Larry King (born Lawrence Harvey Zeiger; November 19, 1933 –
January 23, 2021) was an American television host, radio host, and paid
spokesman, whose work was recognized with awards including two Peabodys, an
Emmy award, and 10 Cable ACE Awards.
King began as a local Florida journalist and radio
interviewer in the 1950s and 1960s, and gained prominence beginning in 1978 as
host of The Larry King Show, an all-night nationwide call-in radio program
heard on the Mutual Broadcasting System.
From 1985 to 2010, he
hosted the nightly interview television program Larry King Live on CNN. From
2012 to 2020, he hosted Larry King Now which aired on Hulu, Ora TV, and RT
America. He continued to host Politicking with Larry King, a weekly political
talk show which aired weekly on the same two channels from 2013 until his death
in 2021.
A lot of the
new entrants into the business of motion picture production in Nigeria think
that the business of filmmaking started with Nollywood. It did not. Nigeria had
an indigenous film industry that dates back to the 70’s. Then, filmmakers such
as Dr. Ola Balogun, Late Chief Adeyemi Afolayan, late Chief Hubert Adedeji
Ogunde, and Chief Eddie Ugbomah amongst many others made films on celluloid
either on 35mm colour or 16mm colour.
But while the exploits of most of these pioneer filmmakers may have been
fairly documented in some of the early books written on the film industry in
Nigeria, notably Francoise Balogun’s The
Cinema in Nigeria and Professor Hyginus Ekwuazi’s Film in Nigeria, there have been very little mention about a period
in the history of the Nigerian film industry where making films using the
reversal technology reigned. That was the period of the 80’s when filmmakers
such as the late Yemi Meshioye led the crew at Meshfilms Limited to pioneer the
unconventional shooting of feature films with reversal film stocks as opposed
to negative film stocks which was standard for making films at the time.
It is a part of the untold story of that
period in the evolution of the film industry that is told in From
Reversal Filmmaking To God’s Bedroom and Back… Untold Story of the Nollywood
Revolution,
the bookby
the accomplished filmmaker Matthew Simpa who was a member of the Meshfilms
family and a key figure in the production of some of the film projects by
Meshfilms. Those films including Lori-Ere, Ijagbemi, Gbegede Gbina
and Iji
Aye unarguably became pathfinders for filmmaking in Nigeria.
I am familiar
with most of the books that have been written and published on the Nigerian
film industry. This book by Simpa is probably the second book on the Nigerian film
industry of the 70’s and 80’s devoted to the career journey of a versatile
thoroughbred professional with ramified experience and multi-faceted
professional training. The first of this kind of work that I have read is the
book by the late legendary filmmaker Eddie Ugbomah titled Eddie Ugbomah. But unlike the book by Chief Ugbomah, which is an
autobiographical account, Simpa saves the full account of his life for another
publication and shares just the story of his career journey pre-Meshfilms, his
personal recollection of how they made ‘magic’ with films like Iji Aye at Meshfilms and then his
journey post-Meshfilms in this book. The result is a very personal story of
those moments that shaped his dream, about the field experiences that sharpened
those dreams and about the struggle to fulfill them. It is the story of a
hardworking, humble and an honest personality who should be righty acknowledged
for his invaluable contribution to the evolution of the Nigerian visual media
industry that is today a global household name.
The
contributions of this book are manifold. But two things particularly stand out
for me. First is that through an account of his career, the author offers a
very resourceful and highly engaging book that lends tremendous insight to the
creative exploits of Meshfilms and that of other filmmakers of the era of
reversal films. Secondly, each chapter of the book is lucidly presented to
justify the competence and professional experience of the author in filmmaking.
Although there
are still so many efforts to be recorded regarding this period of Nigerian
cinema (and the author makes no pretence about writing a definitive book on
that period and history of Nigerian film industry), we must commend Simpa for
taking this bold step in documenting a significant aspect of the story, which I
consider central to our understanding and appreciation of the history of the Nigerian
film industry. Although usually a labourious task, but am sure Simpa considers
it an honour and a great responsibility to add to the growing body of works
that are helping to define the emerging trends with the vibrant Nigerian film
industry.
I can imagine
that Simpa’s saddening thought and our own thoughts too will be that nearly all
the reversal films and even the films that were produced on bigger gauges may
not have been preserved for posterity, I think we should be consoled by the
fact that one of the key players of that period has at least captured and told
a compelling story of the essence of that period in our filmmaking history.
I believe that this book is a valuable contribution to the field. The ultimate value of the book for me is that it points us both backwards to the past and forward to our future. I recommend it to everyone who is interested in the history of the Nigerian reversal film tradition especially and in the history of the Nigerian film industry before Nollywood. It is a welcome addition to the growing body of works on the Nigerian cinema and I feel honoured to be able to greet this new book in its opening pages.
