According to the rumour making the rounds,actress genevieve nnaji was reportedly fired from a movie set'Tulip'after being paid over a hundred thousand dollars to star in it.the rumour making the round indicate that the actress made herself unavivlable to the producers and then was rude when she was eventually contacted thus leading to her bring'fired'from the set.this is the story being pedalled all over the internet.
''Genevieve's pay for the role was a whopping $110,00 US dollars. Not long did Miss Genevieve Nnaji begin making obscene demands including a request to fly to the US with her assistant. Well the American producers complied with much anger from Ghana's finest
actress Akofa. Reports also indicates that Genevieve's demands got out of hand so much that she had to be fired. This apparently led to insults on the American producers by Genevieve.
For two months after she was booked she just wouldn't return or answer their calls, when they expressed concern, thats when Gevevieve took it upon herself to bash/insult them. Production has now slowed due to the fact that they have to find another actress to replace Genevieve. The informer said that some Nigerian directors have succeeded in convincing the American producers not to sue Genevieve and for the
sake of the movie, they have also let go. ''
we contacted genevieve to hear her own side of the story and this is her response to our questions.
1..what is this 'tulip'story being circulated and what actually happened?we hear you made demands to take your P.A with you amongst
other demands.
.....a Ghanian LADY called Leila Djansi living in America set up company and decideD to shoot a movie.she Approached me and I told her to send the script.she did and I liked the role.i told her I would be interested based on contract negotiations and rest of cast.she got back to me and i was Informed that i would be acting alongside Kimberly Elise and some up and
coming Ghanaian actors. I made no demands whatsoever. I was told that a Ghanaian would be my P.A while shooting in some village in Ghana and I said no, I already had one and I would even be willing to pay her ticket to Ghana but I will not use a stranger. There
was no trip to America mentioned until allegedly October so I could never have demanded to take my P.A along although I want to state
that if I felt like it, I would have requested it. Afterall, when we bring foreign acts over here we allow them to come with nutritionist, P.A and whoever else they choose to bring. So, this is the first lie, "demands" were not the problem.
I was asked to forward recent pictures for their promo campaign, measurement details and address to send contract to in Nigeria so I
could read and give final approval. I did both those things. What did I get in return?
Leila Djansi who is the so called producer of this movie,began stalking me with phone calls about how Ghanians are angry she hired a Nigerian actress. How people were telling her I am a snob and so on. Discussions were had and we concluded this is normal ,that there
will always be haters and I am used to it, but I am professional so I was not interested in idle gossip, I wanted to see the contract
and the final script because she said they were changing it around to enlarge a role for Van Vicker whom she said had called her to beg for a role in the movie even though she didnt think he could act.she said Ghanians were piling pressure on her to have a Ghanian star in the movie.
....2 were you fired from this movie or you left of your own?
i lost interest because she now seemed like the regular African in the Diaspora who wanted to shoot a movie and some of them even
approach without a script and think just because they are based in the States, Nigerian acts should jump up and kiss ass.Leila started hounding me with calls. I was working on set one day and when I came off, I had 22 missed calls from her within an hour.
I was tired of talking to someone who wanted to trade gossip and be my "friend" rather than talk about the movie or the contract which she still hadn't sent via post. I had been through this many times and even shot a movie with one of such unprofesional people who
were unable to distinguish between business and pleasure and lack any atom of professionalism. I do not work like that and i didnt want that to repeat itself.
3..so what did you do?
....I stopped taking her calls and insisted that we communicate via email until she had sent the final script. She also sent me an sms stating she was changing dates because she was finishing another production. I replied that they should inform me with enough time and
forward all other informations to my email box and the contract through the address I had given her. This was not good enough for her. She insisted on speaking with me on the phone and when I refused,she lost it and things degenerated to where they are now.
She then, sent an email claiming she needed convincing so she could convince her commitee. I told her that she had sent me an email stating categorically that I was being hired because and I quote, "Unlike other african actors, you are natural" so if she is not
convinced because I had stopped taking her calls, she should find another actress. By this time, I had sensed that this was not a credible path for me to follow.
4..what happened next?what about the money you were paid?
