Naija Ent. News

Julius D’Genius Agwu Live in Abuja

With friends: 9ice, Dare Art Alade, Shank, M.I, Jimmy Jatt, Gandoki, I go dye, Daniel D Humourous.

Date: July 27th 2008

Venue: Transcorp Hilton Abuja

Time: 5pm

Pass: N3, 000, VIP; N10, 000

Genevieve Nnaji, Ghanaian producer in messy fight
‘I didn’t collect $110, 000 from her’ Genevieve
By Stella Dimoko Korkus
According to the rumour making rounds, actress Genevieve Nnaji was reportedly fired from a movie set, Tulip, after being paid over $110, 000. The rumour alleged that the actress made herself unavailable to the producers and the was rude when she was eventually contacted, thus leading to he being ‘fired’ from the set. We contacted Genevieve to hear her own side of the story and this is her response…

Stella ‘ What is this Tulip story being circulated and what actually happened. We heard you made demands to take your PA with you amongst other demands
Genevieve“A Ghanaian lady called Leila Djansi, living in America set up a company and decided to shoot a movie. She approached and I told her to send the script. She did and I liked the role. I told her I would be interested based on contract negotiations and rest of cast. She got back to me and I was informed that I would be working alongside Kimberly Elise and some up and coming Ghanaians actors. I made no demand whatsoever. I was told a Ghanaian would be my PA while shooting in some villages in Ghana and I said NO, I already had one and would even be willing to pay her ticket to Ghana, but I will not use a stranger. There was no trip to America mentioned until October, so I could never have demanded to take my PA along although I want to state that if I felt like it, I would have requested it. After all, when we bring foreign acts over here, we allow them to come with nutritionist, PA and whoever they choose to bring. So this is a lie, ‘demands’ were not made. I was asked to forward recent pictires for their promo campaign, measurement details and address to send contract to in Nigeria, I did all those things. What did I get in return? Leila Djansi began stalking me with calls about how Ghanaians are angry she hired a Nigerian actress. How people were telling her I’m a snob and so on. Discussions were held and we concluded this is normal, that there will ayways be haters and I’m used to it. But I am a professional , so I was not interested in ldle gossip.”

Genevieve “I lost interest because she now seemed like the regular African in the Disapora who wanted to shoot a movie and some of them even appraoch without a script and think just because they are based in the States, Nigerian acts should jump on and kiss their ass. Leila started hounding me with calls. I was tired of someone who wanted to trade gossip and be my ‘friend’ rather than talk about the movie. I don’t work like that, so I stopped taking her calls and insisted that we communicate via email until she had sent the final script. This was not good enough for her. She insisted on speaking with me on the phone and when I refused, she lost it and things degenerated to where they are now. This led to Leila insulting me, Nollywood, Ghanawood and everyone. She told me how she has witnesses she will roll out to show that Genevieve has a bad reputation , how she’s severing the contract and all that, but there was no contract. How can terminate a contract that did not exist in the first place? She never paid me any money. She said derogatory things and I quote “A bit of advise, nobody in Hollywood gives about your Nigerian and Ghanaian film industry, you are the only people who glory in your inferior work. You really think someone here will sit through an hour and a half pure torture of the same freaky music playing over the movie and the screaming and the tantrums? You really think I want anyone here to think Africans are crazy?

That’s what she told me. I have said for years that I am not desperate for Nollywood. I am an actress and I want to act in the best and I want to act in the best stories and in the best produced movies with thorough professionals. If a Hollywood studio offers me a movie, they will approach me as true professionals they are and I will respond as I always have, like a professional. But if fans based in the US think because they are based in the US, I should abandon all my work ethics and policies that have kept me where I am for over 10 years and will continue to keep me at the top of my profession, then they must be deluded and I told Djansi that, along with infroming her that Nollywood is African made and we are proud and if we had half the resources or time that Hollywood actors have, we would just be as good, if not better….”

The interview went on and on, but I’m going to stop here…im tired of typing..lol. But seriously I don’t care what anyone says, I love Geneveive Nnaji. I just think she’s a little misunderstood…

Naeto C’s Album is out…

Go get your copy NOW!

Congrats to the latest couple in town, 9ice and Tonipayne. They got married yesterday. Wishing them the very best of married life.

You can also check out this blogs for more entertainment news http://azuhamatus.blogspot.com/

Kisses everyone.