TIPTOPSTARS

The power of positive thinking is no doubt what Kang Quintus, Elian Mambo and Akim Macauley are now benefiting from, after the release of the official trailer of Ekei, the next Cameroonian movie on the line. The co-producers and director, speaking to this writer respectively on Afrikka Radio’s African Cocktail while filming Ekei last year, said they were confident the movie would be a standardized piece.

“We are considering every aspect of production and making sure things are carefully done to avoid avoidable mistakes,” Kang had told the radio show. On his part, director, Akim Macauley was overwhelmed by a cast he confirmed was one any serious filmmaker would press their fingers on the table to work with. “I was particularly fascinated with the performance of Stephanie Maa whom I just discovered to be a brilliant actress. She made me proud and I’m glad we had her in Ekei,” Akim testified.

It’s beginning to dawn on listeners of that particular episode of African Cocktail and this writer that these filmmakers were by no means playing jokes. The Ekei trailer, from all indications, is the revelation. Since its release a couple of hours ago the Ekei trailer has been accumulating scores of reactions. “The trailer is awesome, I can’t wait to watch the full movie.” “That’s the key to success, good job.” “My people doing it big….” “I was crying as I watched the trailer, I can already imagine how the entire movie would look like…” “Akim Macauley has come again…” These and more are the kind of positive feedback comments the trailer, published on social media is currently generating.

With such anxiety, Ekei’s potential audience can truly not wait for the full-length product, we put it to producer Kang Quintus. “We understand this excitement, reason why we are carefully planning the movie’s release coming up sooner than they would imagine,” he told TIPTOPSTARS today. Kang added: “The date for the release and premiere will be made public as soon as these arrangements are made.”

Shot on locations in the USA and Cameroon, Ekei tells the story of a poor village girl who sets out on an unprecedented journey. Ekei, the protagonist, has never set foot in a city, let alone an American urban setting, but she now finds herself in one. Her dreamland turns to be the most dehumanizing experience when she has to face torture and other forms of violent treatment. She battles her way out but has a murder incident hanging on her head. Defying all odds, she comes across Vitalis Amuam, a perfect gentleman noted for his assiduity and generosity. Thanks to the latter, things turn around, yet Ekei has to face the law in a case that places the Jugde in a fix. The rest of the story is recounted cinematographically in the full-length Cameroonian movie coming up.

Starring in the Quinsia Film/Zeallmatic Pictures production are Staphanie Ma    (Ghanaian), Chinepoh Cosson, Solieil Diva, Claudio Oben, Elian Mambo, Wendy Bangura (Sierra-Leonean), Nathalie Bih, Don Pale, Ntube Mcbright, Wkeith Scott, Peter Muggleworth, Jerri Barkers, Ngato Brian, Charmaine Mufua and others. Other technical crew members in the production include Christopher Okonkwo (D.O.P), Elvis Effamba (Camera Operator 1) and Penjo Baba (Camera Operator 2).

Ekei comes after Sister Dearest, The Storm and VIRI, three other Cameroonian movies released this year with an amazing attention. Its producer and artists will be talking to African Cocktail (on Afrikka Radio – www.afrikkaradio.com) in the subsequent edition of the midweek variety show hosted by journalist Ernest Kanjo