All the glitz, glamour and red carpet pics from last night's Met Gala

All the glitz, glamour and red carpet pics from last night's Met Gala

The Met Gala is the Oscars of the fashion industry and celebs take their dressing to the event hosted by American Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour more seriously than even the Oscars or Grammys. This years event took place at the Museum Of Art in Manhattan, New York yesterday May 5th. The theme was White Tie And Decorations, an ode to Anglo-American designer Charles James & tickets to the event went for $25,000. It's an annual fundraising gala for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute

Continue to see more photos and please pick the best and worst dressed. My best is Rihanna and my worse is Gabrielle Union...check on it after the cut...

 

Rihanna

 

Cara Delevingne and Rihanna

  

Bey and Jay Z

 

Hugh Jackman and wife, David and Victoria Beckham

 

Sarah Jessica Parker

Guiliana Rancic and Rachel McAdams

  

Anna Kendrick and Chrissy Teigen

 

and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

 

Zoe Saldana and Lee Michelle

 

Kete Upton and Janelle Monae

 John Legend and wife Chrissy,  Neil Patrick Harris and partner David Burtka

 

Rihanna and Selena Gomez

 

Solange and Leighton Meester

 

Donatella Versace

 

Lily Aldridge and Gabrielle Union

 

Giselle Bunchen and Monica Belluci

 

Lala Anthony, Johnny Depp and fiancee, Amber Heard

 

Ivanka Trump and Taylor Swift

 

Amy Adams and Karlie Kloss

 

Hayden Panettiere and Idina Mendez

 

Michael Sheen with Sarah Silverman, Taylor Swift

 

Kim and Kanye

 

Sean Penn with Charlize Theron...Rihanna with Cara

 

Kirsten Dunst

 

Andrew Garfield with Emma Stone, Kristen Stewart

Naomi Watt

Rita ora

 

Nicole Richie and Jessica Alba

 

Diane Kruger and Joshua Jackson

 

Victoria Beckham and Katie Holmes

 

Bradley Cooper and Chiwetel Ejiofor with girlfriend

 

Donatella Versace

 

Frank Ocean and John Legend

 

Gabrielle and Maggie Gyllenhaal

 

Giselle and Tom Brady...Naomi Campbell

Human parts dealer issues price list, says skull sells for N20,000

Human parts dealer issues price list, says skull sells for N20,000

A 54year old grandmother Sukuratu Salami was yesterday May 5th paraded by the Lagos state police command alongside her accomplices, for her involvement in ritual killings and human parts sales. 

 

In her confessional statement, Madam Sukuratu said she  sold human heads for N20,000 to willing buyers and that greed made her go into the business.

"A herbalist approached me last year and demanded for human parts. When he told me how much they buy the parts, I was tempted. I approached one Tantoloun, who works in a grave yard. He sold a skull for N10,000 and I sold it in return for N20,000. Greed made me to continue until I was arrested. I buy pieces of bones for N2,000, liver and intestines for N1,000 each and resell for N5,000 or more depending on the buyer’s bargaining power. I am not a killer. I have never killed anyone. I only request for decomposed human parts. I needed the money to feed my 3 children aged 30, 27 and 23. Those who patronize me are herbalists and trado-medical practitioners. The parts are used to prepare concoction for sick children. So far, I have only sold 10 human skulls.” she said.

 

Paraded with her was a cemetery worker, Rasheed Tantoloun  and two others who were arrested by men of the Lagos state Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, in Joju area of Sango Ota, in possession of  human head, intestines, bones, kidney and other human parts.

 

Rasheed in his statement said whenever his boss told him to dig up old gaves to make way for new burials, he would exhume this bodies and then sell them with the help of one Ibrahim whom he hired

 

"Anytime old corpses are exhumed, we usually collect the parts and sell to ready buyers who are usually agbo sellers (herbs dealers). My salary is N5,000 a month but since I started doing the business, I made three times more than the amount. We also dug corpses buried without caskets" he said

 

His accomplice, Ibrahim Waheed who says he is an Arabic teacher said he was paid N3,000 for exhuming dead bodies. In his statement, he said “we usually tamper with dead bodies buried without caskets and those whose relatives never showed up after burial. My job is to exhume and dismember the bodies and at the end of which I would be paid N3,000".

