Some of his fans even doubted if he was truly dead, as he was said to have been similarly rumored dead a few years back, only for him to bounce back hale and hearty.

Loco died at Rappour Hotels, Owerri in his sleep. He reportedly checked into Room 204 at the weekend. Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar confirmed the incident saying that the late actor was reportedly ill for the whole of last week and that his remains have been deposited at the Aladinma Hospital Mortuary, Owerri.

Funeral arrangements will be announced by the family.

Sam Loco will be profoundly missed. He was a Nollywood icon and has been a role model to many Nollywood actors, actresses and Nollywood faithfuls. Indeed the history of Nollywood without Sam Loco will be incomplete.

Many His Gentle Soul Rest in Perfect Peace, Amen!

The 5th Niger Delta Advancement Awards (NDAA) 2011 holds on Saturday 17th , September 2011 at Amazing Grace E-Centre, 25, Obio Imo Street, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Red Carpet starts at 6.00pm. Strictly by Invitation. The NDAA President, Mr. Oxford T. Okpalefe who disclosed the date via a press release said the award ceremony is going to be a night of glitz, glamour and groove.

He further stated that the NDAA night will bring together dignitaries from all walks of life and the best of Niger Delta music artistes and comedians. Although the event is strictly by invitation, a limited number of Invitation cards are available for anyone who wants to attend.

To get an IV, type: NDAA (Space) IV (Space) Name (Space) GSM Number (Space) Location E.g. NDAA IV Oxford Okpalefe 08033608271 Lagos
SEND SMS TO 33120 on all networks.

For more details, call: 08033608271, 08057871199 or Visit: www.ndaa.bunoxcom.com

Thanks

Oxford T. Okpalefe
President

The Mirror Boy is :
• The first African film to premiere at the world famous Empire Cinema, Leicester square, London (this particular cinema is renowned for hosting premieres of Hollywood films in the UK and no Nigerian or African has ever used this prestigious landmark for such. About 1,323 people attended the premiere of the Mirror Boy there)
• First Nigerian film to receive UK wide Odeon cinema release, the biggest African UK release ever, top 5 Odeon London opening w/e, top 20 all UK movies
• The longest run of any African film in any UK cinemas
• Biggest premieres ever in Gambia & Silverbird Ghana, with a sold out extravaganza on 17th of June at the Silverbird cinema Accra
• Twice profiled on CNN as the Future of Nollywood

Awards and nominations include:
- Break through Actor ( Genevieve Nnaji) at the Monaco film festival 2011
- Best Young Actor ( Edward kagutuzi) AMAA 2011
- Best Film & Best Supporting Actor (Osita Iheme) – AMAA nominees 2011
- Best picture (Obi Emelonye) & Best Pan African Actor (Edward kagutuzi) – Nigerian Entertainment Awards (nominees)
- Whooping Twelve nominations (ZAAFA Awards) to be held in October in the UK ( Best Film, Best Editing, Best Story, Best Sound editing, Best Child Actor Male, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Producer, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, Best Lead Actress, Best Lead Actor).

One can’t forget to mention the film festivals as well – Monaco Film Festival (Official Selection), Cannes Film Festival (Unofficial Screening), Africa in Motion Film Festival (Official Selection), Dubai Film Festival (Official Selection). The Mirror Boy ( “TMB”) flaunts an array of a mixed cast (Nigerians, Gambians, Britons, Ugandan) working with a highly skilled crew who know their onions such as Clive Norman (Director of Photography), who has over 30 International awards in his kitty, including BTAA, Royal Television awards and Promax, Andrew Webber, the experienced film editor, Gabriel Okorie (Multiple award winning special effects & makeup artiste). The movie was produced by Obi Emelonye & Patrick Campbell with Akin Salami as the Executive producer, and Associate Producers ( Gordon Irole, Fatima Jabbe and Charles Thompson (MBE). Sound tracks were by Cashino NDT, Luciano, and Fragrance.

The Mirror Boy unveils the story about Tijan, a 12 year old London born African boy (Edward kagutuzi) who is taken by his mother Teema (Genevieve Nnaji) to Gambia for the first time. He gets lost in a crowded street market called Serekunda having been distracted by a boy he’d earlier seen in the mirror when they arrived in Banjul. His mother begins a frantic search for him. Tijan must confront his deepest fears as he tries to find his way back to his mother and embarks on a journey of self discovery, led by the enigmatic Mirror Boy (Osita Iheme), a journey in which the lines between reality and fantasy; the physical and the spiritual are blurred. A mystical and cathartic climax helps Tijan to unravel the mystery of the Mirror Boy…

According to Obi Emelonye who was interviewed by the BBC and CNN, “ the Mirror Boy was shot in two months, 80% in Gambia and 20% in the UK.. It is a universal family adventure film, a modern – age rite of passage movie that explores the concept of identity crisis amongst children born in the Diaspora”. His directorial credits include but not limited to Echoes of war (2003), Sweet Betrayal (2004), The London Successor (2005), Lucky Joe (2006), The Asylum (2008), Quiet Storm (2009) and now, The Mirror Boy. He brings his stature as a lawyer and the attendant pragmatism to the sometimes chaotic world of film and productions. His multi- disciplinary approach to film making, his relentless creative drive and an uncanny sense of artistic style has incontrovertibly made him stand out as one of the UK’s contemporary directors.

