Entertainment
‘Highlights Of ‘Nollywood Shines In Hollywood’ Event
The Nigeria movie industry popularly known as Nollywood made a historic outing to showcase some of Nigeria’s best films: ’93 Days’, ‘The Bridge’ and ‘Isoken’ at Hollywood in Los Angeles. Thousands of Hollywood tourists from all over the world were held spell bound over the weekend by the spectacular Nollywood in Hollywood event.
The event started on Friday at the Egyptian Threatre with a star studded red carpet highlighted by the film makers and actors in the films to showcase ’93 Days’, ‘The Bridge’ and ‘Isoken’. “The inaugural Nollywood in Hollywood event was the biggest cultural showcase for Nigerians outside the country in decasdes”, the organizers said.
“Nollywood artistes also used the platform to promote Nigeria’s talents and called for co-productions and technical cooperation between Nollywood and Hollywood”.
The moderator for the opening night film and chairman of the African-American steering committee of the Directors Guild of America (DGA), Mr Jeff Byrd praised the ingenuity of Nollywood.
“Nollywood seems so faraway, but there is some curiosity. This is a great event for Hollywood to know more about the Nigerian cinema, the film tonight (93 Days) is an excellent film, a really good piece. There are conversations to be heard, example, how can we make it possible for people like Steve Gukas and good Nollywood film makers to be a part of the DGA”, he said.
Saturday’s screening was at the reputable Eileen Norris Theatre inside the University of Southern California (USC). The theatre which has hosted films by reputable USC alumni including Ryan Cooglar of the ‘Black Panther’, George Lucas, John Singleton, Bryan Singer and Shonda Rhimes among others was now playing host to Nigeria films.
A late arriving crows saw the matinee screening of the Bridge on Saturday after which its’ director, Kunle Afolanya held the packed audience to an engaging question and answer session. As dusk approached, a standing room only crowd saw the final film on the showcase ‘Isoken’, whose theme and subject matter engaged the crowd. Actress Dakore Egbuson Akande had a very colourful and stimulating question and answer session with Nigerian American film maker, Ose Oyamendan after the screening.
In a panel on Nollywood, the Nigerian film makers made a point of letting the Hollywood audience and decision makers know that Nollywood grew without government support. The Nollywood practitioners also regretted the lack of the Nigerian government’s presence at the biggest cultural showcase for Nigeria outside the country for decades.
R&B star, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted the early-career challenges she faced, revealing that she was once booed out of the stage while performing at a school event.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.
“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.
“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.
Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Tems admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.
The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.
A close associate of late singer Mohbad, Primeboy, has appealed for the artiste’s burial nearly three years after his death.
According to him, Mohbad’s body remains in the mortuary since September 12, 2023, pending burial arrangements.
The Tide Entertainment reports that in a statement Primeboy urged the family, public, and government to permit the burial, stating, “It’s been almost three years since Mohbad left us. His body is still in the mortuary. I’m begging the family, I’m begging the public, I’m begging the government, please let’s bury our brother. He deserves a befitting burial.”
It would be recalled that Mohbad’s death sparked public outrage, protests, and investigations. Ongoing autopsy examinations, police inquiries, and legal proceedings have delayed burial arrangements amid family disagreements and public scrutiny.
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