Acting talents across the continent would be privileged to feature in the first ever Africa Unity Film to be shot in Nigeria next year. The film, which would be shot on 35mm celluloid format is going to be the climax of the search for an African Movie Icon, all in a bid to discover fresh talents across the continent. Obed
Edukere, President GRO-BED International Entertainment,

producer of the movie told journalists in Lagos recently that the movie, which is going to tell an African story will be premiered in Lagos and other participating countries before it is exhibited abroad. As a result, GRO-BED has started calling for short stories that will later metamorphosed into a film script. The film, the president disclosed will be shot in English, French and other major African languages.

Already, 24 countries across Africa have expressed their intentions to participate in the movie icon search that will produce artistes for the unity movie. According to the organizer, the overall winner of the contest will get a film contract worth over $50,000 with ten other participants securing acting contracts, alongside other benefits.

On the mode of selections, the president explained, "selections will be made first, through a zonal search in each of the participating countries. At the end of the exercise, two finalists, representing each country would emerge. Following the first round of selections, Edukere further disclosed the 48 contestants would later converge in Lagos where they will undergo acting training for four weeks.

Aside from the training, the contestants will also have the opportunity to feature in short films during, where their acting skills will be judged in stages. The eventual winner, Edukere pointed out, will be the movie icon that is going to star in the unity film. Another major feature of the four-week training session is the adaptation of the production process of the short films into a reality T.V show. According to the producer, the show which would be beamed live on television and satellite TV stations across the continent is to allow the audience appreciate what goes on behind-the-scene when shooting a movie. However, the major distinguishing feature of the forthcoming reality show, Daily Sun learnt, is that, unlike many other continental reality shows in which contestants are evicted, or eliminated, all the participants will be part of the event throughout its duration.

GRO-BED is already calling for entries into the competition. Its Vice President, Joe Njiki explained that the entry is done by visiting GRO-BED website www.africamovieicon.org. After that, the candidate can download an entry form, complete and later submit to a designated bank after paying a registration fee of N3,000.

The producer also stated that Africa Movie Icon would showcase the talents of scriptwriters, directors, cameramen, set designers and other professionals involved in filmmaking. On the economic benefits of the competition, the project's international coordinator, Barrister Chigozie Enwereuzo, said that apart from boosting Nigerian's film industry, and her tourism potentials, the project seeks to strengthen cultural and socio-economic ties among African nations in the spirit of NEPAD (National Economic Empowerment for Africa Development).

During the four weeks of camping in Lagos, GRO-BED told journalists that it would provide the services of interpreters in order to forestall a possible break-down in communication among artistes.