Many Nigerians have asked for the reason behind the use of Gambia as the films setting rather than Nigeria in the story. He didn’t write the story with Gambia in mind, his first choice was the Obudu Cattle ranch in Cross River state where he wanted to shoot to promote the Tourism potentials in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Unfortunately the government officials declined his request for logistics support. Another door of opportunity opened when Fatima Jabbe ( a Gambian and wife of the king in the film) offered to get logistics support from the Gambian government. The President, Vice- President, Minister of Culture and communication, pledged logistics support and provided same, ranging from accommodation in a Five Star Hotel near the beach, vehicles fuelled straight from the State House, security, props and freedom to shoot anywhere. Names, places had to be changed to suit the environment and to give back to a country that had willingly offered to make the Mirror Boy project a reality.

It was also difficult to find a Nigerian boy to play the role of 12 year old Tijan in the UK after four auditions had been carried out. The role was further extended to Africans , but the suitable person for the role was still not found until an agent sent Edward’s picture ( who was 19 but could pass for the twelvish age) and bam! Tijan was found.

According to Augusta Okon, Head of Strategy and PR for the Mirror Boy (Nigeria), “movie goers are assured of enjoying a thrilling ride in the Mirror Boy train as they embark on a journey alongside the film’s characters with each unfolding scene. There’s never a dull moment in the film with intermittent comical relief, suspense filled, emotional laden, exhilarating acts, spun around highly powered cinematography, sound, special /visual effects, beautiful sites, rich African culture , and a contemporary feel as well ”.

Movie goers will certainly get their monies worth and leave the cinemas after watching the film with a deep sense of satisfaction and pride for the quantum leap created by The Mirror Boy in the Movie Industry. The Mirror Boy, premieres on the 5th of August 2011 as earlier stated at the silver bird cinemas. Movie goers can also buy tickets to watch same on the premiere date and see the stars in the movie, stars in the Entertainment Industry (movies, music, comedy, dance), dignitaries, high net-worth individuals who will grace the ground breaking event. The film is being distributed by Blue pictures Ltd, the foremost film distribution company in Nigeria and shows in all cinemas ( Silverbird, Ozone, Genesis Deluxe) from 5th of August 2011.

The Mirror Boy will take you on an interesting journey that will linger on in your minds … for a long time to come.
NAIJA ARE YOUR READY FOR THE JOURNEY ? …

Contest of Champions

The Gulder Ultimate Search season 8 is tagged ‘The Champion of Champions’ and will feature 30 participants, the first ten participant will get special prizes in order of their rank while the remaining will all receive a consolation prize of N150,000. The game will hold at the Egbetua Quarters Ososo Mountain in Edo state, a location Bassey said is best suited to the theme of this edition.

“We are at a stage where different state governors are inviting us to bring the game to their states but we have to choose locations that best suits our theme,” Bassey explained.

Screening and selection will be done regionally in Lagos, Owerri, Benin and Abuja at the close of the Internet registration process on Friday August 19, 2011.

Go and register now at http://www.gulderultimatesearch.tv/ …. Good Luck.

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Hurry and order you next Nollywood DVD and Books from our Nollywood Store.

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The Nigeria high commission in Kenya in collaboration with the Nigeria Export Promotion Council is bringing the creme de la creme of Nollywood to Nairobi to celebrate with Kenyans and to give them opportunity to wine and dine with their favourite Nollywood Celebrity.

The ‘Nollywood Road Show’ is part of the week long activities that starts on the 25th – 31st of May 2011 will include workshops, seminars, presentation and other interactive sessions.

The ‘A’ list expected from Nollywood includes- Ini Edo, Nkem Owoh, Uche Jombo, Ramsey Nouah; others are 2Face Idibia, Mama G (Patience Ozokwor), Desmond Elliot, etc.

All Nollywood lovers in Nairobi and indeed Kenya are implored to come out en-mass and enjoy the best of Nollywood in Nairobi.

The Nollywood celebrity long awaited wedding is billed to happen between August 25th and 27th. The court wedding would take place at the Ikoyi Registry on August 25 while traditional wedding would take place on 26 and the white wedding on 27th August at Christ Embassy Church in Oregun, Lagos.

Nollywood WATCH wishes Miss Johnson a wonderful wedding and a blissful future together.

In a bid to give back to the society and help Nigerian youths discover their potential, actress Stella, under the auspices of SDAF, had held a three-day audition at Zamunda, Ologun Agbaje Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to the multiple award-winning actress, the free programme will train and equip young people in various areas of arts, ensuring that at the end of the training, participants will have better exposure and opportunity to become professionals in their chosen fields.

The free creative arts audition was open to young people of between the ages of 16 and 30 years and from all walks of life, regardless of their educational background.

SOURCE – Vanguard.

Sword of the Spirit Film & T.v a small Christian production company based in London has approached BIG DADDY OF NOLLYWOOD FILMS ADEBAYO SALAMI to star in their new project: FUNKE NI ORUKO awan OBIRIN©.

We are starting talks on the role and castings said Ms Obisanya a graduate of Raindance Film Academy and Goldsmiths College .

The owner of the Christian Production company whose last film was a docu reality IT WAS FURTHER ENACTED©(2nd best documentary BOOMTOWN FILM festival 2011.) continued- ‘I think this role would be very good for big daddy as it will bring him to another level in the industry’ we are very excited.’ We hope to kick start filming soon.