I finally have the time and the bandwidth to upload a few behind-the-scenes videos of the Ma’ami shoot in October 2010. Please view them below and click here to read my behind-the-scenes coverage of the shoot.
This morning, we finally bid farewell to the Lafenwa Abattoir, and to the 200 cows slaughtered there daily. The crew-to-cast transformation trend continued with Production Manager Jamiu Shoyode (as Gentleman #1 ) and Production Assistant Bamidele Bolanle Suraj (as a butcher). We wrapped the complicated sequence in which Ma’ami and Young Kashimawo visit the butcher stalls in six takes, a rarity for the meticulous Kelani.
Jamiu Shoyode (as Gentleman #1), Bamidele Bolanle Suraj (as a butcher), and Funke Akindele (as Ma'ami)
Tunji Afolayan (Props) sets up a market inside Lafenwa Abbatoir
Tunde Kelani directs Funke Akindele (as Ma'ami) and Ayomide Abatti (as Young Kashimawo)
Production Manager Jamiu Shoyode (as Gentleman #1 )
Production Assistant Bamidele Bolanle Suraj (as a butcher)
Adejare Adeniregun (First Assistant Director) directs Production Assistant Bamidele Bolanle Suraj (as a butcher) and Funke Akindele (as Ma'ami)
Funke Akindele (as Ma'ami)
Tunde Kelani beams after wrapping the scene
The fast-paced schedule continued to the early evening as cast and crew completed four other critical scenes, including a daring stunt that you’ll have to witness when Ma’ami opens in theaters. Cast and crew hope to replicate the same level of productivity in the next few days before Funke Akindele departs the production on Thursday.
The crew sets up alongside a road
Funke Akindele (as Ma'ami) and Ayomide Abatti (as Young Kashimawo) run to catch a taxi
Funke Akindele (as Ma'ami) and Ayomide Abatti (as Young Kashimawo) on board a danfo
Funke Akindele caused a stir today in the butcher stalls of Lafenwa Market. From 7:00am to 3:00pm, fans and curious onlookers mobbed the small compound where we were filming. As we moved through three scenes in the morning, shouts of “Jenifa!” (in reference to Akindele’s popular role) were interspersed with Tunde Kelani’s rapid-fire directions and the clanging of butcher knives.
Funke Akindele (as Ma'ami) rests while onlookers watch
Tunde Kelani directs Ayomide Abatti (as Young Kashimawo)
Ayomide Abatti (as Young Kashimawo) surrounded by onlookers
Mr. Oluwole (Gaffer) installs the light while onlookers peer through the window
Onlookers peering into the Market Traders Association Headquarters
We also witnessed another crew to cast transformation when Kelani casted Adejare Adeniregun (First Assistant Director) as the Head of the Market Traders Association in a pivotal scene with Akindele (as Ma’ami). Tune in when the film is released to find out where the plot turns!
Adejare Adeniregun (First Assistant Director) gets transformed into Head of the Market Traders Association
Around noon, I took a break from the pandemonium to accompany Bolu Solaja (Wardrobe) on a shopping trip to purchase an extra costume for a scene scheduled to shoot tomorrow. Five clothing stalls and a river crossing later, we had all the accouterments for an outfit befitting a high-class gentleman.
Bolu Solaja (Wardrobe) selects a costume for a future scene
For the last scene of the day, we returned to the Abeokuta Railroad Station to pick up where we left off yesterday afternoon. The crew was able to finish shooting on the bridge without incident.
The last scene of the day
The early wrap time left room for a production meeting in the evening. As we are now halfway done with the shoot, Kelani advised cast and crew to “make certain that what we’re going to do next is better than what we’ve done before.”
Today, we arrived at Lafenwa Market at sunrise to make up for lost time. The day started with a scene in which a cow escapes its handlers and disrupts Ma’ami and Young Kashimawo during their shopping trip. This minute-long sequence required a huge amount of logistical planning. Tunde Kelani and Bola Belo (Art Director/Production Designer) spoke to the head of the market association to acquire shooting permission, hire security for the day, and rent the cow and two handlers for an hour. These “negotiations” foreshadowed a series of informal contributions (or in Kelani’s words, “donations to the community relations fund”) that plagued the shoot for the rest of the day.
