Nollywood is gearing up for the nationwide release of This Is Not a Nollywood Movie, a new film directed and executive-produced by Wale Ojo, and produced by former Big Brother Naija Housemate Boma Akpofure.
The film features an exciting line-up of African talents including Shatta Bandle from Ghana, Broda Shaggi, Olumide Oworu, Bimbo Akintola, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Hank Anuku, and rising actress Ije Kimora.
Ahead of its cinema debut on 5 December, Boma Akpofure and Ije Kimora visited HIPTV, giving an exclusive insight into their roles and the making of the film.
The movie follows the story of an ageing Nollywood director who wakes up from a dream determined to return to the industry, only to discover that everything has changed.
When asked how their characters mirror their real-life personalities, Boma was quick to draw a line between his true self and his on-screen persona.
“The character I played has nothing to do with me. The character I played in the movie is different and can never be me,” he said.
For Ije Kimora, however, embodying “Queen Pluto” came naturally.
“I embodied Queen Pluto. It was easy for me to reflect the character because I have the character traits inside of me,” she shared.
The actors also opened up about the challenges they encountered during production.
Boma, who doubled as producer and actor, admitted the workload was intense.
“I produced the film and also acted in it. It was a lot! Working with Wale Ojo and trying to get the right actors on board was challenging,” he said.
For Ije, the biggest challenge was transforming physically into her character.
“Getting the whole look together… you just have to. I had to wear a wig for one whole month. It was a lot, but I enjoyed every minute of it,” she revealed.
On what drew them to the roles, Ije described her casting as nothing short of destiny.
“It was divine. I wasn’t supposed to play this role, but Boma believed in me. I’ve wanted to work with Wale Ojo for a minute now, so when this came, I killed it,” she said.
Boma emphasised that casting was a critical part of the process.
“For me as a producer, if you get the casting right, 60 per cent is done. Wale Ojo wanted people who haven’t been on screen for a while. I had to make sure we got it right,” he explained.
Giving further insight into their roles, Ije highlighted her character’s arrogance and sharp tongue. “My character looks down on everybody. There is no way I will be talking to a retarded movie producer,” she added, describing Queen Pluto’s ruthless personality.
Boma further described his own character as a “power-hungry movie manager who wants to be a director but fails, and ends up as a production manager.”
With its cast and the collaborative efforts of Boma Akpofure and Wale Ojo, This Is Not a Nollywood Movie is set to be in cinemas nationwide on 5th of December.
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