Life with Las B...

The world is ravaged with Corona virus but that's now stale news, we are now plagued by the system killing off people instead of the virus. The law enforcement agency that should be implementing rules and regulations to help curb the spread of the COVID are now busy ridding human beings of the life the lock down is designed to protect. A month ago, it was shooting a poor boy in Onitsha by the police.  When the lockdown was enforced newly, the police were destroying people's wares in the name of implementing orders. For the past couple of weeks, these Nsukka whatnots are whipping people they see aren't on facemasks and harassing people even as late as 7 am in the morning. A young girl was just shot in Lagos by the same police. Just like that, her life has ended in the blink of an eye. Until when are we to keep venting about the Injustice in this country, by these agencies nonetheless? If it's not clear enough, YOU ARE NOT SAFE. The Police is Not your friend. None of thes

Screenwriting is not a day's skill and myself have only embarked on this journey. There are gazillions of stories to tell, and as someone who is very critical of the content of Nollywood screen, especially the very small screens that the average African families watch daily. Though the Neo-Nollywood have begun exerting some changes that we see on the small screen, majority of the stories are still far from being 'it' and the Industry is big enough to accommodate as much people as possible cos let's face it, "there are lots and lots of stories to tell." So in subsequent posts, I'd be sharing screenwriting tips from Veterans in the filmmaking industry, albeit Hollywood. Maybe, just maybe taking up hints of that industry will make Nollywood improve on filmmaking and we will have enough, enough stories that won't make us roll our eyes or cringe with the blandness. Cheers to the hope of a better film industry - to the Neo-Nollywood #scriptwritin

As a kid, when you think America you imagine a free world, better systems, an almost Utopia society. America becomes a dream, an aspiration for most. A world where you are free. Then as you get older you realise that it is a sham. That America does not exist, even if it does it would be for the White Race. That America is not true, most especially for people of your race, for people of your colour and to be specific, for the "Black Men." It is in the news, daily. Sadly, the news is not about the country particularly making efforts to fight/pull down that system but that the cases abound. But that social media exists now, and the news are more wide-spread than before and there's more public outrage than before. You'd think that would curb the crime rate, besotted upon the black man. Hardly!  A country where you can be in your house, taking a chunk of ice-cream and you'd be found dead the next moment. A country where you'd be at your house and you are accused fo

These are the participants in the dialogue of a script. It could be between the protagonist and the antagonist, or a love interest. Even, it could be with random characters in the scene.  The character cues specifies the actors that are making the dialogues and so, it is essential that the cues are indicated at every turn. Unlike fiction writing where the character cues are not indicated in some dialogues, it is a must for the script, so you wouldn’t burden anyone into deciphering the person that has a particular dialogue.  In this scene, there are three characters. Two which are named are obviously major characters in the assumed script, and the other is a random character and so it is not necessary to name him.  The writing of the characters, random or not should be capitalised in all cases. So you should have, ‘TOLU,’ ‘UCHE,’ ‘IDEM’ not ‘Tolu,’ ‘Uche,’ or ‘Idem.’ They should be in the Upper Case Alphabet lettering For cases like the random character, it is be

The scene heading is commonly referred to as the slug line, basically the setting of the story which includes the location and the time of the day. It is essential that the slug line is specified so that the location team can set up the structure for that particular scene. The scene heading appears like the various excerpts above and the rule is that all of the letters must be capitalised. The INT. signifies INTERIOR, this means that the setting of the scene is the inside of a structure, same way the EXT. (EXTERIOR) signifies the scene being outside of the spot. The next is the particular location, could be an establishment, a mall, a restaurant, bar, house, just anywhere. Just endeavour that it is indicated in the Slug line. You can also juxta-pose both the INT. and the EXT. when the scenes happens at the exact location and both in the exterior and interior. So it comes off as indicated above. In an instance whereby there are a lot of scenes in the structure, s

