First Bank rewards FirstStars Reality TV Show winners

By Ifeanyi Onuoha

First Bank Nigeria Plc in line with its corporate social responsibility initiative and in partnership with EbonyLife TV on Wednesday December, 14 2016 has announced first-ever winners of FirstStars Reality TV Show conducted under a bootcamp for 6 weeks running, held at FilmHouse IMAX Cinema, Lekki with two teams emerging as finalists among several.

Under a ballot voting process to choose the best among the two finalists by panel of judges, Team ‘SISTERLY’ directed by Essang Solomon emerged winners, rewarded with N5 million cash prize while Team ‘IT TAKES 5’, directed by Preere Opuofoni, came second with a Runner-up prize of  N1, million and other consolation prizes.

Speaking at the prize giving ceremony, Deputy Managing Director of First Bank Nigeria, Gbenga Shobo said; “This is one way First Bank of Nigeria is contributing to the development of creative industry in Nigeria. Things like this are done in other countries of the world and we believe it should also be done here to help our young talents develop their skills in theatre and film productions.”

FirstStars Reality Show is the first of its kind sponsored by First Bank Nigeria Plc. It is a competitive reality show that affords Nigerian youths an opportunity to project creative skills in five key categories: directing, producing, art directing, script writing and acting had 25 filmmakers go through a filmmaking ‘Bootcamp’. This comprises several tasks including creating a short ‘made for TV’ films of average 60 minutes each with minimal technical supervision and an original advert for First Bank.

The contestants, during the filmmaking bootcamp, were guided by film Director, Walt Banger and film producers, Tolu Ajayi and Tosin Otudeko, Art director – Theo Lawson and Nigerian Actors – Iretiola Doyle and Deyemi Okanlawon, through a series of exciting creative challenges as well as a string of tense and teary eliminations.

The highly applauded movies got voted for and was witnessed by the judges that comprises the Deputy Managing Director of First Bank Nigeria, Gbenga Shobo; Chief Executive Officer, EbonyLife TV, Mo Abudu, Head, Marketing & Corporate Communication, First Bank, Folake Ani-Mumuney’ Commercial Director, EbonyLife TV, Uzor Onwuchekwa, Head, Brand Management, First Bank Plc, Bukie Oluyadi, Producers, Tolu Ajayi and Tosin Otudeko, among others.

There were also celebrity appearances by EbonyLife TV CEO, Mo Abudu and Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde. The Films will air on EbonyLife TV from January 2018.