ENTERTAINMENT

John Njamah Says Actors Should Be Cast Based On Talent Not Instagram Followers

Published

1 month ago

November 12, 2024

John Njamah Says Actors Should Be Cast Based On Talent | fab.ng

Nollywood filmmaker John Njamah recently voiced his concern about the prevailing casting practices in the industry. He argued that casting decisions should prioritize an actor’s talent over their physical appearance or social media popularity.

In an exclusive interview, Njamah, a Nollywood veteran, gave insightful commentary on the current state and future trajectory of Nigerian cinema.

Known for his role as Rabiu in the popular TV soap opera “Fuji House of Commotion,” Njamah has also graced the screens of numerous television shows.

Interestingly, the shows he has featured in include “Tinsel,” “Living In Lagos,” “Solitaire,” “Casino,” “Emerald,” “Tide,” and “My Flatmates.”

During the interview, Njamah talked about his filmmaking journey. He emphasized his unwavering passion for the industry and his aspirations for its continued development.

“What is fuelling me is beyond passion. There’s that knack and need to grow with every month, whatever year. There’s that need to.do something different. This industry of ours is for you to do whatever you want to do and not join the bandwagon. So for me, it’s the originality in me and the need to do something right that is fuelling me Basically, it’s the ever-creative venture in me,” he said.

Njamah discussed how African stories are evolving. Furthermore, he emphasized that positive and negative changes have happened over the years.

“There’s a positive aspect and there’s a negative aspect. There’s a technical input. We’re telling our stories better technically. We’re telling better and bigger stories. The negative is that we are beginning to lose our originality. We are beginning to join the bandwagon to tell what is peculiar to other people and not to us. We are beginning to lose a bit of our identity cos there’s no longer us,” he said.

What’s more, Njamah spoke about casting in the industry. He pointed out differences between the industry during his time and the current climate, especially with casting.

“Fuji House was a one-camera shoot with hungry and passionate people. Now we have people who cast people who are beautiful and with Barbie bodies and followership and not necessarily for your talents. Some of us try to be that original because that’s where better stories are told. You want to tell stories with passionate people. Whether you like it or not, it’s a long shot but it’s possible. You want to give the actors that are worthy of the job and not the ones that are based on Instagram followers. We borrow from society and give back to society by way of entertainment and pedagogical values.”

Further, he criticized the lack of professional work ethic among filmmakers in Nollywood. He highlighted the absence of a robust system to evaluate the performance and accountability of producers within the industry.

“Professionalism is lacking. Respect for those in charge, humility and the like is lacking today. The industry lacks checks and balances. Every Tom, Dck and Harry can wake up and call themselves a producer and just get on board and be doing stuff without being checked and of course, the guild system is not working so they can’t check. There are no criteria for who should become a producer. The system is also not working. Let’s just be mindful as producers, directors and actors,” he added.

In conclusion, John Njamah acknowledged the unique character of Nollywood. Meanwhile, he proposed the creation of a domestic platform to market and distribute Nigerian films. Consequently, this would reduce reliance on foreign streaming services.

“That thing that they don’t like about us is what makes us, us. I am tired of people saying they don’t want to come into the country for coproduction cos we’re that and that and why are we relying on the likes of the streamers? Why can’t we do something that is for us by us so that they will come to us and ask for these things? We are solely depending on them to licence our movies, for survival. Speaking of coproduction, if you tell me you don’t want to come into the country for any reason, I’ll tell you you’re wrong, cos there are amazing producers here that you’ve seen their work. All you need to do is come to them and agree on modalities.”

Watch the interview with John Njamah below.

Check out more updates here.

Related Topics:actors Casting John Njamah Movies

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ENTERTAINMENT

OdumoduBlvck Recounts How Don Jazzy Gifted Him $10,000

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Reporter

OdumoduBlvck on how Don Jazzy gifted him $10,000 | fab.ng

OdumoduBlvck recently praised Mavin Records founder Don Jazzy in an interview with Beats FM.

The rapper discussed his latest project, “Nothing Changed,” a collaborative effort with the Anti-World Gangsters crew. The album features Don Jazzy on the track “Asampete.”

OdumoduBlvck revealed that after recording “Asampete,” he felt the song would benefit from Don Jazzy’s contribution. When approached, Don Jazzy readily agreed to the request.

During their meeting, Don Jazzy not only added his vocals to the song but also surprised OdumoduBlvck with a generous gift of $10,000.

Impressively, Don Jazzy declined any royalties for his contribution to the track.

“When I went to his house to get his vocals, he gave me $10,000 and even my friend was asking me why he gave me such a huge amount of money,” he narrated in the interview.

OdumoduBlvck further praised Don Jazzy, describing him as the most original personality in the Nigerian music industry and a true icon.