Whenever women's right talks/feminism comes up, and people blatantly starts to mock the movement, I either tune off or roll my eyes because as much as there are extremists/misandrists, you cannot deny the fact that feminism is an eye opener for a lot of women. I'll use myself as an instance As far back as secondary school (courtesy of unwarranted advice by some teachers), it was constantly drummed into us on the essence of being a model woman, who will go on to be a perfect wife. So while my mates got admission at first trial and I didn't, my greatest fear was not that I was at home, but that I'll soon get older and wouldn't get married. The older bụkwa 22 after school. Heck, I was just 16!!!! Chukwu ekwekwana ụdị ka echiche a again! That's the first point, the movement demystified the rush for that conjugal relations for me. I was still in secondary school, later home at 16 years old after graduation and the plan was that I would study in school, by the end of

Every industry have some certain rules to follow and in the art of formatting the screenplay. For the scripts, it is largely or courier new, the type writing font style with a 12 font size. The line spacing is a one line spacing, unless you are indicating a break from action to character names, to dialogues.  An average script have this format Scene headings: This indicates the location and time of the scenes Action lines: This is what transpires in each scene Characters: The people on-screen at the scene Dialogue: The choice of words spoken by the characters Parentheticals: The emotions of the characters in the dialogue Each of the above format have their specific margins they should have on the script. If you are sending in a script, it is advisable to use this format, it helps you stand out from other submissions and it indicates that you are a professional.  If you are using the normal Microsoft app, then Courier font style will suffice, with the 12 point font size. The

WHAT IS A SCRIPT? A script is a detailed writing of what is portrayed onscreen, basically the story that comes alive onscreen. Every production has a script: from plays, to movies and even radio programs. It is with script that actors know their roles, the dialogues and most especially, the storyline and plot of the movie. There is no production without a script, so it is safe to say that the script is the core of every movie production. Here is how a typical script looks like. As can be seen on the first line, the fade in indicates that the beginning of the story. More so, the character was introduced in CAPS that is the general rule for every script. Just below the Fade in is the Scene heading, It is on the heading that you outline the location of the scene and the time. The EXT. implies that is exterior. Assuming it was the interior of the building, it would have been INT.  Following that is the action that will be undergone. The young lady leaves a swimming

Hello everyone. I've begun a journey on Script writing, so I'll be sharing tips which I am learning on my wall. Nollywood is an Industry that has a lot of potential and there's always room for improvement from where it is. I figured that posting it online will serve as a reminder to be dedicated, it will discipline me to keep on to my trip. So, stay tuned! Meanwhile the template was created with Logopitt, I so much love the app cos of its variety and user-friendliness.  #Nollywood #Filmmaking #Screenwriter #Nollywoodscript #NaijaScreenwriter #Scripts #NaijaScripts #Writing #screenwritingtips

Please can anyone tell Nollywood, especially epic to just stop it eeh? Stop with this total adulteration of ndị Igbo culture and customs. The thing na-ajị ajị. Ọ na-ajị na mkpụrụ obi. Aghọtarọ m etu mmadụ ga-esi na-ekiri film mgbe ọbụla, wee na-afụ the same thing. Same thing that is always distorted at all times. I know it's entertainment you're doing, but not recycling bland and false stories and you project it as Igbo Cultural heritage. First of all, can y'all just stop with the Igwe you people enthrone in all your films? The Igbo society of those days were predominantly egalitarian with no provision for a central king. Can you people depict that, eeh? At least if not for anything, to educate youngsters (since History is not taught in elementary and secondary schools) on the history of their ethnic nationality.  While you're at it, can you portray the Igbo society then as a thriving one? I mean that at least, movies should depict the economic way of life of the people

This life is fickle, hence it's necessary to live your authentic life. By this I mean, a life you're most comfortable not one that you're living because others said it's right because this life can be gone on a whim.  You can die in the twinkle of an eye, the breath I take now can possibly choke me and I'm done. See how Covid-19 with over 90% recovery rate is killing off people as though they are chickens. That's why it's essential you make peace with your inner self to discover the kinda life that suits you best and that which you find your hope so as to live in line with it. If Christianity is the most satisfying for you, find peace and connection with Christ, If it's Muslim, Allah will suffice, Ọ bụrụ kwanụ that you believe neither, na Ị bụ a traditionalist, good and fine! If you're on the spectrum of irreligiousness and it's science or nature that you believe, heck that's valid and is your life. Even if you are contented in humanity, that