The crew sets up the camera for optimum view of the cow chase
The cow chase through Lafenwa Market
The "cowboys" capture the cow
Funke Akindele (as Ma'ami) and Ayomide Abatti (as Young Kashimawo) in the aftermath of the cow chase
Tunde Kelani, Funke Akindele (as Ma'ami) and Ayomide Abatti (as Young Kashimawo)
Funke Akindele (as Ma'ami) and Ayomide Abatti (as Young Kashimawo)
Before shooting completed for the cow chase scene, officials from the Nigerian Railway Corporation visited the set and demanded to see our shooting permit (although the train tracks which run through the market have not functioned for an indeterminate period of time). Belo and some crew members resolved the demand by accompanying the officials to the local police station, where they “negotiated” for the shooting rights to the train tracks.
Back on location, production moved to the meat market where Ma’ami perused the beef selection without any interruptions due to a previous arrangement with Sir. K, head of The Butchers Association.
Tunji Afolayan (Props) sets up the exterior at the meat market
Funke Akindele (as Ma'ami) and Ayomide Abatti (as Young Kashimawo) at the meat market
As the sun was setting, we transferred to our last location of the day: the Abeokuta Train Station. Officials from the Nigerian Railway Corporation were waiting for us and called Kelani back for further “negotiations” for the use of the overhead bridge at the train station. However, these “negotiations” delayed the production so much that we lost valuable light, compelling Kelani to reschedule the scene for tomorrow.
Abeokuta Train Station
Funke Akindele (as Ma'ami) at the Abeokuta Train Station
Funke Akindele (as Ma'ami) and Ayomide Abatti (as Young Kashimawo)
Our tribulations continued when a crowd of local Area Boys demanding more “donations” for shooting rights blocked our exit from the train station. Again, Kelani led the “negotiations” and succeeded in securing our safe passage for N1,500…only to be confronted by vehicular disaster on the way home.
After a 12-hour work day, the van overheated
In spite of our challenges today, cast and crew are optimistic about returning to the market tomorrow morning. We leave you with this video of our youngest team member re-energizing the set with his special dance number.
Bode Odeyemi (as Termogene) strolls through the market
Improvisation is the name of the game on set. This morning, we filmed the flashback-in-a-flashback sequence in which Ma’ami tells Young Kashimawo the story of Termogene, an infamous womanizer who used to live in town: “He was a dangerous woman-chaser here in Abeokuta, who always caused a riot in the streets anytime he went for a stroll.”
Tunde Kelani directs Bode Odeyemi (as Termogene)
After a thorough audition process the previous evening, Kelani casted Bode Odeyemi (Sound Technician) in the role of Termogene. Wardrobe had to scramble to find period-appropriate costumes for the market women who fawn over the woman-chaser since those characters were previously unscripted. Joy Akalu (Wardrobe) resolved the issue when she discovered extra ankara outfits in stock, which she supplemented with local beads from the market.
Kelani directs the market women
When the morning was over, Termogene turned back into Bode and cast and crew waited for several hours (in time for lunch) for the right lighting for the afternoon’s shoot. According to Olaitan Faranpojo (Second Assistant Director), Kelani’s meticulous naturedifferentiates Ma’ami from other Nollywood productions: “You can see that this is a production focused on quality and creativity.”
Food is ready courtesy of Mrs. Abiodun
At 3pm, set-up was completed at Oke-ona Grammar School, Kelani’s alma mater, where we filmed scenes of Young Kashimawo playing football with his classmates.
Oke-ona Grammar School
Adejare Adeniregun (First Assistant Director) directs Oke-ona Grammar School students
When the shirt is unbuttoned, Kelani means business
Ayodemi Abatti (as Young Kashimawo) scores the winning goal
The crew raced against the clock to capture the last rays of sunlight for the last scene of the day, in which Ma’ami and Young Kashimawo reunite after an altercation. Kelani cautioned, “We only have ten minutes of sunlight left. This has to be the last take!”
Funke Akindele (as Ma'ami) rehearses before shooting begins
Funke Akindele (as Ma'ami) and Ayodemi Abatti (as Young Kashimawo) rehearse
Funke Akindele (as Ma'ami) and Ayodemi Abatti (as Young Kashimawo)
The fast pace will continue tomorrow when the shoot transfers to busy Lafenwa Market.
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