Entertainment
‘Why We Must Salvage Film Industry In Rivers’
Though the entertainment industry is growing so fast and many people are not only becoming smart, but have started waking up to the business side of the industry particularly the motion picture sector popularly known as Nollywood, which is the third largest movie producing industry in the world after Hollywood of America and Bollywood of India.
However, it has been observed that film production in Rivers State, the Treasure Base of Nigeria lags behind that of other states like Lagos, Enugu and now Delta where not less than 10 films are produced daily, making huge revenue for these states and providing employment opportunities for their youths.
This slow pace of development of the industry has remained a source of embarrassment to some concerned indigenous practitioners, because Rivers State has comparative advantage over them. Apart from the fact that the state has good locations to shoot films, world class hotels and other entertainment outlets, abundant potentials and intelligence to compete favourably with their counterparts in the industry, most top movie makers, actors and actresses as well as some of the notable practitioners in the country, passed through the state on their way to stardom.
Speaking on the state of movie making in Rivers State, a seasoned entertainer, managing director of African Movie Producers Limited Port Harcourt, Mrs Vickky Eeen attributed it to lack of recognition of the importance of movie making and the role of practitioners in the overall development of the state hence the lack of investment, in the sector as a result, the state loses the opportunity to make money from the industry and generate employment opportunities for the youths.
The actress and singer who disclosed this while speaking with The Tide entertainment recently, said the snail speed development of the industry is unfortunate as even countries like America, India, South Africa Kenya, Ghana etc. invest hugely in film making and entertainment generally and the revenue they get in return as well as other benefits are enormous.
The state executive of Association of Movie Production (AMP) in Rivers State said the poor state of the industry necessitated the recent concerted efforts being made by AMP to seek assistance from the state government, organised private sector and stakeholders to invest in the industry in order to boost its activities and make it more viable.
Vickky, as she is popularly known by her close friends and associates, said she decided to improve on the situation through her personal efforts by establishing the African film production training centre at N0 4 Olodu Street Off Olu Obasanjo Road Port Harcourt where she trains students in various aspects of entertainment, including film production and directing, acting, chorography, script writing, music recording, modeling etc not only to move the entertainment industry forward but to empower the restive youths of Niger Delta, refocus their mind set, make them self sufficient and disciplined members of the society.
The Ikwerre, Rivers State born director, producer, script writer and dancer said since inception, the school has graduated over 100 students and has the capacity to train over 10,000 youths in their chosen careers in the industry. She maintained that some of the grandaunds have gainful employment in various entertainment outfits including Siver bird. Others have featured in movies, TV Reality shows, Soap Operas, and as students have produced a movie titled “Seal of Salvation which she directed; while some of her models have competed in various modeling shows both in the national and international levels.
The ex-student of University of Port Harcourt where she obtained a Diploma and graduate of Mass Communication, Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) said the school insists on standards, discipline and character development and boasts of reputable resource persons drawn from within the country, America, UK, South Africa, Ghana etc, adding that those who excelled in character development are sent abroad for further training and employment.
On her exploits in the entertainment industry, the beautiful and amiable lady of many parts, revealed that she started acting from secondary school, at Port Harcourt Township School, Borokiri, later worked briefly at the Rivers State Council for Arts and Culture and Rivers State Television (RSTV), where she met people like Comish Ekiye, Hilda Dokubo and others. She has also written over 2000 scripts some of which are being used by producers today.
Vickky has also featured in many movies including “Mixed Multitude,” (2001), co-produced ‘Indecent proposal’ (2003) and is currently working on a new movie. The athlete also has a debut album stressing that she was inspired by Onyeka Onwenu, Ivon Chaka Chaka and ‘Mama Africa’ Marian Makebe.
The movie maker and trainer maintained that despite the challenges facing the entertainment industry in Rivers State, she has decided to remain in the state to salvage the industry instead of looking for greener pastures in other states as some of her colleagues from the state have done.
A Port Harcourt based artiste and song writer Reginald Bekinbo popularly known as JahReigns has lamented the high cost of music production in Rivers State.
Bekinbo who is also the acting chairman of the Performing Musicians Employers Association Of Nigeria (PMAN) Rivers Chapter made this known in an interview with The Tide Entertainment yesterday.
According to him, the cost of music production in the State is becoming alarming.
He explained that for one to get a music done you will have to pay twenty-five thousand naira (#25,000) for a track and pay an extra amount for fuel where there is no power, saying that this does not get the work done, as the 25,000 fee covers the voiceover only.
“ It is quite disheartening that you pay such an amount for just a track’s voiceover, then you take to another Studio for the Mix and master of the song, which would cost you not less than #20’000 for upcoming artistes at my level. It does not end there each time you go for mixing you have to buy fuel for the mixer which does not include promotion and videoing of the song,” he lamented.
