Home Entertainment MOVIES Film making: Ishmalight, his light, his Camera
Film making: Ishmalight, his light, his Camera
Ernest Kanjo / ••Tuesday•, 24 •January• 2012 20:44•

tankoWith a license in Structural Engineering from the Yaounde National School of Engineering simply known in Cameroon as Polytechque, Tanko Francois aka Ishmalight nurses ambitions of turning his country’s film industry into an enviable place to belong. He is one of the youngest but most competent and experienced technicians in Cameroon and holds strong that a film maker like himself should be sound enough to give the world   even more than what Hollywood’s James Cameron has given. “It is from Cameron that I drew inspiration and I’m ready to work hard and why not do more,” the lighting technician and camera operator told TIPTOPSTARS Editor.
Ishmalight who has performed his job in the film industry for nine (9) years quickly noticed that good sound and adequate lighting were in short supply and this gave Cameroonian movies a bad name. “Whereas, these are the most important elements as far as the technical quality of a film is concerned,” he said. The 1.60m-tall film maker from Ndu in the North West of Cameroon explained further; “I couldn’t sit back and watch our movies go down the drain, so I took up the challenge to enter the industry via lighting.”
With formal training and occasional in-the-job recycling courses, Ismalight puts creativity at the top of his field performance, but would not hesitate to listen and accept positive criticisms. “I also read and do a lot of research,” he revealed.  That’s probably why the 23 films he has done as a lighting technician and 13 as camera operator have been pretty much appreciated by viewers, colleagues and critics.
Good natured, the soft-spoken but humorous Frank, as the film technician is also affectionately called was ‘the man for the job’ in the recent Zintgraff and the Battle of Mankon project by Premier Films, shot in Bamenda. It is undoubtedly the biggest film project done in Cameroon in 2011. “How I got signed up for the project still remains a mystery. I was the only one selected, out of fifteen who were examined for the role of camera operator and lighting technician. I later had a tete-a-tete discussion with the CEO of Premier Films and the result was a handsome pay package,” he explained.
Zintgraff and the Battle of Mankon, the said serial will be screened on Cameroon’s State-run TV network, CRTV. Editing of the film is currently going on in Yaounde. It was a successful project for Ishmalight, challenging as well. “But not as challenging as Enigma, the series we shot with Billy Bob Ndive in Buea in 2010,” he told us. Ishmalight explained that he did lighting and shooting from the camera under the kind of hazardous weather conditions Buea is reputed for. Said the film maker: “Working with completely new actors for the Enigma project was also a tedious task I had to face.”
The young film maker who benefitted from a brief training by the German Cultural Centre, Geothe-Institut in 2009, hopes to leave a legacy in the seventh art by using it to alleviate poverty and suffering in Cameroon and Africa. “Opening a film institute or a school of arts is my ultimate dream to that effect,” he disclosed.
To Ishmalight, the high cost in shipping film equipment to Cameroon is one of the most serious problems they face. The industry is still young and they haven’t made enough wealth to be able to overcome this. For now however, his wealth can only be found and savoured in the several productions he has worked in including; Black Vampire, Criminal Frat, Forsaken Rose, My Successor, Lost Ego, Crazy Enterprise, Land of Shadows, Great Pain, Ancestral Wrath (series), Students’ Cot, Osmosis, Nexus, Ride My Wrongs, Canal Trap, Ouvre le Carport, Back Page, Dirty Iside, Enigma (series), Zintgraff and the Battle of Mankon (serials), Celebrity Corner (TV show).
The dexterous lighting technician who loves putting on white dresses is a remarkable eater of kwacoco and mbanga soup, a traditional delicacy of the Bakweris in Fako Division of the South West region of Cameroon. If he is not travelling, Frank whose father, Tanko Enock Shei (of blessed memory) is his role model is at a pool swimming. “I also love dancing,” he said this about his hobbies.


•Last Updated on ••Tuesday•, 24 •January• 2012 21:52••
418293622 7484176181616363_8241778451874313913_n


LATEST COMMENTS

  • Well, I think the CEA was a very shallow and misgu... More...
  • This is creativity we are talking about, this are ... More...
  • Lovelyn,your pre-selection criterias are ok but i'... More...
  • camhood 4 the better More...
  • fame is gd More...
  • CONGRATULATION. THANK GOD FOR YOU GUYS. CAMEROON S... More...
  • cool girls dat was great but this year we the cons... More...

