HIS EXCELLENCY used to be a timber trader! Thanks to the ever powerful godfather, he abandoned his plywood and nails shop in the timber shed to take over the mantle of leadership as a state governor! Who can pull such a character better than Nollywood veteran himself? Mr. Elebuwa applies his trademark facial expressions for unbelievable comic effects. With his own unpredictable adlibs, Mr. Elebuwa gives one of his most remarkable performances! He plays opposite the bad-mouthing character of Patience Ozokwo who unfortunately is his first lady!
CURRENTLY MOST sought after actress in the industry by fans who both hate to love her and love to love her, Ms. Ozokwo needs no further introduction. She already confessed The Asylum is one of her career's most challenging productions. Apart from proving herself once more in her role as the ruthless First Lady, Ms. Ozokwo supported the project in many ways. The producers wish to use this opportunity to thank Ms. Patience Ozokwo for her motherly input both on and off camera. She deserves all the respect in this world.
THE DAZZLING queen of the screen returns all the way from Germany. Once more, the viewers are going to be captivated with Sandra´s outlandish interpretation of a Woman Party Leader. She's just cut her political tails while under the tutelage of First Lady! Forever sexy Sandra carries the day in a huge style by combining charms with carriage reminiscence of her Domittilla days. She brings with her glamour, style and her own definition of resounding opulence into The Asylum. Her sacrifices are also acknowledged by the producers.
JUST SAY his name alone and people are already rolling in laughter. Popularly known as Okey Bakassi, that Okey McAnthony is a comedian of great standing is stating the obvious. Here is a man who doesn't need to say anything for you to start laughing. He plays the role of an unemployed graduate who leaves his house one morning in search of a job only to become an inmate in a psychiatric hospital! Okey´s master jokes are off-scripts and held the production to ransom each time he asks the director for free-hands! Crew members were losing counts of takes, tapes were wasted with spontaneous laughter! Faults of Okey Bakassi! Viewers are encouraged to watch out for behind the scenes of The Asylum!
ACTION HERO known amongst his teeming fans as Labista. In The Asylum, Emma Ehumadu creatively finds a common expression of action and comedy to carry his role of Killer, the obsessed political chief thug of the incumbent governor. Whenever his character is not high, he is drunk or both. This is made believable by Mr. Ehumadu´s acting prowess. In The Asylum, Totolos has just proven he is an all round actor by exceptionally portraying an action character in a comic flow. Apart from acting successes, Emma has produced other super hit flicks as Labista, GL2, The Plumber, Hitler and so on, including this movie, The Asylum!
GENTLEMAN POLITICAL adviser cum campaign manager of the incumbent governor thrives in his trade of political theories. Emma Ayalogu is the best bet for this role. Located in far away Ghana where he writes and directs upcoming TV series, Emma Ayalogu was invited to read. He read to a panel of cast directors who recommend he fits his characterisation like a glove. A deal is struck immediately so he would find time for The Asylum from his tight schedule. It is noteworthy to include here that Emma Ayalogu arrived location few weeks later and became (no pun intended) instantly mad! He started living his character from Ghana! Each time his character speaks English all we hear is French!
PHYSICALLY SPEAKING, Mr. Mbaka is almost a giant. His interpretation of Pastor K in The Asylum is not only a giant stride but also a unique act. What else does one expect of a prophet who is just diagnosed of a mental illness especially when it comes to his unBiblical quotations? Ofia, popularly known as Deriko (Deri-Nwa Mama) for his outstanding portrayal of a notorious armed robber in a movie, joined The Asylum team from his Enugu base. His own variety (or should we say, dialect) of speaking-in-tongues made the experience worth its while! Ladies and gentlemen, behold Ofia, the maddest pastor of our time!
IMAGINE A professor of English Grammar who has read exactly seven thousand, seven hundred and seventy-seven books in seven years! That is not all, he was reading seven books at every point in time and at the same given time! Admitted into The Asylum his vocation upgrades from translation and transliteration into transformation of regular English sentences into advanced high sounding English vocabs creating grammatical sound effects that make people always take cover whenever he speaks. Mr. Chidi Okere, a real life PhD candidate of Linguistics outperformed two other major actors to carry the role. He gives an unbelievable rendition for a first timer.
