- Title: NIGERIA: Nollywood eyes international acclaim with "Doctor Bello"
- Date: 27th November 2012
- Summary: LAGOS, NIGERIA (NOVEMBER 25, 2012 ) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WATCHING MOVIE AT PREMIERE VARIOUS OF GUESTS AND CAST MEMBERS TALKING TO JOURNALISTS VARIOUS OF DOCTOR BELLO DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER TONY ABULU TALKING TO JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER OF DOCTOR BELLO, TONY ABULU, SAYING: "The talk has been can we make the movie that can be accepted internationally, you know... you know Nollywood movies are accepted all over the black world, it's the greatest phenomenon right now and we want to take it one step further and have our movies get into a much wider audience. So you know the discussion was can somebody do that? Of course it would cost a lot more money and all that, so you know, I decided, I'll do it." VARIOUS OF GUESTS AT PREMIERE/ ENTERING CINEMA HALL VARIOUS OF FILM POSTER SHOWING PICTURES OF US ACTOR AND ACTRESS ISAIAH WASHINGTON AND VIVICA FOX (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER OF DOCTOR BELLO, TONY ABULU, SAYING: "When you check, Isaiah Washington just did five movies this year alone, the five movies are coming out. Vivica Fox has her own show now. She just did about four movies. The only thing is that they are producing now so they are shooting less, but they are now behind the camera as well, they are directing, they are producing, so you don't get to see them as you would want to." GUESTS AT PREMIER (SOUNDBITE) (English) OLUMIDE BAKARE, NIGERIAN ACTOR, SAYING: "Yes we have just started, I have been a local artist in the last 35 years, but I wanna tell you, with Doctor Bello, I have gone international." GUESTS AT PREMIER (SOUNDBITE) (English) PATRICK DOYLE, NIGERIAN ACTOR, SAYING: "Story telling is universal, that's why I am not interested in this Hollywood, Nollywood, Golly wood, Canny wood, film making is an international collaboration, the camera came from Japan, and the actors come from Nigeria or Ghana or.. is not important, that you want to go and edit it in Bulgaria, in east Europe, its an international film making is an international collaborative effort". GUESTS AT PREMIER
- Embargoed: 12th December 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Reuters ID: LVA5EZSZLKQT9E8UOV4A746NRFTE
- Story Text: Critics say this could be the movie that turns the image of the world's third biggest film industry - Nollywood.
Churning out about 50 low-budget movies a week about sorcery and jealous gold-digging girlfriends among other popular themes, it is best known for quantity but not quality.
"Doctor Bello" is billed as the industry's ticket to an international audience.
Filmed in Nigeria and New York, it tells the story of Dr Michael Durant, an African-American Cancer specialist who tries to save the life of a young boy by seeking the help of an unorthodox Nigerian 'healer' called Dr Bello.
The treatment given to the boy that sparks a miraculous recovery, prompting an investigation that leads to Durant's suspension and Dr Bello's arrest over malpractice.
Bello falls ill in prison and the same potion that was given to the child with cancer is the only thing that can cure him, sending Durant on a journey to a "Garden of Life" in Nigeria -- the only place where the secret elixir can be found.
The movie premiered in Washington to positive reviews and drew a sold out audience to the prestigious Kennedy Centre for Performing Arts. It premiered in Lagos on Sunday (November 25) to an excited Nollywood fraternity and fanbase.
Director and producer of the movie, Tony Abulu says there was a lot invested in the film with the hopes of making it a watershed production for Nollywood.
"The talk has been can we make the movie that can be accepted internationally, you know... you know Nollywood movies are accepted all over the black world, it's the greatest phenomenon right now and we want to take it one step further and have our movies get into a much wider audience. So you know the discussion was can somebody do that? Of course it would cost a lot more money and all that, so you know, I decided, I'll do it," he said at the premiere.
Nollywood is popular across Africa but also has a growing audience among Africans living abroad, keen for a taste of home.
Producers say this film targets a cross-culture of fans.
The movie boasts a hollywood cast - Isaiah Washington, famous for his role in the Emmy-Award winning series "Grey's Anatomy" plays Dr Durant, Vivica Fox, who has featured in box office hits like Quentin Tarrantino's "Kill Bill" plays Durant's wife and Jimmy Jean-Louis from NBC series "Heroes" plays Dr Bello.
It also draws from an A-list Nollywood cast including Stephanie Okereke and Genevive Nnaji.
Abulu says getting top Nollywood and Hollywood actors and actresses for the film was a major casting breakthrough.
"When you check, Isaiah Washington just did five movies this year alone, the five movies are coming out. Vivica Fox has her own show now. She just did about four movies. The only thing is that they are producing now so they are shooting less, but they are now behind the camera as well, they are directing, they are producing, so you don't get to see them as you would want to," said Abulu.
"Yes we have just started, I have been a local artist in the last 35 years, but I wanna tell you, with Doctor Bello, I have gone international," Olumide Bakare who features in the film.
"Story telling is universal, that's why I am not interested in this Hollywood, Nollywood, Golly wood, Canny wood, film making is an international collaboration, the camera came from Japan, and the actors come from Nigeria or Ghana or.. is not important, that you want to go and edit it in Bulgaria, in east Europe, its an international film making is an international collaborative effort," said Nigerian actor Patrick Doyle.
Response from critics in Nigeria has also been positive. Blog myafricanmoviereviews.blogspot.co.uk says the film is a "deliverance" from a staple of Nollywood titles that feature the word 'Royal' or 'Babe'.
Doctor Bello was financed through an initiative by president Goodluck Jonathan to improve the quality of Nigerian film. his government pledged 200 million US dollars in 2010 to help fund film in the country.
Abulu was the first recipient of a loan from that fund -- getting 250,000 US dollars for Doctor Bello. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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