TIPTOPSTARS

The amazing improvement which has generally been noticed within the Cameroonian film industry is fast and glaringly reflecting in Nollywood. It is becoming increasingly clear that Nigeria has found inert pleasure in loving what is Cameroonian and is overtly providing a comfortable spot for the latter within the world’s number two film platform.

No sooner had the Nollywood and African Film Critics Awards (NAFCA) seen the light of day than the leading African movie recognition platform in the diaspora embraced Cameroon. From its inception in 2011, the event which is predominantly Nigerian had Cameroonian guests (including this writer who secured an invitation) amongst them, filmmakers and actors. The two succeeding edition even had an increased number of Cameroonian participants and laureates including the country’s Minister of Culture Ama Tutu Muna.

Cameroonian participation and the rising number of nominations and laureates would definitely have inspired NAFCA more and organizers think the former should stretch further. This year, NAFCA wants Cameroon on the red carpet for entry interviews. “It was so simple – I requested for a press pass and NAFCA gladly granted and permitted me to run red carpet interviews,” Crystal Beauty told us. Crystal Beauty is an up-and-coming Cameroonian online TV host and entertainment promoter.

Crystal told TIPTOPSTARS that she wouldn’t pretend to mention that NAFCA is a big event which would normally catch the attention any ambitious television presenter. The host of The Crystal Beauty Show said: “And, the fact that the event is being held in the heart of Hollywood this year is enough to make me excited – but mark you, I’m a little nervous, hahahaha!”

To the Cameroonian online TV personality, her participation in this year’s edition of NAFCA is a great boost to the show she runs and this is certainly going to push her to work harder. “That’s what this singular privilege of running the red carpet interview at NAFCA means to me,” she said.

NAFCA 2014 will however not be Crystal’s first red carpet interview experience. The Boston, USA-based TV presenter has been on other such platforms mostly in the DC, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area and is well known for her pro-active nature in arranging and running celebrity interviews both Africans stars and those from Hollywood.

Meanwhile, this year’s edition of NAFCA takes place at the Saban Theatre, Beverly Hills in Hollywood, California this Saturday, September 13, 2014.

In a society where talents and interests are quickly identified, nurtured, tapped and utilized, persons who show up have a ready-made rendezvous with success. Hannah Agbor Agbor (4.1 feet-tall) and Emma Agbor Agbor (4.2 feet-tall) squarely fit in this school of thought. They are a set of twins, exceptionally made to excel in a very glamourous domain of art – modeling.

At the tender age of six, Hannah and Emma have fixed their ambitions of becoming top models that will win admiration and fame, not just in their country, the USA, but throughout the world. An encounter with the out-going, smart and intelligent kids reveals this assertion with complete exactitude.

“From a much more tender age, they had always shown great interests in posing for snapshots and it’s amazing how they’d displayed different types of postures,” Relindis Agbor, mother of the rising twin models told TIPTOPSTARS in Ohio. “As they grew up, the interest in catalogues in which they’d learn about and admire fashion increased,” she went further. Agbor told us that her twin models would regularly watch TV shows that focused on fashion displays and mimicked the artists. “You could notice this obsession in them, but hardly did it ring a bell in me that this interest was building a bigger foundation in the lives of Hannah and Emma,” the Columbus-based mother of the hope-rising model explained.

The sound of this bell finally woke Agbor sometimes in 2013 when the duo made their dreams clear to their parents – they had decided, at their tender age, to get into professional modeling. “I’m not a dream killer, so I had no objection,” Agbor said. She added: “I’d rather stand by them, give them the necessary support to succeed in what they have chosen to do.”

Since April 2013, Hannah (brown eyes, brown hair) and Emma (brown eyes, black hair), born by Cameroonian parents have been going through the various steps that lead to full-fledged modeling. Apart from training, they are signed up by a Columbus, Ohio modeling agency that is molding them to become what they and their parents hope to see them become – top models!

For one thing, ambition fills the careers of these child models. “I want to be popular and liked, reason why I’m working hard,” Hannah told TIPTOPSTARS. To the six year-old model, starring in commercials advertising clothes and cosmetic products is her greatest ambition. To Emma, posing for snapshots is her greatest interest. “I also love to catwalk and practice that all the time, at home and at the training ground,” she explained. Emma told us further: “My friends tell me I’m good at it and I must believe in myself and not relent in my efforts of becoming a great model.”

