First of all, Introduction.
My name is Uche Aguh, I am a Nigerian born, Texas raised creative, with a former training in professional Medicine.
"Springing
from a generation so disgusted by our pasts that we fear its resurface, Uche
Aguh, tells stories to remind people of the danger that exists in bigotry and
segregation. The traffic of life is silenced when he creates, so that he is
attentive to everything as they are, as they come to him. He questions the
world of reasoning, of love and its entangling webs of brutality, and harbours
a shy excitement at the thought of a freer world where people, and the art they
create, could exist, untampered, like the petals of a delicate flower"
-Keside Anosike, Writer
Uche Aguh
I am the writer, director and part-producer of the short film, "I STILL DO". This passion project serves as my directorial and acting debut. I can remember vividly, the very first time I was introduced to the world of cinema. I was six- The film, "Deadly Proposal", a real synthesis into the burgeoning world of Nigerian cinema, AKA Nollywood.
The actors- Pete Edochie, a Nollywood legend whose craft transcends the limitation of that medium alone, Saint Obi, The Brad Pitt of the 90's in Nigeria, and Obot Etuk, a young beautiful ingenue. The story- A budding romance between Obi and Etuk, disrupted by his abrupt leave to Harvard University to further his studies, His promise, a marriage enganement upon his arrival. Seven years later, and countless suitors turned down by Etuk, Obi returns, new woman in hand. The unfortunate consequence, the death of him and his new bride by Etuk. Seconds later, gun to head, Etuk takes her own life as well. As she falls to the ground, as was often the case with Nigerian films, a proverb appears in bold letters, with a lesson to teach- "Marriage proposal is a dangerous convenant that could turn deadly when desecrated"
There was drama, romance, betrayal, love, dissappointment, violence. I had read Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet", I had been introduced to the works of Chinua Achebe," Things Fall apart", and "No longer at ease". I had spent some time with "The Drummer boy", and countless many Macmillian text books where Eze and Bisi went to school among other random places. In short, I had acquired a vast and intimate experience with books, stories and stationery images. I had imagined all these books in motion, in a way I was not able to translate or logically verbalize in English. But then I witnessed this very film, "Deadly Proposal", with moving pictures, emotional dialogue; a beautiful work of art in motion.
This was gold.
I was hooked.
Now, almost twenty years later, I am embarking on this new journey of my life where I get to fully be me. Where I get to create things that are both compelling and terrifyingly beautiful. And these are the very same adjectives that can fully describe this film "I STILL DO".
What is love? Is it a fancy or a fear. Here, a dramatic short film about two Nigerian lovers who can no longer go on in elegant pretense and blissful quarrel. Love becomes even more difficult when these two very accomplished personalities come together to build a future. A story both magnificent and terrifyingly real. Because these stories are truly important and immediate, it is essential that we tell them.
Whose side are you on?
Nnenna Amuchie, Lawyer/writer
The idea of this film stems from my deep rooted interest in telling complex and romanticized stories about people all over the world. The main character in this film Chioma, played beautifully by Chinwe A Nwokolo, takes the audience through a journey of identity and self discovery.
Chioma, like many married women, is fighting a battle to become herself again. Approaching age thirty-five, she can only see herself as the once successful Harvard trained lawyer who uprooted her entire life to follow her political aspiring husband, Emeka to Lagos (Nigeria). Together, they build a moderatley successful career as they climb the social elite club. Emeka, at the forefrunt, Chioma champions for him behind the curtain, in the background. Now, on the eve of his gubernatorial nomination announcement, Chioma looks in the mirror, but she can no longer recognize the woman she is. She can no longer understand her choices, her decisions. She is lost.
But Chioma is a flawed woman. She is not perfect. Her issues are not nearly microscopic in comparison to that of her emotionally controlling husband. Because women are complex beings. They can be staunchly successful in business, yet destitute in romance and marriage.
Together, Chioma and Emeka must go on a journey to rediscover their moments of "I do" in hopes they can re-proclaim to each other, " I still do"
Meet The Team Behind "I STILL DO"
Dennis Schmitz
Dennis is a cinematographer from Düsseldorf, Germany. He became interested in filmmaking as a young boy. While other children spent their free time in front of a Television, Dennis spent his behind the camera kit. He made short film presentations as a young teenager, well into his adult life. He has amassed, in his portfolio, a plethora of music videos, choreographed dance videos, and commercials. He is an avid believer in dynamic story-telling, and is now venturing solely into cinematic film making in a newly formed partnership, A Dennis and Uche Picture, where he serves as one half of the producing team behind the film.
