CHUKS EJIOFOR: Nigeria's family Puzzling Movie Director

By Perekeme Odon

Like him or loathe his work, it's about time we came to appreciate the brilliance of Chukwudi John Ejiofor, the variable writer, producer, and director whose entry into the Nigerian motion picture industry spanned years, and bridges the long-standing celebrated innovates in Nollywood.

A director with a knack for inventive storytelling and eye-wowing visuals, with an immense variety of genres who positioned with the great traditional movie directors of the late '90s and '2000s to date.

Chuks Ejiofor

Born on February 5 in Enugu State, and bred up in Enugu and Anambra states, the technically brilliant and a seeming workaholic Awka South, Anambra state filmmaker sojourned into the make-believe business in the late 1990s and has caved an abrasion for himself.  Apart from his commendable scope as a director, Chuks played an unvaryingly significant role as a reformer for scriptwriting on the business front.

He attended Trinity Secondary School, Apapa Lagos in 1980/84, and graduated from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra state in 1996 where he studied Business Administration.

After graduation, providence came calling and he unearthed himself working with front-line veteran filmmaker and producer, Ojiofor Ezeanyanche largely known as OJ, who accrued fortune from filmmaking in the early days of Nollywood, whose movies include ‘Igodo’, ‘Izaga’, ‘Ashes to Ashes’, ‘The Wind’, ‘Only Love’, ‘Egg of Life’, ‘My Love’, ‘Two Rats’ among others which his production outfit became known for.

(l-r) Florence Onuma, Fredrick Leonard, Kemi Adekomi & Chuks Ejiofor

According to Mr. Ejiofor, “I had a passion for movies and entertainment while growing up. So after graduation, I started working with OJ PRODUCTIONS, one of the most prominent film-producing production studios back then; and from there it all started for me to date”. He stated.

After a long training career with OJ Productions, Chuks realized his deep-rooted dream which he yearned would lend him the clout and inventiveness to make movies his own way without the big-studio interference he had grieved for many years, would manifest.

The delightfully confident Chuks made his first directorial debut in 2011 with ‘Mystery Of Destiny’ starring Kenneth Okonkwo, Stephanie Okereke, and Beverly Naya. His excluding fear of failure or making mistakes ascertained him to be an incredibly successful inspiration with the release of his debut film.

Chucks Ejiofor With Keppy Ekpeyong-Bassey

“I actually passed through the ranks and files, from property management to production manager. I did continuity and producing movies for different production houses after I left OJ Productions, before embarking on the euphoric journey of screenwriting and directing, which I am very much at home. Being a film director is an exciting and stressful job. Family life is extremely important to me, so I am concerned about it. The overall experiments and effects of my venturing into film-making are simply in the service of touching viewers". He acknowledged.

In his 25-year career in film-making, Chuks Ejiofor has written and directed for Mozzyva Pictures, Multimedia Ltd, Eno Glo Entertainment, and demonstrated proficiently on making films about the importance of family, morals and overcoming adversity with distinctive gifted actors deeper than they look, even though recent efforts have seen him trying to diversify, because it’s always fascinating when a director leaps from one genre to another.

For a supposed director of domestic films, he's more interested in the world kinfolk. Adding to his already dynamic career and developing the writing trademarks of family stories that place him at the top of the screenwriting game of realistic storytelling, twisting wit with ease, Chuks, one of the least well-known names on the list, but a writer and director who has steadily refined his own gentle, bittersweet style wrote and screenplay 'Love Triangle', 'Ajo Umume' (Igbo), 'Mystery of Destiny', 'Ihe Omimi' (Igbo), Dark Heart,

On Set With Felix Omohkodion and Florence Onuma.

Operating mostly in family issues with simplicity and compassion, Chuks is delectably one of the most family perceptive directors in the business, with an unerring eye for the stories that matter.