 

According to the state Police Commissioner, Umar Tanko, luck however ran out on them when men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS got wind of their illicit business and decided to pose as prospective buyers

 

"Detectives led by the SARS commander, Abba Kyari, posed as buyers and bought a human head from Salami at N120,000. After arresting the suspects, Salami’s house was searched during which a human head, liver, intestines and other parts were found. We picked interest in this case because of the disappearances of people. With their arrest, we hope that we’ll get to the root of these disappearances. We discovered that most of these bodies are fresh. It is criminal to deal in human parts. A few weeks back, Soka Forest was discovered in Ibadan. As you can see, this crime happens all over" he said.

Gunmen attack Abuja school, hijack school bus

Gunmen attack Abuja school, hijack school bus

Unknown gunmen around 8 this morning attacked a primary school, Vine International Academy school, in Nyanya, the scene of recent bomb attacks and made away with the school bus.

According to eye witnesses, the men trailed the bus to the school and immediately the driver dropped the pupils inside the school, the men struck, stealing the vehicle. Thankfully no teacher or student was hurt in the incident.

A staff of the school later said the operation looked more like armed robbery than an attack from terrorists. Immediately the incident spread, many parents trooped to the school out of panic and took their children home.

Photo: Choc City first lady Victoria Kimani topless on the beach

Photo: Choc City first lady Victoria Kimani topless on the beach

Kenyan singer and Chocolate City first lady pictured posing topless on a beach in Tanzania during a recent photo-shoot. Wetin Rihanna go cause for this world, eh! Lol. Nice!

Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries

 

This groundbreaking exhibition showcases ongoing, cutting-edge research by American Museum of Natural History paleontologists and other leading scientists from around the world. Dinosaurs explores how paleontologists today are using an incredible array of new technologies—from bioengineering computer software to CT scans—along with new discoveries and ideas to investigate and reinterpret many of the most puzzling and persistent mysteries of dinosaurs. The exhibition features gigantic life-size cast skeletons of T. rex and Stegosaurus; a stunning 60-foot-long model of an Apatosaurus skeleton along with media analysis of its movements; and an engaging suite of hands-on activities, interactives, and videos exploring how dinosaurs moved and what may have led to their extinction.
Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York, in collaboration with the Houston Museum of Natural Science; the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco; The Field Museum, Chicago; and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh.

Tunde Kelani: Filmmaker Extraordinaire, Telling African Stories To The World

Home / Entertainment /  Nollywood / Tunde Kelani: Filmmaker Extraordinaire, Telling African Stories To The World

Tunde Kelani: Filmmaker Extraordinaire, Telling African Stories To The World

Jumoke Rufus

— January 17, 2014

Internationally acclaimed film-maker, avid reader and seasoned cinematographer, Tunde Kelani, is a pace-setter and legend of some sort. With over 16 movies under his belt, he started as a photographer but cut his teeth as a cameraman and, since then, has never looked back. Having a knack for promoting his cultural beliefs, Kelani started his own production company Mainframe in 1992. Since then, he has become a beacon for movie makers in the continent and beyond.
BY JUMOKE RUFUS

