Champagne | |
---|---|
Directed by | Emem Isong |
Written by | Uduak Oguamanam Anthony Kehinde Joseph |
Screenplay by | Emem Isong |
Produced by | Emem Isong |
Starring |
|
Cinematography | Tom Robson Beanca Van Heerden James Costello (uncredited) |
Edited by | Daniel Tom |
Production company | Royal Arts Studios |
Distributed by |
|
Release date |
|
Country | Nigeria |
Language | English |
Budget | ₦25 million [1] |
Champagne is a 2014 Nigerian romantic thriller film, produced and directed by Emem Isong. It stars Majid Michel, Alexx Ekubo, Mbong Amata, Susan Peters, Tana Adelana, Kokotso Charlotte, and introduces Rosemary Zimu as Champagne. [2] [3] This is Emem Isong's first film as a director. [4] [5]
The film tells the story of a young couple (Alex Ekubo and Rosemary Zimu), who are in an "open marriage"; To meet their financial needs as a family, they often date unsuspecting people, scam them, and run away. They eventually meet Mr Douglas (Majid Michel), who takes them on an unexpected ride.
On the title of the film "Champagne", Isong states: "I just wanted to do something that is a bit associated with glitz and glamour, so I decided to name the lead character 'Champagne'. There's really nothing more to it". [6] [7] The film was shot in Johannesburg, South Africa and Houston, Texas in the United States. [5] [6] [8] Shooting in South Africa in particular, posed a challenge, as the Isong had never really worked in the country before now. [6] [7] Champagne is Emem Isong's first film as a director; [6] in an interview, she stated that she wanted to celebrate her 20 years anniversary in the film industry with Champagne. [9] [10]
The theatrical trailer of Champagne was released on 19 November 2014. [11] [12] [13] The film premiered in Lagos on 19 December 2014, and started showing at the cinemas on the same day. [5] [6] [14] [15] It premiered in the United Kingdom in March 2015. [16] [17]
The film so far has received negative critical reviews, Rosemary Zimu's performance has however been commended by most critics. Nollywood Reinvented rated the film 46%, concluding: "Alexx Ekubo and Rosemary Zimu played off each other’s strength and were able to hold the movie together in their scenes. Alexx is constantly improving as an actor and Rosemary does pretty well for a new actress even though they both could have definitely explored deeper into the emotions". [18] Oris Aigbokhaevbolo of True Nollywood Stories gave a negative review, commenting: "An exploration of that tension between marital duties and financial necessities could take up the duration of a movie, but not with this attention-deficit fare. An unconvincing thriller in romance, near-comic clothing, and it seems no one told the actors. Save for South African newcomer Rosemary Zimu, the actors look unprepared for the film’s turning point moment. Emem Isong’s Champagne Fails To Pop". [19] Samod Biobaku panned the film and performances from the actors (except for Zimu's performance), commenting: "In this movie, Emem [Isong] clearly struggles with creative consistency. From the lighting to the shallow dialogues and this rolls into a plot, so loose, it eventually becomes painfully disjointed. Midway into the movie, the feeling that you could walk out of the cinema hall and ask a friend to tell you what happened afterwards proved a realistic option. The story grips the highway of a saccharine-littered storyline that falls, stumbles, trips, takes flight, trips again, breaks down and somehow, manages to hurl its bulky frame across the finish-line where conflicts are ultimately resolved". [20]
Majid Michel is a Ghanaian actor, model, television personality, evangelist and a humanitarian. He received nominations for Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2017. He eventually won the award in 2012 after three previous consecutive nominations. Majid Michel attended Mfantsipim School, along with fellow actor Van Vicker.
Champagne is a sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France.
Forgetting June is a 2013 Nigerian romantic drama film directed by Ikechukwu Onyeka, starring Majid Michel, Beverly Naya, and Mbong Amata.
Apaye is a 2014 Nigerian biographical drama film directed by Desmond Elliot and starring Clarion Chukwura, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Belinda Effah, and Mbong Amata. It premièred at the Silverbird Cinemas, Victoria Island, Lagos on 7, March 2014. The comic role Yepayeye, tells the story of the life and struggles of Elder Irene Yepayeye Uriah-Dieah, who was a relative of Goodluck Jonathan in real life.
