Friday, 4 April 2014
One of the best brains we have in Nollywood would be Tchidi Chikere, a celebrated scriptwriter and movie director. With an impressive body of work in the past decade and a capacity to discover new stars or to enhance sagging careers of others, Tchidi is not a personality one can ignore in Nollywood.
I have known him in a professional capacity for close to fourteen years and I relate well with him in the few instances we have met and had discussions. Tchidi has a burning desire to make a change in Nollywood, to shoot movies which somehow should re-calibrate society’s moral journey. I particularly love some of his movies for the uncanny way he brings out everyday characters in simple lifestyles and turn them to complex evolutionary beings in complex situations. As a movie director and a scriptwriter, Tchidi is gifted. Very gifted. Take it from me.
In my usual no-holds-barred critique of his acting, I would be less charitable in my accolades. But I am not writing this to detract from his credentials as a celebrated auteur. I am writing this out of concern, perhaps more professional but with a huge personal slant to it as well.
It is a well-known fact by now that Tchidi got married to an actress, Nuella, a few days ago. First of all, Tchidi, I must congratulate you on that. Whatever the opinions people have, we must all respect the wishes of consenting adults when it comes to tying the knot. He made a choice and we should respect that, no matter how much the slanderous anonymous commentators on social media think they know.
That Tchidi got seperated from his former wife, Sophia who bore him three children is perhaps unfortunate but like I said, consenting adults take decisions which they believe is best for them at certain stages in life. Such decisions might come much anger and recriminations and would always leave scars in the hearts of both parties. Divorce or seperation are never pleasant.
My concern in this case has to do with the open fights between Tchidi and Sophia on social media AFTER Tchidi’s new marriage. On face value, it would seem to have started with Tchidi’s rant on twitter a couple of days back against his ex-wife.
The tweets were quite shocking and less than charitable, to say the least. Though from the tweets, one could psycho-analyse that Tchidi was really angry, hurt and perhaps deliberately hitting below the belt at his former wife. My first reaction when I read those tweets on a blog was one of shock. Those tweets were totally uncalled for. Totally. Granted, they might have been written in a miasma of negative volcanic emotions but total restrainst is required from a man in those kind of circumstances. And such restrainst is justified when the mother of your blood children is involved!
Sophia had a riposte which I read as well and she had a moral right to respond too. But something tells me that Tchidi would wish to fire another salvo at that response and thus start a social media bric-a-brac which would inflict more wounds on all parties. That is why I had to write this open opinion.
In Nollywood, and perhaps to a small extent the entertainment industry in general, most of the creatives tend to look away when acrimonious matters befall one of their own. First reactions would be one of aloofness, followed by private gossip in meeting places. Sometimes, colleagues and friends of such personalities would whisper malicious things about the subject in private while pretending to be all coy and concerned when they meet the suffering subjects in public. Oh Yes! My sector have some psychophants and pretenders as with politics but isn’t that how life goes?
Perhaps Tchidi and Sophia are being wrongly advised by masquerading friends? Or maybe they are not even being advised at all by anyone but are just ventilating on social media, giving bloggers more hits and the country one more piece of idle gossip?
Whatever the case, I will openly advise Tchidi to stop further tweets or replies on this matter. For the record, I don’t know Sophia or Nuella and haven’t met with any ever and don’t wish to. My concern, as a father, is for the kids from Tchidi’s first marriage and perhaps future kids from this new marriage. Do not celebrate your misgivings on social media. Sheath the swords. Think of the children. The children. The children.
Those poor kids are going through indescribable torture and pain already. You don’t need to add fuel to their discomfort. Angry words once written and published are hard to take back, even with the passing of time.
Celebrities are human too. That you see us on the screens or read about us does not make us less human than the other fellow. Fame and fortune only hide our foibles and finicks. But we are human. However, whilst we are human, there are expectations of decorum we all must adhere to. And if it is just for the kids, Tchidi and Sophia (and perhaps Nuella) must adhere to the dictates of decorum.
I am not writing this to take sides or blame any of the parties involved. I am writing this openly because whatever linens being displayed by all parties in the open should be brought down immediately.
