Encomium
When Love Happens premiered on Thursday, October 16, 2014. It’s a high art and glossy romantic comedy featuring Nigerian super stars, Desmond Elliot, OC Ukeje, Keppy Ekpeyong, Beverly Naya, Wale Ojo, Weruche R. Opia, Oreka Godis, Gideon Okeke, Shaffy Bello, Bukky Wright, Helen Paul, Blossom Chukwujekwu, K.C. Ejelonu amongst others.
According to the director, Seyi Babatope, When Love Happens has become a tour de force and one of the hottest, most anticipated films of the year.
ENCOMIUM Weekly spoke with some of the cast and crew…
‘Production value is very important’ – Producer, Moses Babatope
What have you been up to?
I have been working hard trying to do my little best to support the industry and that is what we are here for.
What inspired the movie, When Love happens?
It’s an amazing project. We are excited about the prospects. If you know our background, you will know that we work in the exhibition and distribution space. It is easy to stand outside and criticize. If you want to see any progress, you have to take a risk and that was why we decided to make this.
What do you intend to achieve?
What we want to achieve is very simple because we work on exhibition, entertainment value has to be there, the cinematic experience is felt which is very good for us and obviously financial breakthrough.
What is the different between this movie and others in the cinemas?
We are not trying to say that we can do better than anyone but we are trying to do it the way it ought to be done. When you have a script, make sure you do justice to it.
What do you think makes a movie first class?
Casting analysis is very important. You have to use the most valuable and marketable cats. You have to use the necessary tools, production value is also very important, the duration of the film and it should be well acted.
During the production, what was the experience?
The experience was challenging, exciting and fascinating. A lot of lessons to learn, it was fun.
‘Love is a universal language’ – OC Ukeje
Okechukwu, an actor that has been in the mainstream of the acting community played the role of Dare, a spoiled rich kid. Here he speaks about his role in the flick and more.
Can you tell us about the movie, When Love Happens?
It is a story of a young girl, who is searching for love. The dynamics involved is either identifying love in a relationship that has been exciting or identifying it with a relationship that is not exactly good for her.
What role did you play?
I played Dare, a spoilt rich kid, used to having women, having his way with everything, he messes up the opportunity to listen to those women with him simply because of the kind of person that he is, always getting into trouble. He messes up the entire dynamics of his relationship.
How did you get the script for the movie?
The director is a personal friend of mine and we have been working together for long. He called to say he wanted to start something different and that is it.
What was the experience like on the set?
It was nice and I had fun. It was good to work with good people.
‘It was fun’ – Beverly Naya
Beverly played the role of Jennifer in the movie. She was at the premiere.
How was the experience working with other members of the cast?
It was great and exciting. I really enjoyed working with them. They are talented, professional and supportive. I always enjoy working with them. It has been a great experience.
What makes the character you played different from other ones you have played in the past?
It is very different because I haven’t played a character that is pretentious. It was fun because there was something in me I never knew I had and I have never played a funny character.
How financially rewarding is it?
It really depends on what you are after. I am comfortable and I am happy with what I am doing, too.
What are you working on now?
I am working on so many things. I have many premieres this year and next year as well. I am shooting a new project in November. I am also working on film production.
