'Big' Nigerian actor shoots new film at scrapyard

A movie star who described himself as “one of the great actors in Nigeria” said shooting scenes for his latest film in Suffolk and Essex was a “beautiful experience”.

Jide Awobona, who has nearly one million followers on Instagram, spent 21 days in the UK filming for his forthcoming, but currently untitled, gangster comedy flick.

During that time, the actor and his production team captured footage at Assington Autos scrapyard, in Suffolk, and on the Essex coastline in Leigh-on-Sea.

The movie, which followed Awobona’s character to Great Britain as he tried to undo his father’s mistakes back home, was a “serious story with comedy infusions”.

“A lot of audiences are really going to enjoy it – it’s a cross-culture film with two countries coming together,” the star added.

Although he had little time to explore in between shoots, Awobona has been left with a lasting impression of the scrapyard in which he shot some “banter” scenes.

He said: “The production crew did a good, getting us the right locations that the script described – and the scrapyard scene couldn’t have been shot anywhere else.

“The scrapyard was actually a very beautiful place and I couldn’t have imagined a place like that in the United Kingdom – it was a lot of fun for me.

“Everyone who works there were so welcoming and warm and it was a beautiful experience and I really want to go back there again – I can’t forget that scrapyard.”

Awobona, who is perhaps best known for his role in the Nigerian sitcom Jenifa’s Diary, was also complementary about the time he spent in Leigh-on-Sea.

“When I heard the name I wanted to see what this place looked like and it was exactly how I thought and it was the first time I saw the sea very close to me,” he said.

“It was a very calm and beautiful place and a really good place to film. The UK keeps getting better and I just love its discipline and decency. I love everything about it.”

Some of the biggest Nollywood films to ever hit the silver-screen include the likes of A Tribe Called Judah and Battle on Buka Street.

Awobona is now hoping his 949,000 Instagram followers can help his new movie - produced by Hellfire in Essex - achieve similar success by flocking to cinemas when it comes out.

“I have been in the game for a while and I’m not a fan of blowing my own trumpet but I am not small - I am a big actor here in Nigeria,” he said.

“I have a lot of fans who love my craft. I am trying to be humble but I am one of the great actors in Nigeria.”

Daniel Collins is the operations and communications manager at Assington Autos.

He said: "It's more than good news for the Suffolk economy that the second biggest global film making industry - which is the Nigerian film industry - has included Suffolk in one of its forthcoming blockbuster UK-based movies.

"I was delighted to meet some of Nigeria's top movie stars and the film crew here at one of East England's biggest vehicle recycling centres."

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