C. J. Obasi

C.J. Obasi (also known as "Fiery" or “The Fiery One”) is a Nigerian film director, screenwriter and editor.[1][2][3]

C.J. Obasi
Other namesC. J. "Fiery" Obasi, "Fiery" , "The Fiery One".
EducationUniversity of Nigeria
OccupationFilm Director, Screenwriter, Editor
Years active2011–present
WebsiteOfficial website

His debut feature – a zero budget film Ojuju premiered at the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in November 2014, and won the award for “Best Nigerian Film”.[2] It also got him the Trailblazer of the Year award in March 2015, at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA).[3][2]

Early life & Career

Born in the small town of Owerri, Obasi grew up watching Hammer horror films, reading Stephen King novels and watching his adapted ffilms. From the young age of 3, he would watch classic films and his favorite superheroes and villains; recreating them in hand-drawn comic books.[3]

After attending the Government Secondary School, Owerri, C.J studied Computer Science at the University of Nigeria. In 2012, he set up Fiery Film Company, with his wife, the TV and film producer, Oge Obasi and the late screenwriter Benjamin Stockton.[4]

C.J.’s directorial debut came in 2014 with Ojuju; a zombie thriller film. The movie was screened in various festivals around the world, including the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, Shockproof Film Festival in Prague, New Voices in Black Film Festival in New York, Nollywood Week Festival in Paris, Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal, Africa International Film Festival where it won the award of the Best Nigerian Film and others; garnering universal acclaim from the likes of internationally renowned critics such as Todd Brown of Twitch Film (now Screen Anarchy), Tambay A. Obenson of Shadow & Act, and Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter.[5] Remarkably, Ojuju is a zero budget movie.

His second film, O-Town, was released in 2015 to much critical acclaims. A crime thriller, O-Town, also written by C.J., tells the tale of a small town mired in crime. O-Town was inspired by Owerri, the place where C.J. was born.

In 2018, C.J. directed the film adaptation of Nnedi Okoroafor’s afrofuturistic short story Hello, Moto. The short film, Hello, Rain, stars Keira Hewatch as Rain, a scientist and witch.[6] In February 2017, Fiery Film Production optioned the short story and began production.[7]

It had its world premiere at the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, on 6 May, 2018.[8]

Future project

In 2016, C.J. announced an upcoming movie titled Mami Wata; based on the popular African folklore on water spirit.[9] The director started a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to raise the sum of $120,000, in anticipation of a likely fall 2018 principal photography start date. The budget will cover production and post production costs. Mami Wata will be shot in black and white.[10]

Filmography
Ttile Year Production Company Role
Ojuju 2014 Fiery Film Company Writer, Director, Editor
O-Town 2015 Fiery Film Company Writer, Director, Editor
Visions: An Anthology of Short Films 2017 Surreal16 Collective Writer, Director [11][12]
Hello, Rain 2018 Fiery Film Company

Igodo Films

Matanya Films

 Writer, Director [13]
Lionheart 2018 The Entertainment Network (T.E.N)

Netflix

 Writer
Mami Wata TBA Fiery Film Company Writer, Director
Living In Bondage: Breaking Free 2019 Writer [14]
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References
  1. "Interview with C.J. Obasi from Fiery Film". Odd Magazine. 2017-11-01. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
  2. "'Every single day I spent not being a film-maker was torture to me.' - C.J. 'Fiery' Obasi | 360Nobs.com". www.360nobs.com. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
  3. FP. "Nollywood Spotlight: C.J. Obasi | Fried Plantains". Fried Plaintains. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
  4. FP. "Nollywood Spotlight: C.J. Obasi | Fried Plantains". Fried Plaintains. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
  5. Citation error. See inline comment how to fix.
  6. Izuzu, Chidumga. "Meet the cast of "Hello, Rain," a sci-fi Nollywood film that merges magic and technology". Retrieved 2018-11-27.
  7. "Nnedi Okorafor". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
  8. "CJ Obasi's Afrofuturistic Film, "Hello, Rain" To Premiere At Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen Short Film Festival". TNS. 2018-03-05. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
  9. Izuzu, Chidumga. ""Mami Wata": C.J Fiery Obasi announces new movie based on folklore". Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  10. "In Conversation with C.J. Obasi on His New 'Kick-Ass' Supernatural Thriller Inspired by Mami Wata". OkayAfrica. 2018-06-14. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  11. Izuzu, Chidumga. "Watch teaser for an anthology of three short films "Visions" by 3 unconventional filmmakers". Retrieved 2018-02-08.
  12. Orubo, Daniel (2017-07-31). "'Visions': An Anthology Of Short Films By Three Unconventional Nollywood Filmmakers". Konbini Nigeria. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
  13. Animashaun, Damilola (2018-01-04). "Watch: Teaser For 'Hello, Rain', A Short Film Based On Nnedi Okorafor's 'Hello, Moto'". Konbini Nigeria. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
  14. Gbenga, Bada (2019-10-31). "'Living in Bondage: Breaking Free' is perfect for Ramsey Nouah's directorial debut (Review)". pulse.ng.
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