Movie Talk clocks one

The co-host, and one of the creators, of Nigeria’s first radio talk show, devoted to film, has called its recent anniversary celebration a “crucial milestone” in the evolution of the industry. Speaking to The Guardian at the Cosmo Lounge, in Port Harcourt’s prestigious Exodus complex, Loknan ‘Eldee’ Dombin said “Movie Talk” had filled a void, by giving the trade a much-needed voice.

“Our show is a unique forum,” he asserted, “where various peoples, within and outside the movie industry, can call in to chat or drop by the station to air their views and express their concerns”.

Loknan described the party as a “meet-and-greet” social event, where listeners, local stars and the show’s hosts could interact.

“Potential investors were also invited,” he allowed, “so they could seek answers to questions they might not want to ask on air”.

“Movie Talk”— aired 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. each Wednesday— is part of a five-day suite of breakfast shows, broadcast on Radio Rhythm 93.7, Monday thru Friday.

“We try to offer listeners something different every day,” Dombin averred. “We have an eclectic and enticing topical mix, including poetry, comedy, medicine, industry news and a game show”.

Concurringly, Willis Ikedum, producer and co-host of the show, said “We review movies and talk about everything in the industry, at home and abroad; and our listeners also get the latest movie news”.

Ikedum said further, that “Movie Talk” had an estimated listening audience of 2.2 million, mainly in Rivers, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Bayelsea and Imo States.

“We get calls from as far away as Abuja and Lagos,” he noted, “and we occasionally receive e-mails from abroad”.

A Port Harcourt based director, Ikedum said the party at Cosmos was the Grand Finale” of a week-long series of events, marking the anniversary of “Movie Talk”.

He explained that the purpose of the event, was not only to celebrate the success of the talk show but also to attract investors—both to “Movie Talk” and to his upcoming film project.

When pressed for detail about his new movie—which will follow “Mummy Dearest,” his first full length feature—Ikedum would say only that the title is “Switch”.

“Movie Talk” is produced in partnership with Rhythm 93.7 F.M. But Ikedum expressed hope, that interest which sponsors from the oil and banking sectors have shown, would crystallize into support.

Dombin, on his part, confided that a major objective, over the coming year, would be to increase the “star power” of “Movie Talk,” by getting more prominent film personalities to appear on the show.