Stephanie Linus Daily

Category: Steph’s Lounge

  • What’s On Your Last-Minute Christmas Shopping List?

    Hi SL Fabz,

    Christmas is just around the corner, Whoop!! Whoop!!

    The excitement is in the air and I have a spring in my steps today. I can almost smell Christmas and the frenzy for last minute Christmas shopping is on the high. It’s just about noon and the shops and markets are already filled up!

    A friend came to see me this morning before going shopping and when I saw her Christmas shopping list, I had a good laugh. She was going to buy 7 Chickens for 7 Family Friends. When I asked, ‘Why not give a gift or a hamper instead of a chicken?‘ she said ‘What’s Christmas without a chicken? And I don’t mean any chicken. A live chicken that you kill at home.’

    It made me remember the excitement I used to have as a child whenever we killed a chicken during Christmas. Those were fun days. There is something different about having all the parts of the chicken dancing in your pot rather than just the laps. And of course the taste is different and better!

    But before I make this post about chickens, let’s get back to the topic of the day. Are you shopping today? What is the most important thing you must buy this Christmas either for yourself or for family?

  • #MeetTheDRYStars: Liz Benson-Ameye & Rekiya Atta

    I was privileged to have some seasoned actors with me for the production of DRY and I do not take this for granted in anyway. They brought their wealth of experience and skills to the set of the movie and made it such a pleasant experience.

    It was a honour to work with two amazing women – Liz Benson-Ameye and Rekiya Atta.

    Liz Benson-Ameye needs no introduction. Her journey to stardom began when she appeared on the set of the popular television soap opera, Fortunes in 1993 and since then, she has been a darling of the screen. She played the role of Matron in the movie, a woman who had so much passion for helping other women suffering from VVF. You could see her passion shine through the screen and watching her made me realize it wasn’t just acting, she is truly a good spirited woman.

    You might not know Rekiaya Atta if you are only used to the ‘new Nollywood’, but she is one woman who was a great source of inspiration to my acting career. She was one of the early Nollywood actors bringing fond memories of films like Across The Niger, Battle of Love, Keeping Faith, Laraba, and Amina plus soap operas like, Behind the Clouds and Ripples. She aslo worked on the formative kiddies NTA television drama entitled ‘Tales by Moonlight’, I’m sure most of you would remember that.

    Rekiaya played the role of Sani’s mother in the movie. Unlike Liz who was compassionate towards Halima who had VVF, she did the opposite and was harsh towards her. She is someone you’d definitely love to see in the movie so get ready to watch her on the big screen DRY premieres around you soon. You’d really love her professionalism.

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  • #MeetTheDRYStars: Zubair Ibrahim Faggae & Chinenye Nnebe

    First of all, I love how pretty they look in this picture 🙂

    In my career, I’ve had to work with a good number of child stars and I am so awed each time I see the great potential in young people. However, working with these two and seeing the result of their work recently made me feel so so proud.

    Zubair Ibrahim Faggae played the role of Halima in DRY and to say she gave a great performance would be an understatement. She is definitely a star in the making.

    In the movie, she was forced to marry a 60 year-old man who paid some money to her parents, suffered rape and rejection, lost her childhood, and was a victim of Vesico Vaginal Fistula.

    Chinenye Nnebe played the role of young Dr Zara (that’s me) in the movie. There were flashback scenes where my character had to remember her past and some difficult things she had been through.

    Young Dr Zara was also raped and lost her family at some point.

    Both girls played their roles with such talent, it was heart-wrenching to watch them display so much emotion. In the movie, they were abused, lost their innocence, were rejected and faced many challenges. Although I was clearly a part of the production of the movie, watching it on the big screen made me shed a few tears and fall in love with them all over again.

    I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag and tell you about the entire movie, I just want to appreciate these starlets and say that I love them. They are definitely going to bigger places in their career!
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  • Photos From The Private Screening of My Movie ‘DRY’ in the UK

    The private screening of my movie “Dry” took place recently at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Wales, UK where part of the film was shot. With over 150 guests in attendance, movie enthusiasts and critics from the UK and beyond who attended the event had nothing but words of commendation and praise for DRY which received a resounding 10-minute-standing ovation from the entire audience.

    “This film is an opportunity to create an awareness. It is a privilege to be on the project”- Liz (Benson) Ameye

    With moving, heart-wrenching scenes accompanied by the serious, and often-controversial social matters addressed, many were moved to tears. The special advisor to the President on Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) Dr. Precious Gbeneol, who was in attendance, gave an engaging speech on the effect and importance of the film in terms of social good for not only West Africa, but for the continent as a whole. The Vice Chancellor of the University of Aberystwyth Prof. April McMahon gave special acknowledgment of the importance of building bridges and connections with Africa and the world to bring these stories to life.

