Prodi-G concepts inaugurates cinema to promote, document Edo history

Prodi-G Concepts, an independent television production company, has inaugurated the Edo Cinema Project in Benin City with the screening of four short films by Edo filmmakers at the Nosona Studios Art Gallery.

The event, chaired by the Edo State Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Mr. Osaze Osemwegie-Ero, had members of Edo Development Organisation and other prominent citizens of the state in attendance.

Speaking at the screening, Director, Prodi-G Concepts, Ms. Adesuwa Osawe, said, “Edo Cinema aims to encourage the youths to apply their skills to telling Edo historical stories in order to document and archive the people’s culture. As a part of this project, we will be having monthly screening and assessment of selected short films from across the state, with a view of elevating their skills to a level where they can be trusted with commissions to produce researched Edo historical stories.

“In addition to documenting the history and culture of our people, the Edo Cinema project will work with Edo Jobs to encourage creativity, productivity and entrepreneurship as participants will have opportunity to learn about the business of film production from quarterly trainings and workshops where industry veterans will cover areas of cinematography, lighting, make up for film, sound, scoring for film, acting, script writing, directing and producing,” she added.

In his opening remarks, Osemwegie-Ero commended Adesuwa for putting this together. “This is great! With the collaboration of individuals and organisations and the governor’s vision, arts and culture is now the face of the government. This is just the beginning for something like this,” he said.

Founder and Chairman of the Edo Development Organisation (E.D.O.), Mr. Oswald Osaretin Guobadia, lauded the initiative, saying, “it presents an excellent platform for Edo indigenes to showcase their raw talent. Phase 2 of Edo Cinema will give additional training and tools to fine tune the output.”