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Blessing Egbe Blasts Nollywood Stars Who Became Millionaire Under Jonathan’s Regime
April 19, 2015 – Blessing Egbe Blasts Nollywood Celebrities Who Became Millionaire Under Jonathan’s Regime, Calls Them Selfish
Nollywood actress and film writer, Blessing Egbe, a popular star on Lekki Wives took to FG to bemoan plights of producers in the hands of pirates.
She also blasts her colleagues who enriched their pockets with President Jonathan’s Nollywood grant.
In her words:
“While I was away on vacation, some one sent me a twitter message to ask if season 3 of lekki Wives was out. She said she saw season 3 in the market. I replied that it wasn’t out and didn’t think it was any biggie because lekki wives 1 and 2 was pirated weeks after it was released. The pirates later merged both seasons in one dvd pack (which we sell in four different packs) and named it season 1 and 2. We tried fighting, but didn’t get any head way so we continued to selling regardless of the grave negative impact it had on the sales. This merge of seasons in a single unclear DVD was what I thought the fan was talking about and so I kept cool. Now, having returned, what did I see in traffic at Ajah? I saw Lekki wives Season 1 to 4 in separated four DVD packaging. Need I say I was traumatized as I am yet to release season 3.
The angry tears began to build as I drove further, seconds later, I sighted kunle Afolayan’s Oct 1st which just closed not too far back at the cinemas. At that point, the tears flowed freely because I understood his pain and empathized with him at his outrage… but trust our people, instead of fighting the core and reason for his outburst, they took the fact that he mentioned a tribe in the process and ran with it, thereby forgetting the reason behind the out cry. Now here goes my out cry to everyone who still buys pirated copies of our films even after all the outcry by producers to boycott it; I beg you to stop or your products of endeavor will be cut short! After we suffer sleepless nights for months!!! scripting, planning, filming and editing a visual content. The foolish ones sit back and wait for the premiere or release of the picture only to pirate and flood the market with it, and because some cheap ass buyers patronize them, they continue to thrive in the business of piracy. Some buyers have complained that the dvds are expensive at 300_500 naira So they would rather buy a pirated one for 100 naira.
They forget that producers invest millions in the content and therefore must recoup unlike the thieves who sit back and pirate with zero investment. Please stop o because as you wet their pockets, your accounts will go dry. Now to the government of nigeria!!! Producer’s have cried and sought for your help to fight piracy but I wander why a government would rather give producers money to shoot a film when there are no proper distribution network aka guarantee for recoup of investments. I asked this same question at the FPF forum last year but some of my colleagues shouted me down because according to them I had made hundreds of millions from lekki wives and so I had no right to ask otherwise!!!
So I sat back, collected the grant money and shot the movie… now I am scared to release because the pirates have gotten so bold that they release a movie that has just closed from the cinemas..
Our colleagues that had the ears of the GEJ government who genuinely wanted to help nollywood went there to enrich their pockets. Now I wonder what lies ahead for the ever struggling hard working producers and Nollywood in general. Mtewwww!”
Nifemi Brooklyn
April 19, 2015 at 10:20 AM
YOu said it all, let them not finish the money
nneka
April 19, 2015 at 10:49 AM
If u need ur own money add me 332adf45.tanz. Lolz
steve
April 19, 2015 at 11:08 AM
Instead of fighing for the massse who usually buy their films they choose to go for GEJ who will soon be out of the picture of Nigeria i pity them nolly fools especially that monster segun Arize insulting OBJ cos of peanut he got from GEJ
MANNUEL
April 19, 2015 at 11:44 AM
Jonathan stands to be blamed for opening the doors of the Presidency for the Nollywood riff-raffs and embracing them in an attempt to seek their supports in retaining power. Nollywood as it stands today has never hidden the facts the organisation absolutely belongs them, despite its administrations continues to segregate and alienate other practisioners in the industry. Hollywood in the US as well as Indian Bollywood embraces an entire film Industry in those countries however, Nollywood in Nigeria is unfortunately comprise of elements of separatists minded individuals whose agenda is to score tribal and political points rather than a progessive national agenda. Nollywood are a rebellious group surreptitioully primed to complete an unfinished long forgotten and stale civil war and for which reasons Jonathan dolled out public fund in their support even though he knew he was dealing with a tribal and sectional group that does not represent the entire Nigerian film Industry. If Nollywood were not tribal organisation hiding behind a film industry; where lies the space for Yoruba film practioners and Kannywood of the North in the Executive positions under contest all these years. It has become the norm everything the people of the East are involved turns out to be tribal and tends to promote self aggrandisment. Unfortunately, they have never spared time to evaluate or re-assess the success or failure rate of their actions in the midts of huge and overwhelming larger populations they are confronted with. The recent failed attempt they gave to Jonathan with all the money thrown at them should serve as a lesson there are many more war of conscience for them to fight in the Nigerian socio political equations if they want to remain relevant.
