Tag Archives: movie industry

East African Film Maker Opens Up On What They Hate About Nigerian Movies

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A top rated Kenyan film maker and script writer, Njoki Muhoho, recently took a swipe at the sorry state of the East African film industry, blaming the woes on the inability of the policy makers in the region to recognize the economic potentials of the industry.

 

 

Muhoho, who was appointed the head judge for the 2016 edition of the prestigious Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, AMVCAs, made this strong observation while in a chat with HVP, in Nairobi, Kenya.

 

 

According to her, ‘’the issue is not that we can’t make many films, or that we are not capable of many good films, but the problem lies on our policy makers. Our legislators need to decide on the policies that should be made to make the environment more conducive for film makers. There are many things that need to be done to make the film industry in East Africa much more conducive. This is part of the things we are trying to do in Kenya, using the parliament to be able to pass certain policies like the film policy. We are not saying every country that is doing well is because they have fantastic film industry. Some have done it without a policy but it looks like in East Africa, we need government support.”

 

 

Muhoho, who has a dual career in Management Consultancy and TV/Film Production also cited lack of training centres as another major challenge facing the growth of the film industry in the region.

 

 

While commending Nigerian film makers for their storytelling abilities, Muhoho, however, frowned at some of the unusual occurrences in the country’s films. She wondered why Nigerian actors scream loudly on screen.

 

 

‘’Why your actors always scream loudly? She queried, adding ‘’Your films lack sequence. That’s why Nigerian films can be more than one and half hour. I find that very odd. In East Africa, we see it as shouting, but probably, in West Africa, it is not. Again, Nigerian films are always lengthy. That’s what we don’t like about Nigerian movies, ’’ she said.

 

 

Credit : Vanguard

“I Have No Close Friend In The Nollywood Industry” – Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde

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Many movie fans might be shocked to learn that, although she is quite popular among her colleagues, star actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has no friend in Nollywood. The actress revealed this much about her relationship with her fellow thespians in a new interview with entertainment reporter Chux Ohai. She said:

“I don’t have close friends in Nollywood. Everybody is my colleague. Maybe it is because I live very far way from so many people in the industry. Secondly, I’m not very
good at visiting people. I don’t have that kind of luxury.

Omotola also counted herself as fortunate to have been married at a young age. And with a hint of sympathy for upwardly mobile Nigerian women who are still unable to walk down the aisle, especially some of her fellow female artistes, explained the reason why they are finding it difficult to get married.

“If I hadn’t been married earlier, I probably would not be by now. I don’t know if any other man would have been able to handle me the way my husband has done. It is not because I am a bad person. I am actually a very strong woman.

 “At a point, you might become so confused and wonder if any man will ever love you for who you are. But, if you are not a very grounded person, you too can contribute to your own problems. I consider myself to be lucky to remain married.”

Asked if she had ever considered the fact that her daughter, who is now 18, could get married any time and she would end up becoming a grandmother before her 40th birthday, Omotola replied,

“I don’t care much about it. I don’t even want to think about that because I got married early. What I always tell people is that all fingers are not equal. The fact that I got married early does not mean that my own child will get married early. My mother didn’t marry early. So it is not hereditary. But if my daughter wants to get married early and I like the guy and If I see that he is responsible enough, why not?”

Most people might be wrong to assume that the stunning pretty actress live in highbrow areas in Lagos, such as the Lekki Peninsular. But she lives in a simple neighbourhood in the lowly Iyana-Oba area of the metropolis and she is proud of it.

Revealing a lot more about her private life, she said:

“I love where I live and I like the way I live. I come out to do my work and go back to my wonderful mansion. I am a cry-baby. I still cry a lot over the most unlikely subjects and for silly reasons.”

Two months ago, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde was at the centre of a gathering storm on social media, after she posted a message on her Twitter page, allegedly criticising those trekking long distances in honour of some leading politicians in the country and addressing them as “silly youths trekking their future away”.

The tweet had gone viral on the internet and Omotola had immediately found herself at the receiving end of criticism from many users of the social media who felt she had no business meddling in other people’s affairs.

Also recalling the episode, Omotola defended her comment by reminding her critics that it was her business, after all, to worry about the trekkers, since their actions were in the public domain.

She said:

 “It is not that I am against trekking. My point is that people should either do something for nothing or they do it for fun. Although some people have said it is not my business, I’m now saying that it is my business. For crying out loud, if I say that I am trekking to go and celebrate, maybe a Boko Haram person, everybody will pounce on me. They will see it as immoral, considering the fact that many innocent Nigerians have lost their lives to the activities of the group.”

Like most other artistes, Omotola hardly sees her own movies and her dream role in a movie – the kind of role that she had always looked forward to having – is to act the part of a super heroine.

“I have always wanted to be a super heroine. I need one desperately,” she said.

Why I Opened Film Academy —Helen Paul

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Helen Paul-Bamisile, famous female entertainer, shares her success story in this interview with BAYO ADETU

Congratulations on the arrival of your new born baby.