“There’s nobody more original than Don Jazzy…The way the younger artists look up to Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, and Olamide today is how they used to look up to Don Jazzy”.

OdumoduBlvck’s praise for Don Jazzy’s generosity and influence on the Nigerian music industry echoes sentiments expressed by numerous artists whose careers have been shaped by the Mavin Records boss.

Four-time Grammy nominee Davido has credited Don Jazzy and D’banj’s flamboyant lifestyle for inspiring him to relocate to Nigeria and pursue his musical aspirations.

Don Jazzy’s philanthropic endeavours also continue to make headlines. Recently, he donated a substantial sum of 100 million naira to Very Dark Man’s charity.

Check out more updates here.

ENTERTAINMENT

Actress Eucharia Anunobi Preaches Against Seeking Validation From Others

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Reporter

Eucharia Anunobi preaches against seeking validation | fab.ng

Nigerian actress and evangelist Eucharia Anunobi shared a compelling message about self-empowerment through her Instagram platform on December 19, 2024.

The Nollywood veteran directly addressed her followers in a social media post, urging them to break free from seeking external validation.

Anunobi, known for her influential roles in the Nigerian film industry, stressed that individuals should cultivate a strong sense of self-worth independent of others’ opinions.

The acclaimed actress articulated that personal growth and fulfilment stem from embracing one’s authentic self rather than conforming to societal expectations or public judgment.

In the video posted, Eucharia Anunobi enquired, “Why do you want everyone to like you? Even ice cream isn’t liked by everyone, come on.”Her post caption read,

“Seeking to be liked by all is a sign that you are emotionally and spiritually imbalanced! Some people will hate you because to hate is what gives them joy!! Because they are genetically wicked!!! So get used to not being liked!!!!1 John 5:19.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Apostle Dr Eucharia Anunobi (@euchariaanunobi)

The actress’s post ignited a flurry of reactions in her comment section, with followers expressing support and sharing their personal reflections.

Actress Sola Sobowale commented simply, “Fact.”

Other followers shared their thoughts, with one writing, “Anyone who is always seeking validation from the public whenever he or she does something, just know say that person no clear 💯.”

“Caring what people think about you is natural. Letting it drive your behaviours and keep you from doing things you believe in is usually a sign of,” said another person.

Another Instagram user shed more light on the issue, saying,

“codependency conditioning. The core belief in codependency is: what people think of me defines what I think of me. My mother always said, “Your opinion of me is none of my business.” It can get real exhausting perceiving yourself through the eyes of others. No matter how pure your intention, you cannot control how people receive you. Give others the freedom to perceive you as they wish, for it’s merely a reflection of themselves and not your reality. Never mind who sees you. Do you see you?”

“I don’t like people who wanna be liked by everyone, just do you and move on,”

“Thisss ,it’s okay to be a bad person in another persons story ,Only God is PERFECT 👍”

Check out more entertainment news updates here.

ENTERTAINMENT

Elozonam Reflects On How “Japa” Makes It Hard For Him To Make Friends

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Reporter

Elozonam on how ‘japa’ makes it hard for him to make friends | fab.ng

Former BBNaija star and content creator Elozonam revealed how Nigeria’s “japa” syndrome—where individuals emigrate in search of better opportunities abroad—has impacted his personal relationships, especially with friends and family.

During a conversation on the Uncoloured Podcast, hosted by fellow BBNaija alum Venita, Elozonam candidly shared how his twin brother’s relocation has significantly altered their once-close dynamic.

“For my twin brother and I, being twins, we naturally used to argue a lot,” Elozonam said. “But after he left, there was nothing to fight about. Now I have to consciously reach out to him because there are days or weeks when I don’t hear from him. It’s frustrating, but I understand that everyone has to do what they need to survive and build a better life.”

Elozonam reflected on how the japa wave has reshaped his social circle. He traced the trend back to 2018 when his former boss moved abroad with his family.

“That seemed to open the floodgates,” he said. “Since then, people have been leaving one after the other. It’s exhausting. You become hesitant to form new friendships because you don’t know if they’ll just up and leave tomorrow.”

He expressed deep frustration about Nigeria’s deteriorating economy and infrastructure. He acknowledged that unemployment, insecurity, and poor living conditions push many Nigerians to seek better opportunities in other countries.

“Between 2018 and 2024, I’ve seen so many people leave. Nigeria isn’t improving, and everyone wants a better future. It’s hard to blame them, but it’s also hard for those of us left behind.”

Watch the interview below.

“…you’re now too wary of making new friends. Nigeria is not getting any better. We all know this”

Elozonam speaks about living in a different country from his twin brother and the downsides of japa. pic.twitter.com/zc7KMuLcdX

— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) December 18, 2024