....This led to Leila insulting me, nollywood, nigeria, ghanawood and everyone and anyone.she told me How she is going to own 40% of Nollywood having been financed by a Nigerian bank,How she has witnesses she will roll out to show that Genevieve has a bad reputation,
How she is severing the contract and all that but There was no contract. How can you terminate a contract that did not exist in the first place? She never paid me 1kobo let alone 1 dollar so where is the consideration that makes a contract? She said derogatory things and I quote.."A bit of advice, nobody, in Hollywood gives a damn about your Nigerian orGhanaian film industry, you are the only people who glory in your inferior work. You really think someone here will sit through an hour and half of pure torture of the same freaky music playing over the movie and the screaming,and the tantrums? you really think I want anyone here to think Africans are crazy?"thats what she told me.There are so many other derogatory things she said that led me to believe I was not dealing with a professional. Look, if Hollywood
ever wants to acknowledge Nigerian actors, they know where to find us just like they found the Bollywood stars. In the mean time, as I have said for years, I am not desperate for Hollywood. I am an actress, I want to act in the best stories and in the best produced
movies with thorough professionals. If a true Hollywood studio offers me a movie, they will approach as the true professionals they are and I will respond as I always have, like a professional...but if fans based in America, choose to shoot a movie and think because
they are based in America I should abandon all my work ethics and policies that have kept me where I am for over 10 years and will continue to keep me at the top of my profession, then they must be deluded and I told Ms Djansi that along with informing her that
Nollywood is african made and we are proud and if we had half the resources or time that hollywood actors have, we would be just as good if not better. That is my opinion. ( I have no problem working with independents. In fact I love it, but they must be genuine)
5..but arent they threatening to sue you ?
...I have been waiting for this court case she threatened because I made sure she was aware she had no case but she clearly needs my attention and I told her to move on with her life but if she wants to go to court, I am ready. Now, she is involving herself in
internet propaganda. which I find laughable. No official of the AGN has contacted me and why would they because of rumours on the internet? Genevieve has been in this business too long to be worried about such things. Like I told leila, many have come and tried
and they have failed. My career in the name of God will continue to soar and there is nothing she and her fellow idle minds can do about it.i am an actress. If you want me in your movie, you approach me. If I like your script and other things fall into place such as fee, my
fellow cast etc etc, we have a deal. I am an actress,. The story drives me. My character drives me. I don't care if we are shooting in Enugu or Switzerland. I don't know if other Nigerian acts allow these people abroad to get away with disrespectful and shoddy approaches but I have worked too hard to not be afforded the same respect they would afford the hollywood actresses. I did not beg for a role in her movie. She approached me, so I don't know why she expected me to treat her like someone coming to save nollywood from mediocrity. many like her have come and said the same, now they do nothing but reside here begging for actresses to manage and spreading rumours about actresses and actors that they can not afford and are way above anything they can ever do .
6..there is always one rumour or the other attached to the name genevieve nnaji.why is this?
...This will not be the 1st or last rumour about me. It is a hazard of the occupation. those who want to eat and sleep with it for however long are welcome to it. I on the other hand, am busy doing what I love best, acting, being creative and living my life, and thats what no one can take away from me!
''Genevieve's pay for the role was a whopping $110,00 US dollars. Not long did Miss Genevieve Nnaji begin making obscene demands including a request to fly to the US with her assistant. Well the American producers complied with much anger from Ghana's finest
actress Akofa. Reports also indicates that Genevieve's demands got out of hand so much that she had to be fired. This apparently led to insults on the American producers by Genevieve.
For two months after she was booked she just wouldn't return or answer their calls, when they expressed concern, thats when Gevevieve took it upon herself to bash/insult them. Production has now slowed due to the fact that they have to find another actress to replace Genevieve. The informer said that some Nigerian directors have succeeded in convincing the American producers not to sue Genevieve and for the
sake of the movie, they have also let go. ''
we contacted genevieve to hear her own side of the story and this is her response to our questions.
1..what is this 'tulip'story being circulated and what actually happened?we hear you made demands to take your P.A with you amongst
other demands.
