In an effort to bring the grand production of Odigbose, the epic movie story of the Atlantic slave trade into fruition, the entire pillars of Nollywood production geniuses, gathered at La Campagne Tropicana Forest River and Beach Resort, Lagos, yesterday, for a roundtable pre-production meeting with Tourism Icon Otunba Dr. Chief Olawanle Akinboboye, the storyteller of Odigbose. The purpose is to throw more light on the modalities that will birth the proposed movie, into a world class sought after.
The Nollywood entourage on arrival were treated to an exotic buffet lunch before proceeding on an exclusive tour of the 65 acres La Campagne Tropicana Forest River and Beach Resort, which will serve as one of the chosen location set for the film production.
At the meeting were veterans such as: Idowu Adedapo, a Director of photography; Adebayo Sadiq, Production Manager; Afolayan Olatunji Joseph, Art director; Emma Blaq (DGN) Director/Producer; Uvie Enakarhire First AD / scheduler, Pius olamilekan Fatoke, Sound recordist; Ojukwu emeka Torino, Logistics manager, Oluwole olawoyin, Head Gaffer; Nojeem Ajala Akani, Key Grip.
Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye after his welcome address, took time to give a background history of the initial motivation that led him to come up with the story over 25 years ago.”About 25 years ago, I had the opportunity through an initiative of mine, Motherland Beckons to host over 40 Mayors from the United States of America along with Marlon Jackson of the Jackson 5 fame. It was while hosting them that they expressed their concern on the story of slave trade in Africa, wondering about the lack of a story about it from Africa. It was from there that I got the inspiration to give an authentic African narrative of the story of slave trade which has never been done before Odigbose. Of course, after Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye settled and gave after his breakdown of the motive of the epic movie project, a series of questions emerged from the Nollywood movie production gurus. One of such immediate questions was, why the Tourism Icon had to wait 25 years, before proceeding with shooting Odigbose.
In his response, Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye said that, what is worth doing, is worth doing well. Odigbose according to him, is not a movie or film that is accomplished within two weeks. “A painstaking narrative of a historical phenomenon like the over 400 years old slave trade, needed time to be put in proper perspective and to be handled by the right hands.” he said. He also spoke at length on how he got the renowned Script writer, Tunde Babalola involved in the scriptwriting of Odigbose. The need to have the right timing and atmosphere to make the epic movie Odigbose, what it should be. He went on to reel out various statistics of people of African ancestry all over the world and lovers of Africa who are waiting to hear a story like this, that completes the curiosity and imagination of how and what made the slave trade in Africa possible at that time.He also spoke about his various ideas and concepts about how he projects the film should look like at the end of the day and the various locations in Africa, where the location sets will be.
One after the other, the Nollywood film veterans thanked Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye, for choosing them to be part of this upcoming epic film production; equally voicing out that indeed, it is a big film production to be handled by the Masters of Nollywood film production.They acknowledged that no one has ever narrated the story of the Slave trade, from the angle they just heard it from the Tourism Icon, Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye. And that they are ready to wear their boots and get down to production, starting with the pre-production necessities.”We are willing and privileged to be called upon at this time, to be part of this great epic film production,” they said one after the other.
