Tricia’s Bold face again

BY SHAIBU HUSSEINI
AS Nollywood actress and popular television hostess, Tricia Esiegbe, now Tricia Kingsley Kerry, sauntered into the room, where the organisers of a new reality television show, Street Champz, were performing a special media unveiling ceremony, all eyes turned on her. It was her first major outing since her marriage. Moviedom had a chat with her after the ceremony.

Congratulations on your wedding
Thank you very much. I want to also thank God because it was a day I wished for in my life. At a particular point in a woman’s life, she wants to settle down, otherwise, it becomes a problem, especially when the age is almost on the older side. I want to thank God again for His favour. It came at a time I did not expect. Before I got married, things were a bit shaky because there were a couple of stories making the rounds about marriage break-ups and what have you. I became scared and prayed never to have such experience.

Now with marriage, will you still do your stuff?
My husband is different, he is very unique in his own way. He told me even before we got married that I should not be scared because nothing will change except my name. He assured that I was still going to be the Tricia people knew and that it would not affect my business. He said the marriage would even enhance my business, because he is a trained motion picture director. So far, he has put all that to test on my programme Bold Faces and we have been receiving lots of calls from African Magic and outside the country. He got all the software and background to build Bold Faces to the level it is today.

Marriage is good, but love first
It is safe to marry someone in your line of business if the love is there. Not love based on popularity, fame and wealth, but unconditional love. It should be love for who you are and not what you are. People are always afraid of marring people in the entertainment industry because they feel they are prone to all kinds of immorality. However, one has to pray to God for a decent, God fearing and homely husband. My husband is one of such.

When will you appear on screen?
Very soon! We are coming out with some new television shows, which will equally be shown abroad. We are talking to African Magic on some of them. We are also going to be doing home movies and television soaps. My husband wanted me to act in one of them to cut cost. Since he is comfortable with that, who am I to say no? Acting for me is a passion. I am not into kiss-kiss type of acting, which of course, he knows. But even at that, my husband is not that kind of person. He is just God sent.

And Bold Faces?
Already, the programme has gone international. We are all over the stations in Nigeria. We are also in Europe. We have moved up in terms of technical details. It is now different from what you are used to. We will in no distant future spread to other continents of the world.

Maryam Babaginda
I cried when Maryam Babaginda died. It was a big loss to me. She was a mother and motivator to me. She gave a lot of mileage to my show. The interview I had with her would remain evergreen. Her death would also rank as one of the saddest moments of my life.

Regrets
None for now. If I have opportunity of living my life again, I will still be an entertainer. The only thing I don’t like about the industry is the publicity — you see people writing what is not true about you just to sell their papers; some even plant negative stories in the media to run people down. I have had doses of it. It was once rumoured that I dated a footballer, which was nothing, but falsehood. I have never dated a single footballer in my life. Because these people are difficult to get on set, people just conclude that to get them you must be dating one. But that is not correct. I am happy that God has elevated me. I have even gone past African footballer. I now talk to big time footballers in Europe. Will they say I am dating the foreign footballers such as David James, too?

Street Champz
This is a reality television show being put together by a team of credible people from the United Kingdom and, my husband, Kerry, happens to be one of the directors. He is also the operations and technical director of the show. Though based in London, the team will be coming to Nigeria to discover talents on our streets. One thing that makes the show different from other is the four-art category they talked about. There is a music, drama, comedy and dance part of it. I think this is quite different considering the background of those behind it.






Around and about Nollywood...

Zuma gets Jury for 2010 festival
THE jury for 2010 ZUMA Film Festival has been announced. With seasoned filmmaker, Rahmatou Keita, as head, it has Prof. Adamu Abdalla Uba of the Bayero University Kano; Dr. Femi Shaka of the University of Port Harcourt; Mr. Bond Emeruwa, President of Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN) and Mr. Jahman Anikulapo, Editor of The Guardian on Sunday as members. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) has announced the receipt of 71 entries for all categories of the film festival at close of submission on February 28. A statement from the secretariat said the quality of entries received is encouraging. A breakdown showed that of the 71 entries, Nigerian films account for 51 while 20 are foreign. The number of potential exhibitors for the film market of the festival, the statement added, is also encouraging as everything is being done to ensure that it’s success. The 2010 edition with the theme Global Images: Global Voices seeks bridge the gabs between developed and developing film cultures.

