The Oscars’ aftermath for Lupita Nyong’o could just be the
beginning of bigger, better things and roles in Hollywood.
Already, even before the applause could fade; talk is rife
since last week that Lupita could star in a blockbuster – yes, The
Star Wars episode seven.
Even before the Oscar Sunday, Lupita had already met with
Star Wars Director J.J Abrams for auditions for a role consideration as a non-Caucasian
descendant of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
The epic series is set in galaxy far, far away, in the past.
Citing anonymous sources, recently, Forbes Magazine critic
and Hollywood reporter, Alex knop has also indicated that Lupita is being
considered for a high profile role of Tiger Lily in Warner Brothers Pan. And the
list includes a role in The Whole Truth; a courtroom drama
series starring Daniel Craig
How Kenya dominated continental awards BY STEVENS MUENDO in LAGOS
After emerging the shocker upset in Africa’s biggest film awards night, the emerging Kenyan movie industry hit a new high on Saturday, only a week after LupitaNyong’o put the country on international spotlight.
The Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards held in Lagos, Nigeria, on Saturday made Kenya the talk of the continent as local thespians dominated the winners’ podium with Nairobi Half Life dominating the movie category. Kenya got five wins and ranked second after anNollywood movies dominance but however became the talking point of the glitz ceremony after upsetting the traditional film giants in West and Southern Africa. Barbara Minishi won the Best Art Director award as Mohamed Zain and Christian Almesberger claimed the Best Lighting Designer and Best Cinematographer categories respectively thanks to Nairobi Half Life, which also saw ElayneOkaya scoop the Best Make-Up Artiste accolade. Even as Nairobi Half Life pulled the upset, the shocker winner of the night was NjokiMuhoho of the KTN aired Mama Duka who won the Best Indigenous Language Movie award during the Africa’s ‘Oscars’ night. “I dedicate this award to all those who perished during the Westgate Mall attack. Let the shopping place get back to what it once used to be; a place for fun and a little gossip. I thank Africa for voting for me,” an eleatedNjoki told the crowd during her acceptance speech during the ceremony that was transmitted live across Africa through the M-net Dstv channels.
It was a pomp red-carpet affair featuring Africa’s greatest in the film industry and there was not a single dull moment as top entertainers among them celebrated singers Davido and Flavour made thrilling interludes. The Kenyan presence was heavy with actors Nick Mutuma, Sarah Hasan, NiniWachera joining the awards presentation panel as Ian Mbugua, David Mulwa, Catherine Kabugi, Edwin Maina, Veronica Waceke, Dorothy and Oyunga Pala stood tall in the VIP section. The ceremony also featured Nollywood finest among them Rita Dominic, Desmond Eliot, RukkySanda and UcheJombo. “This is our second Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards and we are glad the event is now a top platform to reward African actors for their great entertainment role. It is a showcase spot for Africa movie makers and a ground to unite Africa in celebration of the film industry,” M-Net Africa managing director BiolaAlabi said. “We feel honoured to be referred to as the Oscars of Africa. It is all about a show that Africa can tell its own story through movies. The event is growing and in the future
Congratulations to the 5 Kenyan Winners at the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Award 2014; Best Make-up artist - Elayne Okaya, Best Indeginous Series - Mama Duka by Njoki Muhoho, Best Lighting Director - Mohammed Zain, Best Art Director - Barbara Minishi and Best Cinematographer - Christian Almesberger!
Call it the Oscar’s aftermath but only a few days after
Kenyan Hollywood star Lupita Nyong’o won her first Oscar for the portrayal of
Patsey in Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave; Box-office sales
for her second film Non-Stop has soared across US-theatres.
Non-stop went directly to the top after collecting a clean
sh 2.6 billion ($30 million) at the weekend.
The flick; released on February 28 alongside Son of God; has
overtaken the latter that has grossed sh 2.3 billion ($26.5million) and the
Lego movie whose uptake stands at 1.8billion ($21 million) that have dominated
sales in the last couple of weeks.
In Non-stop; Lupita is acting alongside Liam Neeson, Juliana
Moore and Michelle Dockery.
The silver screen icon will be in Paris for a couple of days
but will be back for a full diary of activities.
The time has finally come for the much-anticipated and acclaimed 2014 edition of the Academy Awards a.k.a The Oscars. 86 years later and this globally appreciated award ceremony still recognizes and awards the greatest talent on screen.
