It was the first time in history that a film would be premiered aboard a flight. Last week, FUNKE OSAE-BROWN flew with top management of Air France, the cast and crew of KUNLE AFOLAYAN’s new film, ‘The CEO’ from Lagos to Paris where the film was shown for the first time on the in-flight entertainment. In this report, she chronicles her experience.
As dusk gradually sets over the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, I pulled my carry-on towards the entrance. The first entrance was jam-packed with passengers on the queue pushing their luggage towards the busy screening machine. From afar, I could spot the red carpet well-laid on the ground at Entrance A. A small crowd was gathered. Linda Ejiofor was being interviewed on the red carpet.
Anyone who was at the MMIA on the evening of Wednesday June 1, 2016 could not help but agree that something unusual was happening there. It was the premiere of the well-publicised film by Kunle Afolayan, ‘The CEO’.
Inside the departure hall, passengers were milling from one end to another. On the left hand side, right in front of the Air France counter was laid a red carpet with cameras rightly positioned to capture Nollywood celebrities as they walked the carpet in honour of Afolayan.
By 8.45pm the Air France check-in counter became busy as Nollywood stars and guests of Afolayan checked-in their luggage. They were treated to some of the finest courtesies by Air France staff, a culture for the airline.
After going through immigration, we could hear music blaring from speakers at the boarding gate D34. The party was in full swing right at the boarding gate. Not a few celebrities strutted the red carpet to have their pictures taken and get interviewed by HipHop TV that broadcasted the entire event live for three hours. The cast and crew including their friends in Nollywood and the comedy industry, like Ramsey Nouah, Linda Ejiofor, Ali Baba, Kehinde Bankole, Odunade Adekola among others move from one end of the hall to another taking selfies, chatting, sharing glasses of cocktail with small chops. The whole airport literarily stood still for ‘The CEO’ premiere.
A passenger watching the film on board
By half past ten, the man of the moment, Afolayan, took to the airplane entrance to announce boarding in what could be called a rare privilege. “I will like to say a big thank you,” he began, “to everyone who has made this possible. A big thank you to Air France for their support and for appointing me as their brand ambassador. I say thank you to the cast and crew for their efforts. Now, it is time to board my plane, get on my plane now!”
Jean-Raoul Tauzin, Air France/KLM general manager, also beamed with smiles as he took the microphone from Afolayan. According to him, Air France is proud to be associated with Afolayan as its brand ambassador. “We are indeed happy to make history,” he said. “It is the first time a film will premiere aboard a flight. We are happy to be the first airline to make this happen with the premiere of ‘The CEO’ on our flight AF0149. Have a great evening and enjoy your flight.”
Boarding commenced in earnest. However, a few people who dragged their feet to get on board as a result of the fun they were having had to be reminded by Afolayan the doors of the aircraft would soon be shut. “Get on my plane now!” he cried. “If I count up to ten you are not here, we are gonna leave you behind,” he added jokingly.
I walked through the business class cabin to seat 25G. I safely towed by handbag under the seat in front of me; my seat belt fastened. Before long, everyone was on the airplane. The doors were shut. “Welcome on board Air France flight AF0149 that is taking us to Charles De Gaulle Airport, Paris. Our flight time is approximately five hours. This is a special flight as we will show you for the first time ‘The CEO’ a film by Monsieur Kunle Afolayan,” the captain announced.
The aircraft began to taxi for take-off. Within a few minutes we were airborne. And history was about to be made on Air France flight AF0149.
Nearly all the cast of the film walked the red carpet.
Approximately forty-five minutes into the flight. Afolayan announced to everyone on board that the much awaited film can be viewed on the in-flight TV, world cinema category. Promptly, everyone tuned in. I pressed the play button. The movie began to roll.
‘The CEO’ tells the story of a multinational communication company, Transwire Communication Ltd, that is shopping for a chief executive officer for its Nigerian office among its top level executives from Kenya, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Morrocco and South Africa. They are all invited to a resort in Nigeria for a camp meeting and training where the right person for the position is expected to emerge. It is around the search for the best man that the plot of the story is woven.
The film came to an end to a thunderous applause from passengers and cabin crew on board. Afolayan later moved from cabin to cabin with the cast for interaction with the passengers and for them to take selfies.
On Thursday, after arriving in Paris, the film also headlined the prestigious NollywoodWeek Paris, a film festival organised by the French-based association Okada Media, headed by Serge Noukoué and Nadira Shakur.
Nearly all the cast of the film walked the red carpet at the popular Cinema l’Arlequin, venue of the NollywoodWeek. Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, entertainer and activist from Benin, Angélique Kidjo; Haitan actor and model Jimmy Jean-Louis; consummate actor and founder of the New Nigeria Cinema movement, Wale Ojo; French-Ivorian actress and model, Aurelie Eliam; South African actor and presenter, Nicolaos Panagiotopoulos; Nigerian actress, Kemi Lala Akindoju; Moroccan star, Fatim Layachi were present.
‘The CEO’ tells the story of a multinational communication company, Transwire Communication Ltd.
Before the film was shown, Angélique Kidjo recalled her experience meeting Afolayan for the first time aboard a flight from Atlanta. “The reason why I decided to be a part of the film is because of its Pan Africanism involved,” she told the audience. “In Africa, we don’t tell our own stories enough. We have left it for others to tell it for us. This will help us tell the story of positivity. Africa is a continent of great actors, directors, actresses. I want to thank Kunle for giving me the opportunity to be in the movie. The movie is a great way to tell our story.”
Arthur Dieffenthaler, commercial manager, Air France/KLM said the move by Air France to premiere the film shows some of the big ideas and creativity Air France/KLM is known for. He said it is the first time a Nigerian film will be shot at the Charles De Gaulle Airport, expressing optimism that the partnership will go on for a long time.
The CEO is expected to be released in the cinemas across the continent in July and it will be permanently on all Air France in-flight entertainment.
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