Nolly Silver Screen ISSUE 04 MAY 2014 10 Nollywood Cross Over Stars Maami out now on DVD Write October 1 & Win Behind Cinema tickets Nollywood DVDs the scenes Gift hamper pictures 2014 Africa Movie PORNOGRAPHY IN Academy Awards NOLLYWOOD: Nominations A rising trend MICHELLE BELLO Blazing Nollywood’s trail 1 EDITOR’S NOTE www.nollysilverscreen.com REVIEWS COMPETITIONS NEWS INTERVIEWS GHOLLYWOOD AWARDS ARTICLES RED CARPET PHOTO: ODUTAYO ODUSANYA ODUTAYO PHOTO: CINEMA LISTINGS Read about her 2014 AMVCA win and What a journey it was to the 2014 her next plan for Flower Girl (p.7). Africa Movie Academy Awards nomi- nations in Johannesburg, South Africa. We also have interviews with Ghol- SHORT FILMS It was a great experience for me to lywood star Eddie Watson (p. 9), rub minds with people who are equal- the creative force behind Render to ly as passionate about African cinema. Caesar , Desmond Ovbiagele (p. 12) Get the full list of nominees (p. 10), and the producer of Murder at Prime WEB SERIES red carpet pictures (p. 13) and my Suites, Jumafor Ajogwu (p. 14). FESTIVALS personal essay (p. 5). We really cannot wait to see who will clinch the coveted Read the reviews (p. 11), attempt the prize statuette this year. Nolly Pop Quiz (p. 9) and write to us DOCUMENTARIES (p. 2). Enjoy! Our cover girl, Michelle Bello epito- AUDITIONS mises the drive of New Nollywood; Isabella Akinseye hardworking, grounded and visionary. @iakinseye THEATRE SOME OF THIS EDITION’S CONTRIBUTORS Agina Eberechukwu Wilfred Okiche Gbolahan Adams Oluwaponmile Innocent Ekejiuba Gloria is a graduate believes in God, medi- runs his own media com- Orija is studying Food is an alumnus of Obafemi of Mass Communica- cine, music and movies. pany where he has han- Science and Technology Awolowo University. He tion from Ahmadu Bello A medical doctor, occa- dled numerous projects at the Federal University is the Deputy Editor University, Zaria. She is sional writer, columnist for different clients over of Agriculture, Abeoku- of Nolly Silver Screen a freelancer and con- and profiler. He profiles the years. He sees himself ta. She loves writing and (the website and the tributes entertainment 10 Nollywood actors venturing into animation, has published several magazine). An avid blog- stories for The Nigerian who have crossed over developing his comic works in the newspapers. ger and budding graph- Telegraph. Check out from English speaking brands and staging an She interviews people on ics designer, he reviews her piece ‘Pornography movies to acting in other exhibition. View his car- their favourite Nollywood Phindile’s Heart and in Nollywood: a rising languages and back (p. toon strip ‘Rollicking Nol- movie title for the Vox Yellow Fever (p. 11). trend’ (p. 9). 3). lies’ which focuses on the Pop section (p. 4). Check out his Nolly Pop Africa Movie Academy Quiz (p. 9) and ‘Top 5 The first Nollywood The first Nollywood Awards (p. 4). The first Nollywood Nollywood cinemas’ (p. movie she bought was movie he bought was movie she bought was 12). August Meeting. Letters to a Stranger. The first Nollywood Mother Dearest. movie he bought was The first Nollywood Follow @aginaebere Follow @drwill20 Ije. movie he bought was Follow @ o_ponmile Games Men Play. Follow @gadamsyn Follow @Prince_ice Write 2 CONTENTS May 2014 ‘n’ FEATURES 3 10 NOLLYWOOD CROSS OVER STARS win 5 MY JOURNEY TO THE 2014 AFRICA MOVIE ACADEMY AWARDS NOMINATIONS 9 PORNOGRAPHY IN NOLLYWOOD: A RISING Write to us about what you have and stand a TREND enjoyed in this edition 12 TOP 5 NOLLYWOOD CINEMAS chance of winning fabulous prizes. This month, we will be giving out 2 DVD. Also copies of After the Proposal up for grabs are cinema tickets to see a Nollywood movie in Nigeria and a gift hamper. Email: [email protected] Get in touch via social media www.facebook.com/nollysilverscreen www.google.com/+nollysilverscreen www.twitter.com/nsilverscreen 13 www.instagram.com/nollysilverscreen INTERVIEWS 7 MICHELLE BELLO: BLAZING NOLLYWOOD’S TRAIL 9 Q & A WITH EDDIE WATSON READERS’ CORNER 12 UP, CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH DESMOND OVBIAGELE The mag rocks! 14 TALENT ON THE RISE: JUMAFOR AJOGWU Nneji Eke COMPETITION 2 FREE GIVEAWAYS I saw the magazine...serious passion REGULARS project there o! I really admire your 1 EDITOR’S NOTE resilience. 1 CONTRIBUTORS’ BIOS Thanks for all the stories too. 2 READERS’ CORNER Ibraheem Aladejobi 4 CELEBRATIONS THIS MONTH 6 ON SET 10 NEWS 11 REVIEWS One thing I enjoy about 13 RED CARPET Nolly Silver 14 DVD RELEASES Screen is the simplicity and honesty in their opinion. That’s what journalism should be. Jumafor Ajogwu 6 You can now read your EXTRAS 4 VOX POP 4 WORDS OF WISDOM FROM THE STARS favourite magazine Nolly 9 NOLLY POP QUIZ NOLLY SILVER SCREEN TEAM Silver Screen on PUBLISHER CONTRIBUTORS Quill and Scroll Creatives Olumuyiwa Awojide issuu.com/nollysilverscreen Gbolahan Adams EDITOR Agina Eberechukwu Isabella Akinseye Wilfred Okiche Oluwaponmile Orija DEPUTY EDITOR Innocent Ekejiuba EDITORIAL BOARD Temitayo Amogunla GRAPHICS & LAYOUT Bola Atta Isabella Akinseye Bola Audu Toni Kan CONTACT US Email letters to [email protected] Nolly Silver Screen is a monthly online magazine of www.nollysilverscreen.com Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. 