May God help all parties pass through this period and bless them all as they move on to the next phase of their lives.
Amen.
Tchidi Chikere has deleted all the tweets he posted yesterday slamming his estranged wife, Sophia Tchidi Chikere.
Thursday, 3 April 2014
Why Halle Berry's Latest Role Was Nearly Unbelievable
Halle Berry as Frankie in her upcoming film Frankie & Alice, based on the true story of a woman suffering from multiple-personality disorder.
The film, in theaters April 4, was actually shot five-and-a-half years ago, she was adamant that the film still holds a very special place in her heart."This is a real woman who suffered," she said. "That right away gave it gravitas for me. If it weren't real I might have to question, 'Would a black woman really be a white woman and think she'd be racist?' But because it was real and I got to know that for sure by conversations I had with the real Frankie, I knew it was real."
But promoting Frankie & Alice isn't the Oscar-winning actress's only job at the moment. She is a doting mother-of-two to 5-month-old son Maceo and 6-year-old daughter Nahla, and is currently filming her upcoming summer CBS series Extent.
Be sure to check out the video above to hear how Halle does it all with such a busy schedule
Actress Uchenna Nnanna Picks April For White Wedding Date
Nollywood actress — Uchenna Nnanna has fixed her white wedding with her Spain based hubby Richard Uchechukwu Maduka for April 21 in Port Harcourt.
The couple had their traditional wedding on September 28th 2013 at her hometown in Ihechiowa Arochukwu in Abia state.
Kiefer Sutherland on Returning to Jack Bauer
Kiefer Sutherland is reprising his role as Jack Bauer for an abbreviated version of the 24 format, called Live Another Day, and the action star dished to ET Canada about the decision to come back."I said yes very quickly and then went through about six months of panic," said Kiefer, who was concerned about how the return would live up to the body of work they'd already created. "I was very nervous about starting again."
Live Another Day sees Jack in London, as he's been in exile for four years.
"I think he's colder and, therefore, more frightening," said Kiefer. "He's different. He's someone who you might not be able to trust to do the right thing
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
A superhero should always battle a foe as powerful as he is. Otherwise, there's no contest. Yet if you look at the history of superhero films, few of them have villains who pop as memorably as their blocky-chested men in capes. There's Heath Ledger's Joker, of course (the leering granddaddy of psychotic bad guys), and also Jack Nicholson's Joker, and Tom Hiddleston's Loki. Beyond that, the landscape is thick with low-camp cartoons such as Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor, boilerplate CGI treachery, or villains who simply didn't cut it. In that light, the creators of Captain America: The Winter Soldier have brought off something fresh and bold: They have taken Captain America (Chris Evans), the engagingly square strongman from the flag-waving '40s, and planted him in the black-ops cynicism of the present day, where the villain isn't some over-the-top mastermind but, in fact, the very military-industrial complex he's out to defend. He now faces an ominously timely faceless evil.
Tchidi Chikere puts ex-wife on blast on twitter
I thought the drama was over after Tchidi married Nuella last weekend but like some of you said, the drama is only just beginning. The Nollywood actor a few minutes ago took to his twitter account to put his ex-wife Sophia Tchidi Chikere on blast, calling her the most terrible wife, and implied that she cheated when they were together.
Wednesday, 2 April 2014
Nollywood Actress Chika Ike Exclusive Photo
Chika Ike shares another collection of exclusive backstage shots from new movie set with her director and co-stars.
“Nollywood Movie Producers Are Diabolic”- Nollywood Actor, Augustine Ejike Metu
“It got to a point in the industry where some producers took pictures of actors to native doctors to know whether their faces will sell films. As someone who is not diabolical, I was not comfortable with that. So, I decided to step aside. Also, at a point, producers became lords. They were so greedy and myopic that they released ten films in a week with the same faces.
In fact, they continued to repeat these films. And being someone that is not too desperate in the things of life, I did not need to lick the a*s of the producers.
