TIPTOPSTARS

Fruits of a honeymoon Cameroon’s State-run TV network the CRTV and the local film industry have been having are on the way to the dinning table. A new meal being prepared by both parties has been the pre-occupying task for cast and crew members for the past couple of days. This meal, short films, is what Yaounde-based film makers and actors under the banner of the Cameroon Film Industry (CFI) and Cameroon Actors’ Guild (CAMAG) will be serving CRTV via Hello, the station’s prime breakfast show.
The first delivery will comprise 10 short stories, cinematographically told to the taste of viewers. “We have opted for a humorous way in telling the stories because we think viewers need to get off their daily worries,” Chiatoh Collins, production manager of the project told TIPTOPSTARS editor on the line to Yaounde.
Explaining further why CFI and CAMAG decided to feed CRTV with short films Chiatoh said: “We prefer to start with short films because they are less costly. But, we also want to demonstrate how we can tell good stories and provide good quality sound and images in just five minutes. If we succeed in five minutes, we can succeed twice in feature films. That is the message we have for our partners, CRTV.”
For the past couple of days therefore, a team of actors and crew members have been on locations shooting stories that exploit themes around moral and sex education. “We also have a mandate as film makers to educate the public and provide solutions to societal problems,” Chiatoh explained.
Directed by Neba Lawrence, assisted by a consulting director from partner CRTV, the short films feature renowned English-speaking Cameroonian actors such as Moma Pascal aka Bob (author of most of the stories), Eugene Yusibom, Julius, Chiatoh Collins and Vincent Otia. “Star actress Solange Yijika is coming on set soon,” the production manager announced. These actors are prepared and put on set by artistic director Alasabom Nyintchou, himself a talented performer and driller.  Viewers will therefore be savouring richly packaged short films, twice a week, with titles such as Sexually Transmitted Marks, Last Chance, Over Don Na Mbut, etc. Watch out on Hello!