We often complain in Nigeria, particularly in the entertainment circles that Lagos gets all the love and attention. It’s unsaid but in music scenes, failing to attract a following in Lagos is often considered failure to succeed regardless of the ears garnered from all over the rest of the country.
When a Nollywood crew made their way to Bauchi recently, they earned immense support from the Bauchi State Governor that could lead to us seeing way more creative content coming out of the state in the coming months and years.
In the story shared by Editi Effiong, he details how Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar extended his resources, networks and funds to ensure the comfort and opening of doors for the crew of Anakle Film’s upcoming movie, Up North The Film.
Clearly Governor Abubakar understands the importance of warming up to and embracing the emerging creative circle in Nigeria and with more people in the Government with such attitudes, the worlds of film, music, art and the like could boom.
Read the full story via Editi Effiong’s tweets below.
So this happened. The governor of Bauchi (@GovMAA) was on set to support #UpNorthTheFilm, but that’s not the story. pic.twitter.com/D6VcRVDqiz
— Editi Effiòng (@EditiEffiong) June 22, 2018
Over the next couple of weeks, the governor called at least once a week to check how preps went, and assigned an officer to help us get the access we needed.
It turned out every hotel in Bauchi was booked out for half the time we were going to be here, so offered us Yankari!
— Editi Effiòng (@EditiEffiong) June 22, 2018
We arrived in Bauchi just after the governor had left for Umrah in Saudi Arabia, which meant some of the instructions he left behind would fall through administrative cracks.
So he would check in every 2-3 days to ensure things were going well, and fix any problems we had.
— Editi Effiòng (@EditiEffiong) June 22, 2018
On the second week, we had this scene that required our hero’s dad to arrive Bauchi in a convoy. Since Bauchi isn’t Lagos, finding the cars for a convoy meant we had to get cars from Abuja.
Governor said nope, and sent us his own convoy. No joke. With escorts, sirens etc.
— Editi Effiòng (@EditiEffiong) June 22, 2018
Rewind – about the time we started pre-production, the governor asked if he could read the script.
When he saw we needed to show a Durbar, he introduced me to the emir, and got us permission to shoot at the emir’s palace.
So we have the real emir of Bauchi in #UpNorthTheFilm
— Editi Effiòng (@EditiEffiong) June 22, 2018
Then he asked if he can audition to play the governor in the film (we had a governor character). I objected, but the director said we should give him a shot.
That’s how come we have a sitting governor playing a role in #UpNorthTheFilm pic.twitter.com/034rVjbGEJ
— Editi Effiòng (@EditiEffiong) June 22, 2018
When I asked @GovMAA why he’s so invested in the film, he said “I’m trying to diversify my state economy, and I’ve been begging Nollywood people to come and make films here. I have to support you guys, so you can go tell others. Also, you’re employing a lot of Bauchi people.” pic.twitter.com/peaCZ2qvh8
— Editi Effiòng (@EditiEffiong) June 22, 2018
On why he wanted the role in the film “You know, some parents think people who work in film and entertainment are bad people. If I am in a film, it will set an example and encourage the young people who want to go into film as a career”.
Couldn’t fault the logic.
— Editi Effiòng (@EditiEffiong) June 22, 2018
On film sets, actors tend to forget they’re miked and gossip. The sound guy hears everything.
So while waiting for setup, the Governor was telling his commissioners “Do you know what this film could do for our state, our whole economy could be transformed.”
— Editi Effiòng (@EditiEffiong) June 22, 2018
So the the governor and good people of Bauchi, thank you for opening your state to us, and helping us make this film.
Thank you Bauchi. pic.twitter.com/41tKZ1WbMK
— Editi Effiòng (@EditiEffiong) June 22, 2018