Will this involvement in professional modeling at elementary school age not affect their studies? “Oh no, definitely not!” the mother of the kids are fast becoming a sensation in their community told us. “Rather, they’ve become more serious with studies since they got into modeling. They study at the appropriate time and are always reminded that modeling goes hand-in-hand with education and unless you have good academic records, no serious modeling agency would hire you. We let them know this and they are aware,” she explained.

In the coming months, more will come out from these two child models that are gradually cropping into the news. TIPTOPSTARS will be trailing them and we will be back with more information on Hannah and Emma in our subsequent updates.

EDITOR’S NOTE

For purposes of promoting talent, this story plus the pictures used to illustrate it are published with the consent and support of the parents of the kid models.

Someone confided to this interviewer that if humility and a good-heartedness were all needed to qualify a filmmaker/actor as the best, then Nkanya Nkwai is the best. His ever-smiling nature literally translates into his career which from every indication is growing richer and richer. As we write, the young Cameroonian filmmaker/actor is one of those the industry now depends on when it comes to quality work. His most recent movie VIRI is a true representation of this assertion. And even Nkanya’s recent recognition as 2014 best actor at the annual African Film Festival, Ecrans Noirs only comes to spice up his ambitions – getting to the apex of the art he knows and loves best – the seventh art. Soon after Nkanya lifted the trophy for the best actor at Ecrans Noirs, TIPTOPSTARS contacted him for a chat. In the following interview with Editor Ernest Kanjo, he talked about his reaction to this latest glory, his career and other things. We spoke to him while Nkanya was still in Yaounde. Excerpts!

Ernest Kanjo (EK): What was your immediate reaction when your name was pronounced as winner of the best actor category at Ecrans Noirs?

Nkanya Nkwai (NN): It was a gut wrenching form of excitement that rendered me bewildered. For one thing, I was sitting close to Epule Jeffrey, Desmond Wyte and Nchifor Valery who are some of the household names and most appreciated actors in Cameroon Film Industry. It became a difficult thing for me to see myself as a merited winner among them. Secondly, I didn’t imagine myself winning the best actor in The African Guest movie. I thought it would be a more deserving award if it were for my performance in Viri movie. When I left my hotel room that evening, I thought if I were to win anything from The African Guest, it would be best movie award and from Viri it would be best actor, but it appeared I was naïve. These reasons led to my difficult emotions that overwhelmed me at the pronouncement of my name as the winner.

EK: What do you think would have been your strong point that caught the jury’s attention?

NN: The strongest point that led to this award is the story. The movie has a real story - actor plus goal multiplied by obstacle, written out of reality. The story is clear, creative and concise. That is what gave me an edge over great actors who were in competition. However, as an actor, I make an effort to interpret my character diligently and keep a high level of character consistency - and not try to impress. I think these are what make a story believable and thus a movie.

EK: Could you briefly describe your acting career – when it started and what inspired you into it?

NN: My acting career started in 2008 in Limbe. My inspiration came after watching lots of Nigerian movies over a decade, critiquing and imagining myself in some of the characters, etc. When I discovered a venturing movie making group in Limbe known as Sea-side movies, I immediately ran in for auditions. Of course, I was not the best, but I was selected as second up-runner and the director wanted the three preselected to come for rehearsals a couple times a week. After the first week, I grabbed the first spot and that is how I featured in Becky Diana which was my first appearance in a movie. Later that year, I travelled to South Africa for studies and for a year my movie activities were on a pause. A year later when I went to Europe to further my studies, auditions were made in our university for a play – The Crucible which was to be directed by Dr. Luttrell Briley Rebecca. I was the only selected African out of nine who went in for the auditions. The play featured nationals of seven European countries then USA and Africa, which was me. That was not only a come-back, but an opportunity to enter the real acting world. For the next two years while I was in LCC International University, I became a natural candidate for most plays done in our university like one of the Wisemen, one of the Shepherds, and at some point, I featured in a play in Lithuanian which was a language I could barely say good morning in. Later, I went to the USA and I started taking online studies on writing because I had started writing The African Guest before I discovered Boulder Digital studios from where which I benefitted quite much. I also attended a series of acting classes before the big thing happened - meeting Robert LaRue who has invested a lot in my career. We actually met on a movie set as fellow crew members for an Indie; Joshua Tree which won Best Director at Mexico International Film Festival this year. We later worked as co-writers and producers of The African Guest before I came to Cameroon where I have been active in the industry till now.