He said that as an artiste, he also has a clothing store just to support his career, saying most singers have chosen the brain drain for themselves and you can not blame them because it is difficult to excel as an Artiste here in the State.
“ It is clear why people go to Lagos to establish their career. Just imagine a situation where someone heard my song and wanted to meet me and some other person told him that if he wanted to see me he should come to Victoria Street, the young man said he thought l should be in Lagos and they eventually found me at Victoria Street in Port Harcourt. Where l have my clothing store. What could be more degrading? Situation like that devalues your person as an Artiste, l mean, it depreciates your worth,” he added.
Bekinbo who recently released a video on one of his singles titled “Ngwanu” said that though the video has not been played in a cable station, could be downloaded from the internet, noting that the cost of shooting and promoting a video or song is alarming.
“ It is not easy at all,, I met the cable guy and he said that for International and Local promo for the video is eight hundred and fifty naira(850,000) while for local, here would cost me four hundred and fifty naira(450.000).
I am yet to afford the fee. If you go to Redem Station to play your audio you will pay not less than two hundred naira, so what we do is to befriend DJ’s and in a studio you have up to three DJ’s you will give them #20,000 and then, make sure to send them callcard at least three times in a month.
He said that if well-meaning individuals in the State would do well to extend helping hand or support the music industry it will go a long way to motivating Artistes in the State.
He however mentioned king of Okochiri, Kingdom, His Royal Father Ateke Tom as an individual and Gravings Records as an organization that have been supportive, saying that each time they to perform for them they made sure to at least take care of them.
“ If the needed motivation is given l tell you, with a million naira we could realize five Million in three months,” he assured.
By: Nancy Briggs
Pheelz’s ‘Finesse’ featuring BNXN FKA Buju and Bad Boy Timz’s ‘Skelele’ featuring Olamide, Seun Kuti’s Ku ku Kee Me ft. American rapper Black Thought as well as 2022 Qatar Official world cup song, Hayya Hayya (Better Together) by Davido ft. Trinidad Cardona, & Aisha have been included in the soundtrack for FIFA 23 console game.
The full FIFA 23 soundtrack has been officially confirmed by EA, with over five hours of music in the game in total across its different modes.
The Tide Entertainment reports that the Afrobeats stars will join a long list of other artists spread across the world to make up the Soundtrack of one of the highest-selling video games.
Fireboy DML’s ‘Scatter’ and Rema’s ‘Beamer featured on EA Sports, Fifa 21 official soundtrack.
Introducing the FIFA23 Soundtrack.
Featuring over 100 songs from artists representing 34 countries. Listen now on Spotify.
The VOLTA soundtracks were introduced from FIFA 20. The songs on that mode drive street action with the latest and greatest in grime, electronic, and hip-hop.
With artists including Labrinth, Role Model, and Odesza, the full list of songs in FIFA 23 is something of an eclectic mix.
These customised kits – which are designed to personify each artists’ personality – will be available for players to unlock through certain objectives from 27th September when early access for the game mode launches.
Pheelz and others also designed Custom FUT kits for FIFA 23.
In a press release on Thursday, EA teased: “The carefully curated mixture of hip hop, alternative, electronic dance and pop music transports players directly into the game of street football.”
Artists such as Jack Harlow, ROSALIA, Pheelz and Central Cee have also played a bigger part in the game, designing their own FIFA Ultimate Team kits.
FIFA 23 was released worldwide on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Stadia, PS4, and Xbox One on /
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Recording Academy, Mr Harvey Mason Junior has disclosed in a press conference in Ghana that the institution is considering the addition of an Afrobeats category to next year’s 65th Annual Grammy Awards.
The Tide Entertainment Reports that TurnTable Charts, a Nigerian chart analytics platform and magazine, tweeted a segment of the conference captured on video, in which Mason says he and other Recording Academy brass “just had a meeting literally about six or seven days ago with leaders from the Afrobeats community” to discuss the potential move.
“We had a virtual listening session where we heard from Afrobeats creators and just talked about ‘What are the different subgenres? What are the needs? What are the desires?,’” he adds. “And my goal is to represent all genres of music, including Afrobeats, at the Grammys.” he said.
Mason makes it clear in the video, however, that the decision is far from final.
“I don’t decide categories,” he explains.
“The categories are decided by proposals submitted by members.
“The members can say ‘Harvey, I want an Afrobeat category…’ So that process has started now. I think the listening session last week was very important, very valuable, and a step towards that path.”
The Recording Academy is now considering an Afrobeats category at the annual Grammys ceremony .
Harvey Manson Jr., the CEO of The Academy, revealed in an interview with the press in Ghana over the weekend.
The Afrobeat music genre was established by the legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti in the late 1960s and early 70s, however, it gained international appeal in the late 2010s due to the influence of the genre’s flag bearers- Wizkid, Burna Boy and Davido.
It has become one of the most influential genres across Africa and the rest of the world.
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