New Nollywood kid on the block: Introducing Lisa Kill

Lisa Kill on the set

There’s probably a big chance that you haven’t heard the name Lisa Kill before. But once you’ve seen Streets of Calabar you won’t forget her anytime soon. 

Lisa Kill on the set

She’s the new ‘Nollywood kid on the block’ and after her audition for the role of Margaret, producer and co-director of Streets of Calabar, Charles Aniagolu decided that Lisa was Margaret in more ways than one.

“The role of Margaret is actually a difficult one to play. It requires someone who can come across as being quite strong but also vulnerable and slightly naïve. We all agreed that Lisa had the look we were searching for but that alone is not enough. She convinced us in her audition performance that she was indeed the right actor for the role.” Charles said.

Frank Macaulay, co-director said of Margaret’s character: “The role is of a young mixed race woman, with an approachable quality that makes people feel she’s the girl next door. But she’s also a character who is sensual and virginally innocent, easily fearful, but honest to a fault. Lisa fit the bill and we were very happy with her audition".

Lisa Kill and Gordon Case

Lisa was interviewed on the set of Streets of Calabar after completing one of the bedroom scenes with Anthony Ofoegbu “I was so excited to be selected to play the role of Margaret. It’s a fantastic opportunity for me and I am very grateful. Filming in Calabar has been the most amazing experience. It’s such a beautiful city and everyone is super friendly. I can’t wait to come back for the premiere”.

Lisa Kill on the set

Lisa is young, beautiful and talented and has a long career ahead of her. She is sure to go far in the movie world so if you like to follow Nollywood stars then be sure to add Lisa Kill to the list. This maybe the first time you’re hearing of her but it certainly won’t be the last.

He KISSED her. He LIKED it. But boy was he NERVOUS!

Anthony Ofoegbu & Rita Dominic as Chuks and Sly
in soon to be released Streets of Calabar

It seems Anthony Ofoegbu, lead actor in Streets of Calabar felt rather nervous about ‘sleeping’ with Rita Dominic in the soon to be released Nollywood movie. We caught up with him on set the day before he was due to go between the ‘sheets’ with the AMAA 2012 winner for Best Actress and it was fairly obvious the tension was beginning to mount.

All kinds of crew from wardrobe to make-up to production management were buzzing around him on set. But then Anthony was used to that kind of thing, having been in the business now for over twenty years, travelling the world performing and even touring as part of Wole Soyinka’s theatre productions.

The majority of his work however has been based in the UK and Streets of Calabar was his first time of working on a movie with Nollywood actors and this is what he wasn’t used to.  So he was pleasantly surprised at the quality of performances from the likes of Rita Dominic and even more astonished by the huge following she had garnered in Nigeria and across Africa.

And so to suddenly find himself in bed with one of Nollywood’s most celebrated actresses required some kind of mental fortitude. Anthony showed me some of the exercises he uses to psych himself up for such scenes.

“I never feel one hundred percent comfortable filming any kissing or bedroom scenes let alone having to kiss one of Nigeria’s most popular actors”, Anthony said. “People just don’t realise how hard it is when you have a camera right up next to your face and a director telling you to move this way and that and just when you think you’ve got it right the director yells, CUT and says no, no you have to have your arm over this way or your face has to move in that direction. So it can be quite difficult to make it look believable.”

The following day we met up with Anthony to find out how it all went. He had a big smile on his face and he seemed jubilant. “The scene went very well. It was a closed set which was brilliant because it meant just the essential crew were in the room. So both Rita and I felt much more comfortable. Rita was terrific. She is such a professional”.

But just how was THAT kiss? And Anthony replied “I was nervous. Rita is such a beautiful woman but she is also a terrific actor. But I do have to say WOW, WOW, WOW and that’s all I can say”. He then ran off with a big smile on his face ready to start preparing for his next scene.