The kind of content we love to see on Nollywood screen, "If I Am President" "Priest: We don't indulge in politics Zina: Yes, but when the righteous are in power, the people will rejoice and the land is at peace" "Priest: We'll keep praying for you Zina: Faith without works is dead, Bishop" Words that shoot straight to the heart. "If I am President," a political movie that we don't exactly get to see everyday. A younger guy who is aspiring to be the president and the challenges en route to the seat. I do feel he's quite the strong-headed person, rarely takes advice and all of that but the flaws are what makes the character more endearing. The storyline, dialogue, acting, cinematography are top-notch, even the sounds accompanying the music. I really do prefer this to 4th Republic but I think the upcoming "Badamassi: Portrait of a General will be my best" My heart leapt at some scenes, I laughed over some scenes that are so

Malala The first time I heard about the story of a young girl shot because of her activism, I was not able to imagine such a world. I had only vague ideas of what extreme societies with little or no rights to women looked like. As a 12 year old who had just begun Jss3, I really could not wrap my head around it as I was cocooned in the safe bubble of South Eastern, Nigeria. Hence, I felt sorry for days and that was it, back to K-Drama, Philippines and India movies. Now that I think about it, I watched all of these Bollywood entertainment with extreme ignorance about the plight of the average Indian girl, specifically in the predominant Muslim communities. I had no idea, save for what Kareena Kapoor, Kajol, Rani Mukherjee showed us on-screen. But I digress, Malala, as a Pakistan heroine sprung up again during a workshop organised by the Whole Woman Network led by Juliet Kego Ume-Onyido, to train aspiring prefects. Once again, I heard the name.  This time, I carried the placard of Malala

My bunky One of my earliest role model! Heck, was there anyone who passed through FGGC Onitsha who didn't like her??  Who? (Show your face lerrus scrap your name off the list of ndị Feddy) This is not an exaggeration or flattery. My bunky was the head girl and most times, they are always detested and hated. But you see this one, people cherished her. Like really really loved her. And they respected her, the respect was on a high level and in turn, they feared her. God! *SirKeke* The kind of Head Girl I wanted to be, (although in my case, I got more of fear and respect than love) And I was really puffing my shoulders for a longgg time after she left, "Abi, you're Sir Keke's bunky?" 'yeah, that's me' Anytime a conversation came up, I'd chuke mouth, "Yes, that's my bunky" The man who got her isn't lucky, he struck a goldmine. He has been blessed with a very rare gem. One he'd better cherish maka I'll come for him. A naghị m e

I love grammar and vocabulary. I do think I would like Wole Soyinka works (they said he writes with big grammar) but I haven't gotten to reading any of his works. Back in secondary school, my vocabulary was really really average. I'd translate Igbo to English in my head before speaking it out loud but peers and classmates thought I was one of the 'ish.' Maybe the way I comported myself and my articulation whilst talking. *** 'Flabbergasted' I heard that word first as a 12 year old, in JSS 2. The incoming head girl used it in her acceptance speech. I was stunned and declared then that I wanted to have a very rich vocabulary. I didn't even know the spelling of the word so I could not check what it meant. I just knew that she used it. *** 'Domicile' The name was pasted on the door of my sister's class. The DSP then was her classmate and they called us aspirants to their class for some kind of briefing. As usual naa, before you enter any senior class

You know what books does to you? It takes you to the ghetto of South Africa and the similarities between them and the African American especially during the apartheid/discrimination period To baskin' in da Creole of the African American To meking yuhsef understand di patois of ah Jamaican To the struggle and persistence of the Nigerian person  It makes you understand Ayiti (Haiti) and the stereotype of a third world country Of White supremacy and racism... The sheer fact that the actions were so brutal, the degradation of a person just because of the colour of their skin. Totally inconsiderate to humanity in a bid to assert dominance. Of history and human wickedness... History in the literal sense and the other where you are trying to draw a link between the nobles romantic stories you've read and the knowledge you already have that they made use of your race as slaves for many centuries. Of codependency and addiction... Drugs, Pills, domestic abuse. Getting worked up over a ch