On Friday, January 20, 2023, Netflix launched the most recent Nigerian crime thriller, “Shanty Town,” to rave reviews, particularly on social media.
The work by Xavier Ighorodje and Chichi Nworah tells the tale of three hustlers from Lagos who band together to fight the greatest and most brutal criminal organization in the State.
Chichi Nworah, producer of the show, says: “Shanty Town is a unique show in that it is at once different as it is familiar. The tale of redemption will especially resonate with audiences familiar with the grit and hustle mentality of Lagos, and indeed other fast-paced and vibrant cities around the world. We are spotlighting the underbelly of the city, and bringing to life the various character dynamics that exist beneath the cover of every day “normal life,” thus telling a truly fresh and compelling story. I cannot wait for the entire world to see Shanty Town!”
Here are five things about the gritty series that have kept people talking:
1. Body Doubles & Nude Scenes
A bodily double is a person who replaces an actor in a scene, typically for shots that ostensibly reveal the actor’s nudity or particular body parts, like the back legs or chest.
In situations involving nudity, intimacy, or physical activity that could be risky or difficult for the actor to perform, body doubles are sometimes utilised.
Additionally, they can be utilized to lengthen an actor’s stay on set or to give the impression that there are multiple people in a scene. The film business uses it frequently.
Body doubles are used in movies to safeguard the main performers from harm, maintain their privacy, and speed up the production. Since the early days of Hollywood, body doubles have been widely used in the film industry.
Body duplicates are utilized for a variety of purposes, such as preserving the actor’s privacy and comfort or ensuring that the scene is shot in accordance with the director’s intent.
Nigeria’s regulatory body, the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), forbids explicit nudity.
To safeguard the privacy and comfort of actress Nancy Isime and to adhere to local laws and regulations, the director and producers of Shanty Town chose to use a body duplicate for the nude scene.
Isime, who has generated a lot of interest on social media, has revealed how the series’ naked scenes were produced.
Her bare-chested appearance in the video that went viral on Friday stirred discussions online about whether the actress was actually that naked.
But in response to the dialogue, Isime made it known that a body duplicate, not her nudity, was on exhibit in the moment.
“Simmer down horny boys and girls. I know those gorgeous body parts excite you but they sadly belong to my beautiful body double. Mine aren’t that succulent,” the actress wrote on her Instagram page.
2. A-List Actors
Veteran Nollywood actors Richard Mofe-Damijo, Ini Edo, Chidi Mokeme, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Shola Shobowale, Shaffy Bello, Ali Nuhu, and Uche Jombo are among the outstanding star cast of Shanty Town.
Zubby Michael, Nancy Isime, Yaw Naija, Omowunmi Dada, reality TV personality Mercy Eke, Shola Sobowale, Regina Daniels, Judith Audu, and Peter Okoye, one half of the renowned Nigerian music band P-Square, are also featured in this star-studded concert.
3. The Story
The synopsis of Shanty Town reads, “A group of courtesans attempt to escape the grasp of a notorious kingpin, but political corruption and blood ties make freedom a near-impossible goal.”
In Shanty Town, three hustlers from Lagos State get together to fight the greatest and most brutal criminal organization in the state.
The program, which is based in a small Lagos community called Shanty Town, examines the lives of sex workers who work for a cruel manager named Scar. The first scene of the show depicts a family fleeing from raiders as they lose everything they own. Two of the family members passed away, and one of the daughters was recruited by a prostitution-run drug cartel.
4. The Production Team
Dimeji Ajibola served as the series’ director, and Chinenye “Chichi” Nworah’s Giant Creative Studios, Champion One Entertainment, and Minini Empire Production produced it (Passport). The story was written by Shirleyaan Ede, Xavier Ighorodje, and Ayomikun Paseda, while the script was written by Xavier Ighorodje and Donald Tombia (Enakhe, Introducing the Kujus).
The program’s creators are sometimes listed as Xavier Ighorodje and Chichi Nworah.
Photographic director Jonathan Kovel (Swallow) is given credit for the film. Ini Edo, a well-known actress, served as the project’s executive producer as well.