STREETS OF CALABAR: A GREAT ADVERT FOR NIGERIA

Filming the carnival scene with
Wale Ojo.

The team behind the international Nollywood movie Streets of Calabar have been bursting with excitement over the past week.  Why?  Because they’ll soon be able to announce the premiere and release dates for the launch of the movie. It’s been kept under wraps for the past few months but next week, an official press statement will tell Nigerians and the world when the film will hit the cinemas.

Some of the actors and crew messing around after
filming the police scene. Can you spot
fabulous Rita Dominic?

And it’s not just the Streets of Calabar team who are chomping at the bit. At the recent test screening of the film at the Silverbird Galleria in Lagos, a select audience gave the movie a standing ovation and the distributors and marketing agents were so thrilled with the production’s darkly comic riff and rollicking action-gangster-thriller portrait, they immediately began scheduling dates for the film’s release across West and east Africa.  

Rita Dominic preparing
for a scene.

Movie critics have placed Streets of Calabar at the pinnacle of the Nollywood movement, giving it top marks not just for the international standard quality of the production, but for its strikingly original backdrop of Calabar and Cross River state, Nigeria’s most popular tourist destination. Observers say these have helped to raise the Nollywood bar and have set Streets of Calabar apart from current offerings.

As Charles Aniagolu producer and co-director of the movie stated in a recent interview:

 “One of the main aims of this production was to not only produce a high quality movie but show the world the interesting and beautiful side of Nigeria and I think we did just that by setting this movie in Cross River state and Calabar during the Calabar Festival. Nigerian directors really should start utilising this country’s natural assets.  Look what film has done for American, British and Australian tourism. A film is like one big advertisement.”

The dream sequence filmed at
Tinapa Resort with
Wale Ojo & Anthony Ofoegbu.

CNN Travel agree. Last week they stated:

“Nigeria will be a film tourism hot spot due to its robust movie industry, colloquially known as "Nollywood." Euromonitor projects growth of the country's tourist arrivals to increase from 2 percent in 2012 to nearly 3.5 percent in 2015.”

Wale Ojo's scene during one of
the many music events at the
Calabar Christmas Festival

Think about it folks. How many films have you watched where you think WOW, I really want to go to that country!  A film is, as Charles Aniagolu stated, “One big advertisement.”  Want to create a better image for Nigeria, more jobs for the economy? Then do it through film and see the tourism industry grow faster than you can say Nollywood! 

WAJE SINGS ‘STREETS OF CALABAR’ IN MOVIE STARRING RITA DOMINIC

The popular, multi talented songstress, WAJE, has added another string to her bow. WAJE, arguably Nigeria’s most notable soul singer, is one of the performers and co-writers of the theme song ‘Streets of Calabar’. The hit tune makes it debut in the movie of the same name, starring the 2012 AMAA best actress winner, Rita Dominic.

WAJE’s contribution to the movie Streets of Calabar  doesn’t stop there. Along with Nigerian music producer Chris Madubuko, she also performed and worked on the remix of the 1970’s Osibisa hit song ‘Welcome Home’, which features at the start of this soon to be released Nollywood international movie that promises to be one of the best of 2012/2013.  

Charles Aniagolu, producer and co-director of Streets of Calabar said: “We were thrilled to work with WAJE and Chris Madubuko. WAJE has a brilliant voice and lots of awards to show for it and everyone knows her work with PSquare and J Martins. Her fans will not be disappointed with her contributions to Streets of Calabar”.

Chris Madubuko, music producer and co-writer of the theme song said: “Charles Aniagolu asked us to write a song that typifies the vibes of Calabar. WAJE and I co-wrote the song together and WAJE also put her voice to it. So you can expect to hear an upbeat song that’s really catchy, easy to dance to and of course has the great sounds of WAJE”.

So watch out movie buffs! The film Streets of Calabar not only offers a top quality, international standard storyline that’s vastly tighter than current Nollywood offerings, it also has a great soundtrack, thanks to WAJE, and music producers Teddy Osei (of Osibisa fame) and Chris Madubuko. 

        

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.

Streets of Calabar’s movie soundtrack will get you moving!

There’s so many surprises in store for the moviegoer who heads to the cinema this Christmas to see Streets of Calabar. If you’re not laughing at the comedy or gripping the sides of your chair wondering what’s going to happen next then you’ll be dancing in your seat because FOLKS this movie boasts a killer soundtrack! It’s produced by none other than Teddy Osei, leader of the famous world music band Osibisa and Chris Madubuko, a well-known Nigerian American music producer responsible for producing hits for such artists as Waje, J Martins and P Square.

 

There are three original Osibisa productions and one remixed by Chris Madubuko, including Kokorokoo, Celebration, Welcome Home and Warrior in the sound track. They are sure to be a delight for both black and white audiences in Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and the Americas that were familiar with their brilliant sound from the 70’s and 80’s.

                                    Osibisa on BBC 'Top of the Pops'

The music was certainly popular with cast and crew of the movie. Behind the scenes everyone got into a bit of dance action when Mike played by Wale Ojo started spinning the decks during a bar scene when he introduced an Osibisa favourite. Anthony Ofoegbu (Chuks) said:

Osibisa album form 1972

 “The music is just so infectious and it has such a happy vibe that you just can’t help but get up and dance. All the extras were loving it”.

Charles Aniagolu, producer and co-director of Streets of Calabar is a big fan of Osibisa and says:

“I have been a great fan of Osibisa for many years and the band leader, Teddy Osei, remains a great friend of mine. I was still virtually in diapers in the 70’s when Osibisa became the first world music band to hit the top 10 simultaneously in Africa, Europe, the US, Australia, Japan and across Asia. Today they remain as brilliant and as relevant to global music as the Beatles are to pop rock. That’s why I made the decision to have Teddy co-produce the music for my upcoming movie Streets of Calabar, along with another great friend and talent, Chris Madubuko”.

Osibisa album from 1971

The sound track also includes new music written by both Teddy and Chris. This will be released and marketed, along with the film.

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.