Frank Rajah Arase | |
---|---|
Born | Frank Rajah Efosa Arase Benin City |
Nationality | Nigerian |
Citizenship | Nigerian |
Occupation | Film director |
Notable work | Iyore The Legend of Inikpi Bound |
Frank Rajah Arase (born Frank Rajah Efosa Arase) is a Nigerian film director. [1] [2] [3] [4] Arase is a native of Edo State, Nigeria. [5] He was nominated for Best Director at the 4th Africa Movie Academy Awards. [6] [7]
Arase was born in Benin City, Edo, Nigeria. He grew up in Lagos where he started his film career. [8]
Arase ventured into the show business at a very young age. He started out as a theatre practitioner in Nigeria; he was a dancer for National Theatre troupe and also acted in stage plays. He met Nollywood actor and director Paul Obazele, who groomed him in the film industry. He initially was an actor, featuring in films such as Scores To Settle, After School Hours. His love for being behind the scenes drew him into directing his own films. After directing a few films in Nigeria, he agreed to direct a film for Ghana's production company, Venus Films, after turning down previous attempts made by the Company. He directed the film titled Official Prostitute in Ghana and continued to make films in Nigeria after that. [8]
Eventually, Abdul Salam Mumuni of Venus Films proposed a two-year contract to Arase, which involved introducing Ghanaian actors into the mainstream Nollywood film industry and making them have a star power comparable to Nigerian actors. Ghanaian actors that became famous through this collaboration include: Jackie Appiah, Van Vicker, Majid Michel, Nadia Buari, John Dumelo, Kalsoume Sinare and Kofi Adjorolo amongst others. The contract was extended for another two years which led to the introduction of more actors like Yvonne Nelson, Juliet Ibrahim, Frank Artus and Martha Ankomah. Films produced during this period include: Mummy’s Daughter, Beyonce, Heart of Men , The Game , Who Loves Me?, Princess Tyra, The King is Mine, Agony of Christ , Crime to Christ and many others. The films are co-produced with Arase's production company, Raj and Heroes Films. [8] After his contract with Venus Film expired, he continued with his own productions through his outfit, which has since released notable films such as Somewhere in Africa and the film Iyore . [8]
Arase is the second child of the family. He is married to a Sierra Leonean lady and his family is based in Nigeria. [8] Arase is currently based in Accra, Ghana and Lagos, Lagos State. [9] [8]
The cinema of Nigeria, often referred to informally as Nollywood, consists of films produced in Nigeria; its history dates back to as early as the late 19th century and into the colonial era in the early 20th century. The history and development of the Nigerian motion picture industry is sometimes generally classified in four main eras: the Colonial era, Golden Age era, Video film era and the emerging New Nigerian cinema era.
Joseph van Vicker, better known as Van Vicker, is a Ghanaian actor, movie director and humanitarian. He is the chief executive officer of Sky + Orange production, a film production house. Van Vicker received two nominations for "Best Actor in a Leading Role" and "Best Upcoming Actor" at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2008.
Jackie Appiah is a Canadian-born Ghanaian actress. For her work as an actress, she has received several awards and nominations, including the awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 2010 Africa Movie Academy Awards; and Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2007. She received two nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role and Best Upcoming Actress at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2008. Glitz Africa Honors Her with Excellence in Creative Art Award at Ghana Women of the Year Honors 2023. She is a movie producer, fashion model and a humanitarian.
Nadia Buari is a Ghanaian actress. She received two nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2009.
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.
Okawa Shaznay is a Nollywood actress from Cameroon and the first from her country to successfully break into Nollywood with her role in the blockbuster movie Iyore; starring alongside Rita Dominic and Joseph Benjamin. Okawa Shaznay has also gained more prominence with her leading role in the 2016 hit TV series Delilah: The Mysterious Case of Delilah Ambrose. She won the Exquisite Lady of the Year (ELOY) award for TV Actress of the year in 2016 for her role in Delilah.
Princess Tyra is a 2007 Ghanaian Nigerian drama film directed by Frank Rajah Arase, and starring Jackie Aygemang, Van Vicker & Yvonne Nelson. The film received 12 nominations and won 2 awards at the 2008 Africa Movie Academy Awards, including the awards for Best Costume & Best Makeup.
Somewhere in Africa: The Cries of humanity is a 2011 Ghanaian drama film directed by Frank Rajah Arase, starring Majid Michel, Martha Ankomah and Kofi Adjorlolo. It received 7 nominations at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards including categories: Best Actor in a Leading Role, Achievement in Soundtrack, Achievement in Visual effects and Achievement in Make-Up. Majid Michel was the recipient of the film's only award.
Heart of Men is a 2009 Ghanaian Nigerian thriller film produced & directed by Frank Rajah Arase, and starring Majid Michel, John Dumelo, Prince David Osei and Yvonne Nelson. It received five nominations at the 6th Africa Movie Academy Awards.
The Game is a 2010 Ghanaian Nigerian thriller film directed by Frank Rajah Arase, starring Majid Michel, Yvonne Okoro and Yvonne Nelson.
4 Play is a 2010 Nigerian Ghanaian romantic blue comedy film directed by Frank Rajah Arase, starring Majid Michel, Yvonne Okoro, John Dumelo, Jackie Appiah, Roselyn Ngissah and Juliet Ibrahim. The film is followed by a sequel titled 4Play Reloaded, released in 2011. It received 3 nominations at the 2010 Ghana Movie Awards and eventually won the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
The 2012 Ghana Movie Awards was the third edition of the ceremony to reward excellence in the Ghanaian Film Industry. The event was held at Accra International Conference Center on December 2, 2012. The nomination party took place on November 26, 2012.
Eddie Nartey is a Ghanaian actor, director, and film producer. His supporting role in Frank Rajah's Somewhere In Africa earned him a nomination at the Nollywood and African Film Critics Awardsf, and Ghana movie awards. He was nominated in the best actor category for Kiss Me If You Can., He got his first opportunity to do his directorial debut entitled Could This Be Love where he co-wrote the movie with Evelyn, which cast Actors like Majid Michel, Kwadwo Nkansah, Nana Ama Mcbrown, Fred Amugi, and Gloria Sarfo.
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.
Eddie Samuel Obong Watson Jr. is a Liberian-born Nigerian actor and producer. He received his first Ghanaian Movie Award in 2014 for his film 'Ebola' which he wrote, directed and produced.
Blossom Chukwujekwu is a Nigerian actor, who made his professional acting debut in 2009. In 2015, he won the Best Supporting Actor Award at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.
Nollywood, a portmanteau of Nigeria and Hollywood, is a sobriquet that originally referred to the Nigerian film industry. The origin of the term goes back to the early 2000s, traced to an article in The New York Times. Due to the history of evolving meanings and contexts, there is no clear or agreed-upon definition for the term, which has made it a subject of several controversies.
Cinema of Ghana also known as the Ghana Film Industry nicknamed Ghallywood, began when early film making was first introduced to the British colony of Gold Coast in 1923. At the time only affluent people could see the films, especially the colonial master of Gold Coast. In the 1950s, film making in Ghana began to increase. Cinemas were the primary venue for watching films until home video became more popular. The movie industry has no official name as yet since consultations and engagements with stakeholders has been ongoing when a petition was sent to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture which suspended the use of the name Black Star Films.
Pascal Amanfo is a Nigerian film director, based primarily in the Ghana film industry.
Agony of Christ is a 2009 Ghanaian film directed by Frank Rajah Arase.