     “The warm reception at Aberystwyth from the guests at this screening was overwhelming. Listening to people discuss the real issue that the film was based on was truly liberating. This is more than just a film. It is a movement to change the lives of many young women who suffer from VVF”– Director, Producer, Writer Stephanie Linus

    The film stars: Darwin Shaw as Dr. Alex, the legendary Liz Benson Ameye as the Matron, Bill McNamara as Dr. Brown, and introducing Zubaidat Ibrahim Fagge as Halima the teenager who had to endure a life not designed for a child: to be married to a man who was more than four times her age. The production of this film was supported by the Office of the SA to the President on MDGs Nigeria, Aberystwyth University Wales, Diamond Woman, Ford Foundation and many more.

    The movie trailer for DRY can be watched through this link– bit.ly/drytrailer. The film will premier in Nigeria and across Africa in the Spring of 2015.

    Also starring in the film are Olu Jacobs, Tijjani Faraga, Hauwa Maina, Rahama Hassan, Rekiya Attah, Hakeem Hassan and Afamefuna Klint Igwemba (aka Klint da drunk) and many Art students of Aberystwyth. The production’s creative team includes director of photography, Angel Barroeta, executive producer, Linus Idahosa, co-produced by Jane Lawalata with Akanimo Odon and Murtza Ali Ghaznavi as line producers and Chinedu Omorie as first assistant.

    Movie goers can follow the film on the official movie site at www.themoviedry.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/themoviedry or on Twitter with the handle @themovieDry

    Thank you SL Fabz for all your support! Here are some photos from the premiere.

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  • Time to Spread Holiday Cheer, Even When You’re Down

    It’s no secret that the holidays aren’t a time of delight and wonder for everyone. Many people struggle to get through them. For people dealing with a loss from death or divorce, a serious illness or loss of a job, the season can be bittersweet, if not downright depressing.

    If this is similar to what you’re feeling at the moment, I’d like to send a warm e-hug to you and say ‘It’s gonna get better‘.

    Here are some strategies on how to cope with the holidays if you’re not feeling cheerful:

    Change it up.
    If you’ve had a loss in the past year, consider doing the holidays in a completely different way this year: Travel, celebrate at someone else’s house, go out to eat with friends. It’s a natural tendency to isolate yourself when you feel down, but it can make you feel worse.

    Write yourself a letter.
    This is an act of self-compassion, or treating yourself as kindly as you would treat someone else in your situation. Several studies have shown that writing yourself a caring, supportive letter about the issue you are struggling with significantly increases happiness, improves mood and facilitates coping with negative emotions.

    Focus on others.
    One of the easiest ways to get out of your own head is to help someone else. Volunteer. Do some charity work or something for the less privileged. There are so many people around who would love a small gift or a little bit of your time.

    Do something awesome.
    Go on an adventure, stare at the ocean, go to a theater performance, visit an art museum, watch a nice movie… Do something you don’t often do and make yourself feel good.

    As the holidays approach, I wish you the very best of the season!

    xoxo

    SL

  • This Is A Fun Eye Personality Test!

    Hi SL Fabz,

    I hope you’re having a great weekend. I found this interesting personality test which I’d like to share with you.

    First Choose An Eye To See What It Reveals About You

    An eye is very complex, beautiful and intriguing. The eye symbolizes clarity, focus and purpose. the eye you are drawn to below reveals quite a bit about your personality. Choose the eye you like best to learn more about yourself.

    This is a fun eye personality test! What eye are you drawn to? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9? You can choose more than 1 if you feel drawn.

    Eye 1, Deep Down You Are Open. you’re the type of person who will welcome almost anyone into your life and heart. You believe that its better to take a risk and get hurt than to close yourself off to the world. you don’t show the world your fears and insecurities. you believe that your problems should be dealt with privately. you try ti be totally there for everyone, even if you’re hurting inside. Helping others is how you heal.

    Eye 2, Deep down you are conscientious. You’re the type of person who’s always looking to make a good impression and do the right thing. You believe your actions make a difference in other people’s lives, no matter how large or small they are. You don’t show the world how worried and upset you are. You see a lot of misery and injustice that you keep to yourself. You are devoted to being the person possible. it’s the least you can do with your time on this planet.

    Eye 3, Deep Down you are tortured. You’re the type of person who has a very tumultuous past that still affects you today. You can’t help but think that life is some sort of sick cosmic joke. You try to find peace wherever you can. You don’t show the world your darkest thoughts. You have a lot to endure, and your keeping it to yourself. Your outlook can be surprisingly sunny at times. You’re an expert at picking yourself up when you fall.

    Eye 4, Deep Down you are philosophical. You’re the type of person who’s likely to over think everything and anything. You like to get to the deeper meaning of things. You get so lost in your thoughts that it’s sometimes hard to tell up from down. You don’t show the world how unsure you are about everything.You may be figuring things out, but you’re still confident. you see life as a puzzle, and you like playing with the pieces until they fit together. you may not ever figure out the meaning of it all, and you’re okay with that.

    Eye 5, Deep down you are mysterious. You’re the type of person who hasn’t figured yourself out, so good luck to anyone else who plans to try! You are a mash up of many contradictions, and your mood changes daily. Once you find yourself, you’ve changed into someone else. You don’t show the world much about yourself. You are a person of few words and confusing actions. You prefer to observe and learn about people before you chime in. You only say things that you are sure of.

