TIPTOPSTARS

As we write, Merlisa Determined, the USA-Nollywood actress starring in Pink Poison Reloaded is being ferried to Limbe, from the Douala International Airport where she landed a couple of hours ago. Merlisa touched Cameroonian soil at about 1pm local time. Before leaving her Texas base, the lead actress spoke with Editor Ernest Kanjo. “Anticipation is high and as you already know Ernest this is the first of my many projects to be shot in Cameroon and other countries. As an international actress I’m ready to do more collaboration and share my talent overseas with other talented actors,” she said. What should your Cameroonian colleagues expect of you?
“All I can say is that I’m an actor who is dedicated to her craft and loves what she does. However, I enjoy learning and sharing different idea with other actors,” Merlisa replied. The movie queen who impressed her crew at the Maryland shoot for the USA scenes recently, holds the project at a very high esteem and she mentions it all the time. To Merlisa, this is a serious project and it requires seriousness, reason why she is determined to put in her utmost best. But what does she promise her producers? Merlisa told us: “I’m not sure when you’ll be publishing these views, but I promise to arrive in Cameroon on time, quite ready to work. Producer Mercy Etta reached out to express how excited she is about my travelling to Cameroon to complete this movie. All I can do is put my best foot forward, keep the energy level high and have good results.”

It should be noted that Merlisa Determined has amassed a wealth of experience shooting internationally, including a movie she just did with Hollywood’s Clifton Powell. She is also laureate of several film awards. TIPTOPSTARS will be trailing her as she shoots in Cameroon.

Meanwhile, Pink Poison Reloaded is a Cameroonian movie in the making, co-produced by AGE Productions and Cradle Rocks Productions International, CRPI.

With Nollywood now posing as one of world’s most spectacular film outfits, the Nigerian movie industry now attracts a lot of research by film bookmakers. One of such intellectual works that take an insight into the giant film industry is True Story Nollywood, a documentary produced and directed Ihuoma Mambo Atanga. Talking to iROKOtv, Atanga, a Nigerian/Cameroonian indicated that her inspiration, among other things stemmed from the fact that Nollywood films are a direct representation of reality and yet they preserve the cultural authenticity of the people. Also in her story, the film maker cum researcher examines the opinions, gossips, lies and truths that have marked the evolution of the world’s biggest film industry after Hollywood. As main informants, the New York-based Atanga in her film talks Nollywood enthusiasts including renowned director Tunde Kelani, Michael Nwaesi and Oliver Mbamara. True Story Nollywood was premiered in New York a couple of days ago.

The heat is on! That’s the manner in which someone, close to the organization of the Cameroon Entertainment Awards, CEA has described preparations for the second edition of the event. Back from Abuja, Nigeria where they have, amongst other things been creating more partnerships, Executive Producers Maybelle Boma and Anne Ngono Etape have continued erecting the mansion with relentless corporate movements. In Washington DC where the event will hold, anxiety keeps building. “I’ll be making my second appearance at the CEA,” Dorcas Maneli who says she enjoyed being part of the maiden edition last year told TIPTOPSTARS. This year’s edition holds on Saturday August 17. Visit www.cameroonentertainmentawards.org for regular updates.

Notes from TTS Compiled by Ernest Kanjo

USA: Excitement grows a Naomi releases new video

There has been a growing excitement among music lovers in general and fans of rap in particular following the release of Naomi Achu’s new video. The clip for Suga, one of Naomi’s hit tracks saw the light of day from Washington DC on Wednesday February 27 and has now spread across social media. For sure, it is a professionally crafted piece of audio-visual work, directed by DMV’s Wale and Jeff and said to have taken the crew two months to complete the job.” Fans will appreciate the uniqueness of every scene and won’t get enough of Naomi’s energetic and captivating performance,” says Naomi’s publicist. It should be recalled that Naomi, one of Cameroon’s leading rap singers was laureate at the first edition of the Cameroon Entertainment Awards, CEA held in July 2012. She lives in Washington DC, USA. For more, log on naomiachu.com

Cameroon gets new film production outfit

Cradle Rocks Productions International, CRPI is the name movie lovers in Cameroon and the rest of the world are going to start getting used to. It is the latest film production house authorized in Cameroon and run by Cameroonians living in the USA. According to the Chief Operating Officer, COO of the company, Mercy Mbi Etta, CRPI relies on Cameroon’s rich cultural heritage to project its goals, based on promotion of Christian values in a bid to contribute to the fight against social vices as well as health problems. At the same time, this outfit is created to celebrate the said heritage and push it further to the world stage. To that effect, the production of movies, documentaries, reports and shows will be our primary activity. Proceeds from these productions will go a long way to assist needy communities. CRPI has as CEO, Mathew Eyong. Its first movie, Pink Poison Reloaded in co-production with AGE Productions is currently in the making.

“There is no CFI” – Anurin, film director/actor

Popular Cameroonian film actor and director Anurin Nwunembom has said there is no Cameroon Film Industry, CFI. The film maker was speaking to TIPTOPSTARS’ Samson Tarh soon after the CFI meeting in Buea on February 16 to discuss issues pertaining to elections. “I see no need for a CFI, they are just trying to emulate the Hollywood and Bollywood cultures and not succeeding in doing so. So without CFI, good movies will still be produced,” said the lead actor of Ninah’s Dowry, an award-winning Cameroonian movie. Anurin further expressed frustrations about the meeting which rather focused on planning for the March 23 election than discussing salient issues affecting the smooth running of the industry.

“There is a CFI” – Esua, Yijika, Epule, Otia, film maker/actors respectively

In a straight-forward quizzing session with TIPTOPSTARS’Samson Tarh, Kumba-based film maker Esua Julius and some three leading faces in the Cameroonian film industry, Solange Yijika, Epule Jeffery and Vitalis Otia have affirmed that there is a Cameroon Film Industry, CFI. Their declaration was in sharp contrast to that of Anurin Nwunembom who on his part said there was no CFI. However, the film maker and actors confirmed the organization has problems which must be addressed. “We have a problem of communication and government,” said Esua. “But as Kumba branch PRO, I always make sure I inform folks on what is going on,” he said further. To Otia, there are a few things to correct with the organization. “The industry has not met its expectation yet,” award-winning Yijika told us. “We have the problem of structure, productivity, accountability and advertising,” said Jeff Epule. The CFI members were speaking at the Buea meeting from where the date of the election was announced.