TIPTOPSTARS

Moma Pascal aka Bob and Vugah Samson alias Grandpa have insisted that they will take their country’s actors’ guild to exceptional heights. Both leaders of the Cameroon Actors’ Guild (CAMAG) and the National Actors’ Guild of Cameroon (NAGCAM) respectively say their wish to see the acting sector grow with actors given the respect and all what comes with the art. Bob and Grandpa were speaking on African Cocktail, (a show hosted by Ernest Kanjo on Ohio’s Afrikka Radio) on Saturday July 20, 2013. Talking live from Bamenda via phone, both actors explained that it was time they buried their differences and come together to henceforth speak with one voice. “That explains why we decided to meet some time ago for the benefit of actors and our film industry,” Moma told the radio show.

The said union which took place some weeks back is now bearing fruits with the consideration of “National Actors Guild of Cameroon, NAGCAM” as the adopted name for the country’s actors guild. According to Bob, what matters is the wellbeing of actors and not the division which could rather plunge them into more difficulties. “I’m very elated for this decision and calling on all actors to unite and rise,” the Yaounde-based film star told African Cocktail.

To Grandpa, now is the time to look ahead. “By looking ahead, I mamean we are planning to have more training to improve on our skills,” the Bamenda-based actor said.

Moma Pascal and Vugah Samson had just excused themselves from deliberations in the maiden meeting of actors to talk to African Cocktail. The meeting brought together actors from the nooks and crannies of Cameroon including movie icon Solange Yijika. Also talking to African Cocktail on the same occasion, Yijika expressed her joy for the new dispensation, insisting that the highly appreciated union was badly needed to ensure a smooth organization of the acting sector in the country. “I’m so glad it has happened and mark me, Ernest, we are ready to push this thing far,” she explained.

Also talking on the show, actress Yijika told us that she is glad to be part of the great team that has laid the foundation of the art in Cameroon. Yijika who will be celebrating her 10^th anniversary in acting said preparations ahead of the event have gone underway in Cameroon. “But let me say here Ernest that it will not be a Solange Yijika affair, it is a celebration of everybody,” said the Yaounde-based movie star.

Cameroonian actors have since been clamouring for better conditions of work and from all indications, things are beginning to get better. The country is generally known to have very talented actors some of whom do movies in the diaspora. They actors’ guild is currently working on a constitution. Details in subsequent updates.

Passion is a guarantee for success. This assertion best suits Simon Timah. This Holland-based Cameroonian filmmaker is already making his weight felt in the Netherlands and neighbouring Belgium as his passion for the seventh art that started at a tender age of eight, when he performed Bible messages in Church is now paying off.

“Before moving into movies, I had been translating sermons preached by my father, Rev. Timah and other Men of God of the Apostolic Church into drama,” Timah told TIPTOPSTARS

When Timah relocated to Europe, little did his peers know that he would consolidate the movie dreams he had nursed from childhood. This multi-faceted Cameroonian has been into commercial movies since 2008, writing, acting producing and shooting movies for other filmmakers around his vicinity.

“...Since then, I’ve been involved in nine productions, two of which are my personal productions,” Timah continued.

Will You Forgive Her?, Timah’s maiden movie earned the dynamic filmmaker a Best Director award in the first edition of the +237 Elegance Movie Awards organized in The Netherlands last year.

The 1.65m  tall Cameroonian who hails from Batibo in the North West Region and holder of a BSc in Geography from the University of Buea and a certificate in filmmaking from the SAE Institute of Digital Film Production, Rotterdam , Holland , advices debutants in the art to remain focused and work hard to build a career rather than give up midway.

“As a filmmaker one always has to deal with human beings which you and I know is hurciulean. You just have to be able to reconcile attitudes and get things in order especially the first phase of production where you deal with a lot of people,” said the award-winning director.

Perhaps it is his passion in the seventh art that Timah could not hide when he said: “Passion is the heartbeat of filmmaking.” This passion cannot be complete without the required elements necessary to complete the process, reason why Timah set up his own production house Timah Vision, which sees the production of his movies as well as those of other filmmakers around him.

Timah who comes from a strictly Pentecostal background would brighten up when listening to gospel music, go around clad in anything blue and would like to be served with a plate of achu, a traditional delicacy from the parts of the North West region of Cameroon.