… As organisers secure partnership deal
MORE organisations (private and government) have indicated interests in partnering with the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) for a successful edition. Some of them are the Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Abuja; Consolidated Media Associates; Babylon International; Terracota Awards; Teens Resource Centre; Nicon Luxury Hotel Limited, Abuja; and Silverbird Communications. The festival holds from May 2 to 6 in Abuja. A statement from the organisers said that while the Consolidated Media Associates, Nigeria’s largest Television content provider on entertainment (Televista, Soundcity, Spice TV, Village square TV) would use its network to educate, propagate, mobilise participation and support as well as coverage and reportage of events, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry would, in addition to providing financial support, take advantage of the platform to promote the commercial and industrial aspects of the motion picture industry. Meanwhile, the EU Media backed Babylon International Workshop (on Film) being promoted by Scripthouse (Germany), Scenario films (UK), Playfilms (France) and Media International, which began last November, and also held from February 16 to 20, in Berlin, is scheduled to end next month in Nigeria. The workshop holds from April 26 to May 1. Selected film projects are billed for screening during the festival in Abuja. Similarly, the Terracotta Awards promoted by Classic Events and Teens Resource Centre, promoters of International Children Film Festival, have also signed on to use ZUMA Film Festival 2010 platform to promote, recognise and reward excellence and creativity in the film and television industries. Also, Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), based in the United States of America is to fully participate in this edition.

BOBTV ends fest, Akunyili assures Fund
THE 2010 edition of the Best of the Best Television and Film Market, otherwise known as BOBTV, ended on Friday. The festival, which started on March 16, held at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja. At the opening , former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, reiterated government’s resolve to establish a film fund for the Nigerian film industry. Also, the Chairman and Founder of Galaxy Television, Chief Steve Ojo, Chief Zebulum Ejiro, Opa Williams and Emem Isong were among those honoured for their outstanding contributions to the development of television and film in Nigeria. While Ojo was recognised as a producer, director, entrepreneur and broadcaster per excellence, Ejiro, who is popular as the movie sheik, was honoured for his pioneering work in the film industry and enduring work on TV. Isong was honoured for her role in the shooting of indigenous language films particularly the Efik and Ibibio languages. Every year BOBTV recognises hardworking professionals, who have contributed to the growth of the movie industry in Nigeria.

Waka pass…
Producer- Amebo A. Amebo
Director- Mr. Gossip
Actors- Nollywood Celebrities

Has any one seen Tonto Dike for us?
AS hard as we have tried, we have not been able to get hold of the popular Nollywood actress, Tonto Dike. We have called, sent short messages and emails, but whooooooosai, we have not been able to get across to the charming actress, who we are told, used to have something to do with the main dude at Mo’ Hits records. Anyway, if you know someone, who knows where she is, please do let her know that we need to ask her a few questions. One waka pass wants us to believe, even when we know it can’t be true, that the reason our own darling Tonto has not been mobilised for youth service is because she needs all the time in the world to cement her relationship with, ‘a Nigerian international whom she met at Tricia Esiegbe’s wedding last year’. And the question we want to ask Tonto? Was she at Tricia’s talk of the town wedding? Is any Nigerian international on line? What has her intention to cement a relationship got to do with her educational pursuit? Questions, questions, questions! Our number? No, Tonto knows how to reach us…

We saw Uche Jombo
WE thought we should mention this here before some waka pass begin to sell fake gist to us. We ran into Nollywood actress and Glo Ambassador, Uche Jombo, in the United States, last week. The now chopped up Jombo was on a movie location with Desmond Elliot and Van Vicker when we saw her. In fact, yours sincerely watched with his mouth wide opened, as the threesome stepped out of one ogbonge Limousine that brought them on set. Don’t know now when they are due back, but Uche and Desmond send their love. And to say the truth, if na me dem carry for that limousine, I no go return again. I for seek asylum. True, Oyibo dey respect them artiste.

Remy Ohajianya is busy
THOSE who think that former Lagos State chapter chairman of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Chief Remy Ohajianya, will walk out of relevance once he leaves office should go and eat their hearts out. The former teacher turned actor has landed a big job. Put differently, Chairman, as he is popularly called, has ‘arrove’. The bulky actor has been named Project Manager of a new reality cum television show dubbed Street Champz. Ohajianya’s task is to manage the reality programme and to ensure that they deliver. And if we know Ohajianya very well, then ‘delivery’ is certain, not even when the folks behind the reality programme are all based in the United Kingdom. Meaning that Chief may be paid in pounds and he is likely to even visit London before the end of the show… Kai! This is good. But Chief we go wash am ooo. But abeg, try sign better contract ooo and make you shine your eyes ooo. One waka pass think say na shine wey you no shine your eyes make small boys push you commot for your AGN seat ooo. Twice beaten for your case no go be twice shy at all. To God be the Glory!