.....a Ghanian LADY called Leila Djansi living in America set up company and decideD to shoot a movie.she Approached me and I told her to send the script.she did and I liked the role.i told her I would be interested based on contract negotiations and rest of cast.she got back to me and i was Informed that i would be acting alongside Kimberly Elise and some up and
coming Ghanaian actors. I made no demands whatsoever. I was told that a Ghanaian would be my P.A while shooting in some village in Ghana and I said no, I already had one and I would even be willing to pay her ticket to Ghana but I will not use a stranger. There
was no trip to America mentioned until allegedly October so I could never have demanded to take my P.A along although I want to state
that if I felt like it, I would have requested it. Afterall, when we bring foreign acts over here we allow them to come with nutritionist, P.A and whoever else they choose to bring. So, this is the first lie, "demands" were not the problem.
I was asked to forward recent pictures for their promo campaign, measurement details and address to send contract to in Nigeria so I
could read and give final approval. I did both those things. What did I get in return?
Leila Djansi who is the so called producer of this movie,began stalking me with phone calls about how Ghanians are angry she hired a Nigerian actress. How people were telling her I am a snob and so on. Discussions were had and we concluded this is normal ,that there
will always be haters and I am used to it, but I am professional so I was not interested in idle gossip, I wanted to see the contract
and the final script because she said they were changing it around to enlarge a role for Van Vicker whom she said had called her to beg for a role in the movie even though she didnt think he could act.she said Ghanians were piling pressure on her to have a Ghanian star in the movie.
....2 were you fired from this movie or you left of your own?
i lost interest because she now seemed like the regular African in the Diaspora who wanted to shoot a movie and some of them even
approach without a script and think just because they are based in the States, Nigerian acts should jump up and kiss ass.Leila started hounding me with calls. I was working on set one day and when I came off, I had 22 missed calls from her within an hour.
I was tired of talking to someone who wanted to trade gossip and be my "friend" rather than talk about the movie or the contract which she still hadn't sent via post. I had been through this many times and even shot a movie with one of such unprofesional people who
were unable to distinguish between business and pleasure and lack any atom of professionalism. I do not work like that and i didnt want that to repeat itself.
3..so what did you do?
....I stopped taking her calls and insisted that we communicate via email until she had sent the final script. She also sent me an sms stating she was changing dates because she was finishing another production. I replied that they should inform me with enough time and
forward all other informations to my email box and the contract through the address I had given her. This was not good enough for her. She insisted on speaking with me on the phone and when I refused,she lost it and things degenerated to where they are now.
She then, sent an email claiming she needed convincing so she could convince her commitee. I told her that she had sent me an email stating categorically that I was being hired because and I quote, "Unlike other african actors, you are natural" so if she is not
convinced because I had stopped taking her calls, she should find another actress. By this time, I had sensed that this was not a credible path for me to follow.
4..what happened next?what about the money you were paid?
....This led to Leila insulting me, nollywood, nigeria, ghanawood and everyone and anyone.she told me How she is going to own 40% of Nollywood having been financed by a Nigerian bank,How she has witnesses she will roll out to show that Genevieve has a bad reputation,
How she is severing the contract and all that but There was no contract. How can you terminate a contract that did not exist in the first place? She never paid me 1kobo let alone 1 dollar so where is the consideration that makes a contract? She said derogatory things and I quote.."A bit of advice, nobody, in Hollywood gives a damn about your Nigerian orGhanaian film industry, you are the only people who glory in your inferior work. You really think someone here will sit through an hour and half of pure torture of the same freaky music playing over the movie and the screaming,and the tantrums? you really think I want anyone here to think Africans are crazy?"thats what she told me.There are so many other derogatory things she said that led me to believe I was not dealing with a professional. Look, if Hollywood
ever wants to acknowledge Nigerian actors, they know where to find us just like they found the Bollywood stars. In the mean time, as I have said for years, I am not desperate for Hollywood. I am an actress, I want to act in the best stories and in the best produced
movies with thorough professionals. If a true Hollywood studio offers me a movie, they will approach as the true professionals they are and I will respond as I always have, like a professional...but if fans based in America, choose to shoot a movie and think because
they are based in America I should abandon all my work ethics and policies that have kept me where I am for over 10 years and will continue to keep me at the top of my profession, then they must be deluded and I told Ms Djansi that along with informing her that
Nollywood is african made and we are proud and if we had half the resources or time that hollywood actors have, we would be just as good if not better. That is my opinion. ( I have no problem working with independents. In fact I love it, but they must be genuine)
5..but arent they threatening to sue you ?