•Profile Information•

Application afterLoad: 0.000 seconds, 0.41 MB
Application afterInitialise: 0.033 seconds, 2.88 MB
Application afterRoute: 0.042 seconds, 3.57 MB
Application afterDispatch: 0.128 seconds, 6.96 MB
Application afterRender: 0.211 seconds, 8.16 MB

•Memory Usage•

8632568

•25 queries logged•

  1. SELECT *
      FROM jos_session
      WHERE session_id = 'h091fr08hk1a29gbfmqf4a1h57'
  2. DELETE
      FROM jos_session
      WHERE ( TIME < '1776604261' )
  3. SELECT *
      FROM jos_session
      WHERE session_id = 'h091fr08hk1a29gbfmqf4a1h57'
  4. INSERT INTO `jos_session` ( `session_id`,`time`,`username`,`gid`,`guest`,`client_id` )
      VALUES ( 'h091fr08hk1a29gbfmqf4a1h57','1776605161','','0','1','0' )
  5. SELECT *
      FROM jos_components
      WHERE parent = 0
  6. SELECT folder AS TYPE, element AS name, params
      FROM jos_plugins
      WHERE published >= 1
      AND access <= 0
      ORDER BY ordering
  7. SELECT *
      FROM jos_migration_backlinks
      WHERE url LIKE 'entertainment/903-movies/439-film-making-ishmalight-and-his-light.html%' OR sefurl LIKE 'entertainment/903-movies/439-film-making-ishmalight-and-his-light.html%'
  8. SELECT m.*, c.`option` AS component
      FROM jos_menu AS m
      LEFT JOIN jos_components AS c
      ON m.componentid = c.id
      WHERE m.published = 1
      ORDER BY m.sublevel, m.parent, m.ordering
  9. SELECT *
      FROM jos_jcomments_settings
  10. SELECT template
      FROM jos_templates_menu
      WHERE client_id = 0
      AND (menuid = 0 OR menuid = 140)
      ORDER BY menuid DESC
      LIMIT 0, 1
  11. SELECT a.*, u.name AS author, u.usertype, cc.title AS category, s.title AS SECTION, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(a.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", a.id, a.alias) ELSE a.id END AS slug, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(cc.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", cc.id, cc.alias) ELSE cc.id END AS catslug, g.name AS groups, s.published AS sec_pub, cc.published AS cat_pub, s.access AS sec_access, cc.access AS cat_access  
      FROM jos_content AS a
      LEFT JOIN jos_categories AS cc
      ON cc.id = a.catid
      LEFT JOIN jos_sections AS s
      ON s.id = cc.SECTION
      AND s.scope = "content"
      LEFT JOIN jos_users AS u
      ON u.id = a.created_by
      LEFT JOIN jos_groups AS g
      ON a.access = g.id
      WHERE a.id = 439
      AND (  ( a.created_by = 0 )    OR  ( a.state = 1
      AND ( a.publish_up = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' OR a.publish_up <= '2026-04-19 13:26:01' )
      AND ( a.publish_down = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' OR a.publish_down >= '2026-04-19 13:26:01' )   )    OR  ( a.state = -1 )  )
  12. UPDATE jos_content
      SET hits = ( hits + 1 )
      WHERE id='439'
  13. SELECT id
      FROM jos_menu
     
      WHERE link LIKE '%option=com_search%'
     
      AND TYPE = 'component'
     
      AND published = 1
      LIMIT 0, 1
  14. SELECT id, title, module, POSITION, content, showtitle, control, params
      FROM jos_modules AS m
      LEFT JOIN jos_modules_menu AS mm
      ON mm.moduleid = m.id
      WHERE m.published = 1
      AND m.access <= 0
      AND m.client_id = 0
      AND ( mm.menuid = 140 OR mm.menuid = 0 )
      ORDER BY POSITION, ordering
  15. SELECT m.*, SUM(CASE WHEN p.published=1 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS cnt

      FROM jos_menu AS m

      LEFT JOIN jos_menu AS p
      ON p.parent = m.id

      WHERE m.menutype='mainmenu'
      AND m.published='1'
      AND m.access <= '0'

      GROUP BY m.id
      ORDER BY m.parent, m.ordering
  16. SELECT m.*
      FROM jos_menu AS m

      WHERE menutype='mainmenu'
      AND m.published='1'
  17. SELECT cc.id, cc.userid, cc.comment, cc.name, cc.username, cc.email, cc.DATE, cc.object_id, cc.object_group, '' AS avatar
     
