FOUNDER/DIRECTOR: Madu C. Chikwendu.

The current President of Association of Movie Producers (AMP) Nigeria, has a B.A. (1989) degree in literature from University of Portharcourt, and a M.A. (1998) degree in literature from University of Lagos. He is presently a Ph.D student at University of Lagos researching on The Influence of the Gothic Novel on Horror Films. A study of Bram Stokers Dracula and Many Shelley's Frankenstein.

Madu started his professional career at the Nigerian Television Authority, the public broadcaster as a scriptwriter sometime in 1991. By November 1992 Kenneth Nnebue released the seminal Living in Bondage. The movie drew its cast and crew from NTA thus providing an opportunity for Mad to be amongst the first to be counted in the emergent industry. Thereafter Madu collaborated with Chris Obi Rapu (Director of Living in Bondage) Nkem Owoh (who later attained super stardom as Osuofia) to screenplay a series of early hits that include; Circle of Doom(1993), Taboo(1994). He launched himself as a Producer/Director in 1995 when he made the offbeat comedy Sculptorico. He later collaborated with Hints Magazine to oversee When the Sun Sets(1995) as Supervising Producer, and Produced/ Directed Millionaires Are Saints(1997). Instructively When the Sun Sets is remarkable for the discovery of Kate Henshaw, Sandra Achums and Ronnie Dikko whilst Millionaires ?unveiled Clem Ohameze.

Madu redefined the action film in 1998 with the cult film Rampage.His other credits include Born Wicked (1998), Zero Hour (1999), Saved (1999), Love Paradise(2000), Black Widow(2001), Arrested Development (2003), Bound by Destiny (2005)

By the late 1990s however Madu was increasingly disenchanted by the state of the movie industry and concluded that there would be no real growth until certain structures were put in place. Consequently he originated the idea of an umbrella body for Directors confounding Directors Guild of Nigeria(DGN) alongside Lancelot OduwaImasuen,Fidelis Duker, Sam Azubuike. Victor Ohkhai, Jeff Obahon. He became the founding Vice President of DGN.

He later founded Nollywoods first Training facility; Lagos Film Institute. Concerned that the press were only interested in the negative aspects of the industry he launched a magazine Movie Nigeria as a voice for the industry. He later moved this campaign to the international arena with the repackaging of the magazine as Movie Africa a glossy magazine designed to compete effectively with other movie magazines like Screen Africa, Screen etc. His distribution company Thud Worldwide Consultants Ltd is a major supplier of African content with clients in diverse regions of the world.


Professional Backgroung

Screen writer/Filmmaker: 1993

Wrote for National Television, several Episodes of New Masquerade, Tales by Moonlight, Storyland Third Eye: Between 1992-1994.

Produced and/or Directed major Nigerian Movies including: Sculptorico: 1995

When the Sun Sets: 1995 (Writer/Producer/Director) (Supervising Producer)

Millionaires Are Saints 1& 2 :1996 (Producer/Director)

Rampage (Director): 1997

Born wicked (Producer/Director): 1998

Zero Hour (Producer/Director): 1999

Love Paradise (Producer/Director): 2000

Black Widow (Producer/Director): 2001

Arrested Development (Producer/Director): 2003

Bound by Destiny 1&2 (Producer/Director): 2004/5




Major Writings Include
- From Text To Film: Technique and Content in the Filmic Adaptation of Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart - M. A. Thesis.

- Intellectual Property Rights, Revenue Generation and the Challenges of Filmmaking: A case study of Nollywood. A Conference paper presented at International Intellectual Property Institute Washington DC. Conference.

- Nollywood and the Paradox of Content Enhancement. A strategic Analysis. A Conference paper presented at African Broadcasting Conference (AFRICAST) Abuja.

- A Strategic Approach to Integrating Economic Reforms, Tourism and The Motion Picture Sector A Conference Paper presented at National Conference on Developing Strategies for Viable Cultural Promotion and Tourism Development in A Reforming Economy.

- The Art and Science of Digital Filmmaking: Lessons from Nollywood. A 150 page book that will be released in October 2005.

- A Concise History of Nollywood. A 250 page book that will be released in February 2006.


POSITIONS AND HONOURS
Founder and founding President; Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN)

Founder/Director: Lagos Film Institute

Founder/Publisher: Movie Africa Magazine

FMR: Social Secretary, University of Port Harcourt Alumni Association

Member of Jury: African International Broadcasters Conference (AFRICAST) Programme Competition 2004

Member of Jury: REEL Awards 2003

Member, Organising Committee: City People Magazine Awards 2000.

Member of Jury: African Movie Academy Awards 2005 (AMAA)

Member of Jury: National Film Festival 2003

Guest Speaker: International Intellectual Property Institute, Washington D.C. West Africa Conference, Dakar, Senegal 2004

Guest Speaker AFRICAST 2004

Member, Federal Government Delegation to Sithengi 2004

Guest Speaker: Nigerian International Film Festival, New York City, USA 2005.

Second Vice President, Motion Picture Practitioners Council of Nigeria.

Current National President, Association of Movie Producers (Nigeria)

CEO African Video Expo.

Member, Ministerial Committee to Streamline Functions of National Film and Video Censors Board and Nigerian Film Corporation.

Relected National President Association of Movie Producers Nigeria amp 2005.

Elected 2nd Vice Chairman, Motion Pictures Practitioners Council of Nigeria (MOPPCON) 2005.

Delegate to Berlin Film Festival 2006

Member Federal Government Delegation to First African Film Summit, Tshwane South Africa 2006

Member Federal Government Delegation to Festival de Cannes, France

Regional Secretary General for West Africa; Federation of Pan African Fillmakerss (FEPACI)