How did you begin your career as a film-maker?
It all started out of a love for reading, then my interest in photography grew. This led me to become an apprentice photographer. From photography, I developed huge interest in theatre, production and film-making. That is how it all started.
Your movies are known, not only for their quality, but for storylines that are relevant to our society, often incorporating core beliefs of the Yoruba people – Magun is a good example. Is this a direct reflection of your style as a film-maker?
Yes it is. I use the Yoruba language and culture for a global view, so I can authoritatively say that I have identified the importance of literature in cinema.
Tell us about your new movie, Dazzling Mirage? 
It is a love story themed on sickle cell. The principal character lives with the sickle cell disorder, but despite the usual pessimism about her condition, she overcomes social stigma, prejudice and low self-esteem to achieve the three things she considered to be of uttermost importance; a good education, career success and family. How did she achieve these? That’s the main purpose of the film. It is set for release in April 2014.
You are credited with discovering talents such as Kunle Afolayan and Kafilat Adedipe, amongst others…
(cuts in) One of the exciting factors of film-making is the collaboration part. These collaborations may, sometimes, be literary, personal or even technical.  Usually, people involved are smart enough.  First of all, these actors have talent and we have developed the talent through collaboration. Usually, I don’t take credit for discovering them; they are already talented. Besides, you have to determine the quality and standard of your routine, as these people have set a standard and level for themselves. They choose what they want to do, not anything thrown at them.
Your use of mainstream Yoruba thespians in English-speaking roles is legendary. How do you achieve this?
It is important to note that these actors and actresses are versatile people. When the idea for the movie comes up, we think about the character in the story. Our main interest is the story and that determines who will play the role. It is not necessarily because of their ‘popularity’; rather, it is all about their versatility and the broad experience they can tap into to interpret the roles given to them better.
How do you come up with your various stories, what inspires you and how do you handle book adaptations?
I read! I read a lot. I’ve been reading since my primary school days and I still do. In fact, I just finished reading Americana by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and before that it was a book written by Tony Allen. It is all about reading. Some of my movies are book adaptations. I have done adaptations as much as any other African film-maker if not more. It is very interesting when you take the original works of others and interpret it, like Maami (a book of the same title written by Femi Osofisan). The end of the book cannot be the same with that of the film, but we have to write some things into the story and develop it just for the film. It is interesting when you work with a writer and he sees his work in another medium, with a different interpretation.
Funke Akindele’s role in Maami is different from other roles she has played in the past. What made you cast her for that role?
I’ve been following Akindele’s progress as an actress and I knew it was time for us to work together. Also, I knew she was the best person at that time to play the role. Using Nigeria as an example, some of us have passed through the ‘Maami Experience,’ though some might not have been as drastic as others.
Each new movie you produce is seemingly better than the last. What drives you to do more?
It is a natural process and everything I have made, so far, has been good. But I am getting to a stage where I can do greater works. I have had a long period of gestation and I have everything, except funding. Thank God we know have technology on our side. On the home-front, we can never run out of resources, as we have a rich, great cultural heritage.
Pirates have long been considered a scourge in the Nigerian film industry. What do you think can be done to curtail this practice?
We have to look for solutions for the challenges facing the industry, especially issues relating to infrastructure – there are no cinemas, electricity and broadband Internet. There is also a problem with physical distribution, because the pirates have destroyed everything and there is no solution to the threat of piracy. So we have to continue to look at other platforms, since there is no proper distribution channel .We have to look for technological solutions and we are working on them.
As a film-maker who features ‘A- list’ actors and actresses in your movies, you are bound to have ego clashes on set. How do you manage your actors?
We usually don’t have ‘A-list’ actors. We just assemble people who we feel are committed to what they are doing. There is no time for distractions, because they are professionals.
How do you feel having Kunle Afolayan as your protégé?
I’m really proud of him; we are seen now as colleagues rather than father and son. We are always excited whenever we are in each other’s company. I wish we could have many more like him. Eventually, I will have a film school but I need to concentrate on doing some more work.
You are considered a pioneer in your chosen filed (film-making), especially Nigerian films. Do you think you deserve the accolade?
No, I have mentors who are still alive; I cannot be a pioneer when my creative uncles like Frances Oladele and Ola Balogun are still alive. I’m just happy to have contributed something.
What are the challenges you’ve experienced as a Nigerian film-maker and how have you done to overcome them?
As an independent film-maker, you are working with serious handicaps; you cannot make things happen where there is no electricity. You also need people to watch your movies, but how will they watch when there are limited cinemas in the country to show the movie? Also, business opportunities and funding are not enough in the movie industry, as the proper infrastructure is non-existent and this makes it difficult for one to make profits.
Which works inspire you, locally and internationally?
All kinds of cinema productions inspire me, because I’ve studied all kinds of cinema. I’m inspired by American, Japanese and Indian cinemas, to name a few.
What else are you working on and what should your fans expect from you in future?
I am currently studying D.O Fagunwa’s books, with a view to adapt some into movies. I’m also considering some Yoruba classics. I hope I get to do a movie on Sango – it all depends on funding.  Sango is a mixture of myth and mystery. I could do something different from what is already on ground. For example, I could focus on his personality. Was he weak or was he strong? Was Oya his wife stronger? I could also focus on the intricacies of their relationship. There are so many ways in which the story can be captured.
What is your all-time favourite movie?
There are many of them. Space Odyssey (2001) and Lawrence of Arabia are some of them.
What do you enjoy, besides making movies?
I’ll say making more movies (as movie-making is my one-true joy).
What is your secret career wish if you could be anything but the ‘legendary’ Tunde Kelani?
I would definitely be in information technology.
If you had your pick of international actors to cast in one of your movies, who would be at the top of that list?
None, because I’ll be telling stories from my cultural experience and I don’t think they’ll be able to relate with that.
What do you like most and least about yourself?
I made a right choice of career, though I wish I could do more than I am presently doing.
Who is Tunde Kelani?
Tunde Kelani is Tunde Kelani… I’m just a human being, passionate and determined.

