million in its first week. The movie features Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Jim Iyke, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Ali Nuhu, Jide Kosoko, Olumide Bakare, Franca Brown, Uche Odoputa, Anthony Monjaro, Uru Eke and Celine Loader. The film sheds light on the ills in the Nigerian aviation sector and how random human errors can lead to the tragic loss of lives. The London premiere was dedicated to the memory of the passengers who lost their lives in the ill-fated Dana Airline crash of June 3.
August 31 date for Heroes and Zeros premiere
HEROES and Zeros will be premiered on Friday, August 31, in Lagos. The premiere will have A-list actors and actresses, top entertainment personalities and highly placed personalities in attendance. Heroes and Zeros is an emotive movie that features a mixture of veterans and green horns like Bimbo Manuel, Nadia Buari, Gabriel Afolayan, Olu Jacobs, Norbert Young, Akin Lewis, Funsho Adeolu and Chervel Bridgette. Possessing an unusual plot and a creative storyline that explores a back-and-forth narrative technique, Heroes and Zeros tells the story of the destructive pursuance of Tonia (Nadia Buari) by Amos Fele (Bimbo Manuel). Heroes and Zeros is produced by Koga Studios. The movie will be in cinemas across the nation from Friday, September 7, 2012.
Author of this article: BY SHAIBU HUSSEINI
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