TIPTOPSTARS

If you hate anxiety, stay away from watching the trailer of Sister Dearest. Else, you won’t rest your mind until you have watched the entire movie. That is the kind of impact, John Uche intended for the audience of the 2.11-minute long trailer when the editor cum director set to put together the ‘avant gout’.

“It’s a mouth-watering piece that keeps me awake on this up-coming movie,” a Cameroonian movie fan observed soon after the trailer for Sister Dearest went public. Also reacting, another observer called the appetizer an appealing piece of work that raises one’s appetite. “I can’t be patient enough to watch this movie whose story we hear is ground-breaking,” she said.

Within the Cameroonian filmmaking family, collaborators of Lilian Ndi have been acknowledging the young producer’s great effort in making this production one that will give their country’s film industry a good representation. “It’s our time, we must make god use of it,” Kenneth Ngamne, renowned actor/producer simply put it, referring to the Cameroonian film industry which is now generally considered to be growing at a fast pace. To the host of the up-coming premiere of the movie, Sister Dearest is a must-watch movie whose trailer is very indicative.

Doffing her hat to her fellow producer, Elaine Mambo, praise the producer of the coming Cameroonian movie. With love from a sister, the USA-based producer simply said “Good job Ma.”

In Maryland where Sister Dearest is shot and produced, the movie’s trailer is said to attracting more and more people to the production who are anxiously looking forward to being part of the premiere come Saturday, March 22, 2014. “It’s a commendable effort worth supporting. I’ll be at the premiere, so too will be my peers,” said a Nigerian MD resident.

Meantime, the producer of Sister Dearest is herself caught in the frenzy the movie’s trailer is creating. “I can’t believe it is pulling this attention…more than nine hundred views in just a few days…it means we did something pleasing to the audience. I’m more than grateful for such love and I must say I’m as excited as ordinary potential viewers,” Lilian Ndi told us when we contacted the producer earlier today.

Speaking from Maryland, Lilian urged fans and the general public to turn out en masse on March the 22^nd and support the project. “I and the entire Sister Dearest team will be anxious to welcome everybody and show our gratitude. We love our fans and their support will help keep us on the rails,” the actor cum producer insisted.

Produced by Lilian Entertainment, Sister Dearest which will be premiered at 8844 Washington BLDV, Jessup, MD, 20794 was shot last year. Starring in the movie are Pridine Fru, Lilian Ndi, Kang Quintus, Claudio Oben Eyong Jose, Rajah Roger Muntu, Obaseki Paula, Mirabel Asongong, Jenille and Alison Mungo.

Who would have imagined that Cameroon would at one point, be having more ambassadors in the domain of music than elsewhere? Arguably, that is the fact! Missy BK is one of such ambassadors her country now takes pride in having, not only because the Canada-based Afro pop artist resides in the diaspora, but also because she displays a palatable mastery in the art she practices – music.

After the March 2012 Mama, I Love You from where observers assessed her as a fine-tuned singer, Missy BK has bounced back with yet another ground-breaking single. “I’d impatiently waited for the next and I’m glad she has dropped it,” said Marienne, a Missy BK fan we happened to come across in Ohio. “And, you know what, this one grips me like nothing ever did,” she added, referring to My Baby, Missy’s newest song first put out for public appreciation on Sunday January 12 this year.

An audio version to advertise My Baby whose official video released is billed for Saturday January 25, 2014 has been on YouTube for a couple of days with positive reactions from fans. According to the singer whom TIPTOPSTARS contacted for updates, all is set to host the grand video launch in Montreal where Missy resides with her family (husband Hillary and two daughters Mandy and Serena). “I’m calm and ready for the event, yet excited because I hold My Baby so dear to my heart,” she explained. Also speaking to TIPTOPSTARS Editor, Constance Bih Kimal (Missy’s real names) said she put in everything to make My Baby a sellable piece including her emotions, passion and desire. She indicated; “I feel fulfilled.” In short, Missy’s team is ready, so potential guests can start packaging their support for the singer whose ultimate dream is to get her country to the world stage.

Recorded in the sumptuous Mich2050 studio in Montreal, Canada, Missy, upon rising from an inspirational fit, wrote down My Baby, now presented by SCM Production in two hours. “Then, it took us six weeks to complete the recording of the four-minute song,” the 2013 Horizon Nord Sud, HNSS Excellence Awards best artist revealed. “Even before I fully have this song in the market, I keep being caught listening to it over and over and I think it is thanks to the sound engineer who did a great job,” Missy said further.

Missy BK, a multi-talented artist (radio broadcaster, songwriter, singer and back-up vocalist) has collaborated with several renowned musicians including Meiway and Annie Anzouer and is said to have songs to that effect that are upcoming.

Songs like Set Me Free and others found in Woman For Woman (a mixed taped album she did with eight women from three different continents) have propelled the young but hyper inspired singer to great recognition. Perhaps that explains why Missy secured nominations at some recent highly rated recognition platforms such as the African Entertainment Awards, Canada and the Cameroon Academy Awards, Sonnah recently held in Yaounde, Cameroon.

