The Story⚡
Action Xtreme has launched a masterclass series focused on Nigerian screen talent. The sessions feature leading actors sharing their personal journeys and honest experiences of working in the Nigerian film industry.
Tell Me More
The nine-talk series is hosted by Trevor Hakim from The New Black Film Collective and developed in collaboration with Nile Entertainment, with support from the British Council.
It features actors from the UK-Nigeria co-production Son of the Soil, which is currently streaming on Netflix Africa. The talks are designed as in-depth conversations rather than standard question-and-answer sessions. They give participants the chance to discuss their journeys, working processes, and the realities of building careers in contemporary Nigerian cinema.
The confirmed speakers are Razaaq Adoti (Amistad, Black Hawk Down), Damilola Ogunsi (The Weekend, Gangs of Lagos), Ireti Doyle (Fifty, Arbitration), Sunshine Rosman (Flawsome, To Kill a Monkey), Taye Arimoro (Casa De Novia, Roses and Ivy), Philip Asaya (Kill Boro, Slum King), Emeka Golden (Evi, Say Who Dies), Sharon Rotimi (The Wives, The Yard), and newcomer Ijelu Folajimi.
Across the talks, participants will cover how the industry has changed, the need for actors to take on multiple roles as performers, producers, and creative drivers, and what is required to maintain a sustainable career in a high-output environment. Sessions will also address the practical side of acting, approaching scripts, developing characters, reaching emotional truth, auditions, self-tapes, and on-set collaboration, as well as wider topics such as visibility, PR, personal branding, the place of Nigerian action cinema in global audiences, cultural exchange, international collaboration, and diaspora representation.
Action Xtreme CEO and director Chee Keong Cheung said the series is about knowledge-sharing, inspiration, and visibility for emerging talent. Donna McGowan, Country Director of the British Council Nigeria, noted that the programme supports learning, professional standards, and international exchange to help build a resilient screen industry. Moses Babatope, Group CEO of Nile Media Entertainment Group, described the initiative as a step toward ecosystem building that demystifies the profession and prepares the next generation for global opportunities.
Son of the Soil, produced and directed by Chee Keong Cheung and distributed by Nile Entertainment across Africa, serves as a central case study. The film combines action with storytelling that explores identity, loyalty, and consequence in a contemporary Nigerian setting. It has screened internationally and received awards, including three at the BlackStar International Film Festival, two at the Best of Nollywood Awards, and the Audience Choice Award at AFRIFF.
This actor-focused programme is the first phase of a wider initiative. Future series will include directors, producers, and crew members.
In Summary
The first episode, featuring Damilola Ogunsi, is now available for free on YouTube at https://youtu.be/VRtfMV7YxoY. Further episodes will be released weekly on the Action Xtreme channel at https://www.youtube.com/@actionxtreme.
Thanks for Reading.
Shockng.com covers the big creators and players in the African film/TV industry and how they do business.
Let’s be friends on Instagram @Shockafrica
