“I met Amaka Igwe in 1989, when as an undergraduate and the National President of the Nigerian Universities Theatre Arts Students Association, (NUTASA) I travelled from my school, University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State to University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State to check their level of preparation for the Nigerian Universities Theatre Arts Festival, which the school was billed to host the following year,(NUTAF ’90).
“After my visit to UNN, I stopped over in Enugu to see my parents. I met the then Amaka Isaac-Eneh, who had come to Enugu to conduct audition for her upcoming television soap opera Checkmate. I attended the audition and passed. I was cast as Richard Haatrope in the pilot episode which was shot in Enugu and Udi, her home town in December of 1989.
“Towards the last quarter of 1990 they invited me for another audition at PEC Repertory Theatre in Onikan, Lagos. Thousands attended the audition including the late Francis Agu, who eventually played my elder brother Benibo in the drama series. I was again successful at the Lagos audition and retained the role of Richard Haatrope. I also met some other members of cast there. They included, Mildred Iweka(Ada), Bimbo O. Manuel, (Nduka)Edith Jane Azu, Tunde Euba(Akpan), and many others.
“Checkmate was mainly shot in Moving Movies camp in Ikorodu, Lagos State.
“It hit the airwaves in April of 1991 and was an instant huge success! It ran from 1991 to 1995 and has not been rivalled ever since!
“While still on the set of Checkmate, I was spotted by Kenneth Nnebue, Chairman of Nek Video Links, who invited me to be part of a movie titled Living In Bondage. It was shot and released in 1992.
“The success of Living In Bondage led directly to what is now known as Nigerian film industry (Nollywood.)
“Amaka later married Mr Charlse Igwe thus becoming Amaka Igwe. As home video making picked up, she wrote, produced and directed the movie, Rattlesnake which was a huge success. Other movies and TV series soon followed.
“By God’s grace, I credit Amaka Igwe.
© 2014 Nigeriafilms.com
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