THE ASYLUM hosts a rastaman. Admitted into the psychiatric hospital with a guitar and his sonorous voice. Music becomes a calming therapy for fellow inmates. He is his own irony by administering this therapy while seeking his own spiritual redemption. Rasta´s character is convincingly portrayed by Tonneil Avo, the supersonic professional musician. An ex-band leader with over 25 years experience in all aspects of music. A producer and an accomplished sound engineer, Tonneil developed and reproduced The Asylum theme music and soundtracks.
MR. OGBONNA teaches Drama at Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri. As a master actor who has been on stage all his life, it was no huge shock that he (in Nollywood parlance) scattered the role of a psychiatric doctor with unseen efforts. Mr. Ogbonna´s expertise and professionalism is second to none. Right on time and most willing to assist even in logistics. His role as a psychiatric doctor whose own psychiatric case is only a matter of time, will make every viewer sit at the very edge of their seats!
CREW
production manager/associate producer
GORDON IROLE´s skill in production management has matured all the way from the days of the award winning Who's Next?, Picture of a General, Echoes of War, The Successor and the UK award winning Lucky Joe. This accumulation of experience pays off well when Mr. Irole agrees to join The Asylum team as an associate producer as well as the production manager. His superb planning and accurate forecasts immensely contributed to the success of the production.
DRESSING AN entire production of this magnitude takes a genius in this department to achieve set goals. Andi Ike does not just meet the goals, she surpasses the goals. Every character in the movie is adequately represented with appropriate clothing and convincing accessories. Her creative attention to details for the fashion conscious First Lady and her tens of entourage is most impressive. Ms. Andi Ike arrives The Asylum camp fully prepared with both military and regular effects. Demanding characters created while on set even have costume awaiting them!
GABRIEL OKORIE is the CEO of GABAZZINI KONCEPT. After winning the most prestigeous African Movie Academy Awards (for Makeup in 2006) Mr. Okorie´s charge for excellence only got charged! As the Best Make Up Artiste in Africa, his works speak for him not just in Makeup but also in set design and stunts. After graduating from the Abia State University, Gab took several design classes in the University of Lagos while training with the 13 Fatman group. Gabazzini is not only a consortium of makeup professionals, they also specialise in special film props, physical and make-belief stunts and customised set designs. The magic of Mr. Okorie is demonstrated in Rasta and Professor in The Asylum.
WHILE Chidi Okere and Anthony Ibeawuchi coordinated logistics and other production emergencies, Okey Okere utilised his huge Owerri influence in coordinating military wares, the state house and pools of state car convoys.
executive producers
EMEKA
NWAKANMA is the CEO of Towncrier International with headquarters in
Montreal, Canada. Educated in the reverred Abia State University,
University of Ibadan, Nigeria and currently completing his PhD program
in McGill University, Montreal, Mr. Nwakanma has interests in marketing
territorial developments. He is currently working on the Towncrier
International Network for film distribution in North American cities.
AZUBUIKE ERINUGHA, writer and producer of The Asylum, is also an alumni of Abia State University. His areas of studies include literature, media science, RF, transmission and project management. With several published literary works to his credit, Mr. Erinugha has also written and produced another comedy, Choices (1996) and satire, The Plumber (2003). Azubuike Erinugha currently teaches Communication and Business English in the University of Cooperative Studies, Erfurt, Germany.
OBI EMELONYE studied Drama in the University of Nigeria before moving to the UK to study law. A compelling actor who has distinguished himself as one of the nitty directors of the emerging Nollywood. Back in the days, it was Obi Emelonye who came from UNN to Abia State University without the mission of training artistes on stage. By the time he left, Obi Emelonye has already built Ide Theatre with the producer, Gabazzini, Mr. Okere and hosts of others not involved in The Asylum.
Mr. Emelonye´s skill is enhanced not just because he is also a DOP, an editor as well as a trained script writer, his knack to build props, equipment and countless accessories distinguishes him from the rest. He designed and supervised the production of a car mobile camera stand utilised in The Asylum. His most recent works include The Successor, Echoes of War and the masterpiece, Lucky Joe.