Nigerian filmmaker Dimeji Ajibola returns with an action-packed film Ratnik. Ratnik teaser is filled with suspense, superhero characters that are bound to put us on the edge. Judging from the teaser, the 3D effect is not just impressive, it takes on Hollywood style. The film features Bolanle Ninalowo, Osas Ighodaro, Meg Otanwa, Karibi Fubara, Ani Iyoho and Adunni Ade. Check on it: 199 Views
Another woman has come forward to accuse a Nollywood filmmaker of sexual harassment. Writing on social media, Lawal Dolapo accused veteran actor Yemi Solade of demanding for sex in exchange for a movie role. Dolapo claims the actor invited her to a guest house, and when she said he was like a father to her, he said: ““I know my children, and you are not one. If you want a role, then come.” Dolapo wrote: “Okay, I saw a post about Yomi Fabiyi on @instablog9ja and I felt like talking about mine. Years ago when the drive to become an actor was high, I believed in myself so much, I was going for auditions, getting call backs and anytime I was called on to set, something about school will set in. I saw this man’s page, I mean the almighty @yemi_solade and I noticed he had his BBM pin on his bio, as a hustling girl, I sent him request, he accepted, it felt like heaven on earth, I felt like my prayers were about to be answered. I sent him accolades first, you know na, next thing I said, sir, I’ll like to be featured in movies, he said that’s not a problem, I should meet him up somewhere around Ajah. Cross-checking the address, it was a guest house, I said, sir, you are like my father(I was about 20yrs old then), uncle said and I quote “I know my children, and you are not one. If you want a role, then come” Emi Arike, if I’ll sleep with a man for something, then it’s not going to be something I can get by myself I was shook!!! Mehn!!! The same man that flaunts his family on his page? That day I told myself, these nollywood actors can never be trusted.” Yemi Solade has denied the accusation, accusing bloggers of paying her, and threatening lawsuit. He wrote: “I congratulate the new CELEBRITY on the bloc! Her intentions would be her undoing. The Cocoyam leaves had had water within before the rainy season. I wish her all the best. I thank you guys who know one or two things on how we work. I live on Gowon Estate, Egbeda…. Work all over the world and we are camped in hotels for the duration of work….. I need not dwell on this NUISANCE VALUE gist. This is NOT how Funke Akindele – Bello, Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade – Ekeinde and their likes got into public consciousness…. My dear sisters did the needful by training in film schools, acquiring film education and today the world celebrates them. I wish this Dolapo Lawal success in her new status…. Welcome to the world of CELEBS…. I hope the bloggers paid her handsomely. You will be the first to run her sadness when she lands in court.” Also commenting on the post, Yoruba actress Folake Daramola called out the accuser, asking what she intends to achieve and if she has evidence. “You’re very silly for this. What do you want to achieve with this? What evidence do you have? Stupid idiot,” Daramola wrote. Since the New York Times published allegations of sexual harassment against media mogul Harvey Weinstein by dozens of women, several other men, including Yomi Fabiyi and Nick Mutuma, have been accused of assault by women from all over the world. 172 Views
The hilarious trailer features former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, and also offers a glimpse at what his ‘acting career’ would be like. The upcoming and anticipated episode will see Obasanjo declare his support for the hilarious Dele as President. The web series “Dele Issues” revolves around the main character; Dele and his daily hilarious encounters and the awkward situations he most times find himself in. These awkward situations often cause him to make some decisions which are sometimes rather ridiculous. The special episode featuring the Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, will be released on YouTube on Saturday, October 14, 2017. 187 Views
