Friday 6 September 2013

OUR LEGEND OF THE WEEK #5

“He is not a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer, a sports man or an actor. Yet, he has proven to the whole world that when you are diligent at whatever you do, you will wine and dine with the most successful people because you are one as well!” 

We are about to reveal to you the brain behind some of the notable blockbusters in the Nigerian film industry. He is the masquerade behind the cameras of those ground-breaking movies with a second-to-none quality graphics even at a time when Nollywood was non- existent. You will definitely remember masterpieces like THUNDERBOLT MAGUN, SAWOROIDE, TI OLUWA NILE, OLEKU, THE NARROW PATH, ARUGBA, and MAAMI. But, you know what! He has never appeared on screen as an actor. Let’s meet the legendary cinematographer, movie director and producer, TUNDE KELANI.

Born in Lagos and raised in Abeokuta, T K as he is fondly called has played a central and pivotal role in Nigerian cinema. He has contributed to most of the feature films that have been made in Nigeria on celluloid in his capacity as a Cinematographer since the 70’s. He became an apprentice photographer in the Lagos studios of Dotun Okubajo from 1969 to 1970. Shortly after, he joined the newly established Western Nigerian Television as trainee cameraman and started on a career path that would lead him to being one of Africa’s most prolific filmmakers.
Tunde Kelani believes that “whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well”; he holds a Diploma in the Art and Technique of Filmmaking from the London International Film School, London. After many years in the Nigerian Film Industry as a Cinematographer, he now manages MAINFRAME FILMS & TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS, an outfit formed to document Nigeria's rich culture. He also does newsreel, shorts and documentary work for BBC world service and other international news organizations in Nigeria and Africa, including, the M-Net New Directions initiative as cinematographer, director and producer. TK has been involved in various movie productions as the cinematographer/director such as: Ireke onibudo, Efunsetan, Vigilante, Iya ni wura, Ogun Ajaye, Mosebolatan, kannakanna, Eri okan, Ti oluwa nile, Ayo ni mo fe, koseegbe, Oleku, A place called home, The White handkerchief, Twins of the rain forest, Saworoide, Thunderbolt, A barber's wisdom, Agogoeewo, The Campus queen, The Narrow path, Abeni, Arugba and Maami. TK will wow every mind once again as he is set to release a new movie on the peculiar blood genotype – Sickle cell. DAZZLING MIRAGE is the title. Don’t miss it!!!

Tunde Kelani is a recipient of numerous national and international awards. Some of these include: 2013 AMAA (African Movie Academy Awards) Lifetime achievement award; AMVCA (Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards); the prestigious 2012 Africa Reel Award at the Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF), California, USA; Heart of Africa Awards; several AMAA ‘Best Director’ and ‘Best picture’ categories amongst others.
Tunde Kelani is passing a message across to you. Can you hear him loud and clear? He’s saying this: “Do not follow the multitude, follow your heart”. Get a direction for your life and don’t regret studying that course or being in that profession/job because your future is very bright so far you can DREAM BIG and WORK HARD. Don’t be discouraged, IF YOU CAN THINK IT, YOU CAN DO IT!
                  hrfnigeria@gmail.com          @HRF_Nigeria          08148327860
 You may also like to read this: HRF Legend of the week #4, FELA DUROTOYE                 http://hrfnigeria.blogspot.com/2013/08/our-legend-of-week-4.html?=1

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