From Lagos to Lafia in Nassarawa State,
Akure to Abuja and everywhere in between, hundreds of aspiring actors, the
sublime and starry-eyed talents, thronged the final auditions of the 2012 Next
Movie Star reality show which held at the exclusive Troy Bar and Lounge in
Ogba, Lagos, last weekend. 48 hours after it began, the judges, comprising
trusted and tested thespians and arts buffs like Jude Orhorha, Bukky
Ogunnote-Ogunade, Doris Simeon, Raphael Stevens and Jerry Adesewo settled for
20 of these wannabe actors as meriting a chance at fame on the NMS platform.
The lucky 20 include Okeke Chimezie
Ivan, Okeowo Oluwatosin Speens, Alaha Gift Iyua, Aitsegame Halimat Sadiya,
Josephine Micheal Ukpong, King Ojikemba, Samuel Babatunde Jameson, Ifovboa
Ehijemen Jude, Oruambo Chrystabel, Esigbone Ejiro Kingsley, Obi Lilyjean, Tonia
Ese Oria-Arebun, Ajuyah Sarah Onome, Million Santong, Alabi Folake, Mina
Horsefall, Musa Olajoju, Chigbufue Bright, Perpetual Andy and Nnachortam
Patrick. Chosen from audition centres in Port Harcourt, Benin and Abuja, these variegated
talents have thus qualified as prospective housemates for the show. However,
four of them will be evicted from the training and grooming session which will
last a whole week.
The training and grooming session,
especially, according to the executive producer, Sola Fajobi, “is one of the
unique selling points of the Next Movie Star because this is where we prepare
these aspiring actors for a future that can be bigger than their wildest
imagination; a future that can see them become the biggest brand in the
industry. We have respected facilitators and experts on various aspects of
entertainment who come around for the sessions. However, it also affords us a
closer look at the contestants and we have no choice but to drop those who do
not measure up to the standards of the show.”
Speaking after the auditions, popular
cross over actress, Doris Simeon, averred that she was stunned and surprised at
the quality of talents on display. “I used to think that they (the producers)
just handpick those who would appear on the show; i never knew that it is such
a labourious and long process. I think that is why some of their products go on
to excel more than any reality show products.” Indeed, Simeon was not being
superfluous. In its eighth year, many alumni of the Next Movie Star show have
gone on to establish flourishing careers in entertainment. Kevin Chuwang Pam,
Uti Nwachukwu and Karen Igho went through the NMS school and are today
established entertainers after winning the Big Brother Africa show in 2009,
2010 and 2011 respectively. For others like Tonto Dikeh, Annie Macaulay-Idibia,
Porttiah Yamahan, they are now major forces in Nollywood after being discovered
and nurtured by NMS.
Despite being privately funded for the
past six seasons, Fajobi says, “Our resolve is to ensure that the quality of
the show never drops and we keep pushing the bounds to discover more talents
for the entertainment industry.” Following in the tradition of the last two
seasons which saw the 2010 and 2011 winners, Akio Ilami and Tamara Eteimo
getting cash prizes and a brand new SUV, this year’s winner will get same, and
more.
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