EK: Which are some of the movies you have featured so far?

NN: Far, co-produced by AGE and Cradle Rocks Productions Int’l, Bemsi by Itambi Delphine, My Gallery by Gold Age, Viri, The African Guest, The Crucible, If Jesus Would Be Born Today, The Walking Stick and Becky Diana.

EK: Who are some of the prominent actors you have worked with?

NN: In Cameroon, I’ve been privileged to work with actors of high repute such as Epule Jeffrey, Nchifor Valery, Desmond Wyte, Solange Ojong, Lynno Lovert, Stephanie Fonachi, Itambi Delphine, Alenne Menget, Otia Vitalis, Ebako Derrick, Adela Elad. These are actors I have learned a lot from. Now, I’m looking out for opportunity to work with other great actors such as Ivan Namme, Anurin A., Solange Yijika, Kelly Ade, Ruth Kwenti, Ernest Arthur Iyok, Moma Pascal, Libota McDonald, Syndy Emade, Ala Leo, Kwah Kingsley. The list is long. Cameroon has amazing actors. Out of Cameroon, I have worked with great Colorado-based actors such as Ketrick Jazz Copeland, Christina Berry Green, Daniel Seifert and Alfred Feraris. I have also worked with John Dumelo who is just amazing on set. Dumelo and Epule make acting so easy.

EK: To whom do you dedicate this award?

NN: First and foremost, to Tanyi Melvis Bechemyo, Eyikeshi Fred and Steve Kamdeu for their ceaseless support and encouragement especially during my most challenging times. Then, to friends and family who support me in this venture. Lastly, to those who criticize and challenge me - they have been very vital for my tenacity and self improvement.

EK: What is your next acting project?

NN: We have a couple big movie projects lined up for September which are going to be the next level in our industry and I’m so happy I’ll be taking part in them. We have Rose on a Grave by Syndy Emade, Smoked Screen by Ivan Namme and Night Fall which I’ll be producing. I’m training, rehearsing and meditating while I await these projects.

EK: What has been the reaction of Cameroonians to this latest victory?

NN: Well, it is difficult to know what someone else feels, but judging from most of my friends, I would say they received it with warmth and positivity. I equally know some might have been disappointed not because I won, because others they hoped would win didn’t. I understand and sincerely share in their disappointment but that does not make me better. I won, but I do not I see myself as a better actor than their preferences but judging from the objective criteria that was put in place, certain conditions fetched more points for me.

EK: One last word for your fans?

NN: Excuse me; please I don’t go by that sir. Anyone who makes that effort to appreciate what I do, such is my source of inspiration and deserves respected acknowledgement and the least I should do is qualify them as supporters and backers. My last word to them is thank you and they should know even the shortest man can see the sky.

EK: Thanks for talking to us Nkwanya Nkwai!

NN: My great pleasure Ernest and TIPTOPSTARS!

CAMEROON - Soon after June 2008, men and women who love the seventh art and aspire to thrive in it have been putting on a different lens with which to view the practice of this noble profession. This is thanks to the setting up a structure whose mission is the oversee the dos and don’ts in a bid to provide the most acceptable quality of work in a sector hitherto considered as lame within the entertainment circles in Cameroon. That body, the Cameroon Film Industry, CFI kicked off that year with an unimaginable pump and since then has been a veritable centre of attraction, even with numerous challenges. For one thing, it is generally agreed that CFI is and will remain one of the most brilliant ideas and initiatives in the history of filmmaking in Cameroon, perhaps reason why it has not quickly gone the readers’ digest way as has been the case with several other sassy Cameroonian courses. The organization’s turning point came in March 2013 when a board, made up of 15 members, drawn from the various guilds was elected. This board replaced a defunct caretaker committee with a clear-cut and non-negotiable assignment of shooting CFI into the skies. Results, no matter how they were defined, had to be delivered, an elective General Assemble on March 26, 2013 in Yaounde insisted. At the helm of the team in which hopes were vested was talented and famous elderly actor Otia Vitalis. The CFI ride has continued since the Yaounde-based film administrator took up the command baton. To some keen Cameroonian film industry observer, this is work that doesn’t get done in a day, so Otia’s administration is gradually, but steadily moving towards the lighted end of the tunnel. To others, the pace is rather too slow for a course that is so badly in need of quick progress. But to the CFI board chair, much ground has been covered despite challenges that are independent of his making. TIPTOPSTARS has been observing the scene and 16 months after the Otia team came on board, we decided to take the temperature of progress. Otia Vitalis accepted to speak to Editor Ernest Kanjo. In the following interview, he makes certain breaking revelations including the fact that the Minister of Culture does not care about CFI. Because of the sensitive nature of the interview and for purposes of accuracy, we published Otia’s words the way they came. Excerpts!

