PRESIDENT FRED AMATA CHARGES MEMBERS TO ALWAYS MAINTAIN STANDARDS

By Perekeme Odon

The President of the Directors' Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Mr. Fred Amata arrived Edo State via the Benin airport to his hotel in the early hours on Sunday evening, and without much ado, he went into the business of the day.

(L-R) Mr. Fred Amata, DGN President & Mr. Davidson Izegaegbe, DGN Edo State Coordinator

While welcoming the President to Edo State, the coordinator Mr. Davidson Izegaegbe stated that the arrival of the President was timely and most important in view of the progressive agenda put at the floor for discussion.

Billy King set the ball rolling by reviewing what steps could be taken to make other states DGN members be actively involved in the mainstream of NOLLYWOOD activities.

The President, Mr. Fred Amata said that Nollywood is bigger than we think or visualize because the business of filmmaking is beyond a locale hence the need  to constantly ennoble the DGN whenever the tools of filmmaking is at our reach. He assured that with the work on the various locations in Edo State, mainstream Nollywood seem to be in Benin now. He stressed that the structure on the ground in Benin will take everyone by storm.

He said further that our prestigious guild is very far from where it started and almost getting near where we are heading, sighting teething problems as springboard for writing the page of success in the book of history.

In addition, the Benin Zonal Coordinator, Davidson Izegaegbe said that part of the teething problems before now was information disseminations which somehow made "hoarding of information" key to making progress slow but for the internet which has made the world a global village, with preproduction, production and post production dynamics now at our finger tips.

Mr. Peddie Okao a producer/director of repute also buttresses his point by referring the DGN President to an industry blueprint/template developed by Edo State to stir the ship of our filmmaking business to glory.  He talked on aspects that have taken care of distribution, marketing, film village for practitioners, guilds/associations structures, and the need for our indigenes in diasporas who are into filmmaking to take advantage of the vast opportunity for investment in the film industry.

He furthermore advised on the need for DGN members to put in their best in every production irrespective of the language or locale it is shot since filmmaking cuts across language barriers. He concludes that Edo will soon be the much desired Nollywood destination. 

In conclusion, the President expressed his joy in seeing that the Benin Zone is well organised and focused in articulating the policies of the DGN executives and the industry in general. He enjoined all to always maintain the standard of DGN and remain good ambassadors of this guild of honour.

The President was later ushered into a film premier room at the ISNO Hotel , and taken to a location where a film shoot by Billy Kings was holding, and was later hosted by the management of Hexagon Entertainment Center in the heart of Benin.

The 4-day visit to Benin Zone by the President, which commenced on Sunday August 5 to Wednesday August 8 2018, is one of very many to happen within the year as already scheduled by the Zonal Chapter of the DGN in Edo State.

In his address to the new appointees, the President, Fred Amata, congratulated the Coordinator, Davidson Izegaegbe and the Secretary Johnbull Negbenebor, and thereafter tasked them to uphold the tenets of the guild.

The President also seized the opportunity to congratulate all the newly appointed committee members, Zonal coordinators and Secretaries. He enjoined all to see the task of building the guild as a duty that must be done. He reminded the guild that as custodian of the film art of Nigeria the prestige and integrity of the guild should be made manifest through their dedication and commitment.

The President said he was happy with the role played by Benin Zone members in creating the Movie Industry template for filmmakers in Edo State, and said that his visit to the Zone is one of many to come help sustain a viable movie industry in the State.

FRED AMATA LED DGN HOLDS ITS INAUGURAL EXCO MEETING IN LAGOS

By Perekeme Odon

(M) Mr. Fred Amata

The inaugural meeting of the Directors’ Guild of Nigeria DGN took place on Tuesday July 10, 2018 at the DGN Secretariat in Surulere, Lagos state.

The new executives of the apex guild of the Nigerian movie industry tagged ‘Nollywood’ inaugurated its eight-member executive on Friday 22, June 2018 at the renowned cinema hall of the Nigerian Film Corporation, Obalende, Ikoyi- Lagos after a successful AGM / election in Abeokuta, Ogun state on April 13, 2018.

