Idris Elba’s latest directorial effort, Dust to Dreams, is set in a Lagos nightclub looking to launch local singing talent, and was produced by Nigerian mogul Mo Abudu and has a star turn by Seal.
But that nightclub in his English and Yoruba language short to world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival on Sunday is also a metaphor for the Luther and Hijack star’s broader vision for African cinema. “We want to highlight talent, and not just actors and singers, but the talent of (African) storytelling, the variation of stories, the talent of people watching this African story and really relating,” Elba told The Hollywood Reporter.
Dust to Dreams sees Millicent, the owner of the legendary, yet dying Lagos nightclub, played by Nse Ikpe-Etim, entrust her legacy to her shy daughter, Bisi, played by Constance Olalunde, a former Nigerian Idol contestant. But first Millicent must introduce Bisi to Johnson, her long-lost soldier father played by Seal, amid family tensions.
Ultimately, music, between Bisi and her father as they get to know one another, becomes their redemption. In the short’s final scene, a soulful duet between Bisi and her father titled “Mama” serves to revive the nightclub and unite the family.
But Elba, as an actor, musician, filmmaker, entrepreneur and philanthropist, has also used Dust to Dreams as a prototype film for his ongoing work with Abudu to incubate African creative talent, in front and behind the screen. The goal is closing the gap between their potential and access to the world market.
For Abudu the promise of Dust to Dreams is helping pry open the world market for a too-hidden African industry that has been too-long denied opportunities by distributors and TV programmers. “Commissioners would rather play it safe and just tell a story that they’ve told 20 times, rather than take a fresh story,” she told THR.
Making engaging content from Africa for the world market also hits an artistic sweet spot for Seal, whose star-turn in the short is his first major role on screen. “I was really honored that Idris and Mo would even consider me for this movie. But I also felt it was a really important project for me to do, to really highlight the talent in Africa. What these guys are doing is incredible in bringing Africa and African talent to the forefront,” Seal insisted.
For Elba, putting down stakes in Africa also includes plans to build and launch a purpose-built film studio on the continent. “Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, Sierra Leone are the places where I’ve been offered an opportunity to build, Ghana being the most advanced currently,” he said.
Elba hopes to break ground on a planned studio later this year, and significantly with eye to that dedicated production space being part of a wider value chain to include local talent, crews and other infrastructure. “It’s a process I’ve been very focused on,” he adds.
Elba also called on the African diaspora to back efforts by himself and Abudu to incubate talent on the continent, and even shoot their own projects in Africa. “Come to Africa. Bring your skill set. Tell your stories,” he said.
“Same audience, same everything. It’s a digital business now,” Abudu chimed in. Dust to Dreams also stars Eku Edewor (Breath Of Life) and Atlanta Bridget Johnson (Man Of God).
The film is a collaboration between Abudu’s EbonyLife Films and African Export Import Bank (Afreximbank), through its Creative Africa Nexus (Canex).
Credit: hollywoodreporter.
