Farai Today » Nollywood

WATCH NOW: Nollywood Actress GENEVIEVE NNAJI Up, Close & Personal On CNN!!

farai — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 23:18:37 +0000

Happy Holidays Guys & Dolls!

“Tis the season to be merry, faaaa lala, lala lala lala lalaaaa!“

Of course everyone knows my love and admiration for Nollywood blockbuster actress, Genevieve Nnaji. Well she sat down with Max Foster of CNN to chat on her career, Nollywood & advice on up-coming actresses.

Genevieve and Max Foster of CNN

Peep her CNN interview:

On the recent boom (in movie premieres) and why it has taken off:

Cinema is pretty new in Nigeria. I mean it used to be back in the day but that sort of faded off. But it’s new and it’s coming back. And hopefully it comes to stay. But for now all we do is home-videos. Movies for your TV. But then we’ve had success stories like IJE and a few other movies that have been shot on film. And had to be premiered and shown in the cinema’s. It’s amazing how people have received this!

On the biggest challenge as an actress in Africa

Wow, in the beginning, it was pretty challenging because first of all, you had to…it’s not a culture that Africans, well back in the day, took to very readily. It was hard having to go through that and at the same time convince people that you know what you are doing and they should give you a chance to prove yourself. And it’s possible to do something, to be in the public eye and be an actor and still be normal. It was challenging…

On walking down the streets of Lagos, Nigeria:

I don’t walk. I drive. And I am safe.

One actor in Hollywood that you would want to work with and why

Angelina Jolie, I am a huge fan. Love her, love her, love her! Johnny Depp, amazing actor. I think he’s so intriguing. I think that there’s something so mysterious about him.

On how she discovers other talented Nigerian actors and what she does to give back to her country (Nigeria):

We have quite a number of young ones back home who are trying to be actors and actresses. And they are really working hard. But all you have to do is audition and prove yourself and believe in yourself and you will definitely have a break through at some point…What do I do to give back? I basically look out for talent. In the industry, I look out for talent. I encourage alot of producers to try out new people. And for the society, the little I can do to be honest

On advice to young Nigerian girls that may want to follow her foot-steps

I would tell them to definitely be sure, first of all.

On if she would advise them to go into the industry:

Yes, of course! [laughs] It is a wonderful place to be, especially if you love what you do, if you are sure you can do it. It is a wonderful place to be. I would definitely advise them to believe in themselves, be true to themselves,and be sure it’s something they are willing to do and they are ready for the consequences. Because every good thing comes with consequences.

On what those consequences are?

Aaahh, you lose your priorities for starters.

What has been you biggest regret in Nigerian film?

Oh boy, regret! I hardly regret anything. I just learn from mistakes. I do not regret anything. You do the best you can at that point in time. Everything is about growth and progress and I have gotten older, so obviously you learn more. You learn everything on the job. I love my job. I don’t regret anything…

And there you have it! Genevieve Nnaji up, close and personal on CNN!

Genevieve Nnaji on her way to CNN

Bola Aduwo, Richard Quest, & Genevieve Nnaji

Your Thoughts On Her Interview?!?!

Speak on it! We love to hear from you guys!

Wishing you and your loved ones a spectacular Christmas & prosperous New Year!

Photo: Bola Aduwo (Nollywoodcut)

AFROTAINMENT TV: Exclusive Interview With NollyWood Hearthrob, RAMSEY NOAUH!!!

farai — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 16:10:51 +0000

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The Samy Priso Show is the first and only African late night comedy show in North America. The show airs on the all new Afrotainment TV channel on the Dish Network nationwide in the PAN-AFRICAN bouquet. In addition to Afrotainment TV (channel 751), there are 3 other top rated African TV channels in the PAN-AFRICAN bouquet; Afrotainment Music (channel 667), HiTV (channel 650), and the first and only channel (in French) dedicated to broadcast African News 24/7, Africa24 (channel 653).

The Afrotainment TV late night talk show is hosted by comedian, Samy Priso. In the clip below of the Samy Priso Show, Samy and I interviewed Nollywood actor Ramsey Nouah at the 2010 Nigerian Reunion in Long Island, New York.

Farai & Ramsey, Long Island, NYC!

I have known Ramsey for a while now and he is mad cool and one of the sweetest Nollywood actors I know! So it was really good to catch up with him at the 2010 Nigerian Reunion where he was receiving the 2010 Nigerian Image Award for Best Actor!

Peep our interview with Ramsey:

Fun times!

Farai & Ramsey

Here’s some info about the Afrotainment TV channel, Samy Priso Show. During this hilarious one hour program, Samy will do a satire of the society, host entertainment personalities, tour the world with a special reporter called “Igwe“. The “Igwe” role is played by Tivo Shikapwashya.

SUBSCRIBE TO AFROTAINMENT?!

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CLICK HERE

Holla back & let us know that you SUBSCRIBED & how you are loving AFROTAIMENT….

Muah & ♥ ya for it

World Premiere! Africa’s leading sexy actress Omotola plays Mind Game!

farai — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:37:47 +0000

I actually got a chance to hang out with Omotola, John Uche, Reginald Lubin, Van Vicker and crew on their movie set in the Washington D.C. area for the making of the suspense thriller, Mind Game! It was so much fun and very eye-opening for me to see how a Nollywood movie is produced!

