Idris Elba and Mo Abudu Partner to Help Develop African Film, TV Industry

thewrap.com:

Queen Nzinga” executive producer said the effort would be made through their respective production companies, Green Door Pictures and EbonyLife Media to build capacity and foster authentic representation in global film and TV projects set for production.The two described a two-fold approached that would bring education and mentoring initiatives to help both young people and older creative professionals the opportunity to showcase their skills and tell their stories, and assist in large-scale productions.Abudu, who has Nigerian roots, has deep ties to “Nollywood,” as the Nigerian film industry is known, producing multiple films in that space, including 2016’s “The Wedding Party,” which stood at the time as the nation’s highest grossing film.

She’s also involved with Nigerian television, including “Desperate Housewives Africa” in partnership with Disney.“We believe that Africa has the talent and the stories to captivate the world.

It’s our mission to offer the best in industry education, mentorship, and production opportunities, so that our graduates can become valuable contributors to the global media landscape,” Abudu said in a statement. “We plan to hit the ground running and explore the very best that African and Black stories have to offer global audiences.”Elba, who founded Green Door Productions in 2013 to work with emerging talent and produce thought-provoking content, lists “Luther: The Fallen Sun,” Netflix’s “Concrete Cowboy” and the forthcoming Apple+ series “Hijack” among its credits.

He also has a record label, 7Wallace Music.“I have always been passionate about using my platform to make a positive impact,” Elba said. “By partnering with Mo, we aim to offer free, world-class industry education to the next.