    Eye 6, Deep down you are sensitive. You’re the type of person who notices everything and forgets nothing. you are very in tune with the world. You feel deeply, and sometimes the silliest things can affect you. You are easily brought to laughter or tears. You don’t show the world how fragile you are. You instead show people how insightful you can be. You are good at anticipating what’s going to happen in your life. You are often the first one to see what’s coming.

    Eye 7, Deep down you are fiery. You’re the type of person who’s always energetic or passionate. There’s nothing subtle about you…ever. You tend to love or hate everything. you have a ton of opinions, and you make up your mind quickly. You don’t show the world how anxious you are. You have a lot of energy, and too much of it means you can be quite nervous. Everything is very high stakes for you. You can’t help but build up the drama in your head.

    Eye 8, Deep down you are eccentric. You’re the type of person who has unusual interests, beliefs and practices. You’ve always been a bit of a weirdo. You don’t care much for rules or tradition. You do things your way and let the chips fall where they may. You show the world everything about you. You have nothing to hide, and you just laugh off those who judge you. You wish everyone was more like you. There’s a lot of joy in being a non-conformist.

    Eye 9, Deep down you are Intuitive. You’re the type of person who understands other people and the world very well. You don’t let on to how much you know. You can tell so much from someone’s facial expressions or tone of voice. And you always know when you’re being lied to. you show the world exactly what you want to show. Besides being good at reading people, you also know how you’re being read. You know when you’re being manipulated, and you know how to manipulate someone if you have to. You usually don’t resort to it though!

    So tell me, what’s your number? Do you believe what it says about you?

  • This Song Will Get You In The Mood For Christmas

    It’s just two weeks to Christmas! Yay!!!

    I was chatting with a friend yesterday about Christmas and you can imagine my surprise when she said she didn’t feel the Christmas fever like I did.

    Of course, all of the shops are full of Christmas presents and buildings are decorated with Christmas lights and trees but she still didn’t feel the Christmas vibe. So, do you know what I did? I played this song for her and we spent the next hour listening to other great Christmas songs from Pentatonix and you bet, she started feeling the vibes.

    This is an amazing group and most of their songs just leave goosebumps on my skin.

    So guys, its two weeks to Christmas and as we count down to this awesome day, I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas in advance.

    Are you in the mood for Christmas like me? Or do you need something to cheer you up? This song surely will:

  • Happy New Month!

    It’s a brand new month, a month of new beginning.

    Although its the last month of the year, I’ve got a spring in my steps today and I feel the onset of something great.

    It might be the last month, but it’s never too late for your miracle, blessings, and dreams to come true. Open your mind to possibilities. You’ll be amazed by what you are capable of achieving.

    May you find your heart desires this month. Stay blessed.

  • Why You Should Care About World Toilet Day 2014

    So, today November 19th is World Toilet Day. I didn’t think much of it until I read this shocking statistics:

    Of the world’s seven billion people, 2.5 billion people do not have improved sanitation. 1 billion people still defecate in the open. Women and girls risk rape and abuse because they have no toilet that offers privacy.

    As someone who is very passionate about protection of the girl child, that last sentence stood out to me. A good, clean and hygienic toilet gives one more than just a proper means of relieving oneself, it also gives women and girls privacy thereby protecting them from rape and abuse.

    Here is an excerpt of an article I read online titled ‘Me, Myself And The Loo: A Woman’s Future Can Rest On A Toilet‘ which depicts real life consequences this sad condition.

    Geeta has no toilet near her home in northern India; she treks 2 miles in the dark to a field for privacy. Geeta comes from the Indian village where two teenage girls were gang-raped and murdered over the summer while relieving themselves in a field. If Vanessa’s school had private bathrooms, the 17-year-old wouldn’t have to miss class when she’s having her period. In Ecuador, Reverside, 37, wouldn’t have to visit her brother’s house to use his toilet, which is shared by nine other people from different families.

    Among the 2.5 billion people without access to a clean and proper toilet — more than a billion of whom defecate out in the open — women and girls are hit hardest. The consequences of such precarious solutions go beyond health. Also at risk are education, employment opportunities, personal dignities, your privacy and your security.

    We cannot accept this situation. Sanitation is a global development priority. This is why I’m in support of the theme of today’s United Nations World Toilet Day: ‘Equality And Dignity‘. The campaign will inspire action to end open defecation and put spotlight on how access to improved sanitation leads to a reduction in assault and violence on women and girls.

    It is a day to do something about it.

  • If You Could Make One Wish…

    What would it be?

    The other day a friend of mine asked me “If you had one wish, what would you wish for?”.

    I thought short, but hard about it.

    The commons thoughts came up in my mind:

    “World peace. A billion pounds.” And so on…

    And then I said, out aloud:

    “I want everyone to be happy.”

    This is why…

    Because if everyone was completely and totally inner-peace-type-contented-happy, we would have peace; happy people can’t be bothered fighting each other, and money wouldn’t matter; because everyone would be treated fairly and would have more than enough of everything and anything that we needed. And so on…

    So, right now, that’s my mission.

    To help as many people as I possibly can to live happy lives. And to do so by being a living example as well.

    If you had one wish, what would you wish for?