...I have been waiting for this court case she threatened because I made sure she was aware she had no case but she clearly needs my attention and I told her to move on with her life but if she wants to go to court, I am ready. Now, she is involving herself in
internet propaganda. which I find laughable. No official of the AGN has contacted me and why would they because of rumours on the internet? Genevieve has been in this business too long to be worried about such things. Like I told leila, many have come and tried
and they have failed. My career in the name of God will continue to soar and there is nothing she and her fellow idle minds can do about it.i am an actress. If you want me in your movie, you approach me. If I like your script and other things fall into place such as fee, my
fellow cast etc etc, we have a deal. I am an actress,. The story drives me. My character drives me. I don't care if we are shooting in Enugu or Switzerland. I don't know if other Nigerian acts allow these people abroad to get away with disrespectful and shoddy approaches but I have worked too hard to not be afforded the same respect they would afford the hollywood actresses. I did not beg for a role in her movie. She approached me, so I don't know why she expected me to treat her like someone coming to save nollywood from mediocrity. many like her have come and said the same, now they do nothing but reside here begging for actresses to manage and spreading rumours about actresses and actors that they can not afford and are way above anything they can ever do .
6..there is always one rumour or the other attached to the name genevieve nnaji.why is this?
...This will not be the 1st or last rumour about me. It is a hazard of the occupation. those who want to eat and sleep with it for however long are welcome to it. I on the other hand, am busy doing what I love best, acting, being creative and living my life, and thats what no one can take away from me!
17 comments:
Ma'am,
Name is Lindsey Moore and I am tracking you via your name Stella Dimoko Korkus, this stemmed from an article on some websites about My client Leila Djansi and Ms. Genevieve Nnaji.
I am requesting that you either get this article down, or you find out the other side of the story and publish like a journalist instead of publishing these unsavory remarks about my client on the internet. Please be advised that if this is not done, your blog will be come evidence in the case of defamation filed by my client against Ms. Nnaji.
Ms. Nnaji has made untruthful statements in this article about my client and about Mr. van Vicker.
Ms. Korkus, it will be best for all parties if you either edit content or take down this article. Please reach me via email.
Sincerely,
Lindsey Moore Esq.
ld_moore@hunterandmaclean.com
Genevieve ......
Genevieve ......
which kin blog is this? how come I have never been here. Are these stories true or are u just making them up.
hmm na wah....Mr or Mrs Lindsey, no be only esquire. Esquire ko, Ebony magazine nii..... Dey here dey blow grammar. Sue her now if its a crime.
Mrs Esquire,
And Genenvieve is supposed to be shaking because you are threatening lawsuit. Bring it on, truth is a defense to defamation lawsuit. Methinks, MY GIRL gene is saying the truth. I like her confidence as she is not moved by hollywood. YOu go Gene baby and don't worry, we have your back.
Lindsey, you should be focused on your website, not empty internet threats.
You dey mind the esquire woman. What law school did she go to again? I must have missed it cos if she indeed went to law school she wouldn't be saying this crap. Im never halla. What law firm is that sef, the email says hunter and macleans? In short let me do my research, I'll be back.......
Tulips Allegations, Production Office responds from the Ghana.
These answers were compiled by the publicist of the project Tulips, Esther Lafontant
Q. Did you ever hire Genevieve Nnaji for a role in your upcoming film Tulips?
P.O. We did, upon a recommendation from the original star of the film the adorable Chioma Chukwuka.
Q. under what process?
P.O. Genevieve was sent an official offer, she responded and asked us to work with her Manager, Debra. The executive producer Leila Djansi negotiated all the necessary clauses in the offer with Debra and they officially responded thus making the offer firm and pending a signed contract after Ms. Nnaji submits the tax information forms sent out to her and also had creative discussions with the director; discussions that needed to be addressed in the Talent Agreement. (Contract)
Q. it sounds like things were moving smoothly. What went wrong?
P.O. The director, Ms. Djansi could not get in touch with Ms. Nnaji for the said creative discussions on the script. Now these were needed because Tulips is under bond from a completion bond house and we, the producers were under strict obligations to present our distributors and bond company reports on cast, crew, permits etc. Mind you, this is an American production company, an American distributor and an American bond company. Africa is not a familiar territory for them because they do not have any co-production treaties with East and West Africa, excluding Senegal.