His credits as a director include the romantic family drama ‘Love Triangle (2015) starring Michael Godson, Yvonne Jegede, Mary Lazarus, Devil In Red (2015) starring Yul Edochie, Chinyere Wilfred, Daniel K. Daniel, and Angel Ufome, Dark Heart (2017), Terrible Moment’, starring Mike Ezuruonye, Tonto Dike, Karma (2018), Discrimination (2018), Stab (2018), starring Ruth Kadiri, Wole Ojo, Maureen Okpoko, Roselyn Ngissah, and Roxy Antar, Open Memory (2018), The Deceit (2018), Vendetta (2019, Ajo Umume (Igbo 2020),  ‘Ihe Omimi’ (Igbo 2020), and many more.

DGN President, Olorogun Fred Amata & Chuks Ejiofor

With Ghanian Actor, Van Vicker

Chuks Ejiofor & Veteran Actor, Elder Obi Okoli

Chuks Ejiofor & Adim Williams

(l-r) Onyi Okechukwu, Chuks Ejiofor and Perekeme Odon

Onyi Okechukwu & Chuks Ejiofor On The Set Of 'The Wrecker'

Chuks Ejiofor & Actor/Director Sonny McDon W.

(L-R) Onyi, Lillian Usoro, Toyin Abraham and Chuks Ejiofor in 'London Fever'

Chuks Ejiofor & Tina Mbah

On The Set Of 'Love Triangle (2015) With Mary Lazarus, Onyi, Evan & Pere

Chuks & Ghanian Actress Jackie Appiah

Director Chuks Ejiofor & DOP Tolu Agienoji

Sonny McDon W. & Chuks Ejiofor

Onyi On Set With Chiwetalu Agu and Chuks Ejiofor On Set Of 'London Fever'

Chuks, Tolu Agienoji, Fredrick Leonard & Felix Ugo Omokhodion

Chuks Ejiofor & Onyi Okechukwu

'Love Triangle'

Gloria Young & Chuks Ejiofor

Chuks Ejiofor, Tolu Agienoji, and Stephen

On The Set Of 'Love Triangle' With Mike Godson, Mary Lazarus, Onyi & Pere

(l-r) Florence Onuma, Felix Omohkodion, & Chuks Ejiofor

Chuks and DOP Stephen David

COVID-19: Directors’ Guild of Nigeria Suspends DGN@20 Anniversary

The Directors’ Guild Of Nigeria (DGN) is built on the notion of bringing creative minds together through film, television and new media. It also serves to protect the interests of all members of the directing team.

 

In an effort to follow the latest government advice on Corona-virus (COVID-19) that all productions and workplaces should incorporate the latest guidance from the Federal, State, and Local Authorities in order to minimize the possibility of virus transmission, DGN is taking all precautionary measures. 

The DGN@20 Anniversary Celebration scheduled for April 23rd-25th 2020 in FCT, Abuja has been postponed and a new date will be announced. We are incredibly grateful to our Grand patron, patrons, partners, sponsors and volunteers; and we look forward to working together in the coming months.

The DGN President instructs all members to cease filming, cancel non-critical group meetings and conform to Government’s directives in combating the Corona-virus pandemic. All Zonal Chairmen are to ensure that Zones adhere to all Isolation and Lock-down directives according to their States. 

The DGN Secretariat has been shut down and all Guild activities suspended indefinitely. Members of the Executive committee will however continue to work from home through the Internet.

The President, Olorogun Fred Amata stated that, “DGN is conferring with public health authorities, other Guilds and Associations to gather information as the situation continues to evolve, and we will continue to reassess plans and communicate accordingly.”

Health and Safety continue to be our top priority. Members and colleagues, specifically those that attended last week’s AMVCA should observe strict procedure processes of good hygiene, self isolation and report any apprehensive health issues to NCDC on 08097000010. 

While the days ahead may seem cloudy, Covid-19 as reports have shown is not a death sentence. People recover. Brace yourself and boost your immune system. Stay healthy. Stay at home.

We will weather this storm together!!!

Perekeme Odon

Public Relations Officer (PRO)

Directors’ Guild of Nigeria (DGN)

NFVCB Seeks Filmmakers, Exhibitors And Stakeholders On Best Practices

By Perekeme Odon

The National Film and Video Censors Board Stakeholder Consultative Engagement with Guild / Association heads and representatives in the Nigerian motion picture industry on conversations focused on a new policy direction to further advance the sector was an accomplished welcome development.

