Nigerian filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, has concluded the filming of the screen adaptation of Sefi Atta’s third novel ‘Swallow’ in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The movie follows the story of a naive bank secretary, Tolani Ajao, who, after a series of career woes, considers her roommate’s offer to work as a drug mule in mid-1980s Lagos.

However, Tolani faces a crisis of conscience, and as she questions her own morality in a repressive military regime, she finds herself flung into a journey of self-discovery.

It will also be the first screenwriting credit for the Nigerian novelist, who co-wrote the screen adaptation with Afolayan.

Books by the prize-winning Nigerian-American author have been translated into many languages and her stage plays have been performed internationally.

As is typical of the filmmaker, the cast is an interesting one comprising newbies, established actors, and Nigerian singer Eniola “Niyola” Akinbo in the lead role.

Other cast members are Chioma Akpotha, Deyemi Okanlawon, Ijeoma Grace Agu, Omotunde Adebowale, Eniola Badmus, Mercy Aigbe, Kelvin Ikeduba, Joke Muyiwa, BBNaija reality star Thin Tall Tony, and Olusegun Akinremi.

Oreofeoluwa Lawal of ‘mummy calm down’ fame also made his acting debut in the movie.

Afolayan gave the book a great spin while still maintaining the original storyline. Some scenes in the movie were also achieved with computer-generated imagery (CGI) and a green screen.

Speaking about the reasons he chose to adapt ‘Swallow’ into a screenplay, Afolayan said, ‘‘I read the book which is set in 1985/1986, it was a complicated story because it tells two parallel stories but the subject matter affects everyone globally. If we look at it from Nigeria’s point of view, drug peddling is a major issue here and no one really explored the themes in a Nigerian movie. It is peculiar to us and authentic to Africa. I also had to work with the writer to do the screenplay because the book is so good and I wanted to retain most of the contents of the book.”

Recall, Netflix recently announced that it had struck a partnership with Afolayan to produce and premiere three new diverse films.

‘Swallow’ is the first film on the lineup, the second is a folklore & fantasy story while the third is a film that deals with dementia, but with an African spiritual influence.

US actor Armie Hammer has been accused of raping a woman in Los Angeles in 2017.

The woman, a 24-year-old named only as Effie, made the allegations during a virtual news conference on Thursday.

Hammer, 34, denied the allegations. His lawyer said they were “outrageous” and Hammer “welcomes the opportunity to set the record straight”.

The accuser broke down while reading a prepared statement about the allegations against Hammer, known for films including The Social Network and Call Me By Your Name.

She spoke alongside high-profile women’s rights lawyer Gloria Allred, alleging she first met Hammer on Facebook in 2016, when she was 20.

“I fell in love with him instantly,” she said.

The woman alleged that, as the relationship progressed, Hammer used “manipulation tactics in order to exert control over me”.

She said he would “test my devotion to him, finally removing and crossing my boundaries as he became increasingly more violent”.

The woman accused the actor of abusing her “mentally, emotionally and sexually”.

She said the alleged rape happened on 24 April, 2017.

She said: “Armie Hammer raped me for over four hours in Los Angeles, during which he repeatedly slapped my head against a wall, bruising my face.

“During those four hours, I tried to get away and he wouldn’t let me. I thought that he was going to kill me.

“He then left with no concern for my wellbeing. I was completely in shock and I couldn’t believe that someone I loved did that to me.”

She said she was left suicidal by the alleged rape, adding she felt “immense guilt” at not speaking out sooner.

In a statement, Hammer’s attorney refuted Effie’s claims as “outrageous,” saying all Hammer’s interactions with her and other partners “have been completely consensual, discussed and agreed upon in advance, and mutually participatory.”

Nominees for this year’s Oscars have reportedly been told appearing at the ceremony via Zoom is not an option.

The 93rd Academy Awards are set to take place on 25 April, with an in-person event at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles.

There will also be some live elements from the ceremony’s usual home at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

In a letter sent to nominees and published by US outlet Deadline, producers said a virtual appearance is not allowed and the Academy will accept awards on behalf of any winner unable to make the show.

The letter states: “For those of you unable to attend because of scheduling or continued uneasiness about traveling, we want you to know there will not be an option to Zoom in for the show.

“We are going to great lengths to provide a safe and ENJOYABLE evening for all of you in person, as well as for all the millions of film fans around the world, and we feel the virtual thing will diminish those efforts.”

The Academy, the body which oversees the Oscars, said the ceremony will be “intimate” and promised it would be done safely under pandemic-era precautions.

Recent awards shows have seen some nominees deciding to dress casually for the big night, with actor Jason Sudeikis making headlines for wearing a hoodie while appearing virtually at the Golden Globes.

Such a laidback approach will not be welcome at the Oscars, the Academy said.

Of the dress code, the letter said: “We’re aiming for a fusion of Inspirational and Aspirational, which in actual words means formal is totally cool if you want to go there, but casual is really not.”

Producers stressed the importance of “stories” to the nominees and said each one of them will be interviewed to “help us tell the story of your path” to the ceremony.

They added: “We want to highlight the connections between all of us who work in the movies and show that the process is uniquely intimate, collaborative, and fun (Usually. Hopefully?).”