Thank you very much. I feel really blessed. God has been very faithful to me and my household. It was a great privilege and I’m excited about it.

You recently opened Helen Paul Theatre and Films Academy. What informs the decision?

The entertainment industry in Nigeria has no doubt become a force to reckon with nationally and internationally. The film and music sectors have reignited the pride of Nigeria all over the world. All over Africa and globally, Nigerian entertainers are highly respected and regarded as ambassadors worthy of emulation. Besides, in a country where unemployment rate has continued to be on the rise, the entertainment sector has also proved its relevance by providing employment for a reasonable amount of citizens by engaging them in productions and events on daily basis.

•Helen Paul-Bamisile

•Helen Paul-Bamisile

As a result of the boom in the entertainment sector, thousands of youths aspire to make a career in the industry, and this has subsequently given room for many charlatans and half-baked practitioners. It is in view of this that Helen Paul Theatre and Film Academy decides to create a strong, credible and professional platform where aspiring entertainers can acquire their skills in different departments of the entertainment sector under the tutelage of seasoned thespians, and in a structured environment. The academy provides its trainings in accordance with the required standards of the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

How do you effectively combine your multiple roles as PhD student, entertainer, wife, mother and business woman?

I give all the glory to God for giving me a husband that is very understanding and supportive. If I come back to this life, I will pick my husband again and again. The credit goes to him and God. He is a fantastic guy. He has been very supportive. He is my friend, he makes life very easy for me and I pray it continues like that forever. Marriage is not an easy institution. It is the only school where you get a certificate before you begin schooling. That is why I say a big thank you to my husband. He is making it work, not me. It is all about sacrifice.

You also have your fingers on music, comedy, acting, compere?

I’m also a business woman. I have bridal and aso-ebi shops. I’m a proprietress and a columnist. I write for the New Telegraph newspaper every Sunday, and my ministry is still expanding. Very soon, you will get to know about the other things I’m working on. Yes, I’m a jack of all trades-but master of all!

Tell us about how your music career started?

I have always been singing, though not professionally at first. I was a chorister in my church and I have been doing that since childhood. I started it professionally as a back-up singer. I worked with P-Square on their Get Squared album, and many other artistes.

What is the difference between Tatafo and Helen Paul?

Tatafo is that little and inquisitive girl you hear on radio. She is a radio personality. Tatafo wants to know everything, and she asks questions a lot. Most times, she pokes her nose into issues that are none of her business! She uses satire a lot as well. But Helen Paul is the compere, actress, TV personality, singer and comedian. She is also a wife and mother.

Where do you get inspirations for your jokes?

I’m a spontaneous comedian. I look at the things around me to make my jokes. Most times when I’m going on stage, I don’t even have an idea of the jokes to crack, but the moment I see the audience, I flow with them, and the jokes will start rolling in. I interact with my audience. Most of the times, if I’m backstage, I see through. I understand the stage – if it is a proscenium stage, I know the audience will face me directly, if it is an arena stage, the audience will sit round me, so I have to look for a way to move round the stage in such a way that everyone sees me. Sometimes, I get there early to meet people buying tickets, so I observe what they are wearing. I also try to understand if they are from the elite category or ordinary people in the society.

Your comedy is based on everyday life, how are you able to interpret everyday life and crack your audience with laughter?

I do comedy of manners. This is a situation where you entertain and make people laugh, and at the same time, they learn. The easiest way you can educate and entertain people is by talking about issues they can easily relate with.

Why are you in the entertainment industry, passion or fame?

Even as I’m speaking with you now, I don’t refer to myself as a star. I’m just a brand. I see myself as the girl next door; I can walk on the streets when I feel like, stop by the road to buy roasted corn and plantain, name it. Most times, it is people that remind me that I’m a celebrity. What I’m trying to tell you is that fame is neither in my mind or head. I just want to be my natural self, and trust me; fame hasn’t changed anything about me.

Did you really set out to become everything in the entertainment industry or was it by chance?

Well, rather than say it is by chance, I will say it is God, hard work and the fact that I have the right people around me.  Right from childhood, I had always known that I would become a celebrity, but I didn’t know how it was going to happen. I was just a receptionist then, but I was so confident of becoming a star. It was later that I started as a back-up singer and voice-over artiste before the comedy and acting aspects took over. I wouldn’t say my success is by chance. I would rather say that it was God’s plan for me, and I worked relentlessly towards it.

I started as a voice over artist. I was a receptionist at Eko FM Studious and from there, I started doing back-up and voice-over. But when I got into the University of Lagos, I discovered the comedy part of me. I actually went for a show, and the MC did not come, so my friends said I can do it because I’m a funny character. I eventually did it and it was awesome, and from there, people started calling me for shows and the money kept coming in. I had to stick to it and of course met the likes of Ali Baba and others who now enlightened me on the business part of the job.

Who is a successful woman?

A successful woman is not known by the number of material things she has, or how expensive they are, but by the number of lives she has impacted positively.