Prime Video’s “Water and Garri”, featuring Tiwa Savage, debuts May 10
*Tiwa Savage has contributed a lot to creative industry to deserve our support – Nigerian Presidency
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
Prime Video is coming out with this yet another trilling movie that will leave every watcher with something of interest to pick, having done several of such work in the past.
Exclusively, entertainment guru, Prime Video, is set to launch its new movie titled “Water and Garri” today, Friday May 10, 2024, it was learned at the pre-launch press conference heralding the premiere of the movie, held at the Livespot Entertainment Centre, Lagos on Thursday May 9.
Known for its superlative and electrifying movie production since its foray into the Nigerian domain, the streaming giant – on the match again – gave some hints that pushed movie loving enthusiasts, through the premiere, to a situation that they cannot wait to have the movie fully launched for bigger, sweep experience.
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Prime Video is coming out with this yet another trilling movie that will leave every watcher with something of interest to pick, having done several of such work in the past.
This is as it exclusively moves unto the global space, “Water and Garri”, featuring award-winning Afrobeat superstar Tiwa Savage in the drama work that will be launched into the viewing market in more than 240 countries.
The DEFENDER reports that the film, from Everything Savage and Unbound Studios, also features the award-winning stars acting debuts and directed by Meji Alabi.
The drama tells the story of Aisha acted by Tiwa Savage, an ambitious fashion designer, as she returns to her native home after 10 years away in the US, following a family bereavement.
“At home, things have changed, violence has escalated and tensions have been high. As she reconnects with family, old friends, and her past love, she must learn to live with her scars and confront the guilt she left behind,” it was gathered at the pre-launch press conference on Thursday of what to expect from the movie.
According to the management, the movie was filmed in the city of Cape Coast, Ghana, the feature entails gripping cinematography and storytelling.
Directed by Meji Alabi, the must-watch “Water and Garri”, aside the lead character – Tiwa Savage – also parades other stars like Mike Afolarin, Andrew Bunting and Jemima Osunde.
The film’s executive director, Jimi Adesanya, while responding during the media question and answer session, defended the shooting of the film in Ghana away from the thought of the producers being broke but because they wanted to prove a point to the world that the place “that once brought grief has also brought love”.
He said, “We were not thinking about cutting corners. We believed that anything that is worth doing is worth doing well.”
Adesanya talked about the making of the film, the financing, saying it is also about risk taking.
He said it was mainly about the producers not wanting to go about begging people for money.
Jimi Adesanya recognised the movie’s cast for being supportive of each other and bringing the drama to life.
He also recognised Savage for her financial investments and the significance of shooting the movie at Cape Coast, Ghana. “Tiwa bought a house in London before the film. She basically put some of her mortgage in funding the film project.”
Adesanya noted the fictional set of the movie is a representation of West African unity.
While addressing the location, Adesanya said, “That was a beautiful way for us to make our mark: the Cape Coast which also signifies the door of no return – some of our black brothers and sisters were taken away from us to another part of the world many decades ago.”
According to Prime Video and some of other cast that took part in the making of the film, while speaking at the event, “Water and Garri” is deep, warm and exciting kind of movie, a substance, they said, has not been seen as it comes with a lot for viewers to feel the many areas of excitements and emotional connects that bring full enjoyment to the mind.
Talking about the inspiration behind the movie, Tiwa Savage said she wants to inspire people with her debut, “Garri and Water” movie, for them to try their hands at different things and execute them excellently.
Savage said she always dreamt of being an actress and referred to film and acting as “always been my first love.”
The singer-songwriter, at Thursday press conference for the movie, said she wants to encourage different talents to not have to stick to one thing.
“You can do more than one thing and execute it excellently,” she said.
The executive producer, Vanessa Amadi Ogbonna, also shared Savage’s thoughts on excellence as she pointed to the power of the women characters to navigate life as the most fascinating part of the movie for her.
The “Water and Garri” director, Meji Alabi, addressed the antithesis of the movie which seems to pop up right from the title.
Alabi said, “When we were creating it (Water and Garri), we weren’t thinking about balance. We were thinking about telling the story in an exciting and relatable way.”
Savage continued on the matter of topical and thematic contractions and surmarrised that, “Life is never black-and-white. There are ups and downs. It (Water and Garri) has a global message and it has resonated with both African Americans and people that are not of African descent.”
She said “Water and Garri” is a powerful movie “in which we are able to tell our African story. It is about lice, it is about betrayal, it is about excitement and I think you need to watch the film to be able to see all the interesting things it entails.”
In an address by the Special Assistant to the President on Digital and Creative Economy, Fegho Umunubo, he said the Federal Government’s support for the “Water and Garri” premiere is part of its show of support for the creative industry.
Speaking of the government’s support of Savage’s debut movie, Umunubo said, “She has committed a lot to the creative industry. We saw the need to support her, knowing how much it takes to move from music to film.”
Umunubo said the government had secured N5 billion in partnership with Providus Bank to support screened creatives in the movie industry who will receive the money without collateral.
In his own submission, the Special Assistant to the President on Arts, Culture and Digital Economy, Ayo Adeagbo, said another area of the government’s support for the creative industry is in policy-making, including a task force tackling piracy.
Adeagbo said the presidency was working with the Ministry of Justice to establish regulations to stem the loss of revenue from piracy.