We also asked for Ms. Nnaji’s demo reel but Debra gave us a list of movies and told us to go to a website called videoonline Nigeria and watch Nnaji’s films there. That was wrong, but Ms. Djansi bought a lot of Genevieve’s movies herself and even cut a demo reel which she sent to the bond company. In fact, Thelma Nwosu, another cast member was the one who got in touch with Genevieve to get her measurements for the costume department. Genevieve claimed she had launched a clothing line and was too busy to email her measurements?
Everyone in the production office tried to reach Ms. Nnaji but she failed to return calls or messages left on her phone. The director then sent a brief email for them to get in touch with her to negotiate creative terms of the contract, Miss Debra gave a flimsy excuse of her two phone lines being out of order for about two weeks and the Director decided to take another creative step by booking another actress.
Q. she never tried to make friends with Ms. Nnaji?
P.O. Oh come on… friends over the phone? Anyways, a director and an actress must establish a certain rapport to work together, Ms. Djansi is a super friendly person and is always looking to make a joke or try to make things light and easy. She has never been uptight with anyone, if Genevieve mistakes Ms. Djansi’s free spirit as an attempt to become best friends…well, she read wrong. She could not have anyways; she only spoke to the woman twice…briefly. Most of the long discussions were with Debra, her manager.
Q. about Van Vicker.
P.O. That’s the painful part for us all. We love Van. Debra needed the additional cast information for Ms. Nnaji, she was told Van was in the cast and she is reported to have said Van Vicker was bad actor, and asked Ms. Djansi to watch a movie he made with Geneveive and how Genevieve said he was cool but a stiff actor. Please, if Ms. Djansi thinks Van Vicker is a bad actor, she will not have him as part of the cast. She never told Ms. Nnaji or Debra that the script was being expanded for Van. That is a very bad lie.
Q. any other notions you want to dispel?
PO. Yes. Debra and Ms. Nnaji jointly altered a mass email Ms. Djansi sent to all the cast and worded it her own way to make Leila look bad. There was never any time that Ms. Djansi said “unlike other African actors, you are natural” that’s a very bad press move on Nnaji’s side.
Why then is Ms. Djansi working with other African actors if she thinks they are not natural? Knowing her well, if she thought so, she’d have brought all the actors from America. In fact, Ms. Djansi told Genevieve that she finds her to be a very emotionally withdrawn actress and requested to know the problems she has with her scripts and directors that makes her so peripheral, or if she wore contacts, as they make your eyes cold on camera. But then she also added that she was probably bored with the scripts she gets as her older works were more appealing than the recent ones.
Now Ms. Nnaji claiming she is so professional should have politely told us to go kick rocks if she felt that the production was not “up to her standards”. Even if we was called 22 times, which we did not, what stops a polite lady, from sending a text message to say I am backing out of the deal? Genevieve is an angry girl. She was hoping that because Ms. Djansi is a Ghanaian, she will treat her like a goddess like she is treated in Nigeria. Well, none of the producers of this movie have the time to hero worship anyone. We give the same amount of respect to every one. Stars or extras and above the line crew or below the line crew. Same respect. Our producer, Akofa Asiedu is a living legend, we treat her normally.
Q. They said though that there was no contract?
P.O. An offer is a tentative contract, which is why we put her on our website and submitted her information to SAG. The offer was a contract enough for the period. Ms. Nnaji does not understand how the American film industry works; she has made some ignorant statements.
Q. what about the demands she made?
Well, she wanted to bring her assistant, but the production office was divided over that, partly because her assistant was also very rude to us upon the initial contact with Ms. Nnaji. But we resolved it and everything was fine. She really did not make any crazy demands. She was iffy about the Ghanaian crew and requested that make-up be brought from the US but Ms. Djansi told her she is also a make-up person, so if she, Genevieve was not comfortable with the Ghana make-up artiste, she (Leila) will do her make-up. Mind you, Robin Givens never requested a make-up team.