The President, Mr. Fred Amata welcomed the new Exco members and extended courtesies to all who came from far and near. He admonished members to be of good conduct in discharging their responsibilities, and expressed his dismay about the antagonism suffered by the administration despite the giant steps taken in the last two years.

DGN EXCO

Speaking further, the President highlighted,  “This is a relatively short meeting but it is nonetheless important to welcome you all once again. I recognize and thank the esteem executives for their unprecedented support in my first tenure. It feels good to be here and to have the opportunity to speak at another inaugural meeting. Nigeria is an emerging force in the world of filmmaking and needs no hindrance from achieving its full potentials and attributes by protecting the rights of the directors and take care of the welfare of its members, which is our constitutional responsibility, and most importantly, let every member speak with one cohesive voice to drive and dictate policies. We will do the best to foster a reasonable system for film production by setting goals “. The President underlined on the occasion: “It is far too easy to lose hope in life and the world. That is not an option. We therefore need to seek strength and protect ourselves by laughing more, crying more, exploring ourselves more to challenges. We need to let our world be turned upside down more often. Media habits have changed dramatically in the past five years and we know that streaming and home cinema systems are increasingly part of people's everyday lives”.

Tony Akposheri & Mac Collins Chidebe

In addition, the President emphasized that this tenure will focus on reinforcing the sustainable structures that entrenched the guild. The Physical Structures, including The Secretariat, The Administrative Structure; including Patrons, The Board, The EXCO, Zonal Coordinators, Committees, and the Legal Structure rooted in the Constitution.

TMr. Fred Amata & His Exco

He pledged to increase ties with the administrative operations by sourcing for reliable, well meaning and passionate individuals as patrons to support in driving the affairs of the guild and assured members that perfecting the constitution was priority. He likewise advised members to embrace the NollyINSURED welfare scheme, which is a one of a kind health initiative, tailored for the movie industry and promised members of an organized sensitization workshop at each zone in Nigeria to enlighten members.

President Amata deliberated intensely with its EXCO members on broadening the scope of the guild and defined major highpoints his administration will focus on which include setting up more zones where necessary, intensive capacity building and training programmes for members home and abroad and hosting of International Directors Day / Week / Award Night; where practitioners, Patrons, Fellows and Grand Patron will be honoured.

The EXCO

The DGN President furthermore respectively assured members on the need for appointment of new Zonal Coordinators with terms of reference, Code of Conduct Handbook, DGN press card for appropriate identification and easy access to location.

(L-R) Dan Chukwueze, Fred Amata & Perekeme Odon

In his modest remark, President Fred Amata thanked the executives for their enormous and brilliant contributions and implored them to stay focused and straight like an arrow. “This is not my task alone. Together we are stronger, and together we can. We must make this tenure a turning point by making the changes needed to move the guild forward. My first tenure was years of turmoil and laughter. It brought challenges and crises, at times pushing me to the limits. But it was also one of inspiration. The recognition by the global community of our abilities reflects your generous contributions and investment in our effort. That is why my vision is simply ‘Positioning DGN' with a mission to ‘Introduce globally recognized avant-garde practices which do not come as commercial to local cinema audience and expose local films and filmmakers to the world. We are the last generation who will be able voluntarily to take the necessary steps that will build the road to dignity for all”.

(L-R)Collins Chidebe, Uche Agbo & Tony 

Executive members present at the meet were Mr. Fred Amata (President), Mr. China Mac Collins Chidebe (Vice President), Mr. Uchenna Agbo (National Secretary), Mr. Tony Akposheri (Financial Secretary), Mr. Perekeme Odon (Public Relations Officer), Mr. Osita Okoli (Provost) and Mr. Daniel Chukwueze (Welfare Officer).

