Script2screen reality TV show kicks off in grand style with 60 contestants
The long-awaited Script2screen TV show has kicked off in Lagos with about 60 contestants who made it through the rigorous auditioning and screening. Tagged ‘Script2Screen Africa Filmmaking Reality TV project’ Focus Nigeria; the filmmaking project has “Corruption-free Nigeria” as its sub theme. The 60 contestants, according to the organiser, were drawn from a poll of […]
The long-awaited Script2screen TV show has kicked off in Lagos with about 60 contestants who made it through the rigorous auditioning and screening.
Tagged ‘Script2Screen Africa Filmmaking Reality TV project’ Focus Nigeria; the filmmaking project has “Corruption-free Nigeria” as its sub theme.
The 60 contestants, according to the organiser, were drawn from a poll of over 100,000 applicants.
They were received at the Silverbird Galleria on Saturday in Lagos at a reception party organised in their honour by the Project Director, Osas Iyamu and the visioneer and CEO of High Definition Film Academy (HDFA), Bright Wonder Obinna Obasi.
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With excitement, the contestants were chauffeur-driven to Amen Estate along Eleko beach in Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos, where the contestants were housed.
“Already, we have housed them at a good facility at Amen Estate in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos. And every other logistics is in place to host the 60 contestants for the four-week project,” Obasi said.
He added that the contestants will be engaging in various tasks to show how films can be used to create positive impact in the society.
“Individually, they will be writing scripts, and making film productions and also doing group projects. They will also be going through trainings and mentorship; they will be doing short films competition before the grand finale which holds next month,” he said.
The HDFA boss noted that the 60 contestants will be divided into 6 teams. “Before the final week, two of the six teams would have been evicted; that’s about 20 contestants. The four final teams will now be making four short social-impact films that we are going to pick and promote across the continent and globally. Beyond that, we’ll be making a very high-end feature film,” he added.
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While thanking MacArthur Foundation for supporting the project, Obasi expressed his delight on the choice of contestants.
“I’m happy for the kind of contestants that we have in the house; the actors and filmmakers are amazing. For Script2screen Africa, talent is not enough. We’re not just looking for people who are talented; it’s about Nigeria, it’s about the African continent. We believe our talents and gifts can create positive impacts and that’s what the project is about. It’s for us to explore a part of film making that we’ve not given so much attention to in the continent; and that’s the transformative power of films. But I can assure you that the contestants will have the best days of their lives here,” he said.
He further pledged that Script2screen Africa will support other filmmakers across the continent. “For every passionate filmmaker who wants to use film to make positive impact in the society, we’re giving them support by providing them with equipments, connecting them with resources they may need, and also supporting them financially as much as we can. Script2screen Africa is going to set the foundation for what we called ‘film for impact’ fellowship.”
The reality TV show which will last till April 21, 2018, currently has contestants from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, and UK etc.
According to the organiser, three veteran filmmakers will serve as Jury, to screen the contestants ’ performances, and select the most outstanding among them for the Grand Finale and Awards.
The award categories include:
1. Best Screenplay (N500,000 worth Screenplay Contract)
2. Best Filmmaker (N500,000 worth Film-making Contract)
3. Best Actor (N500,000 worth Acting Contract)
4. Overall Best Short Film (N1,000,000 Cash prize).
“The greatest prize we have is being a part of team who make impact in the continent of Africa,” Obasi opined.