Chinwe Nwokolo
Chinwe, who plays the lead role of Chioma in the film, is an actress from London. She studied to become an entertainment journalist but after being asked to play a role in a short film whilst at university she soon became enticed by the art and after graduating, she enrolled at Identity drama school where she began her career, and continued her training at Rose Bruford College. Her credits include, "West 10 LDN" (BBC 3), "My Territory" (SOHO Theatre), "The Gods are not to blame" (Young Vic theatre) , House of Corrections by Lawrence Olivier Award winner, Bola Agbaje, the national UK tour of Pandora's Box and various international commercials.
She was recently nominated for a Screen Nation Digital-Is Award for favourite online actress, and graced the stage again in 2015 for a role in Debbie Tucker Greens hard hitting drama, "Random".
Alexander Moyerer
Alexander is an accomplished musician and formidable sound engineer originally from Ukraine. He has been living in Düsseldorf, Germany for almost fifteen years. He began playing the piano as a child and the drums as a teenager. Alexander is highly interested in all types of music, ranging from classical, Hip-Hop, Drum'n'Bass, to a vast many others. As a musician and film composer, he utilizes the sobering and peaceful sounds of the piano and many other accompanying instruments to create a musical composition that is both alluring and dramatic. Currently, he is mastering and mixing the sound to the film.
Tiffany Sanz
Tiffany is a Make-up and Hair stylist, born in Paris, but raised in the great city of Viersen, Germany. She has a strong interest in film and television and wishes to continue her work as a film make-up and hair stylist. Brush in hand, and pallete by her side, Tiffany paints a beautiful work of art with her styling, which not only elevates the texture of the film, but reinforms the structure and plot behind the film.
What we need and what you will get in return
Your financial donations and sponsorship will go towards the following:
- Final treatment and editing of the film
- Sound mastering and mixing
- Musical composition and scoring
- Submission to Film Festivals all over the world (We are abiding by the Academy Festival rules... A bit ambitious, we know, but YOLO!)
- Travel Expenses for Festivals and accomodation
- Payment of our crew
- Payment for Rental equipment and insurance
- Payment for equipment van
In return for helping us, you have the luxury of choosing any one of our fantastic perks which include a Twitter shout-out from the cast and crew, meeting the cast and crew at one of our Premieres in either Los Angeles or London, a sit-down private dinner with the cast and crew, a digital download of the full film, a VIP all access to one of our Screening After Parties, or a position as an executive producer, with an open invite to travel with the film, and the cast and crew to Festivals around the globe.
Our perks are named after our most favorite actors and actresses, both living and dead.
The Impact
As a team, we are fully ready to back the cultural significance that our film will have on viewers all over the world. This film is both compeling and terrifyingly beautiful, and told in such a brave way by our fearless cast and crew. And not told bravely, simply for the sake of having been brave, but told bravely, because these stories are real. They exist, they are important and they are extremely immediate.
We embarked on this journey with a vision to take our short film which cuts at roughly 40 minutes to a global audience. We believe wholly in this story because it is not a singular story. It is a story about the human experience and the complexities that we are often challenged with in love.
This story is a love letter to my mother, it is a love letter to my sister, It is a love letter to every woman in the world. It speaks to the idea that women can be more than just wives and mothers. And as men, and husbands, and fathers, it is our constitutional duty to create an atmosphere where we let our women, wives and daughters be fully individual and independent of what society would have them believe to be their gender role.
Because women can be more, and they deserved to have their own identity today, tomorrow and forever.
#WeShouldAllBeFeminists
Risks & Challenges
This project was in part self financed by our team. We raised half of the necessary budget towards filming equipment, shooting location, meals, travel expenses, and accomodation.
Now in post production, our project is in dire need of all funds we can obtain in order to complete it and escalate it to the level that it truly deserves. It is a beautifully shot film, cinematographically by my producing partner, Dennis Schmitz.
The concept of a Nigerian made film being inspired by European art-house cinema, and Germany serving as the filming location for a black story are two rare entities in film-making today.
Because of these reasons, we fully believe our film can carry itself alone. But with the added funds which would be allocated towards scoring, sound mastering, musical compostion, and final editing, the final picture is bound to be a masterpiece.
Other Ways You Can Help
The importance of word-of-mouth is in no way lost on us. We are more than happy to have ambassadors that can spread the news of what we are trying to accomplish. The bare fact that we made a film is a reward on its own, but the idea that we had help from people all over the world in pushing it, is beyond apopletic.
We understand this new age of social media and the importance it can serve in elevating a small film to a global platform. We are asking of you to help us in ths way. Please share our campaign using the indiegogo share tools.
Retweet our tweets about our film:
@ucheaguh @deezid @chinweanwokolo
Follow us on Instagram for new posts and updates:
@ucheaguh @deezid @chinwe.a.nwokolo
Share our trailer on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_19gPRp4qmo
Visit and like our facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/istilldomovie
Interact with us and share any and all commentary on our website:
http://www.istilldomovie.com
Any and all support is appreciated!