Pictures from the Hollywood film - Ije

Feature film IJE prepares to meets and exceeds Hollywood’s expectations at all exclusive screening

The time has come for Nollywood films to be taken seriously, for them to be able to compete with international films, and have lasting value. Change has been brewing for since the inception of film-making in Nigeria, and for 14 months an incredible woman has been working on making the film that will undoubtedly make Nigerian films a force to be reckoned with. Her name is Chineze Anyaene, and IJE: The Journey is what we've all been waiting for.

Chineze Anyaene, Nigerias's director and producer is changing the face of Nollywood and she is here to stay. With a production company that can rival any of its kind, Chineze Anyaene is bringing Nollywood what it needs: professionalism, quality, creativity and class. Anyaene is the youngest female director coming out of Nigeria, and also the first woman to film a Nollywood film on 35mm.

Genevieve Nnaji, who was recently profiled by American media mogul Oprah Winfrey as one of the most famous people in the world, and Nigeria’s sweetheart Omotola Ekeinde play lead roles in the movie, a rare occurrence which sets the tone for an incredibly captivating story full of twists and turns.

IJE is creativity, IJE is entertainment, IJE captures the essence of Nollywood and Hollywood.

Some pictures from the film...

The exclusive screening of IJE: THE JOURNEY will be held at Warner Bros. on November 14, 2009 in Burbank, CA. For more information, interviews, sponsorship and promotional opportunities please contact ijethemovie@gmail.com.

STYLPLUS :BACK WITH 'READY TO GO'

THEY need no introduction as some of their tracks still blow the minds of good music lovers; remember Olufunmi, the track that became an item of sort and established them as big players in the Nigerian music scene, the trio of Shifi Emoefe, Tunde Akinsammi and Zeal Onyecheme who make up the group, StylePlus have disclosed that Nigerians are about to witness the awakening of abundantly talented group.

With successes registered with their hit album, Olufunmi, Back and better, the group which kind of slowed down on their game have realized the need for them to service their large fan base with another album due to high demand. StylePlus disclosed recently that so many factors were responsible for the poor outing of their last work , something which they have discovered and corrected with their latest work which is titled Ready To Go. And as the title implies, they are eager to race back to the top like they did with their first album Olufunmi and concludes that its one album that Nigerians will forever remember them for. As regards the number of tracks in the new work, they prefer to keep the public guessing as its one strategy that they believe will make the album something to die for they said.

The album was produced by renowned music producer Sunky Donalds and in conjunction with Pace Entertainment is presently enjoying airplay in most radio stations across the country. Styleplus concluded that a huge listening party is expected to be held in Lagos before the end of the year to reaffirm the belief of their fans that they are the tag team to beat in the entertainment industry in Nigeria.

CELEBRITY TAKES 2' CONTESTANTS, 2009

Some of us had actually thought it was going to go the way of other Nigerian reality show's...the first edition no doubt was bomb hence, the anticipation of the next one was just natural......better late than nevere at least...I'm so excited the show is finally going live again...the 2nd edition of the Nigerian dance reality show; CELEBRITY TAKES 2.

Nigeria, celebrities will participate fully in the reality TV show. 

Created by the Spirit of David dance club and sponsored by Skye bank.

Celebrity Takes 2 is Nigeria's version of Dancing with the stars.

The reality TV show will be on TV for 13 weeks and will feature:

• Fred Amata – Actor/Producer/Director
  
• Yinka Davies – Musician
• Fathia Balogun – Actress/Producer
• Kel Ohia - Musician
• Yemi Blaq – Nollywood Actor
• Stella Damasus – Nollywood Actress
  
• Zakki Adzay – Musician
• Obiwon – Musician
• Dakore Egbuson –Actress
• Faze – Musician

Live shows are being recorded at Planet One, Maryland, Lagos.

For information on how to obtain tickets, please visit: www.celebritytakes2.com

 

As the show will be on major TV stations in Nigeria, Africa Magic (Mnet), Ben TV (UK & Europe) and the Internet, you've got no excuse to catch this breathtaking show.

 

So who is your favourite celebrity dancer? What do you think about the show? Who do you think will win? Let the discussion begin!

WHO OWNS THE N5 BILLION LAGOS FLOATING HOTEL???

Naija...i love this country with a 'no be small'. I wonder sometimes if truly, there are people out there who genuinely love this nation like i do; i sit back and wonder if it's possible that we will get it right in this our generation or we probably would leave behind eventually a generation that is not only corrupt, wasted and empty for the next...

Few year's ago, we all woke up to the new's of one of the nation's largest sea vessels (MV AFRICAN PRIDE) gone...missing. I wondered how a whole ship could just disappear without trace. The matter was tossed here and there and eventually forgotten.

Here we are again, confronted with another sea vessel brouhaha...with mysteries that am certain might  not be resolved but rather, shoved under the carpet...