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Home / Entertainment /  Nollywood / Nollywood’s Most Expensive Stars

Nollywood’s Most Expensive Stars

ABAH ADAH, CHINELO CHIKELU, PAUL CHIAMA

— April 11, 2014

One of the most significant phenomena that portrays the rich cultural heritage of the people of Nigeria and indeed Africa in an entertaining style, is Nigeria’s movie industry popularly called Nollywood. From humble beginnings, Nigeria’s truly home grown and funded film industry is now ranked as the third largest producer of films, behind Hollywood and Bollywood. In just over two decades, Nollywood has grown into a $250million (about N41bn)-a year industry, employing thousands of Nigerians.
Nollywood productions, which also include Kannywood films, are hugely popular all over Africa and sought for in Europe and the USA, with growing impact on the global stage. Nigerian stars are household names across Africa and beyond. LEADERSHIP Friday here takes a brief look at Nollywood’s most expensive stars.
Pete Edochie
Pete Edochie is one of Nigeria’s outstanding actors who have worked hard to get Nollywood to its present status. Edochie was born in 1947 in Enugu, in eastern Nigeria. A seasoned administrator and broadcaster, he came into prominence in the 1980s when he played the lead role of Okonkwo in an NTA adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s all-time bestselling novel, Things Fall Apart. For close to two decades now Edochie has starred in many home movies. The veteran actor was considered one of Africa’s most talented actors by both Movie Awards and Movie Magic’s Africa Magic Cable Network.
Edochie got into radio broadcasting in 1967 as a junior programmes assistant and rose through the ranks to the level of a director before his resignation.
Olu Jacobs
Oludotun Baiyewa Jacobs, whom every household in Nigeria knows as Olu Jacobs, is another Nigerian veteran actor, who has starred in over 120 Nollywood films. In 2007, he won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
Born in 1947 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Olu Jacobs trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. He then featured in various British television shows and series in the 1970s such as The Goodies, Barlow at Large, The Tomorrow People, The Professionals, etc, as well as in several international films like John Irvin’s war film, The Dogs of War and others. Jacobs is married to Nollywood actress, Joke Silver.
Nkem Owoh
Nkem Owoh whose popular stage name, Osuofia, has eclipsed his real name, is a foremost Nigerian comedian and actor. In 2008, he won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Owoh’s acting career began during his days as a student of engineering at the University of Ilorin, when he featured in various television and film productions.
He became widely known as Osuofia when he starred in a Nollywood movie titled Osuofia in London. The versatile and untiring screen icon is also known for I Go Chop your Dollar, a song about advance fee fraud popularly referred to as “419”. The song was used in the film The Master, in which Owoh plays the scammer. But the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) later banned the song from further circulation.
Chinedu Ikedieze
Chinedu Ikedieze, popularly known by the nickname “Aki”, is a frontline Nollywood film star best known for playing alongside Osita Iheme (popularly known as “Pawpaw”) in most movies, after their breakthrough in the movie titled Aki na Ukwa. Chinedu who is of small stature, as is his on-screen twin, Osita, has stood tall in the Nigerian movie industry for close to two decades now. In fact, the duo, through their comic roles in most Nigerian films, has attracted many within and outside the country to Nollywood films, thus proving that they are, though small in physique, giants in their chosen career.
Osita Iheme
Osita Iheme, widely known as “Pawpaw”, the character he played in the film Aki na Ukwa alongside Chinedu Ikedieze, is one of Nigeria’s most popular actors. Both he and his stage partner Chinedu received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
Iheme was born in Mbaitoli, Imo State, Nigeria into a family of five children. He studied Mass Communication at the Enugu State University. With his unique comic style, Osita has featured in many Nigerian home videos, thrilling his teeming fans in Nigeria and beyond.