Q. Did Ms. Djansi insult Genevieve?
P.O. A big NO. Leila spoke to only Debra for a long time, how could Nnaji be insulted? When she got kicked off the project, she sent a letter, via Debra vehemently calling Ms. Djansi an imposter of Hollywood and someone trying to break into Hollywood. That’s crazy, Ms. Djansi is quite well known in the American film industry, a simple google search will show you that.
Ms. Djansi got very upset, when Debra sent a very nasty email to her after we terminated their offer. Debra was defending the fact that we never requested a demo reel and even if we did, she had directed us to a website to watch Genevieve’s movies. Ms. Djansi told her that there was no way she (Leila) will allow her executive team which comprises of very powerful studio bosses watch our obviously low quality Ghana and Nigerian movies. The truth is Genevieve has not been in any of the better Nollywood films, in terms of quality. Like Tade Ogidans’ or some of their very nice soap operas. She hasn’t.
Q. What about this issue of owning 40% of Nollywood?
P.O. we will be launching a venture capital initiative in the later part of 2009, if God wills it. Leila and Akofa have set up a fund to finance and distribute African movies to the world.
Q. That is wonderful
P.O. It is, thank you.
Q. any other comments?
P.O no other comments except we all need to go on the UNIFEM website and join Nicole Kidman as we vote towards a world of NO violence against women!!!
Q. than you, I will do so.
By Della Ocloo.
STELLA IS A TROUBLE MAKER!! I CAN BET ANYTHING THAT GENE DIDN'T SAY ALL THOSE THINGS! UGLY LIAR!
Stella no mind dem jare. Make I give you gossip. Genevieve and Kate Henshaw seen in-flight Virgin Atlantic Upper Class bar, drinking, chatting and laughing away. 18th July 2008. Who know wetin dem dey come find for we London. Maybe na to shoot film? Anyway, I don give you gossip for your magazine. How much you go pay me? Confirm from your sources you go see say na true. Please help us find out weda na film dem come shoot.
Maybe she still dey Tulip with Kate and Tulip say make dem come yarn with Graham Norton. Oprah ko. Oprah ni. No mind Lindsey Moore. Make dem sue. My papa say, person wey dey talk, I go sue, I go sue, no get case. Person wey go court straight, na im get case. Genevieve say she is waiting and ready. Una dey here still dey talk, I go sue, I go sue. Abeg make una leave us for dis mata. Tori don die already. Move on.
I no say Kate husband get money but how is Gene financing all the fly fly fly... hummm U no report that one lol. All those militant boys get money na
woosai! Person wey dey earn over 1m naira for one week job na small tin? She fit do two films a month still travel upperclass from her own pocket. Even if na boyfriend buy am nko? Abi you hear say she get militant boyfriend? If she get abeg fill us in but una too carry rumour wey no get leg. Na only naija na im I know say smoke dey shoot from roof yet you check the whole house you no go see fire. Even candlelight no go dey. Only in Naija. I lof ma people. Rumour mongering na we get am.
i think gene is the best thing that is happening to nollywood,she is proud of her works and wont be let down by what all haters say
i love u gene,keep doing the right thing
Lindsey. Just like the rest of them I don't believe that you're an attorney, secondly I work for paramount pictures and basically have dealt with who is who in this industry. I have never heard of Liela Djansi' name before in my life. Your so called client is not any way affiliated with Hollywood or any major hollywood studio. Just because you register and put up a production company with some pictures and hire hit wonder Robin Givens does'nt make you a Hollywood film maker. I would like to know the kind of companies Liela has work with..her film credit..real 120mns films not reels or pre-production stuff. The fact that LieLa Djansi is not any where close to Hollywood and want to use African stars to get her name out there is just great, but she should just come out to tell the truth that she not Hollywood..
abi ooo....pls live our genny for us.we lik her and hollywood wld b the one dat will run to her,good she has dignity and she is proud of her country
Gene, you go girl from your Namibian sapporter. Let the Africans do their things,and let the Americans do their thing. We are all moving with in a diffrent times frames, people need to understand that!!
GO Gene!to me you are like the Italian Sofia Loren (she is one of my best actress)
Love from Namibia
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