Tuesday, April 3, 2012

The Challenge

Good week to everybody! I’m in better spirits now than I have been in the past weeks or should I say months. What has changed, I don’t know, I mean things are pretty much the same way they have been this year; still looking for more money to solve my incessant needs, Frieda still screeching in my left ear and futilely thinking that nagging me continuously is going to get me to do what she wants when she wants it – she never halla!- or eating from my plate when she has hers right in front of her and calling it love! Life has its small every day tragedies I tell you! Maybe those small tragedies are there to keep us from blowing our heads off when the tsunamis come but then, that’s just me. Why then do I feel different today? I think it’s perhaps the thought that I spent over a hundred dollars today buying only fruit on which I intend living solely on for the duration of a month. Of course I will procure more should I exhaust my supplies. Or perhaps my elation at making my very first successful smoothie from very humble beginnings comprising the most disgusting non-fat vanilla yoghurt, fresh strawberries, fresh blueberries, kiwi fruit and bananas blended into a pink creamy tasty smoothie delight this afternoon. All accomplished by the great culinary skills of Kalu Ikeagwu! Mrs Nkem Odewunmi eat your heart out! The reason behind my fruity expedition is simply competition and self preservation.

I had done a movie in New York involving a large cast. It was quite exhausting, mostly because I was in most of the scenes and a lot of them were emotionally tasking. I worked with a large number of people at different times and this meant I met new people all the time, worked towards getting used to working with each individual and just as I would begin to get used to the one, the one would be yanked away and another take his/her position, and the whole cycle would start all over again. Anyway, in one of such instances I, my character, was supposed to have a heated argument with a medical colleague and friend over a medical decision in my office. There were a lot ‘nonsensical’ medical terms in the scene that took some getting used to, so the other actor and I, after introductions, got down to rehearsing our lines. He was an extremely good looking well built white guy about my height and none of the ladies in the vicinity could keep still on account of him. Yes, I did feel a little green creeping in my colour at the sight of this, this fine intruder taking away my shine and having all the girls swooning at his feet. “The true test of why we’re here will show the boys from the men!”, I seethed, supposing him to be just a pretty airhead who was caught up solely in his looks. When we began the dry run (ultimate rehearsals) in preparation for the actual take, and this ‘airhead’ let rip, I was left a spectator in my own scene. Everyone’s jaw dropped, then clapped; nobody expected that performance from him. But, trust your guy na , it only happened once. I stepped up my game sharp sharp! For the next five scenes we did together after that, it was fire for fire, toe to toe, head to head, without ever overacting. It was sublime. I remembered what it was like being with serious actors who take their work seriously, as a craft to be honed and practiced continuously.

My useless director kept dancing up and down with glee! “Kalu! Now I have seen someone who’ll keep you on your toes and not let you get comfortable! Others let you get away with anything but me? I will punish you to get the best out of you!” *itch!

Well this nemesis of mine is going to be on the same project as me in a month’s time from now and I am not going to ‘carry’ last. My fruit regime starts yesterday with a vengeance in preparation for something I’m salivating over – a good challenge! Have a great week everybody!

10 comments:

  1. lol...

    Good to have such healthy competition though - at least it helped draw out your best.

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  2. Uhm... Bia Nwoke'm a since when did a female eating from your plate become a TRAGEDY!???

    "fire for fire, toe to toe, head to head, without ever overacting" <--- PREACH!!! These are words I wish could be applied to every single nollywood movie but seeing as we don't live in an Utopia that's not the case.

    Goodluck sir, (especially with the fruits, I reckon that won't last longer than 2 weeks max)... keep in good cheer

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  3. 1st good catering. And ur 'useless' director will probably go mad. If he sees this. And dont mind those colourless dudes. U still got the colour, swaggz, looks. You dey ontop. U no fit carry last or even second. U're the best. Luff u plenty. :)

    ur No 1 fan. BLESSING

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  4. Thanks Doyin. @ Nollywood REinvented, the tragic thing about THE female eating from my plate stems from the the woman's foundational belief of "what's yours is mine and what's mine is mine". A philosophy I pledge to fight to my last breath! @ Blessing, Babe easy o! That 'colourless' dude na my paddy o! It's just healthy competition but thanks for rooting for me all the same. Mwah!

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  5. LOL...I didn't know guys had that I must be master of the female eyes in the vicinity but I shouldn't be surprised really. All the best and look forward to the project. I enjoyed you and Uche in Damage, glad she was able to get it online :)

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  7. lol @ Myne, Those were my very private thoughts I was sharing with you o! Don't go and start broadcasting my 'vanity' to all! I think it's something synonymous with actors; we all want to feel we still have 'it'.

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  8. Awwwwww kalu is vain and he knows it lmfao ;) c'mon tho ur a hottie. that smoothie sounds yummy. Bought plain ol non fat yoghurt once wit no sugar mistakenly once bleeehrhrh had to throw it out.....now y didn't I make a smoothie? And dnt whine, share with freda jor(a calorie shared is a kilogram half gained ...I just came up with that lol). This ur fellow cast mate must be uber hot, from ur description;all that "fire to fire toe to toe head to head stuff" I'm feeling the heat here. Ask him if he would like to marry a nigerian girl (no joke! I don't play) you are my wingman Kalu....go tell my alabaster love how amazing I am. Damn tell me about his abs kalu (you do love to write poems abi) I think a poem would help me understand hubby to be properly ....you know ..before I marry him (his hotness) I need to know him better kwo? Hahahahahahhahahhahahahaha
    You trying to break into hollywood or what? (What's his name sef? Tell him to visit nigeria...my tongue has a message for his tongue.....let's read it like braille......my abs wants to play tag with his abs...I could go on haha ) *runs away in shame* tuesday tuesday tonic making a comeback? Hellz yuh! (I hope)

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  9. Hahahahahahahahahheheheheehehehhihihihhihihihihuhhuhuhuhuhhhohohohohhoho...@ formerly stealth reader...i doubt if d dude wld appreciate all this 'praise'...d guy go run for his dear life!....he would most likely think our Kalus are not enough for us...lol,anyways,Nigerians still gat ur back @ Kalu..so white or Chinez or Iraqian or Japanz or American...Nigerians trust their own 'person'...show them what u gat abeg..

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  10. Hmmm, Kalu went and dunnit. I'm rooting for the other guy. Whattt! K's got more than enough sparklies to sooth his ego....loads of laughter...very funny piece. Well done sir!

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