A REVIEW OF ABATTOIR: THE MAKING

A 12-minute video of some behind-the-scenes (BHS) of the soon-to-be-released Abattoir was posted on the director’s (Damilola Mike-Bamiloye’s) YouTube channel a month ago. Here, we take a closer look at these scenes, while making plot, cast and crew guesses, and the whole lot. Let’s get in to it:

1. THE PROTAGONIST

Damilola-Mike Bamiloye seems to be the protagonist in this film. In the BHS, there are three scenes in which he features as an actor:

• First, we see the making of the first movie clip released online. Notable in this BHS is the remarkable potential of the boy that was called upon in the class to air his opinion. During the shoot, he continually draws laughter from the other cast, and crew, due to his excellent and hilarious delivery of lines. Damilola’s character had to shake his face severally in order to feel serious, and the boy was urged to do a ‘blah blah blah’ than say his humorous lines. I guess the boy is one of those that can improve a script with their performance. We don’t know this character’s name but we can’t wait to see this talent act in the movie.

• This scene was followed by a scene of Damilola’s character in the Principal’s or Proprietor’s office, probably on the same day, judging from the fact that he had the same shirt on.  It seems that his ‘heroics’ in class had earned him a call from the top.  The boss, played by Gbenga Ayoola (“Bosom Fire”, “Haunted” “Akobi Laaroye”), questions his correction methods. Even though he seems to have done all he should do, having applied other forms of discipline before resorting to sending them out of the class, he is asked by the boss “Are you OK?”

• The last scene in which we see Damilola’s character features Moses Korede Are (“Haunted”, “Gbajumo Were”), whoprays for what seems to be restoration, for him. Moses Are is probably a pastor or a father-figure in the protagonist’s life.

• SUB-PLOTS

Other scenes included in the BHS include the following:

1. In a club house reminiscent of Damilola’s short film “A Minute More”, we see the use of Chinese lanterns expertly done to create a disco feel to the scene. This is all the more remarkable when you consider that it was an empty room that was used for this set. We see Samuel Owojori (“House on Fire”, “Block 10”) play the role of Victor, a ‘Pastor’s kid turned tout’.

1. Another scene shows Jumoke played by Omowunmi Olatunde (“The Boomerang”, “Block 10”) speaking on phone with her ‘sugar daddy’, a character named Big Daddy, played by Kayode Babalola. The scene also has Darasimi Mike-Bamiloye (“Haunted”, “Exemplary”) who seems to be Jumoke’s roommate. The dialogue in this scene epitomizes among other things, how some so-called Christians embrace the parts of the Bible that them, while regarding the others as ‘philosophy’. The scene ends with a sadly hilarious line: ‘If you dare open your dirty mouth to preach to me, I’m going to preach my own back.  lol.

• The penultimate scene of the making shows Kayode Owojori (“The Accountant”, “The Counsellor) as The Chief, who, as seen by his son Martins, seems to have dipped his hands into money rituals. Now we know for sure that slaps in movies are real in this scene. I hope they didn’t have to do too many takes of that. Lol. Also, Emmanuel Okoro (“The Professional Actor”) is seen here, probably as The Chief’s assistant or messenger.

• EDITING

One amazing thing this BHS shows us is that there is power in editing; there is power in colour grading. The difference in colour between the behind-the-scenes and actual movie is worthy of note. The edited clips appear cool and colourful, and I can only imagine how wonderful this would look on the big screen. That’s a big thumbs-up for the editor of this movie.

• CREW AND OTHER CAST

Damilola Mike-Bamiloye is the director as we see him doing his job in some of the BHS. Joshua Mike-Bamiloye (“Harmony Deal”, “Exemplary”) is the DOP, as we see him on set, as well as judging from the voice we hear behind the camera in the first scene. We also see Emmanuela Mike-Bamiloye (“Stalker”) with a script in hand acting as the script supervisor/continuity.

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• DIALOGUE

Judging from precedence, Damilola Mike-Bamiloye is also the screenwriter of this movie. As always, he writes great lines of dialogue that at the right times are witty, funny, serious and profound. Most times, there is a catch phrase the audience can leave his movies with. The exchange between Damilola and Gbenga Ayoola has bits on smiles in it, while Moses Korede Are, as he prays with Damilola’s character, says a profound prayer: “…heal his past Lord, renew his present, restore his future, in the name of Jesus…”

These clips are possibly from the first season of Abattoir, for it was noted on Instagram at the start of the year that two ‘seasons’ of the movie were slated for release in 2019.

We wait in anticipation…

Watch out for the review of the trailer of another Mount Zion 2019 film “‘Shackles”, which was premiered earlier this month.