Runaway bride: The short film

This short film was written, directed and produced by my students at Pan Atlantic University. It is their novel attempt at filmaking. Please enjoy.

Review of 76 movie

Written by Emmanuel Okomanyi

Directed by Izu Ojukwu

Budget: N600million

Box office: Unknown but more likely the figure is farther away from budget than it is closer.

I was poised to watch the film with my eyes peeled to see the errors because a colleague has told me it has some flaws but I didn't quite notice much flaws. Is it perfect? No! But it is a film well made. Did I spot any flaw? Yes! At the end Ramson Noah's jeans look more 2017 than 1976 but no big deal. Could the climax be more dramatic? Yes but let's cut it some slacks.

It probably didn't make as much money in the box office to match its budget because it is not a comedy film. My observation reveals that most financially successful films in Nigeria are comedy films. That says something about us as Nigerians.

1st act/The beginning/set up must haves:
Begin a memorable image/hook	Present
1.       Find the catalyst/motivation e.g information about the situation, where are we? What’s going on here? Or something or an event to start the story. It could be a gun shot, an explosion or a letter arrives.	present
1.       Raise the central question	present
2.       Establish the conflict.	Present
3.       Establish the antagonist.	Present
4.       Ends with the 1st turning point. It is a twist and turn that changes the story’s direction as new event unfold and new decisions are made.	Present
The 2nd act/middle/development must haves: 1.       Begins with the 1st turning point.	Present
2.       Momentum (a cause and effect/action and reaction scenes)/Action points/dramatic event that causes a reaction.	Present
3.       Barriers stop the action for a moment, and then the character goes around it and continues.	Present
4.       Complication is an action point that doesn’t pay off immediately but we wait for it and anticipate the inevitable response. And it gets in the way of the character’s intention.	Present
5.       Reversals change the direction of the story 180 degrees/ moving it from positive to negative.	Present
6.       Puts the central character in jeopardy.	Present
The 3rd act/resolution/end must haves:
1.       Begins with the 2nd turning point and speeds up the action here, makes it intense, and gives a sense of urgency like a ticking clock.	Present
2.       The big finish/climax	Present
3.       The question is answered/not answered.	Present

THE VERDICT

Emmanuel now has a place in screenwriters 'HALL of Fame'

The film is no longer in the cinema but you can watch/rent it on Dstv. Don't patronize pirated copy CD.

Review of ROOM 315 short film

Written By Abosi Ogba
Directed by Niyi Akinmolayan
Produced by Emmanuel Uduma

The screen opens with a message: 1 in every 5 people will have mental health issues... this week. Beautiful opening, I must say. And this gets you thinking... I am about to watch how people develop mental health issues or watch someone with mental health issues being rehabilitated and the challenges, stigma, myths associated with the mental health patients.

It is a 27 minutes long short film and when the film end credits rolls, you are wondering, what does this have to do with mental health. Because Niyi is a genuis, you are struggling to understand how the anecdote of a counsellor's daily encounters with his patients is linked with mental health issues.

I still don't get it. Please watch it and educate me if you do find the connection.

My #BBOC film

I made a short film last year which was inspired by the controversy of the bring back our girls. I won't do a review because it is my film. YOU get to be judge. kindly leave comments below. Gracious.

Review of American Driver: WARNING: Don't watch it unless you are in a dungeon

Film title: American Driver

Written by Patrick Nnamani

Directed by Moses Inwang

I honestly don't know why the movie was produced. Film production is very hectic and it seem ridiculous to me that someone will just gather actors together, spend money and produce a ridiculous film. Although I have to admit there were some people laughing in the cinema hall but I guess they are people who are easily amused. 

Moses Inwang is the type that makes me fear going to cinema to spend hard earned money on a Nigerian film. Needless to say it is a ridiculous film. Nothing coherent. Just a bunch of senseless series of events. To add insult to injury I went to watch it on my birthday so you can imagine how disappointing it is for me.

A story structure has the beginning, middle and end.

1st act/The beginning/set up must haves:	American  Driver
Begin a memorable image/hook	Absent
1.       Find the catalyst/motivation e.g information about the situation, where are we? What’s going on here? Or something or an event to start the story. It could be a gun shot, an explosion or a letter arrives.	Present
1.       Raise the central question	Absent
2.       Establish the conflict.	Absent
3.       Establish the antagonist.	Absent
4.       Ends with the 1st turning point. It is a twist and turn that changes the story’s direction as new event unfold and new decisions are made.	Absent
The 2nd act/middle/development must haves: 1.       Begins with the 1st turning point.	Absent
2.       Momentum (a cause and effect/action and reaction scenes)/Action points/dramatic event that causes a reaction.	Absent
3.       Barriers stop the action for a moment, and then the character goes around it and continues.	Absent
4.       Complication is an action point that doesn’t pay off immediately but we wait for it and anticipate the inevitable response. And it gets in the way of the character’s intention.	Absent
5.       Reversals change the direction of the story 180 degrees/ moving it from positive to negative.	Absent
6.       Puts the central character in jeopardy.	Absent
The 3rd act/resolution/end must haves:
1.       Begins with the 2nd turning point and speeds up the action here, makes it intense, and gives a sense of urgency like a ticking clock.	Absent
2.       The big finish/climax	Absent
3.       The question is answered/not answered.	Absent

Verdict

Patrick Nnamani is sentenced to life imprisonment in write better villa