Pulse Movies have put together 10 things we know about the anticipated sequel to the highest grossing Nollywood movie. Here’s everything we know. 1. The sequel is titled “The Wedding Party: Dubai Destination.” 2. Niyi Akinmolayan, who is popular for “Out of Luck,” “The Arbitration,” “Room 315,” and “Falling” directed the film. The original film was helmed by Kemi Adetiba. 3. The sequel returns with original cast Sola Sobowale, Daniella Down, RMD, Ireti Doyle, Ali Baba, Ikechukwu the Rapper, Enyinna Nwigwe, Beverly Naya, Saka, Banky W, Adesua Etomi and Somkele Idhalama. 4. The original cast members are joined by Patience Ozokwor, Chiwetalu Agu, Chigurl and Seyi Law. 5. “The Wedding Party 2” which commenced shoot on May 1, 2017, shot in Nigeria for at least two weeks before heading to Dubai for another two weeks. 6. “The Wedding Party 2″ follows the romance between Nonso Onwuka and Deirdre; the bridesmaid from London. 7. From some of the tidbits and teasers that have been shared online, we know that Dunni and Dozie are having twins. Also, the dramatic Tinuade Coker has a new rival in Ozokwor’s character. 8. The sequel is produced by ELFIKE Film Collective: a partnership of EbonyLife Films, FilmOne Distribution, Inkblot Productions and Koga Studios. 9. The Wedding Party 2,” will debut in 15 territories. According to the Group Executive Director/COO FilmOne, Moses Babatope, the movie is aiming to be released in 15 territories when it makes its debut later this year. 10. “The Wedding Party” will have its world premiere on December 10, 2017, before making its debut in Nigerian cinemas on December 15, 2017. 184 Views
Based on Adewale’s childhood, “Farming” tells story of a young Nigerian boy, ‘farmed out’ by his parents to a white British family in the hope of a better future. Instead, he becomes the feared leader of a white skinhead gang. The upcoming autobiographical story features Nnaji alongside Hollywood actors Kate Beckinsale, Damon Idris and Gugu Mmbatha-Raw. Idris plays the young Nigerian boy, Enitan, Beckinsale plays the white foster mother Ingrid, while Mbatha-Raw plays a kind teacher who offers Enitan a chance at redemption. Nnaji’s role is currently unknown. Genevieve Nnaji, a Nollywood veteran who is popular for classic movies such as “Ije” and “Keeping Faith,” recently made her directorial debut with the upcoming movie, “LionHeart.” The movie which was shot in Enugu State features the actress in a lead role alongside Steve Eboh, Pete Edochie, Kalu Ikeagwu, Onyeka Onwenu, Nkem Owoh, Kanayo O Kanayo, Ngozi Ezeonu, Phyno, Peter Okoye among others. Written by C.J Fiery Obasi based on a screenplay by Ishaya Bako and Emil Garuba, “Lion Heart” follows the story of an Igbo family that is into transport business. Nnaji’s directorial debut comes after the success of the 2015 movie “Road to Yesterday,” which introduced her as a movie producer. Nnaji’s representative is yet to respond to Pulse Nigeria’s request for comment. 190 Views
In the episode titled “Firecracker,” Tee’s cousin is Dede’s uninvited guest! Deji stomps the yard with a little extra and serves the Mwenda some life. The episode is written and directed by LowlaDee, and produced by Funmbi Ogunbanwo. It stars Nick Mutuma, Chiagoziem Nwakanma and Olumide Oworu. The first season of “This is It” followed the first year journey of the young clueless newlyweds Dede and Tomide’ The season, which focused on the first six months of their marriage, saw them adjust to living together, dealing with friends and a little drama. The romantic comedy also stars Stan Nze, Bimbo Ademoye, Bukola Oladipupo, Teni Aladese, Chisom Ofor, Joyce Maina, Kunle Coker, Tosan ugbeye, Asa’ah Samuel among others. New additions for season 2 include Jemima Osunde and Ozzy Agu. The second season, which is also the final season, will clock in at 10 episodes with the finale episode titled “This is Us.” 219 Views
The latest Nigerian film to prompt this question is “Hello, Rain,” a C.J Fiery Obasi film which merges magic and technology. The sci-fi film is the screen adaptation of Nnedi Okorafor’s “Hello, Moto.” Of course, the Nigerian film industry has had sci-fi films such as “Kajola,” “Device” and “The Day They Came,” but none, despite the effort, had mainstream success or launched the genre. The most successful genre in Nigeria is comedy: the top three highest grossing films are all comedy. Currently, there’s an influx of the genre in the Nigerian market, which can be attributed to its already existing success. Filmmaking is a business and one can only make money by delivering what his/her audience wants. There are several reasons why some of these unconventional genres are left untouched in Nigeria. When you look at the resources that go into making one, you will realize why some filmmakers won’t take the risk with a genre that isn’t tested, trusted or accepted by the audience. Does this mean that there’s no room for the success of unconventional genres? No. There’s actually an audience for every film. “Everybody enjoys a range of films. I think what tends to happen a lot of time is that people like to box African films,” Akin Omotoso said during the screening of “A Hotel Called Memory,” yet another uncommon