Mercy Johnson Okojie
Popular screen goddess Mercy Johnson Okojie, is widely rated as the most expensive actress in Nollywood. This widely admired movie celebrity is noted for her versatility and ability to fit into and execute different roles, ranging from high class, down to a “pure water” seller, as she did in Dumebi, the Dirty Girl, or a village girl who fights at the slightest provocation, as she acted in Royal Fighter.
Mercy charges a whopping N2.1million just to play a role or feature in a movie. Her charges recently rattled the Nollywood Movie Marketers Association and producers to the extent that she was banned for being too expensive in the industry. The ban, which was placed towards the end of last year, was however lifted, making her once more highly sought after.
Genevieve Nnaji
Genevieve Nnaji has expanded her relevance from acting to also modelling and music. In the Nollywood family, she is one of the highest paid stars. To feature in a movie, the Mbaise, Imo State-born movie star charges N2m. In 2005, she was the winner of the Africa Movie Academy Award for the Best Actress in a Leading Role.
Her early start in acting is certainly paying off well for her. She began acting at the age of eight in a popular television soap opera run then as Ripples. Then at the age of 19, she embraced the Nigerian movie industry with her role in Most Wanted, a movie that stirred the market in 1998.
Genevieve later featured in several other movies. As at today, she has featured in over 80 Nollywood movies. The year 2004 was remarkable in her life. It was when she signed a contract with EKB Records, a label based in Ghana, for her debut album titled One Logologo Line. The album had R&B, Urban Contemporary and Hip-hop twined into a melodious musical mix.
Ini Edo
The amiable Iniobong Edo Ekim, better known as Ini Edo, is among the highest paid stars in Nollywood. She got into acting in 2000. She featured in a popular movie titled Thick Madam in 2003, when she started acting fully. The Akwa-Ibom State-born movie star is always a delight to watch on screen. Her talent in acting began to show at a tender age, in church and at school.
To take a role in a movie, Ini collects a charge of N1.8m; in 2007 she featured in up to 30 films! Having starred in over 100 movies, it is not out of place to say that this admirable actress has raked in a good chunk of money through acting.
Patience Ozokwor
Madam Patience Ozokwor, popularly known by her fans as Mama G, is always sought after by producers in the movie industry. She has perfected the art of playing the role of a villain, so much so that some people assume that that’s how she must be in real life.
For such roles, Patience charges N1.6m or slightly more. This movie star, who is from Enugu State, is also a singer and businesswoman, with investments in landed property. Despite her wealth, she prefers to live in the village, coming to the city when she has a movie production to attend on location.
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde
The charming and graceful Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, popularly known as “Omo Sexy”, is at ease with her fortunes as an actress. The Lagos-born star from Ondo State made her debut in Nollywood in 1995. Since then, she has acted in about 300 movies and has endeared herself to producers and marketers.
“Omo sexy”, who is also a singer and philanthropist, is a multiple award winner. To pick a role in a movie, Omotola charges N1.5m, but most producers don’t mind, considering her quality delivery. She was recently reported to have celebrated her birthday with an elaborate party that gulped N300m. Omotola was honoured in Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, along with the likes of Michelle Obama, Beyonce and Kate Middleton.
Nonso Diobu
The last in a family of five children, Diobu showed early signs of acting at a local church in Anambra State. He became a professional actor in 2001, with his parents blessing, featuring in the movie entitled Borderline, directed by Adim William. The movie didn’t gain the actor much popularity. However, he hit it big time in 2008 and 2009 when he received awards for the Best Supporting Actor for the years 2008 and 2009.