Ernest Kanjo (EK): It’s sixteen months plus since you rose to the office of Board chair of the Cameroon Film Industry, CFI with the mission of implementing change which had been clamoured for energetically by the filmmakers and artists. How far have you gone in achieving this change?

Otia Vitalis (OV): Thanks for this huge opportunity to inform ourselves about recent happenings in the film industry in Cameroon. It is sixteen months already and we believe that we are effecting lasting impact in the industry. The first year was wasted because we were waiting on the Minister who had made many lofty promises when she received the board in April 2013, just after our elections. Amongst others thing, she promised us an equipped office, a Collywood Night at the Yaounde Hilton Hilton and most of all, she promised to always stand by us. But as we speak it’s simply not the case and we have decided to take our destiny into our own hands.

EK: Some members of CFI whose names we won’t mention for the sake of averting conflict say the board chair has not really been a good listener and would rather shot his ears to proposals. Is this true?

OV: Well I wouldn’t stop anybody from having his or her own opinion on the way I handle the affairs entrusted to me by the GA on the 26^th of March, 2013. If there is one thing I know is the fact that , I’m very conscious of the fact that I’m not a filmmaker, and so I go closer to these experts, plus the fact that we are working in a formidable team with even some good and positive minds that are not on the board . Generally, I rate myself as a slow speaker but good listener. Those who are really close to me would tell you in all honesty that I don’t talk much. Meanwhile, as I listen to proposals coming from all directions, I think it’s our duty to diagnose and bring out exactly what we need at that moment. We are not going to implement all the ideas as they come in, else we’d be encouraging disorder.

EK: Some CFI members have complained that the board has been more silent. They say there is little or no communication and that even achievements said to have been made are known to just a few people and not the entire assembly? How would you react to that claim?

OV: We are all aware that we have a serious issue with communication. We are looking at possibilities of reinforcing the team we have in place now. We are aware that we need the facilities and more human resource. Let me use this medium to appeal to all of us who can be of help in any form to indicate. We need it badly.

EK: CFI is supposed to have had conventions with the Turkish Embassy and Cameroon’s airline company Camair-Co. What have been the fruits of these conventions and others?

OV: Well, the last time I spoke with the Turkish Ambassador was in October last year and he said he was still waiting for Ankara to reply to his proposal. Meanwhile, with Camair-co, Ethiopian Airlines and Brussels Airlines, we have made great strides. Anybody in the industry who wants to travel should come closer to the board and you will have a reduction, accordingly.

EK: The erection of sales booths in towns and cities of Cameroon was agreed upon as one of the ways to solving the problem of marketing Cameroonian movies. TIPTOPSTARS is told that an agreement to that effect was reached with some mayors. How many of the booths have been erected and effectively functioning so far?

OV: This is what is taking most of our time, at least for the past couple of weeks. The CFI hierarchy was invited by the city council delegates of Limbe and Bamenda and the mayor of Buea, first of all to show their approval and support for the project, then to map out the spots where we could have the kiosks in the various towns. We are still looking for funds to acquire the booths. But arrangements have been concluded with a home-based company to set them up accordingly. Some have been done as we speak, but we need money to get them and put on the streets. It should be mentioned here that these kiosks will be given out on franchise for people to run, but CFI will supply and supervised its content. We are calling on filmmakers to be the first to take up this very lucrative business. Meanwhile, other business men are invited to come on board as well. I can assure you that nobody will regret it.

