KUNLE AFOLAYAN UNVEILS FUGURINE TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AT THE PALMS

By Niyi Tabiti/gistmaster.com
News Editor

When it comes to the business of movie, international film maker, actor and producer, Kunle Afolayan knows it like the back of his palms. It is no surprise, having worked with a bank and known to be creative, Afolayan would not have been anything less.
Recently, Kunle invited the Nigerian business community to the preview of his latest movie ‘Fingurine’ at Genesis Cinema located at The Palms, Lekki. Stars in the movie includes Ramsey Nouah,Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi,Tosin Sido,Omoni Oboli and Muraina Oyelami.
The event had representatives from various PR companies; advertising companies and conglomerates.Afolayan disclosed that the purpose of the premiere for business executives is to show them practical opportunities of showcasing their products through ‘subtle’ advertising and other means in movies.
There are various scenes in the movie; brands can be used to depict certain places. He thanked GSK makers of Lucozade Boost, MicCom Golf Hotels and Resorts, for using the movie as a platform to showcase their product and services.
We gathered that this sis the beginning of a series of premieres that would take place in Nigeria and various parts of the world.
Ramsey Nouah,Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi,Tosin Sido,Omoni Oboli are some of the lead actors in the movie.
The synopsis of Figurine (Araromire) shows that it is a story of two buddies and a girl…all down on their luck have their lives changed when one of them discovers ‘Araromire’ a mysterious fingurine in a n abandoned shrine which, according to legend bestows seven years of good luck. But no one told them about the next seven years…
A statement obtained by http://www.niyitabiti.blogspot.com/ from Golden Effect, the production owned by Kunle Afolayan described Figurine as a multi-cultural and contemporary feature highlighting the essence and efficacy of tradition, friendship, betrayal and love. It transcends both the ancient and modern day.

ABOUT KUNLE AFOLAYAN
Born into the family of legendary film maker, Late Adeyemi Afolayan (Ade Love), Kunle started his acting career from childhood and also helping is father in his film productions. A graduate of Business Administration, he later studied Digital Film Making at the New York Film Institute,USA.He produced the award winning movie,Irapada and also co-directed a short film titled Triangle of Needs with Catherine Sullivan, a notable American film maker.
Aside winning several awards, Kunle Afolayan has showcased his work at notable international film festivals such as London Film Festival, screening at Pan African Movie festival,Los Angeles,USA,Nollywood International Road Show,Iyalode Film Festival in Atlanta,Georgia,USA etc.

WORLD BANK VP MEETS 2009 FUTURE AWARD WINNERS IN LAGOS

Story and photos by Niyi Tabiti
News Editor

The Vice President of World Bank,Mrs.Oby Ezekwezili, last weekend, met with winners of this year's Future Award at Civic Centre in Lagos.
Most of the winners were present and the former minister of Education popularly known as 'Madam Due Process' durning the Olusegun Obasanjo Administration took time to mentor the winners on how to be the true drivers of their generation. Everyone felt at home with Mrs.Ezekwezili because of her great sense of humour. Hey! forget it if you think that Madam Due Process knows nothing about designers,Television...she seems to be vast in what is going on in the country, even on the social scene.She tells Cobhams Asuquo "My husband like your music.His name is Pastor..." To another person,she said "My Son loves to dance.If you have a website then let me know"......
Madam is funnier than most of our comedians!

Future Award is an annual youth award ceremony organised by Redstrat,owned and managed by three people-Emilia Asim-Nta,Adebola Willaima and Chude Jideonwo

FOLUKE DARAMOLA PREMIERES LATEST MOVIE ‘WAKATI EDA’…DONATES WHEEL CHAIR TO “ABACHA”

By Niyi Tabiti
News Editor/gistmaster.com

The first lady of Ondo State, Mrs.Mimiko and other important personalities graced the occasion of ‘Wakati Eda’, a Yoruba movie produced by cross over actress and producer, Foluke Daramola-Sobowale in Lagos. The banquet hall of Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, was packed full of movie enthusiasts, producers, movie practitioners and well wishers. Bonsue fuji creator, Adewale Ayuba a.k.a Mr.Johnson also thrilled the guests.
The special guest of Honour, Mrs. Mimiko was full of praises for the talented actress. She disclosed that when the actress came calling on Governor Olusegun Mimiko (her husband) and herself, they were moved by the story line and what they considered positive changes the movie would make in the lives of the people when finally released.
It was excitement all the way as the trio of the Femi Branch, Saheed Balogun and Stella Damasus- Nzeribe anchored the event. The short preview of the movie as the title implies, emphasize the rule of perseverance because one day there would be breakthrough.
When it was donation time, Mrs.Mimiko (who came to the event alongside her daughter and few aides) said that they would make donation of an undisclosed amount. The same term applies to the representative of Mrs.Toyin Saraki, First Lady of Kwara State.
The high point of the ceremony, however, was when Foluke donated a wheel chair to a physically challenged man popularly known as Abacha. http://www.niyitabiti.blogspot.com/ learnt, Foluke was motivated to make that token donation because the young man controls help solve traffic logjams despite his disabilities. “He ensures a free flow of traffic despite physical challenge. I have been seeing Abacha for sometime and I decided to donate the wheel chair in my own little way and to encourage others to o same” she said in an emotion laden voice.
Don’t let us forget to tell you that the red carpet was dotted with ‘G’ class Mercedes Benz cars (From Tayo Ayeni’s Skymit Motors) dropping people at the entrance into the hall. After parking their cars, the guests were then chauffer driven (by a driver already waiting by the side) to the entrance.

