SHOOTING on film project which captures and tells the inspiring story of one of Nigeria’s most successful football on the international scene, Kanu Nwankwo has commenced in Nigeria, signalling the beginning of the first phase of the production.
The project is put together by Connect Marketing Services in Lagos at on Monday.described by the producers as the type that is never before seen in this clime and which insiders insist will raise the bar and set new standards has taking the crew to different parts of the country, especially Owerri, where Nwankwo grew up.
Producer of the anticipated film, Neil Oyenekan, Executive Producer, Lighthouse Production and Television Works, disclose this at press conference held at Ikeja, Lagos, to announce the making of the film.
The film, he said, is not just about the accomplishments of Nwankwo but his toils and travails. “It is Nwankwo, a young man whose story we can all draw inspirations from ala in pursuit of happiness,” he hinted.
Arguably, the most decorated Nigerian footballer, the film project, he disclosed, will document the inspiring life story of Nwankwo Kanu in motion picture. His words: “Kanu Nwankwo remains one of the most enigmatic footballers the country has ever produced. Through his NGO, the Kanu Heart Foundation has treated over 300 patients with different heart defects that require surgery. Through the organization still, he has attracted partnership with Emergency Ngo, an international NGO with roots in Italy. He also plans to build a hospital in Lagos.”
Scenes in the film will be shot in cities scattered across five different countries including Nigeria, The Netherlands, England, Italy and the USA, while production will be handled by an experienced foreign production crew who arrived in the country penultimate weekend.
It was also gathered that accomplished Nigerian producers will compliment the foreign film crew. The foreign film crew includes accomplished Director, Caroline Deeds who has been signed on to direct the film and very experienced Film Editor; Laurie McDowell who has also been signed on as Editor. Oscar nominee, Davide Cinzi has been signed on as Director of Photography.
However, though details, like the proposed title are still being very jealously guided; there are indication that a couple of corporate bodies have already signed on to the project via sponsorship of the film because of the massive mileage that the film project offers; “more so being one that will be grand and of international standard, and because it will be available for international release”.
Deeds, the organisers say, is a Lew Grade Memorial Scholar (2002 and 2003), is not new to the Nigerian drama and motion picture scenes. While running storytelling workshops in a rural Nigerian school, she worked on the news desk at a local television station. Back in the UK, she worked as an assistant editor on commercials and promo, and then as production assistant on two Mike Figgs features. Her first documentary Reggae Girls was broadcast on Channel 4. Deeds has covered a broad range of subjects, experimenting with different storytelling traditions. She has short two films, Untold Jungle and End To End, directed the four part for Channel 4’s Minute series.
Cinzi on the other hand is a versatile, creative professional cinematographer, whose key strength are attention to detail. He has a strong passion for film making. He holds a BA degree in film and video from Surrey Institute of Asrts and Design (SIAD), and a Masters degree from the National Institute of Television School (NFTD). He is experienced in shooting with any film medium – 35mm and 16mm, digital high definition (HD) Cinema, HDV, Beta, and DV. One of his recent projects, Photos of God was recently selected as the UK short film in competition at the 2010 Berlin Film Festival.
