Renowned filmmaker, Obi Emelonye has concluded work on a new TV series, ‘Heart and Soul’, shot exclusively under The Obi Emelonye Foundation’s ‘50-50 Legacy’ project, an initiative to offer budding talents in Nigeria the opportunity to join the film business.
The new TV series, which started with a series of film workshops in Lagos, had enlisted about 100 youths in the state to take part in the filming as on-screen characters and crew members, with the aim of giving their aspirations in the industry a boost.
‘Heart and Soul’, which got the support of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, who availed the facilities at the new Critical Care Unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, highlighted in no small measure the giant strides being made by the Lagos State Government in the area of providing essential health facilities, which had hitherto prompted patients to be travelling abroad to seek medical attention.
The multiple award-winning filmmaker, explained that the project reflects a strategic partnership between The Obi Emelonye Foundation, initiators of the 50-50 Legacy project and the Lagos State Government headed by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and his team. “When my twin brother and I turned 50, we thought of how we could give back to the society in our various fields. This is the result of that line of thought. I am doing mine through television. I am interested in giving opportunity to young Nigerians to realise their dreams in the audio-visual industry. We started at Nsukka with ‘Crazy, Lovely, Cool’. For the Lagos end, we have done this TV series, ‘Heart and Soul’, which has given over 100 young Nigerians the opportunity to participate in the industry,” Emelonye said.
He added, “It is usually difficult for the young ones to get that first opportunity. That is what we are providing. Incidentally, the Lagos State Government saw the vision and collaborated with us by giving us access to the Critical Care Unit of LASUTH, which I must say, is a state-of-the-art facility, comparable to what you see in the developed world. I have no doubt that the TV series, which will screen on multimedia platforms across the world, will highlight the fact that these facilities are now available in Nigeria. Someone needs to tell Nigerians this, so we conserve the foreign exchange spent on medical tourism. I am impressed by the facilities I saw there.”
‘Heart and Soul’, filled with intrigues and suspense, is a typical medical drama comparable to ER, Grey’s Anatomy and Scrubs and has star actor, Anthony Monjaro playing the lead alongside several new but talented acts selected after the trainings and auditions in Lagos.
It will be available to global audiences on television (Africa Magic, Kwese TV, TRACE TV) as well as Netflix when it starts airing soon.