Media frenzy greets UNWANTED GUEST (A Nigerian movie shot in New York)

Nollywood Director, Daniel Ademinokan sharing his experience of shooting UNWANTED GUEST in New York

Chet Bashari Anekwe; the lead actor of 'UNWANTED GUEST;' a Nigerian movie shot in the U.S

Actress Leigh-Ann Rose

Actress Sophy Aiida

The Director of UNWANTED GUEST, Daniel Ademinokan speaking after the press screening of the movie

Media frenzy greets 'Unwanted Guest'

By Samod Biobaku

Sixthsense34@yahoo.com

Several minutes after the press screening of the movie (Unwanted Guest) had come to a close; media representatives at the venue remained engrossed in heated discussions and projections of differing view points over several elements of the movie – from the cast, to the plot; to the unending suspense that punctuated every facet of the movie.

Questions, answers and even more questions sailed through the air as excited gentlemen of the press finally began to trickle out of the hall at Ozone Cinemas.

Of course, they had seen countless movies in their years of experience as entertainment journalists so what made this one special?

“It was a fabulous picture with loads of suspense and a cast that perfectly understood what they had to do; individually and collectively,” said a media representative who was in attendance.

Interestingly, even after all media representatives at the event eventually gathered outside the hall, the drama continued as they constantly brought up new subject matters  about the movie – criticisms here and there but many more glowing comments interspersed their heated discussions.

Moments after, they were joined by the MD/CEO, Blue Pictures, Joy Ilibeno as well as popular Nollywood director, Daniel Ademinokan who equally directed the movie, ‘Unwanted Guest’ while it was shot in the United States.

While Ilibeno was eagerly approached by some members of the fourth estate of the realm and informally engaged in technical conversations, which bothered on film distribution and consultancy, Ademinokan took up a strategic position behind the roller banner of the ‘Unwanted Guest’ movie and eloquently fielded series of questions from the visibly excited lips of the media.

The dark-skinned director reiterated the fact that the Nigerian movie industry popularly known as Nollywood had clearly expanded beyond the shores of the country as made visible in the influx of movies shot outside the country with the involvement of Nigerians either in the capacity of producers, directors, DOPs, actors and so much more. I trained in America as a film maker so it is not a new terrain. I wanted something big but not mega budget. Shooting a movie in New York ; in Central Manhattan was a big one for me. I was particular about telling a good Nigerian story in America . Katung of ‘Big Brother Nigeria ’ was Associate Producer and also Director of the movie. It was good for me collaborating with him and it was phenomenal. He made my life easier. Katung is a ‘New Yorker.’ He’s a Brooklyn boy and he knows everywhere. It was good for me having someone like him on my crew. The producer, Chuck Ajoku was also very open and he let me have my way. Back here, producers want to control every singe factor. Chuck let us coordinate the audition and paid for a major studio in Manhattan for that.”

The award-winning film maker also disclosed how he and the rest of the team were besieged by talented actors and actresses in the United States during auditions. “In New York , per square meter, there are 200 actors who are good. People came from Maryland , New Jersey and Virginia . People came from as far as Atlanta to audition for this job and it was just phenomenal how it turned out. The only people I specifically called to come were Chet; the lead character (who was also in Phat Girls with Monique) and I had seen him in a couple of movies in America . I also called Vivian; the Ghanaian actress. Every other person in that movie; from the white people to the extras was picked from he audition.”

The story of ‘Unwanted Guest’ as told by the producer, Chuck Ajoku

It’s a movie that is based on a true story. It’s the story of a guy who got caught in a love triangle. He had a wife in Nigeria who was waiting to join him in the United States . Meanwhile, the guy was busy – just like most men would do; having a relationship with another girl in the United States for a period of about three to four years. Fortunately for his wife and unfortunately for him, the wife won a Green Card Lottery and decided to pay him a visit on his birthday unannounced without knowing that the American girl who almost stays with him was planning a big birthday for him on the same day and was going to use that opportunity to announce to him that she was carrying his baby. Imagine what would happen when he got up 8am and got a call. It shows a New York number, he picked it and it was his wife calling from JFK Airport . I’ll let u guys see the rest of the movie and see exactly how it ended.

{To premiere on Nigerian cinemas on September 30, 2011}