Weekend Getaway is a 2012 Nigerian romantic drama film directed by Desmond Elliot and starring Genevieve Nnaji, Ramsey Nouah, Monalisa Chinda, Ini Edo, Uti Nwachukwu, Alexx Ekubo, Bryan Okwara, Beverly Naya and Uru Eke. It received 11 nominations and eventually won 4 awards at the 2013 Nollywood & African Film Critics Awards (NAFCA). It also received 2 nominations at the 2013 Best of Nollywood Awards with Alexx Ekubo eventually winning the award for Best Actor in a supporting role. The film was a box-office success in Nigerian cinemas generally because of its star-studded cast.
Reloaded is a 2009 Nigerian romantic drama film directed by Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen & Ikechukwu Onyeka, starring Ramsey Nouah, Rita Dominic, Desmond Elliot, Stephanie Okereke, Ini Edo and Nse Ikpe Etim. It received 3 nominations at the 5th Africa Movie Academy Awards.
Alexx Ekubo is a Nigerian actor and model. He was first runner up at the 2010 Mr Nigeria contest. He won the Best Actor in a Supporting Role award at the 2013 Best of Nollywood Awards for his role in the Weekend Getaway.
The 2014 Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards is scheduled to hold at Stafford Center on October 25. The event will be hosted by comedian, Julius Agwu.
Gold Diggin is a 2014 Nigerian romantic drama film written, produced and directed by Rukky Sanda. It stars Yvonne Nelson, Rukky Sanda, Alex Ekubo, Venita Akpofure and IK Ogbonna. The film was generally panned by critics for having no real purpose or direction; as of September 2014, it is the lowest rated film on Nollywood Reinvented.
Mbong Amata is a Nigerian actress. She has acted in films such as Black November, Forgetting June, and Inale. She won the "Most Beautiful Girl" in 2003, and was the 2nd runner up in the 2004 Miss Nigeria.
The 2015 Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards was the 4th edition of the ceremony. The event was held on October 17, 2015 in Houston, Texas. It was hosted by Nigerian comedian, Ayo Makun.
Emem Isong is a Nigerian screenwriter, film producer, and film director. She has become known primarily for films in the English language, and is a dominant figure in the Nollywood industry. Her second directed feature, Code of Silence, which deals with rape in Nigeria, was released in 2015.
Ayamma: Music in the Forest is a 2016 magical fusion cultural film, written by Vivian Chiji, directed by Chris Eneaji, and produced by Emem Isong. The film explores Africa culture richly, exploring the culture of the Ibibio people of Nigeria. It is clouded with music, dance and comedy. Its stars stellar performances from Adesua Etomi, Wale Ojo, Majid Michel, Ime Bishop Umoh, Theresa Edem, Moses Armstrong and others. A loan was administered from The Bank of the Industry to fund the film.
Adela Elad is a Cameroonian movie actress, producer and philanthropist. She started her acting career in 2012 in the movie University Girls. She won the 2015 edition of African dream achiever award. As a producer, her works include Night in the grassfield under her production Mae Pictures. Her first international movie debut project was Baby Daddy with Nigerian Nollywood producer Emem Isong featuring stars like Alexx Ekubo.
The Banker is a 2015 Nigerian drama film, produced and directed by Emem Isong and Ikechukwu Onyeka respectively. The film starred Mbong Amata, Maureen Okpoko, Belinda Effah and Seun Akindele. It premiered at Civic Center, Lagos on May 16, 2015.
The Bling Lagosians is a 2019 Nigerian drama film, written by Anthony Kehinde Joseph and directed and co-produced by Bolanle Austen-Peters. It premiered on June 16, 2019, in Lagos. It stars Bunmi Aboderin, Elvina Ibru, Toyin Abraham, Tana Adelana, Osas Ighodaro, Alexx Ekubo, Ayoola Ayolola, and Jide Kosoko.
Lost in London is a 2017 Nigerian comedy film directed by Sunkanmi Adebayo and produced by Uduak Isong Oguamanam as part of the Okon franchise series. The film stars Ime Bishop Umoh, Alexx Ekubo, Ella Bates, and Khafi Kareem. It was released on 9 June 2017 and premiered on Netflix in 2019.