TIPTOPSTARS

South Africa-based Cameroonian film writer/producer, Fred Kenyati has a nut to crack with cyber crime. “Something has to be done and fast enough to eradicate this contemporary ill,” he told this reporter. Fred was talking from his home in Cape Town where in 2011, he carved out a movie story that describes the exuberant life of online offenders better known as scammers and how they often encounter rough ends. That story was screenplayed and shot into what was later baptized Xplosif Choppers, a much-awaited movie the up-and-coming producer is getting set to release.

Xplosif Choppers with a mixed cast and crew (Cameroonian, South African and Congolese actors and technicians) is undergoing post-production in a South Africa studio as we write and will see the light of day late March 2012 or early April, according to its author.

Upon completion, the film producer who is also a PhD student in Law told us that Xplosif Choppers will be honoured with a grand premiere in Cape Town. “We’ll repeat the event in Yaounde, Limbe and Bamenda between July and August this year,” Fred announced. “We would then make copies available to movie buyers in Nigeria, Ghana, USA and the UK,” he went further.

On another medium, Xplosif Choppers will be broadcast on Cameroon’s State-run TV network, CRTV and the continent’s entertainment giant Africa Magic. “Discussions are underway to that effect,” said Fred.

Shot on locations in Cape Town in September and October 2011, the 90-minutes long Xplosif Choppers is directed by Solomon Atah (Cameroonian) and Kale Kasongo (DRC). The other crew members included Rikki Kasongo (Congolese, D.O.P), Tembi Cornel (sound technician), Carlos (lighting), Chia Stanley (continuity), and Gwendoline Tatah (production manager).

Featuring in the Cam Movies Entertainment Pro. production are Fred Kenyati, Chia Stanley, Vitalis Tonguala, Melisa Jacobs (South African), Tembi Cornel, Tichaawa Mirabel, Tiolong Charletter, Gwendoline Tatah, Olga Chungu and Donascimento Lidia (Congolese).

Xplosif Choppers is Fred Kenyati’s first production. The second, Troubled Kingdom (co-produced with USA-based Mairo Sanda and directed by Neba Lawrence) was shot in Yaounde, Cameroon a couple of weeks ago, also featuring Solange Yijika, Moma Pascal aka Bob, Chiatoh Collins, Nchifor Valery and Ruth Nkweti. Both movies will be release simultaneously.