      FROM jos_jcomments AS cc
     
      LEFT JOIN jos_content AS c
      ON c.id = cc.object_id
     
      WHERE cc.published = 1
       
      AND c.access <= '0'
       
      AND (c.publish_up = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' OR c.publish_up <= '2026-04-19 13:26:01')
       
      AND (c.publish_down = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' OR c.publish_down >= '2026-04-19 13:26:01')
       
      AND cc.object_group = 'com_content'
     
      ORDER BY cc.DATE DESC
     
      LIMIT 7
  18. SELECT a.id, a.sectionid, a.access, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(a.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", a.id, a.alias) ELSE a.id END AS slug, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(cc.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", cc.id, cc.alias) ELSE cc.id END AS catslug
      FROM jos_content AS a
      LEFT JOIN jos_categories AS cc
      ON cc.id = a.catid
      WHERE a.id = 555
  19. SELECT a.id, a.sectionid, a.access, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(a.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", a.id, a.alias) ELSE a.id END AS slug, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(cc.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", cc.id, cc.alias) ELSE cc.id END AS catslug
      FROM jos_content AS a
      LEFT JOIN jos_categories AS cc
      ON cc.id = a.catid
      WHERE a.id = 591
  20. SELECT a.id, a.sectionid, a.access, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(a.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", a.id, a.alias) ELSE a.id END AS slug, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(cc.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", cc.id, cc.alias) ELSE cc.id END AS catslug
      FROM jos_content AS a
      LEFT JOIN jos_categories AS cc
      ON cc.id = a.catid
      WHERE a.id = 575
  21. SELECT a.id, a.sectionid, a.access, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(a.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", a.id, a.alias) ELSE a.id END AS slug, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(cc.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", cc.id, cc.alias) ELSE cc.id END AS catslug
      FROM jos_content AS a
      LEFT JOIN jos_categories AS cc
      ON cc.id = a.catid
      WHERE a.id = 483
  22. SELECT a.id, a.sectionid, a.access, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(a.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", a.id, a.alias) ELSE a.id END AS slug, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(cc.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", cc.id, cc.alias) ELSE cc.id END AS catslug
      FROM jos_content AS a
      LEFT JOIN jos_categories AS cc
      ON cc.id = a.catid
      WHERE a.id = 306
  23. SELECT a.id, a.sectionid, a.access, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(a.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", a.id, a.alias) ELSE a.id END AS slug, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(cc.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", cc.id, cc.alias) ELSE cc.id END AS catslug
      FROM jos_content AS a
      LEFT JOIN jos_categories AS cc
      ON cc.id = a.catid
      WHERE a.id = 386
  24. SELECT a.*,  CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(a.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", a.id, a.alias) ELSE a.id END AS slug, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(cc.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", cc.id, cc.alias) ELSE cc.id END AS catslug
      FROM jos_content AS a
      INNER JOIN jos_categories AS cc
      ON cc.id = a.catid
      INNER JOIN jos_sections AS s
      ON s.id = a.sectionid
      WHERE a.state = 1
      AND ( a.publish_up = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' OR a.publish_up <= '2026-04-19 13:26:01' )
      AND ( a.publish_down = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' OR a.publish_down >= '2026-04-19 13:26:01' )
      AND s.id > 0
      AND a.access <= 0
      AND cc.access <= 0
      AND s.access <= 0
      AND s.published = 1
      AND cc.published = 1
      ORDER BY a.created DESC
      LIMIT 0, 25
  25. SELECT a.*, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(a.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", a.id, a.alias) ELSE a.id END AS slug, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(cc.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", cc.id, cc.alias) ELSE cc.id END AS catslug
      FROM jos_content AS a
      LEFT JOIN jos_content_frontpage AS f
      ON f.content_id = a.id
      INNER JOIN jos_categories AS cc
      ON cc.id = a.catid
      INNER JOIN jos_sections AS s
      ON s.id = a.sectionid
      WHERE ( a.state = 1
      AND s.id > 0 )
      AND ( a.publish_up = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' OR a.publish_up <= '2026-04-19 13:26:01' )
      AND ( a.publish_down = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' OR a.publish_down >= '2026-04-19 13:26:01' )
      AND a.access <= 0
      AND cc.access <= 0
      AND s.access <= 0
      AND s.published = 1
      AND cc.published = 1
      ORDER BY a.hits DESC
      LIMIT 0, 15

•Language Files Loaded•

•Untranslated Strings Diagnostic•

•None•

•Untranslated Strings Designer•

•None•