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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

ARTISTE UNCENSORED

Audiences are tired of regular faces in films - Donatus Although a lot of movie stars came to limelight through his production outfit, director and producer, Donatus Chikezie Nkemdirim, is still passionate about grooming new movie stars.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE

NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

e is fondly called Don Nkems, because of his production outfit, Don Nkems Studios, which has played very crucial role in the area of music and movie production, distribution and talent grooming. While he has been at the background in Nollywood, he is actually quite critical to what fans of the industry see on screen. His works, perhaps, speak for him: Under,, No Guarantees,, Hidden Sep crets, Tears from Holland, Before the Sunrise, Heartbeats and Unbelievable. Donatus is putting finishing touches to another part of his blockbuster epic, Nne, the Jewel of Ukelu Kingdom, a story of greedy exploits in cultural practices in an African village. His advent into movies, incidentally, started from Aba in Abia State, where he first started as a distributor. “I started as a distributor in 1992 at Aba. Then, there was literally no industry and everything was loosely organised. From there, I decided to venture into production and directing after attending the National Film Institute, NFI, Jos, where I went in search of further studies in film making”. For this Mbaise, Imo born-filmmaker, the need to get further training was stimulated by his passion for growth in the career. “The moment I realised that m o v i e s would be it for me, I knew there was no way Donatus

THAT THE BEAUTY OF

NOLLYWOOD IS THE IDEA OF AFRICANS MAKING THEIR OWN FILMS FOR THEIR PEOPLE to go other than getting further training. That was what lead me to NFI and the experience and knowledge have been very instrumental to what I have been able to achieve in the industry. I have not stopped learning about film making. I am still in search of knowledge because in a dynamic industry like moviemaking, you must upgrade at every point in time”. At the last count, Donatus has become b be come a part of many professional film bodies locally and including: internationally Member, National Film Fund Committee under the chairmanship of Prof. Pat Utomi; Jury Secretary, 1st International Students Film Festival, Jos; Jury Chairman, Lagos International Film Festival 2008; Advisory Board member, BOBTV (2005-2006); General Secretary, Association of Film, Video Producers and Marketers of Nigeria (AFUPMAN) 2003-2007; Memb e r, School of Pro-

ductivity, Lagos; General Secretary, Association of Nollywood Core Producers (ANCOP) (2010 Till Date); Member of British Project Professional Society, United Kingdom; Member Federation of International Association of Film Producers, FIAFP. While the movie industry is seen to be making progress with a galaxy of stars that it has produced, Donatus thinks the movie industry still needs more new stars. According to him, it is dangerous to think it is making progress with a few recognisable faces. This is why he is not relenting in his bid to make more stars in the industry. in “After I realised that the industry had a problem, especially in terms term of stars, my production outfit started what is called Movie Quest which is in the ca second season now and currently, people are applying to be part of it. The selected participants will be camped at a hostel where they would undergo all hos sorts of mentorship mentorsh from known directors, writers and producers. The Th whole episodes will run like a reality TV show, which would be edited and aired w eventually. But the highpoint will be the mouth-watering prizes that w would be given to winners. Someone will get our ultimate prize which is a multiple u film contract and a car. There are other consolation prizes like trips to Ghana and Congo for production, because those are places where our company has production agreements. There are also technological agreem gizmos that are up for grabs”. Why does he think Nollywood is better off with th many movie stars? “I can bet that the audience must be getting tired of the regular faces that grace our home videos. It is not as if I have anything particularly against the known faces, but they are not t enough to give the Nollywood audience the variety they deserve. Urgent Urge steps need to be taken to identify new talents who wh would be taking over from these present day stars. Any industry that has no plans for A its future is taking a big risk. That is the idea behind Movie Quest”. Donatus Chikezie Chikezi is, however, very positive about the industry. “In a few years, we have come out this strong. That is a sign of positive things to come. If s things are better handled and all the things are put h in proper shape, Nollywood will be better and stronN ger”.

MIDWEEK JUMP

Queen Amina of Zazzau opens in Abuja

he Jos Repertory Theatre will return to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, tomorrow with the production of Wale Ogunyemi’s Queen Amina of Zazzau. The play is based on the life and times of the legendary Queen Amina of Zazzau in what is presently known as Zaria. The production of the play, which had its world premiere in 2000, will take place in Abuja at the Merit House, Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama till Saturday, December 1 at 7.00 p.m. daily. Amina’s reign in the 16th

century witnessed tremendous growth in territory, commerce and relationships with cities which Queen Amina conquered or which she forged friendships with. Her territory extended all the way from ancient Zazzau to the Sudan with the first markings of what later became the trans-Saharan highway. She exerted tributes of kolanut, gold and slaves from territories that she conquered and from territories that wanted friendship with Zazzau. Her reign witnessed a lot of infrastructure development and pioneered the use of iron coat armour by her soldiers in their military campaigns and conquests. The famous Zaria Wall is attributed to her reign and ingenuity.

Ms. Chief set to debut with a bang

s. Chief got unto the music scene in 2011 and has since become an act to watch. With the release of her latest single, titled ‘Slow’ already enjoying massive radio airplay in Nigeria, Ms. Chief said she is more than ready to take over the Nigerian music scene with her unique style of rap. Signed to BeatBuxx360 management, with the release of the labels mixtape, ‘Recognise’, Ms. Chief shows that she can survive in a male dominated industry. The accounting graduate of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, said her upcoming al-

Online story contest calls for entries

aijaStories.com has announced another online writing contest titled: “Give Us Your Best Short” to be judged by Chika Unigwe with a $350 prize money. The online contest opened on November 21 and submissions will close on December 20. bum has a lot to offer lovers of Organisers said those intending to good music with songs that re- enter the competition can write in any veal the intelligence of a natural genre, but must bear in mind the five songwriter. elements of a short story; plot, point Born Opeyemi Hassan, of view, character, setting and theme. 22-year-old Ms. Chief started her “We’re looking for really good shorts career at the age of 16, but only and winners may be selected for the released her first single, ‘Want- next Naija Stories Anthology. So, give ing’ ft Ex-O, in October 2011. us your best short”, said a statement She has worked with a couple of from the organisers. well known artistes like Wizkid, Unigwe is a Nigerian author based Skales, Ace ThaEmcee, Teeto, in Belguim. Her novel, On Black SisCeemos, Jberg, Yemi Alade, ters’ Street, won the 2012 NLNG LiteraZara, Xii gage and Kel. ture Prize for Fiction.