Omotola getting her make-up done prior to filming a scene!

So typically Nollywood movies are shot in a very short space of time [5 - 7 days]….yeah I know [smile]! Very short! It also about the budget really. I mean two words…Tyle Perry!

Anyhow, alot of pre-production work and preparation takes places to enable a short execution time for the actual filming of the movie. So pre-production is lengthy & includes script revisions, locations scouted & booked, and actors come ready to work! It is so amazing to see the speed with which Nollywood actors & actresses memorize their lines. They are also heavily involved in the direction of the movie…So this is essentially how John Uche is able to shoot a full length feature in a short space of time! Can I say the Tyler Perry of Nollywood!

John Uche on movie location watching play-back of a Mind Game scene

John Uche is a Nigerian [Nollywood] movie producer & director based in the U.S. He is pretty prolific in terms of the number of movies he has directed and produced. What I love about John is that he is very hands on and is an “actors” director in that he is able to bring out the best in his actors…I manage to get some acting tips from him [smile]

Omotola getting ward-robe help from Sam & John

So according to the movie synopsis, in this heart racing, conflict stricken, suspense cut drama, Betty (Omotola Jalade Ekeinde) gets entangled in her worst nightmare. All hell breaks loose one afternoon when she unexpectedly returns home from work, only to find her husband Richard (Van Vicker) in a very compromising position with a friend of his in their study. This incident takes place four months after their wedding, during which Richard deliberately avoids consummating their marriage…[you know "summin" is up when an African man avoids "contact" his wife, I hear! Just sayin' though!]

Shocked beyond comprehension, Betty is torn between divorcing him or staying in the marriage…

Mind Game Trailer

Omo & Reginald on restaurant scene

Ghanaian actor Van Vicker is the lead actor in this movie. The movie premieres TONIGHT in Worcester, Massachusetts. John, Omotola & other cast members will be at the beautiful Mechanics Hall located on 321 Main Street, Worcester, MA for the screening of the movie. Show starts promptly at 8PM [seriously!]…

So Nollywood fans & aficionados this is a great alternative to the halloween madness! So to all my East coast peeps [especially in the MA area] please show your love & support!

Van Vicker

Also Haitian actor and medical doctor by profession, Reginald Lubin is lead supporting actor! He was so awesome to interview & so yummy to look at…

Dr. Reginald Lubin on set of Mind Game

I have come to know Omotola and she is a fab chic and really amazing! She has been with her pilot hubby for years and together they have 4 kids [can I look like that when I have my kids!]. Very professional, it is so inspiring to see Omo at work. Sister girl takes her work very seriously & but also understands her brand & what she brings to the set [others interpret that to be demanding but I think she is just a Naija chic who knows exactly what she wants!].

With Omotola on the set of her latest movie, Mind Game!

So be the first to check out Mind Game with Omotola, Van Vicker, Reginald Lubin TONIGHT!

Time: 8:00pm

Venue: Mechanics Hall, 321 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608

Toodles!

Mind Game

It’s all about the GREEN & WHITE baby! – Genevieve Nnaji on Oprah Winfrey, Nigerian independence celebrations & more!

farai — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 02:31:44 +0000

Hi dolls & Happy 49th Independence Day to all our Naija people world-wide!

Nigerian flag is green & white!

You can almost feel the euphoria as preparations are underway [world-wide it seems] for the Nigerian 49th Independence Day celebrations! Problem is I have my green & white outfit ready but which party do I attend? So many to choose from…What’s a fab African chic to do? Seriously, from Los Angeles, Atlanta, Washington DC, New York City to Johannesburg, London & Lagos, October 1st, Nigerians world wide celebrate the country’s 49th independence!

Knowing our Naija peeps, they will do it big! We hear the Nigerian Independence Day Parade in New York City is going to be bananas!

Another celebration that is going to be bananas is from our Nigerian good friends from Trendsetterz Entertainment…check the info below!

Gotta love that pink in there!

Includes cultural & fashion show. Guys & dolls we are told that you gotta show up in your GREEN & WHITE! October 3rd the celebrations continues at IBIZA Lounge…

In Hollywood, California with blockbuster actress herself Genevieve Nnaji on the set of her movie.

So this is inspiring…we definitely heart Genevieve Nnaji! She is one of Nollywood’s biggest superstar actresses & she was profiled in today’s Oprah Winfrey Show!

I sat down with her during one of her recent movie shoots in America. The Farai Today show was granted exclusive backstage access to Genevieve on location in Hollywood. Check her out on the Farai Today Show, on Afrotainment Network [Dish Network Channel 751] Sunday’s & Wednesday’s.

Genny as she is affectionately called by her fans, is the highest paid Nollywood actess & has played a variety of roles [bad girl, sister, wife, girl-next-door - you name 'em she's played e'm] She is also a very prolific actress, churning out more that TEN movies a year! Genny is the business when it comes to Nollywood movies.

She sat down with me to talk about why her fans heart her so much, her career, love life & oh so much more…

She is reserved as a person but so professional on set & totally morphs into character once they shout, “lights, camera, action”….it was amazing to see her work her craft!

Go Genny!

Toodles!