Controversial movie producer
and director, Dickson Iroegbu
who is known for his
"astuteness" is set to cause
ripples again in the society as he
concludes plans to release his
latest movie, " Law 58" into the
market.
"Law 58" is an expository, yet
shocking movie on gay practice
and its consequences on the
traditional African society.
The producer claimed that the
movie, which stars the likes of
Kanayo. 0.Kanayo, who played
the lead character, Clarion
Chukwurah, Halima Abubakar,
Ghanaian actor, Kofi Adjorlolo,
Mark Morris Chibueze amongst
other Nollywood stars took him
over four years to produce.
Iroegbu also
disclosed
how actors
like Mike
Ezuruonye
and
Desmond
Elliot
refused to
be part of
the eyesore
movie when
he
approached
them to star
in it.
In a chat with HVP, during the
week, the light-complexioned
director, who recently staged a
comeback to the motion picture
industry after few years of
abandoning the trade, said the
movie will be released on DVD as
from next month. For him, the
movie will relaunch him into the
mainstream movie making.
Narrating how he came about
the movie, Iroegbu said "Law
58″ was the last movie he made
before he proceeded on
sabbatical few years ago.
He, however recalled how he
was once called a gay, and
accused of telling his own story
because of his decision to
produce the film, adding that by
the time the film hits the street,
the world will acknowledge
"whether I am a gay or not."
According to him, the movie
was produced between 2008
and 2009 ."When I saw the
National Assembly debate on
Gay Marriage, I thought it was
prophetic because at the time, I
produced the movie, we hadn't
engaged ourselves
constructively on how to
address the issue of gay.
"We pretended then as if it
didn't exist in our society. Not
knowing that it was gradually
eating into the fabrics of the
society."
"So, one saw it at that time and
set out to discuss it via the tube.
I may sound very judgmental
about it but I have no apologies
whatsoever. Homosexual is an
evil act that our culture and
religion as Africans prohibits,
and so, speaking against it as a
film maker is to re-echo what
my society has been saying
about the ugly practice."
"At the time, I was shooting the
movie, most of my colleagues
frowned at the project because
it was rumour then that some
of them were involved in the
act. I thought it was time to take
a stand, given the fact that I
was once called a gay ,just to
discredit my personality."
"Today, I want the society to feel
my purse differently, so that
when the film is finally released
into the market, they will be
able to reconcile it with the
Dickson Iroegbu they have
known for several years. The
world will also ascertain
whether I'm a homosexual or
not."
When asked why it took him
some time to release the movie,
Iroegbu replied, " it was as a
result of some personal issues
which I needed to address as
well as the the censors board's
refusal to certify the movie on
the ground that it dwells on an
issue that is not allowed in
Nigeria.
The board also demanded that I
should go back and re-edit the
film, which I did. It was
supposed to be a two-part film,
but they insisted that I must
reduce it to a one-part film. At
the moment, I have fulfilled all
the board's requirements and I
have given a nod to release the
film."
On starring KOK as the lead
character, the controversial
movie director expressed
sympathy for the actor. He said,
" I know how I tried to convince
him to get involved in the
movie. It took KOK some time
before he agreed to star in the
movie.
"Also, I approached actors like
Mike Ezuruonye and Desmond
Elliot, but they screamed, and
turned down the offer to star in
the movie. For whatever reason
they refused, I don't know." The
movie, according to Iroegbu,
explores a true life story.
Source: Vanguardngr.com