This season’s films were nearly all phenomenal and celebrated and they’ve got everyone crossing their fingers. The black race has felt the impact and themes of many of the films; from 12 Years a Slave, A long Walk to Freedom, The Butler and Fruitvale Station (even though some were snubbed).
Let’s cut to the chase, all Kenyans and most African and Black American people are this year, especially routing for Hollywood’s latest It-Girl and breakout star, Kenyan actress and director, Lupita Nyong’o. The notoriously beautiful Luo girl who played the pretty little slave Patsey in the film: 12 Yeas a Slave, is the first actress from Kenya to be nominated for the Oscars. She will be battling the likes of Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle) and Julia Roberts (August: Osage County) for the Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
Below are some of the big categories of the event and details to watching the Oscars live.
Best Picture
American Hustle
Captain Phillips
Dallas Buyers Club
Gravity
Her
Nebraska
Philomena
12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall Street
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Christian Bale (American Hustle)
Bruce Dern (Nebraska)
Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street)
ChiwetelEjiofor (12 Years a Slave)
Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Amy Adams (American Hustle)
Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
Sandra Bullock (Gravity)
Judi Dench (Philomena)
Meryl Streep (August: Osage County)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips)
Bradley Cooper (American Hustle)
Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave)
Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street)
Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine)
Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)
Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave)
Julia Roberts (August: Osage County)
June Squibb (Nebraska)
From the highlights, you can tell who we are really supporting. Watch Oscars 2014 Live on Sunday March 2nd on M-Net Movies Premiere at 4:00 a.m. local time and re run same day at 10:30 p.m. on MNet East.
Ever been curious about what happens behind the exclusive State House gates? Kenyans love a good drama and what better drama exists than the details of State House affairs? Described as “distinctively Kenyan, and yet widely accessible and appealing”, State House, new local TV Show is exclusively a political drama series. Set in a fictional State House in East Africa, this intriguing series focuses on the lives, loves and scandals that face the people who work, live around the President.
It’s something worth being proud of that out that State House was selected out of 60 proposals sent by producers from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and South Africa, following Zuku’s 2013 request for proposals for unique, entertaining and marketable content. Produced by award-winning Kenyan filmmakers, Wanuri Kahiu and Rebecca Chandler; the show features a stellar line-up of revered artists, including Helen Keli from the acclaimed ‘By Any means Necessary;’renowned TV and radio personality Jimmy Gathu; and Chichi Seii, a Kenyan singer, actress and dancer.
This roller coaster of drama and intrigue revolves around the new leadership following the exit of the former president, President Entere and the marked entry of a young, popular and radical new Commander-In-Chief, Kajana Mda, (Jimmy Gathu.)
State House will show on Zuku Entertainment, channel 100 every Monday 8:30 p.m., starting 3rd March. If you can’t wait and must see, you must hurry, the first three episodes can also be seen at Imax until March 1st, brought to you by Zuku and Awali Entertainment (Kenyan production house.)
Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong'o was today honoured by the Academy Awards for her riveting performance in Steve McQueen's '12 Years A Slave'.
The actress, who before the fame was best known for her turn in the series 'Shuga' has finally hit the 'jackpot' – taking home the coveted award for Best Supporting Actress.
Speaking to E!'s Ryan Seacrest while walking on the red carpet just prior to the award ceremony, she spoke about the massive success that has come her way since the release of the film:
"I feel so blessed that my first job out of school could have come with such recognition. I'm really excited to be here!" She adds: "I didn't grow up watching the Oscars so for me it was something that I really came to understand was a big deal when I was in college. My dream was to be an actor I didn't know it came with all this."
Tanzanian music artiste, actress and model Baby Madaha has
confirmed to reports that she has fallen in love and is dating a Kenyan man who loves and takes care of the “squeeze
me tight” hit singer.
The “Ray of Hope” movie star; which won the Best Swahili
Film award at the 2013 Africa Movie Viewers Choice Awards hinted out to the
claims that she was in love with a Kenyan man.
The pre-production for the second movie at Candy Film
Production will start next month; even as she looks forward to cement her
position as a formidable actress in East Africa. Here are the photos for the “Gal
Bladder” movie launch by Candy Films and Baby Madaha…
Lupita Nyong’o! Lupita Nyi-ong-o! Lupita Ny-oo-ong’o!
12
Years a Slave being her first feature film, ms.Nyong’o has from November
last year still been coaching people on how to pronounce her name. Back home; Kenyans
were laughing as the world struggled to pronounce the 2012 Yale School of Drama
Graduate’ name.