Meanwhile, I was already into clearing and forwarding business before becoming an actor and I was very much engaged in my business. So, I decided to face my clearing and forwarding business and other things. But that does not mean I stopped acting entirely.
He has featured in movies like ‘Rattle Snake,’ ‘Up to Rush,’ ‘Farewell to Babylon,’ ‘The Night Fall’ and others and at the time was rated one of the top actors in Nollywood.
Hardly would you see a movie released in Nigeria few years back without the stern-face of popular actor, Hanks Anuku adorning the jacket of the film. His face was like an Indian Talisman, who brings luck to movie producers in the country back then.
But that is no more the case as no one knows if the face of Hanks Anuku can still sell even a local community film this time around.
He was made the Special Adviser to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State on Tourism and Entertainment in 2010, but he later left the job.
After that, he was in the news for being delivered from alcohol and mental illness by Prophet TB Joshua, he later moved to Ghana after the incident.
Why did you leave Nigeria for Ghana
Yea, as you can see, I am in Ghana now. It was a decision I made to get a few things for myself and to get closer to God because so many things happened to me in Nigeria that I was not happy about.
Does that mean you wouldn't have been closer to God if you were in Nigeria
I would always have time for anybody and appreciate the presence of a man or woman of substance.
What do you do here presently
Apart from filmmaking, I am into the development of grassroots’ talents in music and filmmaking.
How is that going
It has been very great.
Are Ghanaians embracing you
You know, love thy neighbour like thyself is my tool across the Nile unto Jericho. I think everybody loves me. I don’t know who the enemy is. So, whoever the enemy is, I am sorry, I forgive all haters. That is what it is.
Should your fans in Nigeria be expecting something from you soon
Well, everything depends on God. He is my provider. If God wants me to go to Nigeria, no problem, I mean, as long as you are serious with the job.
Tuesday, 1 April 2014
If reports making the rounds are anything to go by about Nollywood’s bad boy Jim Iyke with Ghanaian actress Nadia Buhari, then there will be course for another star studded wedding celebrations just like the Okoyes.
Recently, there were speculations on the blogosphere that Jim Iyke had proposed to his Ghanaian actress Nadia Buhari, of which he Jim Iyke has not announced publicly.
But it was stated that the actor popped the question on March 20th on his talk show, ‘Jim Iyke Unscripted when he presented the Ghollywood beauty with a 6-carat gold engagement ring in a London Restaurant and asked her to marry him.
For months, rumours have been rife that the pair were having an affair. However, this was greeted with denials from both actors. Even in October, there had been a report that the pair had called off the relationship.
Stella Damasus &Daniel Ademinokan at NY premiere of new movie
The movie, written by Stella Damasus, sheds light on the issue of domestic violence and the roles that the African society has played to aggravate it. It was produced by Stella and Daniel under Index Two Studious, a production company they founded together
Depp Seems to Confirm Engagement by Wearing 'Chick' Ring
Johnny Depp seemingly confirmed his rumored engagement to actress Amber Heard by calling attention to a "chick's ring" he was wearing Monday when asked about his relationship status while promoting his new movie Transcendence in Beijing, China.
When the 50-year-old Pirates of the Caribbean star was asked by a reporter whether he was engaged to Heard, 27, he replied to the Associated Press, "The fact that I'm wearing a chick's ring on my finger is probably a dead giveaway. Not very subtle." He then laughed as he lifted up his left hand and displayed a single diamond on a band around his ring finge
Game of Thrones' season 4 is out
in Game of Thrones season 4, Jaime Lannister is reunited with his long lost love — who just happens to be the Queen Regent and his twin sister. But don’t expect Jaime and Cersei (Lena Headey) to make a quick return to the sneaky, incestuous ways we last saw in season 1
For him, it’s been a very traumatic trip,” says Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, who has ditched his scraggly beard and returned to Jaime’s clean-cut look now that his character is back in King’s Landing. “But he’s been wanting to get back to this woman for the duration of his trip. You want to just go back to the way it was. But it’s not that easy. A lot has happened in her life as well.”