On February 12, 2009 he, alongside other Nigerian artistes, signed a two-year Glo Ambassador contract worth N50m. In 2012, he was rumoured to have bought his mum a furnished mansion at Trans-Ekulu, Enugu State. As a businessman, Diobu noted on his Twitter page of September 9, 2012 that his businesses and profession keep him well occupied.
He ranks number 9 among the 10 richest Nollywood actors and is considered one of the sexiest in the industry. He has starred in over seventy movies.
Mike Ezuruonye
On January 19, 2014, Mike Ezeruonye tweeted, “I’m coming alive with AIRTEL,” confirming his status as the new brand ambassador for AIRTEL, just months after his two-year N50m Glo Ambassador contract ended. The AIRTEL contract is worth millions. He had also held a million naira contract as the Face of Amstel Malta for a year, from December 2009.
The fair-skinned Nnamdi Azikiwe University graduate honed his acting skills as a young boy, working behind the camera and writing scripts. He played the arrogant, illiterate but hilarious footballer character “Wonder Boy” in the movie The Celebrity and has featured in over 80 movies.
The movie industry recognised his acting skills when he was nominated for Best Nollywood Actor in a Supporting Role and Best Nollywood Actor in a Leading Role at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2008 and 2009. He won Best Leading Role in a Yoruba Movie in 2013.
John Okafor
John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu, is indeed one of the most admired stars in the industry. He shaved heads and repaired home appliances to earn an OND in Mass Communication at the Institute of Management Science and Technology (IMT) Enugu. It was during his school days that he landed his first acting role as a “wakapass” in the old Bendel State. He later featured in a few TV dramas, before moving to the movie industry. He came into limelight with the movie Agony, in which veteran actor Pete Edochie co-starred in 1997. He played the role of an imbecile. Then, he starred in the famous titular movie Mr Ibu, and the name stuck!
Ali Nuhu
Ali Nuhu is a household name, especially in the northern part of the country. The personable Nuhu made his debut in Kannywood – the Hausa home movie industry and an integral part of Nollywood – in the early 90s. He has diversified into music, movie directing and production. Also, he has enjoyed endorsement patronage for ambassadorial corporate deals with advertisers.
This Gombe State-born movie star has also extended his tentacles to Nollywood, where he now features regularly in movies. He has so far featured in more than 50 movies, cutting across Nollywood and Kannywood. Nuhu was the winner of the MTN Kannywood Best Actor Award in 2013, for his role in Matan Gida, a Kannywood movie. He charges between N.5m and N1m to feature in a Kannywood movie.
Sani Danja
Sani Danja, co-owner of the 2effect Empire, is another highly popular actor in Kannywood. He has several awards added to his laurels. Just like Ali Nuhu, Danja has also stepped into Nollywood’s corridors, where he is sought after by producers from time to time for certain roles.
Danja is also a musician, having started his musical career at the age of 21 in a five-man local band called “The Young Kiddies”. He was the winner of the Best Entertaining Kanywood Actor in the recent MTN Kannywood Awards held in 2013.This movie star receives between N.5m and N1m per role in a movie.
Adam A. Zango
Adam A. Zango is a Kano-born star who draws attention in Kannywood. He also sings and has interests in farming.  Zango has featured in about 70 Hausa movies since he joined the industry.  He is best known for his role in Dijangala, a film released in 2008.
Zaharadeen Sani
Zaharadeen Sani is one of the superstars of Kannywood who have successfully expanded the frontiers of the Hausa film industry in Nigeria and can indeed be classified along with the weighty Nigerian actors that are proudly setting global standards in Nollywood. A northerner, the film star has featured in several Hausa films. At the 2013 MTN/BON awards, Zaharadeen won the award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Fulani.
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I Once Walked The Wall Of China For 7 Hours – Michelle