Personally, when i first saw the Sunborn Yacht, i thought ok, finally, we are beginning to wake up to the realities of discovering more tourism tools...i was happy but i guess the excitement of me believe that we are finally getting it right had totally robbed me off from the fact that in Nigeria, the more you look the less you see...And finally, the curtain came down and we all saw the holes...But, May be one or two of you might have answer's...
...Who is the owner of the controversial Sunborn Yacht Hotel, on the Lagos waters by the Marina? Does it belong to the Lagos State government? Does it belong to former Governor, Bola Tinubu? Or does it belong to Diamond Capital, a subsidiary of Diamond Bank? OR...Sen. Afikuyomi?

These are questions that members of the Lagos State House of Assembly are desperate to find answers to. This is because the Commissioner for Tourism and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi denies that it belongs to the state or the former governor, but to a private investor he could not specifically name.

But, the investor who is said to have facilitated the loan through which the luxurious floating hotel was purchased, Multipurpose Infrastructural Development Company Ltd (MIDC), are now saying that though they facilitated the purchase of the Yacht, the documents of purchase are not in their possession, but with Diamond Capital through whom they facilitated the loan from Diamond Bank to make the purchase.


The 105 luxury suites floating hotel, acquired in February this year at a cost of 25 million euros was first taken to Brazil from London for a complete overhaul. Built in 1999 and refitted in the 2002.

The Sunborn Yacht Hotel, now renamed the Lagos Yacht Hotel, is a luxurious boat hotel by all standard. It is a hotel meant for kings and the wealthy. Among its numerous facilities are suites and executive bedrooms with many having balconies overlooking the Lagos water. It also has elegant lounges on various decks as well as first class restaurants and bars. The hotel is fitted with such facilities as two exquisite royal suites with private sauna, separate bedroom and a living room, as well as terrace balcony overlooking the water in 58 rooms. It also has a central air-conditioning system for all the rooms and public places, a fully equipped fifth deck restaurant with kitchen and cocktail bar for 100 people. In addition, it has a yacht club lobby bar for about 70 people, another upper deck banquet hall capable of seating over 200 people, and two inter-connected conference rooms, amongst other features.

The floating hotel boasts of a solid waste treatment and a sewage plant while water supply would be through the public mains.
 
THE BURNING QUESTION
So...who own's the Sunborn Yacht?

IJE: STARRING GENEVIEVE & OMOTOLA

(Los Angeles, October 29, 2009) – Since the inception of film-making in Nigeria 15 years ago, the world has been waiting for one Nollywood film that stands apart from the rest, one that will capture the minds and hearts of movie-goers worldwide, one that will leave a timeless memory, capable of illustrating the creativity, tradition, and essence of Nigerian culture. IJE is that movie. Typically, Nollywood movies neglect the way films should be made by ignoring production value, focusing instead on famous actors and actresses. IJE which means “the journey” in the Nigerian language Igbo, will undeniably revolutionize the way Nigerian movies are viewed and created, as it is the first Nollywood film to include features common to Hollywood movies.

Unprecedented in scope, IJE tells a tale of Chioma, a child growing up in the Nigerian countryside, who warned her restless sister, Anya, about the trappings of the American Dream. Now ten years later, Anya is accused of killing three men in a Hollywood Hills mansion—one of them her record producer-husband. Chioma travels from Nigeria to Los Angeles, and with the help of a young, unproven attorney, discovers that the dark secret her sister wants to keep hidden might be the only thing that can win her freedom. A majority of the film was shot in the U.S. on 35mm, but it has flash back scenes that were shot on location in Jos, Nigeria.

Directed and produced by Nigerian Born Chineze Anyaene, “IJE” is a compelling drama with organic twists and turns. Anyaene is the youngest female director, and the first woman to film 35mm in Nollywood. Also produced by Paula Moreno, one of the first Producers in L.A. to take on the challenge of filming a Nollywood feature, the film boasts of an internationally diverse cast, such as Nigerian A-lister’s Genevieve Nnaji, who was recently profiled by Oprah Winfrey as one of the most famous people in the world, Nigeria’s sweetheart Omotola Ekeinde, and critically acclaimed actor Clem Ohameze. Hispanic sensation Odalys Garcia and upcoming actor Ulrich Que join the brilliant cast, a component that makes the film widely appealing to international audiences. Anyaene and Moreno, two trailblazing minority women, are determined to make a change in the international movie industry by merging the Hollywood and Nollywood industries.

IJE: THE JOURNEY is set for an exclusive screening at Warner Bros. on November 14, 2009 in Burbank, CA

Jerry Amilo in Ghana to shoot ‘Snitches’

Story by: Dela Ernest
Celebrated Nigerian movie actor, Jerry Amilo is currently in Ghana to shoot ‘Snitches’, his current production already running on Viasat 1.
He will be shooting 26 episodes of the highly educational TV series in Ghana and hopes to unearth fresh talents too.Some big names in the Nigerian movie scene- Hank Anuku, Monalisa Chinda, Segun Arinze and others will also be in the country later to take part in the shooting.