It was the first meeting of its kind where the content creators, practitioners, and distributors were called for dialogue to process and absorbed on the conditions for successful collaboration.

The meeting chaired by the NFVCB Executive Director / CEO, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas held at the Ikoyi office of the Board on Monday, February 10, 2020, called for discussions on the revival of fundamental prevailing regulations and policies in order to advance the sector and enhance its robustness with the outcome of effective findings and implementation of the Board’s proposal to ensure coordinated response operation by practitioners.

Speaking on the essence of the meeting, the Censors Board, Executive Director, Adedayo Thomas welcomed and appreciated everyone presents for coming within short notice and emphasized stakeholders knowing certain rules in the constitution that we have refused to obey.

“I didn’t want to put it as an emergency meeting but it calls for that. There are some rules in the constitution that we have decided to shun or be soft on them because we have to build confidence and create an enabling environment for the industry.” He informed practitioners to be very aware of the placement of the Nigerian movie industry in the world and the needful needs to be done.

ED / CEO NFVCB, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas

The CEO appreciates the inputs of what the cinema has done by bringing global recognition to see Nigeria as a market place in the film industry by expanding the market in terms of rating and publicity. “ I will keep saying it that the cinemas are the only set of platforms that are providing us with correct figures, exposing us further than what we think we can be, if not by now we would still be relying on the hope of  ‘Living In Bondage.”

Alhaji Thomas said the DVD / VCD market is still number one and one of the major contributors to the economy, but they do not have the statistics because of their markets overshoot that of cinemas and keeps wondering why people criticize cinema when there are other available channels.

The CEO stated that practitioners exerting their rights to freedom of association will not be pressured into joining a particular body or guild, and would have the privilege to decide on which registered guild or association to belong to. “We urgently need to address the proliferation of the industry by those that have no business with the industry that are springing up, hence the need to identify strictly those who are in the industry. NFVCB is the only regulatory body of the film industry in Nigeria. There is going to come to a time that we need to recognize the guilds and associations because we have over 200 guilds.“

Chairman, Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Lee (M)

He signaled an advance warning that by the second quarter, a yearly Verification and Documentation fee shall be requested from all Guilds/Associations that are willing to be recognized by the Board. “All recognized guild and association, no matter how minimum is going to pay a token fee to the Board. We also need to be supplied those who distribute under them.”

He said a lot of producers give content to unregistered distributors that abound everywhere. That is why everyone must belong to a guild or association before their works can be distributed, and the only recognized association is the Cinema Exhibition Association of Nigeria (CEAN). He advised executive producers to be part of CEAN if not their works would not be approved for distribution.

He went on to say independent executive producers must have a distributor before coming to censor their films because you cannot stand as an individual to distribute your content, even if the constitution does not compel anyone to associate with any guild. “It is the same constitution that gave birth to us for professional reason. You can be an independent executive producer, but when you censor your film, we can only approve it with the clause of ‘Not to be distributed.”

A Cross Section Of Audience

One of the successes of the NFVCB CEO is the ideas and principles of always conferring with the stakeholders of the Nigerian movie industry by having them involved in decision-making processes, which he perceived as giving back the industry to the rightful owners, majorly the guilds/associations’ heads.

Alhaji Thomas apologized to any shortcomings experienced by stakeholders and practitioners by the Censor Board in terms of censorship and delivery and advised producers to always ask for a certificate of censorship on any of their films, rather than forging one for distributorship.

“You must not collect any letter from the NFVCB but a certificate of censorship and distribution. There are a few distribution outlets I visited that are sabotaging this country by airing uncensored contents, and we are going to go after them. The broadcast house needs to confirm from the NFVCB before airing any new content and most suppliers of contents to unregistered distributors are not even members of your guilds and associations.”

A Group Photograph With The NFVCB Executive Director

The climax of the meeting reached the following conclusions drawn in line with the National Film and Video Censors Board Enabling Law Act, 1993 CAP N40 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004 and Regulations 2008.’