Home / Entertainment /  Nollywood / I Once Walked The Wall Of China For 7 Hours – Michelle

I Once Walked The Wall Of China For 7 Hours – Michelle

Samuel Abulude

— April 20, 2014

Michelle Bello is the award-winning film maker having produced Small Boy and Flower Girl, both winning local and international awards. The UK-born movie maker and CEO of Blue Star Entertainment spoke to SAMUEL ABULUDE on her next movie project, trends in the industry and of course, her charming personality. 
Congrats! How do you feel that Flower Girl won three awards at AMVCA?
I feel very excited. I am so, so happy. Flower Girl took four years in the making. I came up with the idea of the story when I was doing my Masters in 2010. We were asked to write a feature script and I have never done that before, I’ve shot a lot of short films before. I said, why not let me do a romantic comedy, I like romantic movies a lot. So I came up with it and that was the birth of Flower Girl. Then I gave it to my brother, Jigi Bello and he revamped the whole script, he wrote the draft and all that- Jigi made the movie into what it is. He is absolutely amazing when it comes to writing. I feel so happy that I was able to work with him. He is someone I respect so much and he is so talented. To see the success Flower Girl has achieved is actually amazing. I just thank God for that. It is only by God’s grace that a year after the film was released, it’s still going strong, it’s still winning international awards, the AMVCA and we haven’t even reached DVD yet.
And what do you think makes Flower Girl unique?
I think the theme of the movie is very powerful, LOVE- it’s a universal theme- whether you are an American or an African or from another continent. It’s what we human beings can relate to, and we’ve all been in a relationship whether good or bad. And so with Flower Girl, a romantic comedy- it’s very funny. It’s got great characters, a good story- a young girl wants to get married. Everyone can relate to that. And we have guys fighting- all kinds of things going on. It’s not just a chick flick like everyone will say. There’s something for everyone. Like in Nigeria, they were taking their families to watch the movie. So many people have seen it over and over again. People have become part of the story and loved the character. And with the quality and production level, a lot of money, a lot of skills went into crafting the movie. It wasn’t a rushed project at all. In this entertainment industry, we represent quality. We are passionate about everything we do and we strive for excellence. And I learnt so much working with the cast and crew. I’m excited about working on my next one.
What of the budget for Flower Girl?
Flower Girl had a N50 million budget. That’s what we had to do and I’m happy that cinemas had been built and more emphasis are on Cinematic films. So efforts should be made to do movies for the cinemas, movies for the international audiences. For Flower Girl, we got screened at the Hollywood Black Film Festival in LA.
What inspired you into movie making?
I loved telling stories, that was a passion to me. Even when I was in school, I would go into a library. While I was a teenager in Coburn hall, Kent in UK, I’ll be writing stories in my book and I found it few years ago. I’ll literally be writing stories and my friends will read the short stories and they will love them. So for me, it was second nature, I just loved telling stories. I noticed from a young age, people loved listening to my stories and how I will tell them. How you tell a story is key especially the director. So for me when the choice of what am I going to do in the University, there was nothing else for me other than to study Communications. From that I got to know about Film, TV, journalism and that was when I really realised my passion was in film making. Making something from stories.
Your mum with interest in Arts must have inspired this too?
Definitely! Through her Arts outfit, Amasoma. She did, Africa ‘95 which was huge back then and she’ll take! me and I’ll go along with her. Seeing the work she is doing with the troupe, we were in the Kennedy Centre in Washington and in the UK, we performed there as well. So I’ll be there watching her doing everything and I’ll be just wondering Wow! I took something from the foundation. So watching her, her passion for African Arts inspired me, showing it internationally as well as here.
Did you ever think of acting?
Never! I’m a behind the scene person. So many of my friends are trying to get me into acting in the movies and I always tell them, I’m not an actress. Acting is a completely different skill level and a completely different craft. It’s something you work on your whole life just like directing, just like producing. I’ve always been a shy person, I guess that’s why, I’m behind the scene as a storyteller. So, no acting for me.
How was it like for you to bring all that you learnt to work here?
My plan was always to bring everything I learnt in America and bring it here. I use everything that I have learnt in working with all the casts that I have worked with. It can be challenging and fun working with different kinds of people and also doing different projects. I don’t mind training people on the spur, I find out that people get trained here as they work on the job. I also like to test people to be sure we are on the same level before embarking on the project. In America, it’s a complete different mentality. You can come to work for a big studio like Disney and do it for free, they do it as a work-experience for three months. Here as a people, it is different, the poverty level is a lot higher than in the western world. It is important in this industry that you keep an open mind and to focus on always learning and developing your skill level. And you know here, it can be challenging, there is a lot of egos, people don’t want to learn from others- they fell they know everything.
You can never know everything, no one knows everything. You need to study, it’s not a case that you just want to be a director and you have the passion. How many acting books have you read? That was why I went to study more before doing Flower Girl, I had to study film making, improve my skills and learn more on how it is done internationally. And I think it was the best decision I made and I’m so glad I did because my experience has widened. And I can see my level of growth from Small Boy my first feature and Flower Girl and I want to see my growth again from Flower Girl to the next one and that is how it should be. There are so many people out there who want the same thing as you do, what’s gonna make you stand is the knowledge you keep acquiring to do something different.
Beyond movie making, who is Michelle Bello?
That is an interesting question, who am I? (She laughs) I’m down to earth, I’m a real person and I strongly believe in my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ and know what he’s done in my life. I’m so grateful to God. I’m a God fearing person. I’m a passionate person. Whatever I do, I’m very passionate about. I love to travel. I love to meet different people. I’m very adventurous, not many people know that. I actually walked along the wall of China, I mean the proper way. And it took me seven hours! I love watching movies, TV shows. I love people, I’m actually a people person but I’m shy as a person. I’m very blunt and say things as they are.
What are your dreams?
To keep getting better in my craft. Keep telling our stories to the world, impact lives and inspire people for the better. There are so many people out there and it is important to let them know that there is hope. Whatever you want to do, you can do and make positive differences in the country. My goal in life is to be a blessing both in my personal life as well as my professional life. Personally, I would like to get married and have kids.
And when will that be?
Only God knows. God’s time. (She laughs).
What do you do when you are not working?
I sleep. I love sleeping (laughs), I also hang out with friends. I just go to the cinemas and watch movies, visit art galleries when I have the time.
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D-Banj Visits Nyanya Blast Victims, Urges Youths To Shun Violence

