After several years of planning, researching and fine-tuning arrangements, leading female producer in Nollywood, Emem Isong, has finally opened her long-awaited acting school. Known as Royal Arts Academy, the Surulere-Lagos-based institute, according to Isong, will seek to continually provide education through the arts.

It is also a training academy that offers courses on various aspects of the film industry with emphasis on script writing, acting, directing, dance and children theatre. Speaking on her reasons for establishing the academy, Isong argued that is has become necessary to improve and develop skills in order to meet the international standards of film making.

She further maintained that it will equally provide a platform for interaction between like minds, discover and develop new and emerging talents as well as promote the art of filmmaking. “Royal Arts Academy will contribute to the transformation, development and growth of Nigeria and the African continent as a whole, by offering first class training to students who would go on to produce excellent films that would place Nollywood at par with the international community. This training will be provided by industry professionals within and outside the country”.

Continuing, ecstatic Isong, further disclosed that they are committed to enabling all their students profit from a culture of learning that is aligned with their ethos. Adding that they intend to support students to achieve their full academic potentials, while also equipping them for the demands of continuous learning and self-reliance. “We want learning at Royal Arts Academy to be challenging, rewarding and fun.”

Other team members working with Isong, a theatre arts graduate from the University of Calabar, include: top actress, Monalisa Chinda, Uduak Oguamanam and Anietie Isong. Amazingly, the students of the academy, at the end of every season, will produce a movie/soap/series wholly written by them, as well as using students from their acting class, with the best directing students calling the shots.

At the end of the year, the overall winner would be given funds to produce a feature film that will be entered for international competitions. Among the Nollywood stars and filmmakers that graced the historic event are: Monalisa Chinda, Zik Zulu-Okafor, Chioma Chukwuka, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Uche Jombo, Paul Obazele, Famous Otakponmwen and a host of others.