TIPTOPSTARS

The media in Cameroon, film lovers and observers have been keen these past weeks on what is fast becoming a “jamais vue” in film circles – a Cameroonian in Bollywood movies. Sherilline Queen, in her 20s is comfortably breaking that myth. And that her example could be inspiring to aspirers is not doubtful.
Sherilline who lives in Mumbai has been facilitating the work of the media by her accessibility in providing information about her strides in the world’s second biggest film industry. In a conversation with TIPTOPSTARS, the young Cameroonian revealed that her involvement with Bollywood is nothing other than dreams that takes determination and conviction to achieve.

“I love Bollywood and have always wanted to be an actor there,” she told our man. This dream was not shielded from the talented actress’ parents. Sherilline’s mum had known about it from the actress’ childhood, but it only required time to be conclusive. She had even expressed the utmost wish of becoming an Indian, but Sherilline’s mum would not be serious on child’s play.

Today, the reality of that dream is what the artist’s country is not only living, but is proud to talk about. Her skill and productivity simply fetched her a place in Bollywood. “They readily accepted me and would help when need arises, especially with scripts,” she explained. To the up-and-coming Cameroonian movie actress, language is not a big deal. She speaks hindi, even if not as well as a native speaker. “On set, they would help me with some pronunciations, but generally it works well,” Sherilline said. “It’s been a wonderful experience working with people in Bollywood and I call it a great blessing.”

The actress however stated that this breakthrough is thanks to God. “He has favoured me quite much,” she mentioned. The actress who went to school in Buea and Bamenda has featured in movies such as Kick, Yaan and Happy New Year. She is also playing in a Chidiya Ghar Lol, a TV serial.
Sherilline has home in her head. “I’m planning to go back home and work with filmmakers there. I’d like to join the Cameroon film industry CFI ASAP,” she told TIPTOPSTARS. Apart from just playing in Bollywood movies, Sherilline who is  a student also dances to entertain. “I do Indian dances and Hip-Hop.”

With lots of emotion, the actress urged aspiring actresses to stick on their dreams. It is by so doing, she explained, that they will get to the apex of their art. The rising movie star was special guest on Batimu FM’s Talent Promo show  this Friday (26 September 2014)  in an exclusive interview with Titus Banyoh. Here is the interview in its entirety.

The book industry will be one novel richer come Saturday, September 20, 2014 when The Untamed Passions of A Gifted Man officially goes public. The launching of the said novel, published by MEMA PUBLISHING and written by Cameroonian-born motivational speaker, Stanley Fongod, is billed for Columbus, the main city in the State of Ohio, USA.
At his East Livingston office a week to the event, it was an excited budding novelist TIPTOPSTARS met as Fongod prepared the stage for the book launch. This great feeling, we turned to find out was obvious. “I’m quite versed with and have produced a lot of self-help literature, but this is my maiden novel experience,” the young author told TIPTOPSTARS’ editor.

Fongod further explained that he hails from a zero literature background and that he is a writer today, is just a miracle. “I have all along been a science student with certifications in IT, but with nurtured passion for writing, I found myself in the art,” said the author of the upcoming novel who is also a preacher of the gospel.

It was this passionately endless desire to write and the non-negotiable need to ferry the story’s lesson across that motivated the Los Angeles-based motivational speaker to settle on the project which was initially scripted to be filmed as a movie, but later re-adapted to a novel. “We’d planned to shoot The Untamed Passions of A Gifted Man in 2007, but the $14 to $20 million financial requirement was too cumbersome to have us venture into the project,” Fongod revealed. He went further: “If we insisted on filming the script, we were going to endure the unbearable cost of blocking a popular Los Angeles airport for instance and shooting scenes on Iraqi locations as per the story. It became non-feasible at that point.” “The only other option to keep the story alive was to adapt it to a novel which I did in something like eight months with the great assistance of Barbara who encouraged me a great deal and Dr Buma Pascal who painstakingly went through the manuscripts.”

Written in simple, clean and decodable English, The Untamed Passions of A Gifted Man presents a common, yet an unfortunate scenario of people whose heroic status is clamped down by hazardous passions they toil unsuccessfully to control. This has led to regrettable paradoxes which according to the author have placed the fame enjoyed by some personalities on the fence. Is that the fate of Allen (protagonist) in Fongod’s 202-page novel? A complete reading of the story will reveal this.

Meanwhile through the image of the story’s characters (Cameroonians- Africa), African Americans – USA) and Christians, the writer highlighted cultural diversity which he insists is a great value, especially when it dwells in unity. “That melting pot aspect The Untamed Passions of A Gifted Man is quite visible in the novel,” Fongod stated.

Inspired by The Bible, Think And Grow Rich and Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist which the author of The Untamed Passions of A Gifted Man told us he can always be caught reading, Stanley Fongod has several works including a collection of stories, nonfictional, motivational, entrepreneurship and Christian literature. He is also an actor and highly inspired motivational speaker who was main guest on Afrikka Radio’s African Cocktail with Ernest Kanjo sometime ago. He comes back on the show this Wednesday September 17, 2014 to talk specifically about the new book and its launching which will take place at 6455 East Livingston Ave. Columbus, Ohio, 43068.