A Place in the Stars

Cast

Production

A Place in the Stars focuses on "how fake and adulterated medical drugs are being traded for billions of dollars". Gukas decided to make a film on fake drugs, having been inspired by the tenure of the now late Dora Akunyili as the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). According to him, the zeal and dedication of Akinyili helped a lot to reduce the prevalence of fake drugs in Nigeria to a minimum level at the time.

The film which was partly funded by Nigerias National Film and Video Censors Board, is a co-production of Native Filmworks with Jungle FilmWorks, Massive Entertainment, Consolidated Media Associates, Pepper Fruit Consult, MichelAngelo Productions and T-Large Media. According to Gukas, the total amount spent on producing the film is over a million dollars. It was shot in Jos, Abuja and Lagos. The films development through production took a period of five years. The director noted the funding style as the reason behind the long duration.

Music and soundtrack

The music was composed by George Kallis; Instrumentation for the music composition was done by a ninety-piece orchestra and it was recorded in Budapest, Hungary. The music score is majorly of an uplifting tempo. The theme song for the film "A Place in the Stars" by Jeremiah Gyang of Chocolate City music label was released on 21 September 2014, along with its music video.

Promotion and release

The film was officially announced to the press on 20 August 2014 at Freedom Park, Lagos Island. The official trailer for the film was unveiled at the event, before it was uploaded on YouTube the same day. Exclusive behind-the-scenes footage; including the making of the film, the music score and music video of the films soundtrack were also screened for guests at the event. On 1 October, a social media campaign was launched on Twitter, which involves users, including celebrities, twitting the name of people who they think deserve a place in the stars, with the hash-tag "#APlaceInTheStars". A private screening was held for the film at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos on 12 October 2014. The film premiered on 7 November 2014 at Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, and slated for a general release on 14 November.

Critical reception

Wilfred Okiche of YNaija says A Place in the Stars is "a disappointing film", faulting almost everything in it. He cited Gideon Okeke as an unengaging leading man, says the screenplay is not dramatic enough, and concludes : "Any director would have presented A Place in the stars in this way and it would be terrible. But Gukas, whose profile is enough to inspire certain lofty expectations, proceeds with this effort, to dash every single one of them. Nothing inspiring, entertaining or admirable about this [film]". Oris Aigbokhaevbolo of "True Nollywood Stories" gave 5.4 stars, also generally panning the film and Okekes performance, but commended its motive. He concludes: "Okeke’s smug-plated acting aside, this is the trouble with A Place in the Stars: it is an NGO enlightenment campaign for television. Screenwriter Ita Hozaife’s and J.K Amalou’s hearts are in the right place, but their film is showing at the wrong space".

Accolades

A Place in the Stars was nominated in eleven categories at the 2015 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, and won the award for "Best Drama Film".