CIANA  who kicked off her music career first as a songwriter before joining an all male rap group is the new and first ever female music artist to be signed under ModeMaison PR’s books.

CIANA aka Caroline Jabe Takon is a Cameroon based rap artist and singer in her early 20s who kicked off her music career as a songwriter writing for her sister who was then a chorist as well as providing her friends with songs. By 2010, CIANA started writing and rapping to her own songs thereby enabling her to join an all male rap group called “Big Boy Game.”

Although the group did not quite last long, CIANA decided to embark on a solo project sharpening her rapping skills and building up her popularity.

In the same 2010, she caught the attention of music label Trackzone Records on which she had the opportunity to attend and perform on various music shows which included the “12-12-12” – the biggest ever showcase in Buea.

By 2013, she was signed under the Buea based record label No Hitz No Recordz where she released her first single entitled “Bangwa Sense”

Music for CIANA is an inborn passion which she responded to from a tender age by singing in a Christian choir and enjoying the calmness and liberation it gave her.

Her admiration for artists such as Beyoncé, Foxxy Brown, Phyno, MI gave her the zeal and motivation to want to pursue a music career.

Whilst looking up to these artists, CIANA realised music was the best way to pass on a message to the public and she dreamt of doing the same.

She cites her inspiration as coming from the Lord, from issues in the society as well as from the hustle and desire to become a great person.

 Below are 5 interesting things to know about her

•  She loves art as well as interior/space decoration.

•  Her favourite colour is blue (check out her logo!) just like the sky!

•  Her passion for dancing was manifested wholly when she joined a hip hop dance crew.

•  Her best features are her dimples, waist and legs.

•  CIANA is currently studying Geology at the University of Buea.

There was an undoubted unanimity amongst some USA-based film critics and producers when they viewed Far for subsequent updates ahead of the movie’s release. The artists’ performance is unquestionable, they all concluded. They all went further to agree that Alenne Menget, the main supporting character in Far had been extraordinarily impressive in his role. Then, when the first trailer for the up-coming movie was made public, similar assessments rose from lay viewers. “Alenne Menget stole the show,” one of them simply indicated, even without having watched the entire movie.

Speculations became rife, when Far was submitted for the Cameroon Academy Awards – Sonnah, that the said actor could emerge victorious in his category – best supporting actor. “I see Alenne grabbing that prize, his performance in Far speaks volumes. I might not have watched the entire movie, but I know he must have given the jury a run for their time,” said a fan of the Douala-based multi-talented artist and journalist. “It should not end there, I hope that Far will bag home prizes,” co-producer Mathew Eyong had told TIPTOPSTARS Editor soon after Far was nominated six times for Sonnah I. The Ohio-based producer had added: “I also think this is the beginning of many more good tidings.

Eyong’s hopes were put to fruition when the aspired good tidings finally came through Alenne on the night of Sunday December 29, 2013 at the Hilton Hotel in Cameroon’s capital Yaounde. “…he taught me how to crawl and move…he was my father, John Menget. I dedicate this to my late father and to my fans. Thanks to the organizers of this awards, keep doing this because this is what we want done,” the laureate reacted trophy-in-hand.

To co-producer Agbor Gilbert Ebot, it was a prize well deserved. “I’m a happy man. Alenne performed so brilliantly and I think this is a well deserved prized. I must congratulate him on the great job and to the rest of the Far cast and crew, I wish to say thank you for making us proud,” Agbor, talking to us from the Hilton, said.

Back in the US, the reaction has been the same. When we contacted Mercy Etta, Chief Operating Officer of Cradle Rocks Productions Int’l CRPI, co-producing outfit of Far, she was overwhelmed with joy. “Awesome win!” she reacted spontaneously. Etta went on: “It’s such a great achievement for CRPI which is only in its first production. This means better things lie ahead.”

“Wonderful!” one of the female lead actresses in Far, Merlisa Determined saluted. “How I wish I watched this live,” the international actress said.
Meantime, the Sonnah I laureate is continuously being showered with congratulatory messages and comments from friends and fans found all over the globe on social media. “I’m elated and inspired to work even harder to stay at the top,” Alenne told TIPTOPSTARS’ Tudi Ndi Nathalie later on the night of December 29.

If we rely on the plans of the producers, Far will be officially released in the first quarter of this year through a premiere billed for Yaounde. Scenes of the movie, a purely family story with salient lessons, are filmed in Maryland (in the United States), Buea, Limbe and Douala (in Cameroon).

Directed by Ikechukwu Onyeka, Far also stars renowned and talented actors such as Jim Iyke, Dakore Akande, Merlisa Determined, Epule Jeffery, Quinta Eyong Ashu, Libota McDonald, Solange Ojong , Kang Quintus, Pridine Fru, introducing Mercy Etta.