kind of film; a Nigerian film with no dialogue. C.J Fiery is one of the three young filmmakers under the collective ‘Surreal 16’: a collective designed to create a new kind of Nigerian cinema that is unhinged and unconventional. With projects such as “Ojuju,” “O-Town,” “Mami Wata” and “Bruja,” Obasi has always been an ardent supporter of alternative narrative in African filmmaking. Obasi isn’t alone. Keira Hewatch, who leads the cast of the upcoming “Hello, Rain,” shows her apparent passion for innovative projects as she had also starred in Niyi Akinmolayan’s 2010 sci-fi film, “Kajola”. She is of the opinion that just as the success of a particular film started a boom of comedy craze, a successful sci-fi film will also kick off one for the genre. A commercially successful sci-fi film will be a huge boost for several other filmmakers who dream of touring this less travelled route. “It’s wrong to assume that people are just stuck on comedy,” she told Pulse Nigeria. “The reason why it seems like they are stuck on comedies is because it is a tried and tested road that worked, so producers are playing safe and sticking to it, which is great.” What happens when/if these uncommon films fail to go mainstream or break box office numbers in Nigeria? In 2016, “Green White Green” screened in Nigeria after its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival among other festivals. Unfortunately, it never made it to any Nigerian cinema. “It isn’t for the Nigerian audience,” film distributors said. “It’s what it is. The way the industry is structured right now, it is at a place where they are not willing to take certain risks. And I completely understand it,” Abaa Makama, who directed “Green White Green” said about the performance of the movie in Nigeria. “They feel like the audience has not evolved to a degree where they would assimilate this type of work. But, it’s all about risk-taking.” However, the cinema isn’t the only existing distribution platform in Nigeria. According to Makama, “Green White Green” went on to become a commercial success. “We have done well at festivals, but we have also penned a lucrative deal with Netflix, and it’s going to be on several international airlines. We are making our money back, and then some,” he said during a chat with Wana Udobang on Culture Diaries. These unconventional films may not be a mainstream success, but they are successful in their own right. Africa has a lot of stories to tell and quite a number of filmmakers who want to tell these stories. Most Nigerians may not be ready for a sci-fi movie, but there are viewers who yearn for a variety of stories. Projects such as “Hello, Rain,” “Green White Green,” “A Hotel Called Memory” and a remake of “Kajola,” will always find its audience. 198 Views
This is a 3-day film festival that celebrates and recognizes the works of filmmakers globally. This is an international platform that showcases creativity. This event is scheduled for Newark, New Jersey, each year in September. This year, NIFF received over 800 entries from film-makers all over the world, competing for the categories; Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary, Best Short Film, with a Youth component for all these categories. There was also a category of music, and a new addition for Audience-Choice. “Sink or Swim; The Perilous journey”, by producer Prince Richard Nwaobi-E and Adjetey Anang, directed by Ike Nnaebue with Screenplay by Anna Hanson saw its first international screening at Citiplex Theatre on Saturday, 9th Sept. 2017. The movie serves a social-advocacy project highlighting the dangers of irregular migration and human trafficking across the African sub-region. The movie was inspired in the wake of the frequent loss of lives on the Mediterranean as people travel in search of greener pastures. This was a collaborative effort by an all-African cast from Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Zambia, Kenya, Cote D-Ivoire, Togo, Guinea and South Africa which consists of actors like Zack Orji, Adjetey Anang, Raymond Ofula, Ali Nuhu, Mzee Chillo, Fred Amugi, Ama K, OG Nelson, Ruth Ndulu, Seun Akindele, Sika Osei, Cassie Kabwita, Deyemi O, Zoree Seidu, Romeo Kwame, Kalu George, Cosmos Segbefia and Vicky Coker. The movie received an Official Selection for the categories of Best Narrative Feature and Best Actress. The screening was a huge success as the story captivated the audience and gave them an awakening to the sad reality of the dangers of irregular migration, human trafficking and the plight of the migrants. The finale was the awards ceremony on Sunday, 10th September 2017 at the Newark Symphony Hall that was attended by several celebrities. The award ceremony was hosted by actress and model, Eva Marcille of America’s Next Top Model fame and co-hosted by Rob Stapleton. Ultimately, “Sink or Swim” carried the day by sweeping the awards for both categories nominated. Ama K. won Best Actress. “Sink or Swim,” took the ultimate award for Best Narrative Feature, 2017. 274 Views
