Cindy's Notes: Heralding AMBO III Hero Into Nollywood
MW I know that there is a thread about Cindy's notes :cool-smil
Cindy's Notes: Heralding AMBO III Hero Into Nollywood
By Darlington Abuda, REPORTER, Lagos
The evening began with a red carpet cocktail party at the central floor of the Silverbird Galleria. The relaxed atmosphere afforded the guests opportunity to express their views on their expectations of Cindy's Notes. The movie was an affirmation of AMBO's mission, which was a venture that blends the values of the Amstel Malta brand and Nollywood to Project Expressions, which are active, attractive and ultimately admirable. The premiere took about a week to the final ceremony of AMBO IV, which is currently running on television stations across the country. The show concept consists of three main elements, which run sequentially; first, a TV Reality Show that picks a winner from group of aspiring 'uknowns;' second a film that stars this winner in a lead role, and third, Road Shows that provide viewing experiences of the film for the esteemed Amstel Malta consumers across the country.
It was in celebration of the second step in this sequence that Nollywood greats and movie lovers gathered under the brand colours of Amstel Malta to celebrate one of their own. This cluster of stars was the cynosure of eyes, as visitors to Silverbird Galleria sought to catch glimpses or take photographs of their favourite movie stars. The advent of these stars was in honour of the premiere of the blockbuster movie done in culmination of the Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) deal with Bhaira McWizu after she won the third edition of the reality show last year. Prominent among the stars, who gathered to welcome Bhaira into the fold were the National President Of Actors' Guild of Nigeria, Ejike Asiegbu, Bob Manuel-Udokwu, O.C. Ukeje, Nonso Diobi, and a host of others.
For the Anambra State budding star, who runs a hotel with her mother, the premiere was another feather added to her crown, since she emerged as winner of the show last year. Bhaira described the movie as a beautiful story of resilience, determination and love as a young lady dares to go against odds in her unrelenting quest to be an agent of change. It is an inspirational movie that keeps hope alive and told in contemporary style. She said the whole process of making the movie was enthralling for her, especially with the fact that they had to imbibe a new culture, and learn the sonorous Kuteb language, which was the language spoken by the locale that was chosen for the movie. She also applauded the producers for the up-to-date props and engineers and the breathtaking locations that were used as the locale for the movie.
The show, which began in 2005 had Azizat Sadiq, now a top Nollywood actress as the winner of the first edition of AMBO, after 21 days of fantastic displays of acting skills, creativity, thrilling action and entertainment on the AMBO movie talent hunt reality TV show at the end of which she not only grabbed the star prize of N2.5 million but, also played the lead role in Sitanda, the AMBO movie, which won five awards at the 2006 African Movie Academy Awards. OC Ukeje emerged winner in 2006. His AMBO movie, Whitewaters, which featured him as lead also bagged four awards at the 2007 African Movie Academy Awards with Ukeje coasting home with the best upcoming actor award.
The necessity of the reality show was confirmed by the audience reaction to the movie as invited guests were ushered into Cinema Hall IV for the premiere.
Right from the beginning, the movie made a positive connection with the guests because contrary to run of the mill Nollywood movies, the storyline of the flick bespoke the policy of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and the struggles corps members go through as they strive to fit into the new environments they find themselves. Amidst trials, discomforts, unfamiliar territories and the forces of people who have influence; Cindy must look past her background and her usual expectations and take pride in serving her country and contribute her quota to the development of the community she finds herself. In doing this, she finds herself renewed. Apart from entertaining an audience, the movie also celebrated and projected the cultural heritage of the locale where it was shot.
Again and again spontaneous rounds of applause erupted in the hall as the guests identified with the creativity and genius of the director, Izu Chukwu, and his interpretation of Cindy's Notes. According to Franklyn Ovbigbahon, the movie was different from regular home videos. The casting of experienced Nollywood actors was a far cry from those who participated in Sitanda where the other actors dwarfed the character of Azizat Sadiq, in White Waters as in Cindy's Notes, the experienced actors are cast to complement and project the AMBO Winner.
"For me watching a Nigerian movie is anathema because the storylines, acting and effects are usually so amateurish and boring. I had my doubts coming here but Cindy's Notes blew me away. The manner in which the plot was laid and brought to a conclusion was particularly intriguing. I have no doubt that this movie will win awards in any competition it enters," and this reaction was echoed by the various guests who saw the movie. Another guest described "the movie as a potpourri of inspiration, courage, love, comedy, pain and hope, which are all elements of a good drama finely mixed and properly served for audience delight."
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