fairjudge
April 19, 2015 at 4:48 PM
i was so surprised especially at some old faces like ”mama G”
CΦnscieΩce-1
April 19, 2015 at 4:58 PM
…Until Nigeria as a country can rise above tribal sentiments i.e. by calling a spade a spade, whenever the need arises regardless of our tribal affiliations-then we cannot move forward from where we are at the moment.(We can NEVER win the war on piracy!)
In regards the piracy menace; these are my questions to those who own the original rights to their films. Can you guys NOT arrest a vendor selling your hard earned sweat? Whenever you guys see someone in the traffic selling a pirated copy of your film- why don’t you guys go to a near -by police station, to make an arrest? –since you have the original right to your film.
All that needs to be asked from the culprit when apprehended is one simple question; which is where the person got the film from?
If you don’t cut the root cause of piracy, the branches and leaves will just be spreading like a myeloma cankerworm.
I’m using this opportunity to say and beg all Nigerians, to come together under one voice/umbrella to unequivocally condemn this menace (Piracy) eating up the film industry.
A lot of people are not aware of the fact that if we can eradicate this piracy scourge in Nigeria; One good blockbuster film can change the lives of many for good in the film industry i.e. producers, actors and production- crew, can all become millionaires with one good film, if Nigeria has a good film distribution network which is devoid of piracy. We already have the market of over (100million viewers)in Nigerian alone considering our population.
Biko! My people…..Please let us all come together regardless of our ethnic and tribal affiliations to fight this menace called PIRACY. (Expose all the people you know engaging in this illicit trade).
Metu Nyetu
April 19, 2015 at 5:41 PM
Exactly wat I’d been saying. D many hypocritical holier-dan-thou’s dat comment here were busy nailing a particular tribe 2d cross becaus of dis, 4getn dat any oda person who buys pirated films is as guilty as d person who produces pirated discs. So wat doz d kettle hav dat d pot dznt hav? Dat commentator dat goes by d name Me should really read dis & b enlightened.
Me
April 19, 2015 at 7:32 PM
@Metu Nyetu,How are my dear?…I thought we put an end to this issue of Piracy between us..When I asked U to answer this question honestly ,and U didn’t answer D question .Anyways here is D question again.Please tell me what tribe 99% of Alaba traders are from?????.Alaba market is notoriously known by all as D den of PIRACY.
If you need any help ask Gabosky,D marketer.
Those that deal in Piracy are Nigerians,and they also have a tribe.We must NOT be afraid to mention that tribe if we want to deal with D real problem.
Please Metu,call ur people to order!
Metu Nyetu
April 20, 2015 at 7:11 AM
It appears u are a proffesor of Statistics, Mr Me. U may like 2 tell us if d 99% u refer 2 are involvd in piracy or not. Also tel us d fraction dat ur “esteemed” tribe bears.
Now, how many films or musicals in ur collection are original? 2 think dat u could b so bold 2 point a finger knowing dat u are indicted in one or two ways makes me wonda wat dellusive, sanctimonous mindset u maintain.
Piracy is bad & shd b condemnd. But finding a tribal scapegoat 2 bear d brunt of it all instead of giving it a wholistic head-on tackle wil only bring us where we are 2day even in ten years time. So com dwn frm ur sardonic high horse & speak d saving truth 2 ur soul 4 once! Peace!
Me
April 20, 2015 at 1:40 PM
@Dear Metu Nyetu, with all D grammatical facade that U have put on show,U still have NOT answered my pertinent question ;Please if U are stuck or need any help in answering my question, go and ask Gabosky D marketer.
I will not respond to u again If You dont answer my question.STOP running away from D truth and call a spade a spade.
…..”those that CANNOT speak out when a particular tribe decides to propagate injustice on other tribes -are as guilty as the perpetrators themselves”!
I REST MY CASE!…By the way I could Not comprehend ur response….Mtchwwweeeeeee!!!