ProNolly recently visited a film
production set in the heart of Lagos, where our crew met what could be tagged
as the happiest production crew ever. The Crew of the TV series which was
titled MARRIAGE WITHOUT BORDERS were very happy and excited about their job,
this is worthy of note because our crew had visited over a hundred production
set but this one had an invisible aura of fulfilment. Usually, the cast of film
productions got our attentions first but on the set of MARRIAGE WITHOUT
BORDERS, the crew were as colourful and entertaining as the cast. The most
unforgettable amongst them was Sumbo Alabi, the soundman, who talked restlessly
and in many languages, throughout our stay. Sometimes he mimicked an Indian,
Chinese, sometimes he would speak the Egba dialect of Ogun State. Apart from
Sumbo, there was also Jeje, a diminutive young man who was the Assistant to the
Director (Abiodun Jimoh), he was fun and funny to be with. The director on the
set was not much of a talker but his sense of humour was unequalled by anyone
around. Of course, this was very obvious from his witty dialogues in the
screenplay of MARRIAGE WITHOUT BORDERS. So, the crew was enough fun for us, we
thought we’ve seen it all, and voila! Waltzed in the two lead characters on the
set of MARRIAGE WITHOUT BORDERS, the persons of SAM UCHE ANYAMELE, a veteran
who played the role of Kelechi Ojukwu
and JUMOKE ODETOLA, the most colourful and discipline upcoming actress, who
played the role of Tinuke Ojukwu.
The duo played a couple, and the series was centred around their marriage,
challenges, adventures etc…
ProNolly found the couple very
interesting before and behind the camera. When the Production Manager, a guy
called Gbenga went to call the duo that it was time for them to shoot a
particular scene, they caught our attention the moment they arrived, arguing
behind the camera…
UCHE: You have to kiss me! Why won’t
you kiss me? You are my wife!
JUMOKE: The script says peck not
kiss
UCHE: That is not intimate, you
have to kiss me
JUMOKE: Okay, the director has
the final say
UCHE: No, before the director
even say anything you are already recoiling, why don’t you want to kiss me?
JUMOKE: Uche, can you let us
shoot this scene?
UCHE: Yes, I’m ready to shoot the
scene but you are not!
Their argument went on in that
manner, though lightly, the passion at which they exchanged the words thrilled
the entire crew of ProNolly as we saw a true chemistry of a couple who had been
married for years, differing on a topic. Eventually, when the scene was blocked
and it was time for the couple to kiss. Jumoke shocked everyone, including Uche
as she gave her husband KC (Uche) a breath-taking kiss that lasted 60 seconds
after the director had announced CUT!
Uche, the director and our crew
were left spell-bound and curious. Our crew approached Jumoke Odetola to ask
Why? Why what, she retorted. One instance you made it look like you had a
problem kissing on set and the next instance you were kissing even after the
scene had ended, we pressured. With a charming smile, she replied, I guess my
husband wanted a kiss and I gave him an unforgettable one, so he wouldn’t long
for it outside our wedlock. The joke stuck with our crew for a long time as we
all discussed Jumoke’s wits even over the phone. Just when we think the days of
Real Star revelations are over, ProNolly found a great revelation in Jumoke
Odetola, a beautiful thespian, with impeccable inflections, reactions and
delivery. Someone with the ability to interpret a simple and complex role, also
with the ability to surprise. The Diva in her is in-born and unanimously, we
concluded that Jumoke Odetola has a destiny with the film industry.