Home / Entertainment / Nollywood / D-Banj Visits Nyanya Blast Victims, Urges Youths To Shun Violence

D-Banj Visits Nyanya Blast Victims, Urges Youths To Shun Violence

NAN

— April 22, 2014

A popular Nigerian musician, Mr Dapo Oyebanji (D-banj) on Tuesday in Abuja urged Nigerian youths to shun violence and embrace peace.
D-banj made the call when he visited some victims of the Nyanya bomb blast in company of the FCT Health Secretary, Dr Ademola Onakomaiya, at the Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja.
According to him, government alone cannot do all that is required for peace to reign in the country.
“I am a Nigerian and I am affected by any tragedy that befalls us and particularly in the spirit of Easter, I came to show the victims support.
“I have seen that the survivors are responding positively to treatment and thanked the medical team here for the efforts.
“We are appealing to the perpetrators of these acts to have a rethink and support the peace initiative so that our people would not be subjected to such wickedness,” he said.
D-banj said that terrorism in Nigeria was strange as Nigerians were known to be peace loving and advised them to embrace peace in the interest of development.
He said that artistes should be concerned about achieving peace in Nigeria because if the violence continued, the entertainment industry would be endangered.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that D-banj donated several gift items to the victims and also settled some hospital bills.
The hospital management told NAN that over 27 corpses and 26 victims were brought from the blast but 16 were still receiving treatment as others had been discharged.
The FCT Health Secretary urged artistes to support the Federal Government’s fight against terrorism by creating awareness in their performances.
Onakomaiya urged people in the entertainment industry to unite and produce songs, plays, paintings that would condemn and discourage terrorism.
He said that the potency of art as a communication tool amongst Nigerian youths would make it an effective medium in creating awareness.
According to him, security is the responsibility of all Nigerians, therefore, should not be left in the hands of government alone.
Onakomaiya said that the visit of D-banj would go a long way to lift the spirits of the patients.
“You can see that some of the patients are really excited to see a renowned artiste like D-banj visit them; it is very commendable,” he said. (NAN)

Chelsea Legend Drogba floats underwear line

Chelsea Legend Drogba floats underwear line

Legend: Didier Drogba

Chelsea legend,Didier Drogba today launched his own underwear range aptly named Drogba&co.Proceeds will go to the Didier Drogba foundation.