Definitely traumatic. Jaime was imprisoned and had his right hand chopped off last season, leaving him far less able to protect himself (or the king, for that matter, as he’s a member of the royal Kingsguard). While he’s perhaps gained more inner strength, expect Jaime’s physical weakening to be a turn off for Cersei, who has always relied on her brother’s alpha male status. “In her mind, he was the strongest soldier, the strongest man and he could always protect her,” he notes.Having said that, Coster-Waldau adds that you don’t need to see any new episodes to know there have been hints that this relationship was already uneven. “I think he loves her more. It’s always been unbalanced, and that’s never good,” he says. “Most of us have been in that situation where you’ve been falling in love with somebody who didn’t feel the same way. It’s not a nice situation. We did this panel and Lena said something interesting. She said at a deep level, she wants to be him. She likes the game of thrones, but her life is about doing what her dad wants her to do.”
Halle Berry's weight loss secret revealed: 'Every mother should breastfeed, it's the quickest way
It's been five months since Halle Berry gave birth to her and hubby Olivier Martinez's son Maceo. Find out how she's slimmed down so fast in the interview above with Extra TV.
The 47-year-old mother-of-two also revealed how she maintains her work/life balance while enduring long hours on set.
"What I'm learning to do," she said. "Is find the balance. My baby is always with me on set [and] I bring my daughter after school.
"I have a nursery there, a playroom for her, so I try to make it as nice as I can for them to spend time with them [and] see them."
Halle's six-year-old daughter Nahla, with ex Gabriel Aubry, also helps her out with Maceo as much as she can.
"It's like one of her doll babies came alive," she said. "She gets to take care of him, feed him, change his diapers, play with him, dress him up in different clothes like five times a day because she can, so she loves it."
“People misunderstands what polygamy means. I am an ardent supporter of polygamy. Every single man, mostly from Africa, is polygamous in nature.
“We are just deceiving ourselves. Polygamy means when you see a woman you love and desire, you marry her with the consent of your already married wife and bring her home.
“It’s not when you have one wife at home, then you have others scattered in different other places, that is not polygamy.
“And not when you have three wives and you cannot take care of one, that is an insult to polygamy. There are so many women out there who just want to have a man as an umbrella, but we keep saying one man one woman.
“Yet the women keep suffering. We all know that we have much more women in this world than men, the ratio is too high.
“My father had six wives, my uncle that brought me up had so many wives also.
“What I am saying is that it is not illegal, we are not in America. Ironically, the white man would have one wife and still keep so many mistresses. If not, there wouldn’t have been an English word for concubines.
“That means it exists in their culture. Which is better, concubines or wives? In the days when polygamy was well respected, diseases were not rampant. It is now that when men hide to do it that strange sexually transmitted diseases have become the order of the day.
“I have only one wife but I have children from more than one woman. And its not because I had mistresses, its because I have lived in various countries, including America, France, Britain etc.
“I am this person that any woman that comes to me would always want to have something for me. I have had experiences. I was with a woman and years later, a child was brought to me, a child I didn’t know when it was conceived.”
Obesere Finally Releases The Video On His rape Allegation
“Obesere has released the video CD which explains better what actually transpired between him and his accuser, Nike Olaiya. I learnt the CD has sold thousands of copies. Everybody wants to see the face of the girl. I also learnt that some music promoters and marketers have been lobbying Obesere for the musical video of the incident, which I learnt may be released before the end of the second quarter of the year. But I think Papa is just waiting for the outcome of the police investigation before going to the studio for the album.” a source tells Encomium.
On the reason he churned out the CD, Tosibe king, as Obesere is fondly addressed, told Encomium that “I want people, especially my fans, to get a clearer picture of what really happened between myself and Nike Olaiya.”
Nollywood actress, Shan George has revealed that some persons burgled into her house in Calabar on Saturday and carted away with some valuables.
Shan disclosed this on her Facebook page on Sunday.
She stated that "robbers entered my house in Calabar last nite. Carted away electronics, money, jewelry, shoes, watches. They broke my car side window to open d car door and practically tore d car apart. Friends who r trying to console me since this morning say i should not worry bcos its a blessing
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