SUENU HALL:THE RIGHT HALL FOR YOUR EVENTS RIGHT IN THE HEART OF VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS

Suenu Hall, located right inside ADRAO International School on Ahmadu Bello way,Victoria Island, Lagos is totally repackaged. A visit by www.niyitabiti.bloggspot.com confirms it.Apart from paintings of the and fittings of industrial cooling facilities, the place has become the toast of event managers who want to give satisfaction to their clients.
Suenu Hall (Adrao International School) is very close to Silverbird Galleria and Nigeria Television Authority premises in Victoria Island. You need to be there. More details later. Feel free to check www.adraointernationalschools.com/suenuhall

STAR FOCUS:NITA P SETS TO SHOOT VIDEO...COLLABO WITH NIGER DELTA MUSIC SENSATION,TIMAYA IN LATEST WORK

By Niyi Tabiti

Ogochukwu Anita Okuno is a 5’7' inch light skinned beauty. She coined her stage name nita p from her name Anita and the p from Patrick her father’s name.She is the 4th child from a family of nine. Anita was born about 25 years ago and she studied Business Administration at the Lagos state university, aside running her own fashion boutique Xynosure. The up and coming music star is from is from ikwale ikuami local government in Delta State.

Her new single ‘chewing love’ feature Timaya was produced by Jiggy Jek and mixed and mastered by foster zeeno of zane pro studio.She is in Dubai, shopping for the upcoming video in Nigeria.The cinematography would be handled by by Wudi Awa and makeup by Lolar Shon .
She gets her inspiration from the cool breeze at the beach, where she loves to write. ‘Chewing Love’ is a dance hall song and promises to be a street and club banger. According to her, the chorus is so simple and the beats so danceable. She aspire to be the greatest female artiste in Africa.
Anita, who is still very much single tells us her favourite food is the south west Nigeria delicacy-Amala.

THANK YOU READERS!

Dear readers,

We want to thank you all for being there for us since we started this celebrity media brand.We know there are thousands of those who started with us .Today,they can confidently say they are part of the revolution of the new media that is sweeping across Africa and indeed Nigeria through our regular reports and photos. A lot of companies have also identified with us through adverts and placing of special reports.

We have our own style and we injected it into the online celebrity news in Nigeria.

We also conducted a poll through readers, journalists and entertainment observers last year, eventually,Rita Dominic emerged first and there was a party for her at SWE Bar...thanks to those that made that a reality.Congratulations to Rita, she is now one of the Glo Ambassadors.

In many ways, we have changed the perspective that online media has no place in Nigeria.Today, many people have seen what we have done and they are encourage to start something too.

We want to do more for our readers.

Together, we would get there.Now ,we are building a new order, changing rules and ready to give gistmaster.com our best. Don't forget to advertise with us.

-Niyi Tabiti

The TENANT™: International Award winning Movie by Nigerians set to premiere in Lagos.

Today, Broken Manacles Entertainment, announced the forthcoming premiere of their multiple award winning movie called: The TENANT™. The movie which was also written, produced, and directed by Jude Idada and Lucky Ejim, two Nigerian emigrants in Canada was shot at various locations in Canada and Nigeria with Dare ‘BabaDee’ Fasasi as co-director.
Faced with the onerous challenge of breaking into Hollywood, the duo of Lucky Ejim, and Jude Idada founded the film production company called Broken Manacles Entertainment Inc.
The movie has already won international accolades that include:
Audience Choice Award, Best Feature Film–(Hollywood Black Film Festival2009), Beverly Hills, California;
Best Feature Film – (Moving Image Film festival2008), Toronto Canada.
The movie billed to premiere in Lagos sometime in October, 2009 at the cinemas tells the tale of the average African emigrant in search of a better future for himself and his family: Obinna, a Nigerian refugee in Canada, faces deportation in 30 days. When all hope seems lost, a chance confrontation with Timothy, his terminally ill landlord, provides him an opportunity to remain in the country. Timothy who is a former immigration officer makes him a deal; he will intervene in his pending deportation if Obinna finds his estranged daughter Nicole and convinces her to see him one last time before he dies. With the clock ticking, Obinna fights to save his dreams, in the course of which he stumbles on a discovery that will shake the very foundations of his beliefs.
So far the movie has been screened at various film festivals in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. In the words of the movie director Lucky Ejim: "…Some of the ideas that emanated from our research was the pain associated with the need to survive, to love and to forgive, but these words alone wasn’t enough to make an interesting film so we decided to quantify pain…" Following the screening in Canada, some of the guests had this to say:
".... This film makes Nigeria proud. Great storytelling, Great acting, Great Directing, There should be a part two" - His Excellency, Professor Iyorwuese Hager (High Commissioner of Nigeria to Canada);
".... I loved this film. As a successful writer, I couldn’t even fathom the plot line, twists, reversals etc. The language was marvelous. The directing is superb. I am in awe." - Robert Eisele Writer (The Great Debaters)
The official premiere of The TENANT™ would be preceded by a screening of the movie to the media and the online blogging community on the 16th of October, 2009. The movie trailer and additional information about the TENANT™ movie are available at: www.thetenantmovie.com.

-Press Release/gistmaster.com