It’s a known fact that Nollywood producers have been making magical films and always going extra mile in achieving this. These producers spend millions of naira to make these extraordinary movies. They always make sure everything is on point from the selection of casts and crew, to location, props and others. Gone are the days when producers travel far and wide just to get the best location for their movies most especially epic movies which require lots of work to depict the right settings they want in their movies. Some legendary film makers who no doubt have paid their dues in the industry and also contributed immensely to the growth and recognition of nollywood both home and abroad have taken this task upon themselves to build a film village where lots of film producers now use to produce their movies. These film villages are built in a way that every producer can easily get the setting of their stories without much stress. Besides the location, they have accommodation, strong security and good local menu, costumes and every other vital thing in place and this explains why many producers now rush to these film villages to shoot their movies. Most of the movies shot at these film villages are of cinema standard because they have all the equipment as well. City People’s Head of TV, SUNDAY ADIGUN brings you the 3 movie villages producers now rush to. Enjoy it.
KUNLE AFOLAYAN PRODUCTIONS (KAP) FILM VILLAGE AND RESORT IN OYO.
Award winning Filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan launched his Kunle Afolayan Productions (KAP) Film Village and Resort in Igbojaye, Oke Ogun, Oyo State, in 2022
KUNLE AFOLAYAN who many people refer to as Tyler Perry of Nigeria sets the ball rolling with his Film village he established in Igbojaye, Itesiwaju Local Government Area of OYO State in 2022.
The village was used for the Anikulapo series and other great productions.
KUNLE talked about his vision for the film village before it commenced operations “I think this is going to create a big relief for the generations to come, when we want to shoot films, we always go look for people’s houses, begging them and you do not have control, but with this kind of place, we can have the confidence to commence shooting at our convenient time, we can easily decide on our own about the weather and other factors, but you cannot do that if you are renting the place or if you are tied to a time from the house owner.
“We came here in November for a suitable location for a film, but on getting here, I thought about it and I felt this is just a beautiful place, if you are coming from Ibadan, get to Iseyin, leaving Iseyin and on your way here, you will hardly see mountains, rocks and valleys like you see here, when you come to Okaka till you get to Otu, you won’t find those natural ambiance, but from Igbojaye to Komu-Baba Ode, the places are surrounded with all these natural gifts that people are not taking advantage of.
“There are a lot of well known tourist destinations around the world that, as a matter of fact, do not have half of what we have here or because of how they are positioned, how they are structured and a lot of government support, they get loans and people fly there from all over the world.
“That is what we are trying to create here too, for people from Lagos, people from Abuja and other areas will come down here, you do not have to go to Obudu again if you want natural ambiance, where you are at peace with yourself, that is the bigger picture, it is not just going to be a film studio, it is also going to be a recreation center, a resort with mountain hiking, that is what we are going to sell.”
He however lamented the low availability of the workforce at the location as according to him, many youths in Itesiwaju local government have relocated to Lagos and other cities, forcing him to go as far as Ibadan to hire work hands”.
Ever since he completed the film village, it has become a great abode for many filmmakers and producers. An outstanding tourist center for all.
AFRICHATTA FILM VILLAGE & RESORT IN OYO
Since it was unveiled, the Africhatta Film Village and Resort, owned by popular actor, Ibrahim Chatta, has hosted several actors and producers.
The film village and resort is located in Oyo State, and sits on about 74 acres of land. It consists of thatched houses with drawings portraying the aesthetics of Yoruba culture, as well as a stable for horses and other animals.
The facility, which is set in a serene and picturesque location, offers a quiet atmosphere for artistic expression. It is also equipped with modern infrastructure, such as studios and state-of-the-art equipment.
Since it was opened, several filmmakers have used the facilities at the film village. A TV series, Eleran, was shot entirely in the film village, with the production team praising the facilities and support staff for enhancing their production quality. Other films that have been shot there include Oko Iyabo and Ajoje.
Also, prominent figures in the film industry, such as Deyemi Okanlawon, Muyiwa Ademola, Lateef Adedimeji, Iyabo Ojo, Adebimpe Oyebade, Toyin Abraham and Niyi Akinmolayan have made use of the location.
Recently, Abraham shot scenes for her forthcoming movie titled, Iyalode, at the film village.
On his part, Chatta stated that the village was not complete yet as several other facilities will be added.
He had said, “This is just the beginning. We are not yet done with this setup.”
In addition to being a filming location, the village also hosts several workshops and training programmes for filmmakers.
BAP FILM VILLAGE IN EPE
Award-winning film director and producer, Bolanle Austen-Peters, has unveiled her 10,000-acre BAP film village in Epe, Lagos State.
The 55year-old filmmaker, who is the founder and artistic director of BAP Productions, made this revelation in a recent post on her verified X account.
Austen-Peters disclosed that her latest Netflix film, House of GA’A, was shot at the film village.
According to her, the film village began as a large expanse of land with greenery and dense forestation before being transformed into its current state in just a few months.
She further revealed that the film village is open for commercial purposes such as recreation and film productions.
She wrote, “So many have asked where we shot House of GA’A. This is it! BAP Productions Film Village in Epe. Over 10,000 acres of land, rolling hills, huts, and other facilities. Open for biz to film makers and excursions.
This is what we started with, greenery, dense forestation, when we went the first time. Everything was just this large expanse of land and then I called Bisola. I wanted to give women a chance. She had never done anything like this before. But I saw the fire in her eyes.
“She moved in, cleared the place, and started construction. Before we knew it, in a couple of months, we had all the buildings that you see now in place. And this is where we took all these beautiful shots that you saw in the movie. This is the BAP film village.”
ASABA FILM VILLAGE IN DELTA
Asaba Film Village, nestled in the picturesque town of Asaba in Delta State, stands as a testament to Nollywood’s growth. Its infrastructure resembles a small town within a town, featuring intricately designed sets, residential quarters for actors and crew, post-production facilities, and more. The village’s layout is akin to a miniature film city, purpose-built to bring stories to life.
The choice of Asaba as a film village location is strategic. Its serene, natural surroundings on Ugbolu-Illah road provide the perfect backdrop for filmmakers, making every scene come to life with an authentic touch. Not to mention its proximity to the Niger River, further offering a diverse range of filming locations, from lush green landscapes to riverfront settings. Plus, Asaba’s accessibility, just a stone’s throw away from Onitsha and Asaba International Airport, makes it a logistical hub for Nollywood productions.
The Asaba Film Village is poised to play a pivotal role in Nollywood’s growth. Its well-equipped sets have served as the backdrop for countless blockbusters. Many productions have been found and many more will still find their homes within these walls. The efficiency and convenience promised by Asaba Film Village is allowing filmmakers to focus on storytelling without the logistical challenges that plagued earlier Nollywood productions.
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