One Night in Vegas is a 2013 Nigerian comedy drama film directed by John Uche. It stars Jimmy Jean-Louis,[1][2][3] John Dumelo, Yvonne Nelson,[4][5] Sarodj Bertin, Van Vicker, Michael Blackson and Koby Maxwell.[6][7] The film focuses on a Ghanaian Couple who attempt to better their relationship by taking a trip to Las Vegas. The film was created by the same team who introduced Paparazzi Eye in the Dark in 2011.[8] Budgeted with a low six-figure budget and filmed over the course of 19 days, the film has been known in the Nollywood USA[9] market as the film poised to raise the bar of African films[10] by utilizing a more western approach to production quality and standards.[11] Notably employing the experience of an American Filmmaker (Tim "Black Magic Tim" Wilson)[12] to serve as Cinematographer and Editor.[13] The film's official release[14][15][16] in Ghana was one of the largest turnout outs ever in the history of Silverbird Theater in Accra Mall.[17]

One Night in Vegas
Directed byJohn Uche
Written byB.J. Winfrey
Produced byKoby Maxwell
StarringJimmy Jean-Louis
John Dumelo
Yvonne Nelson
Sarodj Bertin
Van Vicker
Michael Blackson
CinematographyBlack Magic Tim
Edited byBlack Magic Tim
Music byKoby Maxwell
Bruce Gardner
Blaise Tangelo
H. Gil Ingles
Production
companies
K.M Productions
RVI Motion Media
Release date
  • December 25, 2013 (2013-12-25)
Running time
133 minutes
CountriesNigeria
United States
LanguageEnglish

The film has played at the United Nations in New York City,[18] The Library of Congress in Washington DC,[19] The Pan African Film Festival,[20] Dublin Ireland,[21] Haiti,[22] Nigeria on July 18, 2014,[23][24] Maryland, Virginia, California, The United Kingdom, South Africa, and Sierra Leone.

This film was written by Hollywood screenwriter/actor and Atlanta, GA native B.J. Winfrey, who, besides starring on "Army Wives", "Sabotage" with Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Tyler Perry's "The Haves and the Have Nots",[25] also gained notoriety in 2014 for being the first American to win the Nigerian and African Film Critics Award (NAFCA) for the short film "Five".[26]

Plot edit

James Foster, a man at a crossroads with himself and his marriage. Coming out on top after a high-profile case with a band of thugs; James has been sober for 18 months. He decides a trip to Vegas with his wife Genie would be a good way to rekindle their relationship as well as an opportunity to employ his bodyguard friend, Nick, a few more days as a holiday "thank you" for their security in the case.[27][28][29]

Genie's mom, Barbara, is skeptical whether or not the trip will help Genie strengthen her relationship with James or resolve the intimate issues between them. Sometimes weakness is the opposite of strength, but sometimes weakness can be the pathway to strength. Sometimes addiction is the opposite of sobriety, but sometimes addiction can be the pathway to sobriety. Sometimes what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but sometimes it doesn't.[30]

Cast edit

Accolades edit

Nominations edit

  • 2013 NAFC Awards: Best Film in the Diaspora[31]
  • 2013 NAFC Awards: Best Film[32]
  • 2013 NAFC Awards: Best Sound
  • 2013 NAFC Awards: Best Director in the Diaspora
  • 2013 NAFC Awards: Best Cinematography in the Diaspora
  • 2013 NAFC Awards: Best Cinematography
  • 2013 NAFC Awards: Best Actor in a Supporting Role
  • 2013 NAFC Awards: Best Screenplay
  • 2013 NAFC Awards: Best Screenplay in the Diaspora
  • 2013 NAFC Awards: Best Editing
  • 2013 NAFC Awards: Best Actor in a Leading Role
  • 2013 NAFC Awards: Best Actress in a Leading Role
  • 2013 NAFC Awards: Best Visual Effects
  • 2013 Ghana Movie Awards: Best Editing/Sound[33]
  • 2013 Ghana Movie Awards: Best Music
  • 2013 Ghana Movie Awards: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
  • 2013 Ghana Movie Awards: Best Picture

Awards edit

  • 2013 NAFCA: Best Cinematography[34]
  • 2013 NAFCA: Best Film in Diaspora[35]
  • 2013 NAFCA: Best Actor in a Supporting Role[36][37]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "John Dumelo Stars Alongside Jimmy Jean Louis In New Movie-A Night In Vegas". GhanaCelebrities. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Washington Post: Haitian actor Jimmy Jean-Louis wins local Caribbean arts award". The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  3. ^ "Info Nollywood: Premiere". Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  4. ^ "Koby Maxwel's 'One Night In Vegas' Featured In The Washington Post With A Confusing Beginning About Actress Yvonne Nelson". GhanaFilmIndustry. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  5. ^ "Yvonne Nelson Yells at Director". Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  6. ^ "Afrikan Post- Oct - Vegas DC Premiere". Afrikan Post. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  7. ^ "Blog Talk Radio: Koby Maxwell One Night in Vegas". Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  8. ^ Brown, DeNeen (26 May 2013). "Washington Post: Nollywood USA: African Movie Makers Expand Filming to D.C. Area". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 27 May 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  9. ^ "Nollywood Pay Per View Deal". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  10. ^ "United Nations Host One Night In Vegas Film". Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  11. ^ "CCTV: African Film Makers set up Hub in Washington". CCTV. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  12. ^ "Channel 9 News on One Night in Vegas". Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  13. ^ "Voice of America: Nollywood in the USA". VOA. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  14. ^ Awake Etv. "Koby Maxwell interview on Awake etv ghana". Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  15. ^ "Yvonne Nelson's Outfit at One Night in Vegas Ghana Premiere". That1960chick. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  16. ^ "One Night In Vegas Premiere's Xmas". Swag of Africa. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  17. ^ "Massive Turnout for One Night In Vegas". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  18. ^ "United Nations Premiere". Monteoz. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  19. ^ "Bridging the Gap Library of Congress". Swag of Africa. Swag of Africa. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  20. ^ "Pan African Film Festival". PAFF. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  21. ^ "Dublin Premiere of One Night in Vegas". IrokoTV. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  22. ^ "Haiti Film Festival". Festival De Cine. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  23. ^ "Vegas Plays In Nigerian Cinemas". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  24. ^ "Trailer for Lagos Premiere". Vimeo. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  25. ^ "B.J. Winfrey".
  26. ^ "African NAFCA Beverly Hills – 2014 Winners And Honorees List"./
  27. ^ "One Night in Vegas Plot". Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  28. ^ "Nollywood Critics Review". Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  29. ^ "Yvonne Nelson's 'One Night In Vegas' Starring Jimmy Jean-Louis". OMG Ghana. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  30. ^ "Imdb". Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  31. ^ "Nafca Nominations 2013".
  32. ^ "One Night In Vegas' Not Released, 13 NAFCA Nominations". Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  33. ^ "Ghana Movie Award 2013 Nominees". Love Nollywood. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  34. ^ "List of 2013 Winners". Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  35. ^ "Ghana Film Industry". Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  36. ^ "Jimmy Jean Louis Wins". Archived from the original on 23 June 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  37. ^ "Shadow and Act: Jimmy Jean-Louis Books Role With Multi-Episode Arc On CW's 'Arrow". Retrieved 10 December 2013.

External links edit