The Snitches story is aimed at opening the eyes of Africans who are seeking greener pastures to the challenges of the world when it comes to racism and drugs. According to Jerry, the whites have used blacks against each other for a long time which is not good and this must stop, stressing that whites pretend to like blacks but it is not true.

Snitches’ also looks at the drug war which the whites first brought to South Africa, then to Nigeria, from Nigeria to Ghana and later to Kenya.
 
Jerry's first movie, ‘Riches to Rags, Rags to Riches’ was shot in 1987 but he said the movie never saw the light of day. “That movie never saw the light of day because of lack of experience.”


His major movie to hit the industry was ‘Bruno and the law’ which was shot in 1992 but released in 1993. He was the lead actor.

Jerry is a graduate of the University of Lagos, Nigeria, were he obtained a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1997.

The multi-talented, multi-tasked personality is an actor, a writer, producer, director and an executive producer and he has earned more than 13 awards for his good works.


With his huge experience, Jerry has trained a lot of film directors, producers, actors and actresses and script writers in Ghana and Nigeria, notably among them is Frank Raja of Venus Films.

10 THINGS NEVER TO SAY TO A LADY

Am not about to 'front' the fact that i am gifted when it comes to ladies, neither do i in any want to intimidate you my ever faithful reader's...***winkin...But i just can't seem to understand why some men just lose it, they can't even stand stright up on two feet when it comes to that beautiful area of making known their intensions about what they feel about that special lady.

I have a friend who has way with words, infact i dare say that even men would have come under his spell of words before knowing that they've just been wooed, if he were to be Gay. He's that good but then when he came to me at the office yesterday, practically on his knees begging me to assist in talking to a lady he so love badly, i knew immediately, ok, this must really be a serious matter...i used to think, it's the easiest thing, i mean, 'chyking'(ok ladies, don't take this the hard way but, do you girtls sometimes make this difficult or it's supposed to be naturally difficult, i mean, just saying Yes to the guy knowing knowing very well that you also have feeling for him?)

Well guys, here are some few tips i think should come handy...

1. She’s just a friend. Yeah right. If she’s attractive and single we see her as a threat. If she really is just a friend, let us know the reason why. Is it because she’s not your type, she has a boyfriend, she has an annoying personality? We like to be reassured that you’re not secretly into your “friend”.
2. I’ll call you tonight at 8pm. Do NOT give a specific time or date of when you will be calling unless you intend to keep your word. If you say you will call tonight, we are expecting a call tonight. Not calling will set off all sorts of alarms that will lead to us not trusting you. If you don’t know when you will call, you can say something like, “I’ll talk to you later.”

3. She’s hot! We like to think that, at least in your eyes, we are the hottest woman on the planet. Pointing out that someone else is attractive will not earn you any brownie points. We don’t want to know if you think anyone else is hot, so zip it!

4. I don’t use condoms. That’s nice. We don’t want an STD. Condoms are a fact of life in today’s society, so unless you’ve been tested and plan to be monogamous, get used to them.

5. I love you – If you don’t mean it, you’ll be opening Pandora’s Box. Women do not take this statement lightly. We are waiting for you to say it and when you do, we assume the relationship is moving to the next level. If you’re not ready for that, then don’t utter these three little words until you are.

6. Did you gain weight? Does this one really need an explanation? You shouldn’t even say this jokingly, even if your girlfriend is stick thin. Just as you don’t want to hear anything about your “size”, women don’t want to hear about their weight.

7. My ex always/never/used to… If your ex is still on your mind so much that you need to constantly bring her up, then why are you dating us? Relationships are difficult enough without the ghost of your ex floating around. Either get back with her or shut up.

8. You remind me of my mother. Do not compare your mother to your girlfriend unless you’ve made it clear that you absolutely adore your mother and think the world of her.

9. Did we have plans? Oh no you didn’t! If we’ve made plans to get together, we’ve been looking forward to it all day. We’ve been thinking about how to dress and how to do our hair. Don’t rain on our parade by being dumb enough to forget or there will be hell to pay.

10. Keep in touch/Call me. What the heck is that supposed to mean? That you don’t plan on ever calling us again? That you want us to call you next time? That you’re unsure how we feel about you and you want to see if we’ll call? There’s too much room for misinterpretation here, so just don’t use either of these ambiguous expressions. Your job is to call, our job is to wear the high heels.

Here is a bonus one:
How old are you? – If the woman appears to be anywhere near 30, do not ask her age. If you really must know, you can make an educated guess from other information she gives you, such as when she graduated from college. If however, she appears to be under 20, you absolutely must ask, so as to make sure she is of legal age!