Shaibu Husseini, PhD
Senior
Teaching/Research Fellow
Department of
Mass Communication
University of
Lagos
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The Author Mr Matthew Simpa
Matthew Simpa was born in, Agege, in 1964. He began his film making career with Meshfilms as an Assistant Film Director in 1986. This was two years after graduating with a cinematography certificate from Nigerian College of Film, Owo, Ondo State. He was actively involved in the innovative film making process of using reversal film stocks to shoot theatrical films. He was also part of a series of hit Yoruba home movies in the early 1990s. In 1995, he veered into evangelical film making. Between 1995 and 2000, he directed over twenty movies on video among which was Valle de Baca, the first successful home movie shot in Benin Republic. Since 2004, he has been involved mostly in Christian television programming. He has also directed two soap operas, one in English (The Burning Spear) and the other (Angeli Nigeria) in Yoruba.
In recent times he has worked at Galaxy Television and is presently the General Manager of Ben Auto/Stedik Resources Entertainment Ltd in Lagos. His two most recent movies are Outside the Box (2014) and yet to be released Yoruba film titled Ito Okurin which he produced.
The Eko International
Film Festival is an annual film festival that has spanned through the years
with pump and pageantry attracting all entertainment razzmatazz.
The 11th edition slated for March 8-12, 2021 has attracted
entries from over 55 countries globally. The film festival has also attracted
collaboration over the years which includes the US, Consulate Nigeria, Makido
film Austria, Polish Embassy Nigeria, Niger State Government (Niger State Book
and other intellectual Resources Development Agency, Multichoice Nigeria Ltd
Nexim Bank and Bank of industry (BOI) for their immense support during the
festival 10th anniversary edition.
The festival is also grateful to the Nigeria Film and Video
Censors Board (NFVCB) under the able leadership of Executive Director Alhaji
Thomas Adebayo whose immense support cannot be quantified.
The Silverbird Group (Silverbird Cinemas) has sustained their
support for the festival from inception to the present edition which we are
eternally grateful.
The President / Founder of EKOIFF Mr. Hope Obioma Opara is
also the founder of a new initiative in the global entertainment industry, The
UNIVERSAL MOVIE AWARD (UNIMAA).
The event is designated to run an academy for the development
of contemporary talents among the youth brackets in the motion picture
industry. The aims of the academy is to train and empower young people in film
making, photography and music thereby creating job opportunities for Nigerian
teeming youths.
He stated that these platforms are keys to increasing the
development of the tourism industry for any state and country at large. He also
reiterated the readiness of his team and their foreign partners to work and
partner with any corporate organization and state government in Nigeria willing
to host and leverage on these platforms for tourism and cultural exchange.
He said that the Universal Movie Awards is an annual
international Award based in Nigeria, but with a global appeal and presence.
The mission of Universal Movie Awards is: “the celebration of professional
excellence in the Global Film/Television Industry.” It will also promote the
appreciation of Arts and Culture through motion picture arts and sciences
globally.
The first edition of UNIVERSAL MOVIE AWARDS (UNIMAA) is
slated to hold in August 2021. We are looking forward to all-encompassing
partnerships as we drive and sail to greater height and destination.
Stella D’lyte is a
Nigerian songstress who has carved an itch for herself in the Nigerian music industry. She is now based in Unites States
of America’
Today is her birthday
and this goes with her new Hit Song ”DEAR
GOD” with wonderful lyrics “Oluwa bless us ooo . Do not forsake us ooo . I’m
begging you pick up your phone cos I really need to talk to you . Do not
forsake us o make you protect us all . I’m begging pls pick up your phone cos I
really need to talk to you”.
Her new song dropped
at the right time for the celebration of Christmas and new year ahead. Her
Teaming fans are yearning for watch her
live performance after leaving the stage for some time.
We wish her a happy
birthday and many more years to come. God bless you more Stella D’lyte.
Studied architecture at the Architectural Association School, London between 1978 and 1985, where he experimented with both traditional African and High-tech design principles.
Back in the Fatherland (Nigeria) he studied earth construction techniques culminating in an invaluable invitation to design and build the Bauchi State museum in the year 1987, this availed him the liberty to use traditional Tubali brick construction.
In 1990, he established Total Consult, a design and builds practice, and worked on numerous commercial and residential projects. The firm also grew to become the leader in stage and set designs in the 80s and 90s; it also executed many cutting edge product launches and concert sets.
They designed TV studio sets for programmes and commercials into the bargain. Clientele include MTN, NB PLC, GTB, First Bank, MNET, inter alia. In the year 1999, Theo Lawson teamed up with other designers to form the “C.I.A.” (Creative Intelligence Agency), a collaborative venture to spearhead and streamline ideas for Lagos in the Millennium.
This led to his conception and realisation of Freedom Park, Lagos, now Lagos’ most engaging arts space. He has equally worked on other public space projects including: Motherlan’ Performance Centre, University of Lagos Anniversary Park, Kalakuta Museum, Chimedie Museum and Art Gallery, Onitsha and the Kuti Heritage Museum, Abeokuta, to name just a few.
He is a formidable fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects and he is on the advisory board of several Arts Foundation.
Let’s homage and honour this Epitome of Excellence