Also starring Somkele Idhlama, Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki), Bimbo Manuel, Chioma Akpotha, DJ Xclusive, Deyemi Okanlawon, “Lara and the Beat” is a coming of age movie about the young and beautiful Giwa sisters caught in the center of a financial scandal with their late parents’ Media Empire. The sisters are forced out of their privileged bubble, and must learn to build their own future and salvage their family’s past. Lara and the Beat is a potpourri of music, fashion, romance, and comedy, it promises to be an instant favourite with huge global appeal. It also stars several industry heavyweights including Ademola Adedoyin, Shaffi Bello, Lala Akindoju, Wale Ojo, Akah Nnani, Uche Jombo and much more. In a brief chat with the movie’s executive producer, Biola Alabi, she said: “Lara and the Beat is a special project beyond what we accomplished with “Banana Island Ghost”. This is a movie with many layers and experiences for everyone. We and our partners are putting our best into this production. We want this production to be appealing to both our local and global audience.” “When I first heard the story idea and the cast list including many industry heavyweights I respect so much, I immediately knew this was a production I wanted to direct and be a part of. Lara and the Beat has been such an interesting journey so far, and I can’t wait for everyone to see what we are creating here,” says Tosin Coker, the movie director. “Lara and the Beat” is currently in the production phase and set to hit the cinemas in April 2018. 296 Views
Darel, 49, who first came to notice in Eric Rohmer’s “A Tale of Springtime” in 1990, told French media that Weinstein had promised to help make her big in America if she became his “part-time” mistress. She said she first had to beat off his advances after Weinstein’s company Miramax bought the 1993 fashion industry comedy “A la mode” in which she appeared. “We had a little premiere in New York and he wouldn’t stop calling me so that I would come to the party afterwards. Because I could see what he was up to, I pretended that I was with the lead actor in the film so he would leave me alone,” she told Le Parisien newspaper. The following year, pushed by her agent, she agreed to meet Weinstein in a Paris hotel. “He talked to me about a film he wanted to make about World War II and then he began to tell me that he found me very attractive and wanted to have an affair with me,” Darel added. “I told him I was very much in love with my partner, but he said that that didn’t worry him and he wanted me to be his mistress for a few days a year. “That way we could work together. Basically, he said that if I wanted to make it in America, it would be through him,” the actress said. “I told him I had to go and left,” she added. ‘Blind eye to abuse’ Fellow French actress Lea Seydoux had earlier written her own account of her run-ins with Weinstein and others in an industry that she said turned a blind eye to abuse. “That’s the most disgusting thing. Everyone knew what Harvey was up to and no one did anything,” Seydoux wrote in the Guardian. She said she quickly figured out Weinstein’s motives when they met. “He had a lecherous look. He was using his power to get sex,” she wrote. “He’s big and fat, so I had to be forceful to resist him. I left his room, thoroughly disgusted.” Another French actress, Judith Godreche, had earlier said she had also suffered at his hands. Weinstein, 65, was sacked by his own company as the allegations of sexual misconduct turned into an avalanche from some of the biggest female stars in Hollywood including Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie and Rosanna Arquette. Three women, including an Italian film star, claimed Tuesday that Weinstein raped them. His wife, fashion designer Georgina Chapman, told celebrity magazine People that she was leaving him. Weinstein has denied all charges, according to a statement from his spokeswoman Sallie Hofmeister. On Wednesday she offered “no comment” when asked about reports Weinstein was heading to Europe to enter a rehabilitation facility. 196 Views
It is pleasant to see Sadiq Dada in a film long after he appeared in “Nightmare,” a 1995 Zik Zulu Okafor production that also starred Pete Edochie, Onyeka Onwenu, Sandra Achums and Charles Okafor.