3 10 Nollywood Cross Over Stars When you think Nollywood, the first thing that comes to mind is the English-speakingBY Nigerian WILFRED stars and the OKICHE films that they appear in. However, a lot of them have proved themselves versatile and proficient in languages and interpreting roles that demand for more ethnic input. These 10 stars have made the leap from English films to those in the indigenous languages and back again. PHOTO CREDITS: LEFT (FROM TOP TO BOTTOM) RIGHT (FROM TOP TO BOTTOM) Nigeriafilms.com;Premium 36ng.com; Times Nairaland.com;; CNN.com; Nigeriafilms.com; Nigeriafilms.com; Nigeriafilms.com; Theeagleonline.com BellaNaija.com Mike Ezuruonye The Nollywood lover boy most fa- Funke Akindele The queen of crossover, Funke Akindele mous for his roles in English speaking started her career in television as lead films was looking for a change of pace in the United Nations Population Fund role when actress cum producer Dayo sponsored programme Amusa offered him the lead in her film After finding it difficult I Needgetting To workKnow in Unforgivable released in 2013. His per- . the English films, she crossed over to formance had only a few lines of Yoruba the Yoruba sector and soon became but it was considered good enough to a top actress/producer. Her 2009 film win him the Best Yoruba Actor trophy at Jenifa the 2013 Best of Nollywood Awards. became wildly successful and its follow up Return of Jenifa more commercially successful.was even Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde Kenneth Okonkwo Omosexy may reign supreme as one of Kenneth Okonkwo became the first Africa’s finest now but it is important to modern Nollywood leading man af note that she has been able to success- ter his pioneering performance in the- fully combine working in both English Kenneth Nnebue groundbreaker and Yoruba films. Her versatility has even Living in Bondage. Speaking mostly in Igbo, had her mumble a few Igbo words in Okonkwo followed that appearance in some of her English films set in the East. films like Betrayal but soon made the She has appeared alongside Tony Umez transition to English speaking movies. Koso- and Shola Shobowale in films like Of recent, he has appeared alongside rogun and Oyato. Mercy Johnson in the award winning comedyDumebi the Dirty Girl. Yomi Fash-Lanso WORDS OF WISDOM FROM Uche Jombo-Rodriguez Most of the country was introduced to THE STARS The recently pregnant Mrs. Rodriguez Yomi Fash Lanso after his break out role achieved fame and success as a as a gold digging hustler who makes scriptwriter and actress in films like good in Wale Adenuga’s iconic televi- Adure. She later moved to producing sion series Super Story movies and set up her own production success, he has appeared. Following in countless this studios - Uche Jombo Studios. In 2011, Yoruba films including Jenifa she appeared in the Yoruba title Omolade and does the occasional and work Dewunmi Iberu produced by Dayo in English speaking films. Amusa. Ime Bishop Umoh Umoh is a comic actor who has found Kate Henshaw success in movies produced by Emem Ms. Henshaw is one of Nollywood’s Isong and her Royal Arts Academy. He enduring leading ladies and has been has appeared in indigenous films like in the game for 20 years now. A Best Uyai, Udeme Mi and Edikan where he Actress Africa Movie Academy Award has spoken in his native Ibibio tongue. winner (AMAA) in 2008 for the film Stronger Than Pain, He has also starred in English films like Henshaw made the In the Cupboard and Weekend leap to the Yoruba film divide in 2011 Getaway. as lead actress in Saheed Balogun’s Keta and impressed many with her Eti delivery of her few Yoruba lines. Nkem Owoh Liz Benson Owoh is an Africa Movie Academy Time was when Liz Benson was queen of Award winner for Best Actor but is best Nollywood and what a reign she en- known for his comic character Osuofia joyed. No one could match her in terms which he has parlayed into multiple of star power and this translated easily successful films. He stays true to his into film roles in all genres. She had the roots, appearing in Igbo films like Ofor country under her spell and we were na Ogu and Ode-Eshi and switching pleasantly surprised (and rewarded) when them up with crossover appearances she made her Yoruba speaking debut in and Tunde Bamishigbin’s in films likeWisdom of Thomas Eeku Ida Stronger Than Pain.