Directing Òlòturé, personal triumph for me – Kenneth Gyang
Òlòturé is among four Nigerian Netflix originals set to be released between this year and 2021.
Filmmaker Kenneth Gyang has said directing ‘Òlòturé’, his latest film set to be launched globally on October 2, is a personal triumph for him.
The award-winning director of ‘Confusion Na Wa’ pointed out that as a storyteller, he believes the market is big for all sorts of stories and ‘Òlòturé’ is an example of what he had always wanted to make.
“It really makes me happy and I hope it encourages a lot of people that if they stick to what they are doing, they would be able to get to the end of the tunnel using the right kind of materials without getting pressured by society.
On his experience working on the project, Gyang described it as no different from others aside the fact that he had a big studio like Ebonylife Films taking charge of the movie’s budget and so he wasn’t worried about funding. “I also had very strong producers who gave me all the support,” he said.
Gyang noted that he usually produced alongside, but in the case of ‘Òlòturé’ he had “strong producers who know what they are doing, so it was like a walk in the park in terms of planning and budgeting.”
‘Òlòturé’ is the story of a young female journalist who goes undercover as a prostitute to expose a human trafficking syndicate. It is part of Mo Abudu’s Ebonylife partnership with Netflix. Its cast includes Sharon Ooja, Omowunmi Dada, Omoni Oboli, Blossom Chukwujekwu and Wofai Fada.
In a recent development, Netflix, a film streaming company, on Monday announced its partnership with Nigeria’s Inkblot Productions who created and produced an untitled young adult drama series which follows the story of Ishaya, “a charismatic teenager and talented artist from a poor family, whose dreams suddenly appear within reach when a prestigious scholarship to the most exclusive school in the country catapults him into the luxurious world of Nigeria’s 1% - all while a huge secret threatens his newfound status and, ultimately, his family’s safety.”
The six-episode series is created by Chinaza Onuzo and Dami Elebe who serve as executive producer and head writer, respectively. It will be directed by Onuzo, Tope Oshin and Niyi Akinmolayan. Also, Funke Akindele is confirmed as playing one of the lead characters, while Zulumoke Oyibo and Damola Ademola will serve as executive producers.
Another Nigerian film includes ‘Citation’, the coming-of-age story of Moremi, a bright university student who forms a bond with her charismatic and well-connected professor who ends up sexually harassing her. The film follows Moremi’s quest for justice and stars Jimmy Jean Louis, Gabriel Afolayan, Ini Edo, Joke Silva, Adjetey Anang and newcomer Temi Otedola. From director
Kunle Afolayan, it is produced by Golden Effects Pictures and will be on Netflix globally on November 6.
There is also ‘King of Boys II’, the sequel to director Kemi Adetiba’s 2018 crime thriller, in which a businesswoman and crime boss is drawn into a power struggle that threatens all she holds dear. Set to launch globally in the first half of 2021, the movie begins with Eniola Salami’s triumphant return, after a five-year exile, to Lagos City. The movie features stars like Sola Sobowale, Remilekun ‘Reminisce’ Safaru, Tobechukwu ‘iLLBliss’ Ejiofor, and Toni Tones, as well as Richard Mofe-Damijo, Nse IkpeEtim, and Efa Iwara.
According to Ben Amadasun, Netflix’s director of licensing and co-productions in Africa, “These Netflix original films demonstrate how we’re building a home for the best-in-class Nigerian content for our members in Nigeria and beyond. It’s amazing to see how Nigerian films and series resonate with audiences around the world. By making it easy for people to watch films and shows from other countries, we can help them build empathy and develop a shared understanding of the world.”