EK: The struggle to have guilds function independently from CFI did not seem to have succeeded which means they still operate under the big umbrella of board you head. Now, there are complains that the guilds are not up-to-date and not much is happening within them. How has the board been overseeing this to ensure that there is pump within guilds?

OV: We believe that for CFI to be strongly erected, we need to have strong and vibrant guilds. Through their representatives on the board, we are trying to encourage the guilds to have regular meetings and to let us know how we assist. So far, it’s real timid in some guilds. However, we doff our hats to the Actors Guilds’ which is permanently on the field, thanks to the dynamism of its leaders. We’ll keep doing what we are supposed to do.

EK: How committed is the board as a team that has to work together – do you have members who are not satisfied with the way it is run?

OV: The Board is diverse in its membership, just as the film industry itself. You have all shades of opinion represented there with varied reasoning capacities. With these you can imagine. But the good news is that, despite all this disparity, most of the time we wear the same thinking cap. Nevertheless, we could have a better team.

EK: What is government via the Ministry of Culture saying about CFI now?

OV: Last year we were on a sleeping pill administered by the Minister of Culture, with a lot of promises. From that time till now, she has proven beyond reasonable doubts that she does not care. So like orphans, we are handling our own affairs. We have dropped a comprehensive memo at the Prime Ministers office, Senate, and the Parliament. We are currently preparing another that will include the Presidency this time. We believe that if cinema has helped enormously in the development of many countries, it can also happen in Cameroon.

EK: Are you aware of the existence, for a couple of days now, of a new social media platform that groups CFI members created by your PRO?

OV: I have just been informed about it now. CFI has a valid constitution, where every executive committee members’ functions are well spelled out. We have to learn to keep strictly attention on what we have to do and if we have any extra inspiration, we should approach the hierarchy of CFI for clearance before we execute. We are still to understand what is the real motive behind this. However, we will handle it in due course. CFI is ready to welcome all good ideas that will move the industry forward, but we’ll not encourage disorder.

EK: Some members of CFI say they expected the board chair to be part of this Whapsapp medium…

OV: Well we’ll look at it closely, but if it’s for CFI, the procedure to creating it, is already very wrong. If it’s a group of people then it’s okay.

EK: There is a fast-growing CFI branch in the USA, but members really don’t seem to know much about the mother branch which you run. How much do you communicate with your diaspora?

OV: We heartily appreciate the efforts of all those who are making it to happen in the US and we encourage them to keep it up. We have sent them an official recognition letter of late and copied the US ambassador to Yaounde and the Cameroonian Ambassador to the US. Emmanuel Takusi, for CFI and Mat Atungu, for Actors Guild are our official representatives now in the USA. We are encouraging filmmakers all over the globe to emulate. Wherever you are, put yourselves together and let the board know.

EK: What have been your biggest challenges since you came into office and what have you been doing to handle these problems?

OV: Our biggest challenge has been acquiring funds to run the activities of the group. We were actually expecting the Ministry of Culture to sow a seed and then leave the rest to us. But so far it’s been nul and void. So, we are taking steps to raise our own funds through various means.

EK: According to the CFI calendar, when will you be having the next General Assembly?

OV: According to our calendar, the last week of October till the first November 1 will be cinema week in Cameroon. On Monday that week, CFI will show its human face through some voluntary works in all the regions. Tuesday will be dedicated to workshops, forums and seminars. We will have sporting activities on Wednesday and Thursday we will be putting everything in place to travel to Yaounde for the AGM slated for Friday. Collywood Night comes up on Saturday at Hilton Hotel. All of these activities will be highly publicized through the media.

EK: The mandate of the current board ends in March 2015. By that time, would you have taken CFI to the level of professionalism and specialization which are the two main goals on which the organization was created in 2008?

OV: According to the constitution, this assertion is erroneous.

EK: On last word to CFI members…

OV: CFI is for all of us. We should not look at it from a distance. Our ideas are what constitute the CFI and we should bring them forward. Every person should feel free to propose to us where you think we should touch to make it better. No one person owns it .The Cameroon Film Industry has come to stay and I believe, in the next three years, the world will talk about Cameroonian cinema. CFI is on the table for our collective diagnosis and treatment. I can be contacted at +237 7069 3770

EK: Thanks for talking to us!

OV: Thanks Ernest, the pleasure is mind!