Born and grown up in Kenya; Ms. Nyong’o lives
currently in Brooklyn and has spent the last few months popping up on red
carpets and at awards ceremonies-she went on to acclaim more than 128,000
followers on Instagram; where she posts photos of her starry exploits.
Even as Kenyans find yet another daughter of the
soil to associate with after their son of the soil; president Obama; many back
at her native home in Kenya are hoping and praying that Lupita will bag Oscar
for her sterling role as Patsy in Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave.
But before we get way ahead of ourselves; she is not
resting on her laurels yet. Lupita is starring in yet another blockbuster
flick, Non-stop; which premiers in theatres on February 28th.
Acting alongside Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore;
this thriller is likely to keep the audience on the edge of its seat; if the
thriller is anything to go by.
The storyline: in the movie, she is one of the air
hostesses aboard an Aqualantic airliner’s six hour flight from New York to
London.
During the flight; midway across the Atlantic, U.S
Air Marshall (Liam Neeson) receives a text message; “I am going to kill someone on this
plane every 20 minutes until a USD 10 Million payment is made by the airline to
an offshore account.”
Since texting inflight is mainly within the safe
platform; it means the sender is on board.
“How
do you kill someone in a crowded plane and get away with it?”
Wonders the pilot upon receiving the message
as reported by the Marshall.
Within no time; one of the passengers is discovered
dead.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, we need every passenger to
raise their hands above their heads,” commands the Marshall.
Confusion and anxiety; coupled with terror builds up
further when the pilot discloses that the account number is actually Neeson’s.
“The
account number you gave us is in your name!”
Neeson has not only to take care of the threat by the terrorists but also clear
his name from any involvement.
“What? It doesn’t make sense. This is a set-up. Something
else is going on,” he explains curtly to Julianne as Lupita watches in utter
disbelief.
The Federal Bureau of investigation, the White House
and Interpol swing into action and action takes over as the crew struggles to
avoid a catastrophic air crash in the Atlantic.
The inspiration Lupita has left in many young people
of Kenya goes to show that anyone can indeed be a superstar. In a paid-up
advert in the Kenyan Press; the Kenya Film Commission said: “you
are a wonderful inspiration; role model and a pioneer for Kenya actors and
actresses. Good luck at the Oscars 2014-86th Academy Awards! May your
effort, dedication and talent be rewarded. Here is too many more Kenyans following
in your footsteps. Africa celebrates you!”
As she adjusts to the refracting gleam of the
spotlight and fame- the Kenyan Yale University drama graduate seems to be
taking no chances and is certainly looking beyond the skies with this new
movie. It is must watch!
By
Embukane Vincent Libosso.
(Additional
reporting from The New York Times AND George Orido of The Standard newspaper Kenya.)
The film Wolf of Wall Street has just been
nominated in the Oscar’s best picture category alongside Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave starring Kenya’s
Hollywood star-sensation Lupita Nyong’o.
Directed by Martin
Scorsese; The Wolf Of Wall Street is
based on a memoir by stockbroker Jordan
Belfort, who created the investment firm Stratton Oakmont in an abandoned
garage.
He spent much of the 90’s
swindling his way to an enormous personal fortune. According to critics; the
film dwells on Belfort’s criminal route to the top; and the limitless supply of
girls and drugs he finds there. A typical week at Stratton Oakmont involves
dwarf-tossing, naked marching bands and a spectacle Belfort describes as a “stripping
stampede.”
As such, the film
stands accused of glamourizing his crimes, prostitution, homosexuality,
ignoring his victims and filing to satisfy the audience’s need to see justice
served. The movie holds a record for 569 f-bombs used.
Attending a scripting
for screen class at Daystar University Nairobi this week; the movie created a
lot of buzz because the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) banned the movie
that stars Leonardo Di Caprio.
Movie buffs and students
attending the class claimed KFCB move was a big shock to movie lovers, with
many disapproving the drastic action.
“You let series like
Spartacus, which have sex and violence. You let Game of Thrones and many others
and you think you will stop us from this one?”
posed James Gatithu on Facebook.
The irony is that; with
pirated movies retailing as KSH 50 and even less at Downtown Nairobi’s legion
of movie stores, the ban has only but heightened curiosity and appetite for the
film- ending up a business boom amongst the pockets of pirates.
The ban in part reads… “The
film is not for sale, exhibition or distribution in Kenya. Violators shall be
prosecuted.”
Kenya however is not
the first state to take such action on the movie. United Arab Emirates cut 45
minutes out of the film to protect viewers.
