Bayelsa state born talented filmmaker, Perekeme Odon, wins the Best Make Up Artist Award at the 2017 Africa Magic Viewers Choice (AMVCA) held on March 4, 2017, at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos.
Perekeme is a trained Nollywood filmmaker, theatre practitioner and broadcast journalist. A graduate of Theatre Arts and Film Studies from the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in 2000, he joined movie production as a dancehall reggae artist in 1995; and later got recruited into the Dagogo Diminas’ 13 Fatman & Associates, as a Make Up Assistant, where he met other make-up artists and designers like Gabriel Okorie (Gabazzini), Ifeanyi Uzoka (Bandana Creation), Soibifaa Diminas (Just-So Designs) and John Okeh.
The former student of Government Sea School, Isaka, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Federal School of Arts & Science, Aba, Abia State, has been making up actors in the Nigerian movies industry and special events for over 20 years with lots of awards & nominations to his credit.
Perewinkle, as he is popularly called, was nominated at the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) in 2007 with the movie, Covenant Church, directed by Charles Novia. He was also nominated in the 2012 Nollywood Movies Awards with the movie, Tango With Me, produced and directed by Mahmood Ali-Balogun, starring Genevieve Nnaji, Joseph Benjamin, Tina Mba, Kevin Ushi, Kate Henshaw and a host of other actors.
Perekeme was furthermore nominated at the fifth edition of the Nollywood and African Film Critics’ Awards (NAFCA), which took place at The Orpheum Theatre, Broadway, Los Angeles, California, USA, with Oloibiri, produced by Rogers Ofime and directed by 2015 NAFCA best director of the year, Curtis Graham.
Perekeme has done make up designs and effects in more than 100 movies. However, since the challenges for good movies were not forthcoming back then, he decided to explore into full time production. According to him, “I am very happy to win this award to crown all my efforts in my specialization. I thought after all my efforts, it was not going to come; but I thank God it finally came in from the AMVCA. I am very grateful to God and everyone that have stood behind me”. He further went on to advise those in their chosen professions: “Everyone should be very consistently consistent in their chosen endeavour, and be positively focused. It all has to do with one day like it has happened to me”.
Besides make up and special effects, Pere is a movie producer, director, editor and videographer that shoots musical videos, events and documentaries. His documentary Nigeria and Crude Oil: A Blessing or A Curse, was screened at the 2016 Abuja International Film Festival. He is a member of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Creative Designers Guild of Nigeria (CDGN), and Radio, Television, Theatre Workers Union (RATTAWU).
In addition, Perekeme is a trained professional journalist, and an alumnus of the prestigious Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), where he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) in Broadcast Journalism. He is currently the Head of Performing Arts Department, National Council for Arts & Culture (NCAC), Lagos Zonal Office, National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos State. His hobbies are reading, writing, dancing, swimming, meeting people, travelling, etc.
By Eva Okechukwu
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