Supple Magazine

Sir Thomas Sean Connery was a Scottish actor and producer. He is best known as the first actor to portray the British secret agent James Bond.

Rita Dominic   is a Nigerian actress, producer, and director. Nollywood Screen Diva

SEOUL (Reuters) – Around 4,000 recovered COVID-19 patients from a religious group at the centre of South Korea’s largest outbreak will donate plasma for research, an official said on Tuesday, a day after local officials filed a lawsuit against the church. In February and March, a massive outbreak among members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus made South Korea the scene of the first large outbreak outside of China.

At least 5,213 of the country’s total 12,484 cases have been linked to the church outbreak, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Church founder Lee Man-hee had internally advised recovered members to donate their plasma, which is badly needed for coronavirus research, Shincheonji media coordinator Kim Young-eun told Reuters on Tuesday.

Many of recovered church members wanted to donate to express thanks to the government and medical staff, she said. The city of Daegu – where most of the church infections were centred – filed a civil lawsuit against the church on Monday, seeking 100 billion won ($82.75 million) in

damages. Daegu authorities had previously filed a complaint against the church accusing it of not submitting a full list of members and facilities, and not cooperating with city health efforts.

Shincheonji says it fully complied with government efforts. The National Institute of Health said 185 people have so far come forward to donate plasma as of Monday and said they were in talks with Shincheonji for donations. South Korea health officials have said that in the absence of other treatments or vaccines, plasma therapy may be a way to lower the death rate, especially in critical patients.

At least 17 South Koreans have received the experimental therapy, which involves using plasma from recovered patients with antibodies to the virus, enabling the body to defend against the disease.

South Korea has reported 281 deaths from COVID-19. Health authorities said they were testing 176 people who came into contact with crew members on a Russian fishing vessel docked at Busan after 16 aboard the vessel were tested positive.

($1 = 1,208.4500 won)

Reporting by Sangmi Cha; Writing by Josh Smith; Editing by William M

Film festivals are not given prominence in the Nigerian Film Industry. Most of us film industry practitioners attend reputable Film Festivals outside the country. Our government sponsors some people that have attended Toronto, Cannes, Berlin e.t.c but find it too difficult to grow the local film festival. This is not the case in some of these countries’ whose Film Festivals we attend. For instance the French government supports French Cannes festival with 50℅ of the budget because of the tourism and growth of their film industry. 

The festival’s budget is about $22 million. Half of the funding comes from French taxpayers, the other half comes from corporate sponsors, according to france24.

Film festival is the only platform that attract most film industry practitioners to a particular country for some days, and the big ones last for two weeks and give opportunities for collaboration, film market etc.

Every government want to develop their tourism industry, and film festivals contribute so much in this area.

The population of California is less than 38 million but they have over 85 film festivals, including Hollywood and others, and generated $144.9 Billion in 2019 from tourism alone. These platforms attract over 250 million visitors annually. All their film festivals are under the California film commission that support and help them to flourish every year. Film festivals are too important for any country’s film industry to grow faster.

Zeb Ejiro (OON) is  professional colleague and inspiration to several younger generation. He has paid his dues in Nollywood and can comfortably be referred to one one the fathers of second Generation nollywood.

For his Contribution the president Obasanjo government conferred on him the highest National honour conferred on any practitioner; the OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF THE NIGER (OON) in 2007

When most of us were looking for an office space, he had an office in the 80’s tucked somewhere at Olufemi Sokan st Aguda in  lagos, when many were looking at God for a car, he had this red coloured BMW that was a cynosure of all eyes.

Domittila was a 1996 blockbuster movie that grossed millions and went on to win several awards. I recall with nostalgia how the title of movie domitilla became another word for prostitution.  I will not forget to move commercial in Pidgin …. Domitilla …… Domitilla  …….Domitilla….. Ashawo noh be work soooooo….. that heralded the voice of music producer and voice over artist Johnson Davidson.

The movie starred some of the best of that era Ann Njemanze, basorge Tarriah Real Offiong Kate Henshaw, Achums Sandra, Sonny Mcdon-w  Charles Okafor, Ada Ameh, and late Enebeli Elebuwa amongst others. I have added a copy of the 1996 poster.

Fast Forward to 2020, the Sheik as we call Zeb Ejiro returns with DOMITILLA THE SEQUEL set for release in 2021 which I can confirm will have his master touch ….if you were old enough to watch TV in the 80’s, you will recall the glamourous TV soap opera RIPPLES, he subsequently teamed up with Ralph Nwadike, Tunji Bamishigbin and Charles Owoyemi,  to produce the popular Soap Opera FORTUNES in the 90’s. Zeb has several blockbuster to his credit to include NNEKA THE PRETTY SERPENT , SAKOBI, GOOD BY TOMORROW amongst others.

Our incisive investigative check has revealed that this collaboration between Zeb Ejiro Productions and FilmOne Entertainment owners of FilmOne Cinemas is a multimillion Naira movie production deal starring some of the best cast across the African continent. 

We were reliable informed that the 4  lead female cast has one of Africa’s biggest female Musician cum actress with a a large following.  Also the on lead cast list is a controversial actress who featured in a TV reality show, the third member of  the cast is one of Nollywood’s most sensational actresses whose name is on the lips of every young actress. Completing this assemble is another continental award winning actress who is a mix of the old and new generation of African cinema.

There is so much anticipation from the public for this sensational movie. When I asked zeb what we should expect, he responded….

 HOLD YOUR BREATH for DOMITILLA THE SEQUEL scheduled to hit the BOX OFFICE in 2021 hopefully after COVID19.

By Fidelis Duker

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