He divulged that inasmuch as we want the industry to grow, the little laws should be obeyed. The NVFCB cannot be everywhere at the same time. Trailers should be submitted to the Board earlier before the premiere or release date. “No foreign film is allowed in this country, except providing us with all the details for us to classify them. What goes on YouTube and WhatsApp is difficult to control. Trailers of films classified 18 or higher shall not be broadcast on a television station or any other station before 10 pm unless approved by the Board. Posters advertising films classified 18 or higher shall not be placed near schools and other places which carter for persons below the age of 18.”

Kemi Adekomi

He decisively resolved that the Board would hold Guilds and Associations heads responsible for all breaches, violations, and infringements of the laws and regulations governing the industry. All Guilds and Associations should channel their protests or complaints authoritatively to the Board in writing with acknowledged evidence as may be relevant. Guilds/Associations should also assist the Board in pinpointing and reporting both internal and external trespassers and their despicable accomplishments through available channels with the Office of the Executive Director.

The Chairman, Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN) Mr. Patrick Lee commended the efforts of Adedayo Thomas-led Censors Board for recognizing CEAN and pledged to submit trailers and posters as quickly as possible for proper classifications to be done. He furthermore promised to always provide content that is properly authorized. He beseeched with the Board to look into the additional pressure and burdens on the finances of every guild/association to be paid to the Board, and hope it should be something affordable.

(l-r) Tari West, Leo Omoseebi & Mrs. Joy Osawaru-Akinyemi

Some of the Stakeholders that were at the meeting include President, Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Mr. Ralph Nwadike, Group Executive Director, FilmOne, Moses Babatope (CEAN), President ANCOP, Mrs. Daisy Madu-Chikwendu, National Theatre PRO, Ogundele Steve, NANTAP President, Israel Eboh, Chairman, NANTAP Lagos State, Makinde Adeniran, CDGN Lagos State Chairman, Mrs. Joy Osawaru-Akinyemi, President Screenwriters Guild of Nigeria (SWGN), Yinka Ogun, Chairman, AGN Lagos State, Moji Oyetayo, Bukola Thomas (AGN Lagos), ANTP President, Adewale, Adeoye Elesho, Babatunde Thomason (ANTP), and National Treasurer AMP, Amb. Queen Blessing Ebigieson.

Others include Bukola Thomas, Happiness Erike (NFVCB Lagos), Clement Ogbo (NFVCB Lagos), Opeyemi Ajayi (Genesis/CEAN), Yemi Amadu (TAMPAN), National PRO CDGN, Leo Omoseebi, National PRO DGN, Perekeme Odon, President Akwa / Cross, Umoh Umoh, Secretary-General, SWGN, Tari West, Kemi Adekomi (AGN), Thessy Whyte (Akwa/Cross), PRO FVPMN Lagos State, Pascal Ezenwa, Emeka S. Aluah (FVPMN), Dayo Pelumi (NFVCB Lagos), Mary Edem Ephraim (Homeland films), Jide Ologel (EMCOAN), Adekunle Ojo (Genesis), and scores of others.

(l-r) Yinka Ogun, Moji Oyetayo, Bukola, Adedayo Thomas, Kemi, Leo & Mrs. Joy Akinyemi

(l-r) Queen Blessing, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas & Perekeme Odon

A Group Photograph With The Executive Director

(l-r) Makinde Adeniran, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas & Mrs. Joy Osawaru-Akinyemi

Alhaji Adedayo Thomas

President, SWGN Mr. Yinka Ogun & Alhaji Adedayo Thomas

(l-r) Moji Oyetayo, Bukola Thomas, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas & Kemo Adekomi

ANTP President, Adewale Adeoye Elesho

Mr. Clement Ogbo (NFVCB, Lagos)

Lagos State AGN Chairman, Moji Oyetayo

Chairman, NANTAP State, Mr. Makinde Adeniran

Chairman, AGN Lagos State,  Moji Oyetayo & Alhaji Adedayo Thomas