CASSANDRA ROWLAND DAZZLES NOLLYWOOD IN 'THE MONITOR'

By Perekeme Odon

Cassandra Rowland

The depth and range of female talent that is coming up in Nollywood is enormously impressive, and they deserve to have killer roles to take on. We are about to hit a real sea change with the kind of movies Nollywood is making, and fast rising filmmaker-cum-actress Onome Cassandra Rowland is up for the challenge.

Cassandra an entrepreneur actress and Mass Communication graduate from Nassarawa State University, Keffi may be far from a household name, but she has always wanted to be in front of camera and television. As a little girl growing up in Kaduna state, she had anticipated of grabbing some leading turns when the time comes. However, her first break as an actor was in 2010, though not a major role, but it was her first real baptism ushering her into Nollywood.

The last of four kids (2 boys and 2girls) as a child would always stage plays with her friends where she would act as Genevieve Nnaji, She highlighted: “As a child I wanted to be an actor, even when other kids would come up with professions like, law, banking, medicine and so on. I always tell them I want to be an actress like Genevieve when I grow up. Genevieve Nnaji remains a phenomenal goddess to me. There is just something special about herself and the way she interprets characters "

       

Cassandra finally looks ready to explode and making a giant stride in the next few months after a dazzling performance as ‘Jessica in her latest movie. “My latest movie ‘THE MONITOR’ produced and directed by Eazzy Ologe God's Power was a great booster for my acting skills. I played the lead role and acted alongside the eccentric actor Ninalowo Bolanle. It was quite challenging as my first big break to land a lead role and quite tough for me because I was a victim of rape, which led to an unwanted pregnancy. My husband abandoned me after finding out so I had to do a lot of crying.  I am so happy as it boosted my confidence”.

Cassandra Rowland

The Warri South actress loves improvisation and never allows personal issues alter her craft describes her acting style as intentional and thoughtful since she is methodical when learning a new character and likes to entirely internalize and externalize character development and characterization.

She went to talk about what happened on the set of ‘COOKIES POT’ directed by the whimsical actor/director LALA DAPO. “I had family issues and was not in the right frame of mind, but as an actor, you don't bring your personal problems to set because it won’t go down well with the director when he calls his shots. I had to put my personal problems aside, got into character and delivered the role”.

With Director Eazzy Ologe On The Set Of 'The Monitor'

Cassandra who adores factual human angle roles and stories that is captivating and answers topical questions to humanity believes she can change the narrative of how people perceive life by giving hope to humanity with her talent.

She believes the future is very bright, as she has started plan on bringing to live an entertainment talent show to showcase to the world. ” I see myself becoming a big brand in the future.  I have a story to tell the world through filmmaking. So look out world, Cassandra is coming”.

DStv, GOtv Raise Subscription Prices

By Hamzat

Pay television operator, MultiChoice is set to slash subscription price on its digital terrestrial television platform, GOtv, while increasing prices of bouquets on its digital satellite platform, DStv.

The price adjustment would take effect on August 1. When it takes effect, sources disclosed, subscribers on the GOtv MAX package would pay N3, 200 instead of N3, 800 currently being charged for the package. The new price regime would see prices on the five DStv bouquets go up slightly. 

The expected new price for DStv Compact is N500 higher than what customers currently pay, as the price goes up to N6, 800 from N6, 500.  Premium subscribers would pay N15, 800 instead of N14, 700 currently being paid, a difference of N1, 100. Compact Plus subscribers would pay N10, 650 as against N9, 900 currently being paid.

Prices of the two lowest DStv packages, Family and Access, are also to be similarly reviewed. Subscription for the Family bouquet would go up to N4,000 from N3,800, while that of the Access package would rise to N2, 000 from N1, 900. The company had not issued an official statement on the expected price adjustments as at the time of filing the report. In a related development, sports broadcaster, SuperSport, would from the start of the 2018/2019 season broadcast live all the 380 matches of the Italian league, popularly known as Serie A.

The matches of the league competition, which kicks off on August 19, would be available both DStv and GOtv platforms.  The development is sequel to an agreement reached between SuperSport and the Serie A.