The Shuga producers are looking to cast fresh new talent to fill a range of key male and female roles in the award winning drama series, alongside Nigerian actor and musician Ikubese Emmanuel Ifeanyichukwu and Kenyan actor, singer and radio presenterNick Mutuma. As well as a number of principal roles, two minor parts will be chosen by public voting from a shortlist of six, with voting taking place online at http://www.shuga.tv in August 2013.
“We are looking for real, raw talent that is going to help bring the Shuga drama series alive for Nigerian audiences,” said Georgia Arnold, Executive Director, MTV Staying Alive Foundation, “With principle photography for Shuga just a few weeks away, and the TV show premiering across Africa in December 2013 – this could be a huge career boost for aspiring Nigerian actors and actresses.”
Speaking on behalf of MTV Base, Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa, commented, “MTV Base is delighted to offer this empowering opportunity for Nigerian actors and actresses to be involved in this high quality drama series that will resonate and make an impact with youth audiences around the globe.”
The first two series of Shuga were filmed in Kenya between 2009 and 2011. Starring a young cast of upcoming Kenyan actors and actresses, Shuga told a bitter-sweet tale of love, loss, sex, heartbreak and relationships, set in the clubs, bars, campuses and hangouts of contemporary Nairobi.
Fusing public health messaging with gripping storylines, Shuga is part of a powerful 360-degree mass media prevention education campaign designed to raise awareness about HIV prevention, teen pregnancy and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Nigeria. Recent research among youth aged 18 to 24 has highlighted widespread ignorance about or indifference to contraception, poor access to contraceptives, a significantly high incidence of mother-to-child HIV transmission, gender-based violence in the region, lack of knowledge about sexual transmission of HIV and the individual HIV status. This year’s campaign seeks to promote HIV reduction behaviours among this target population through encouraging HIV counselling and testing, to motivate a reduction in the number of sexual partners as well as promoting awareness about services for women who have experienced gender-based violence.
Auditions will hold on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th July between 8am and 6pm at Protea Hotel, Ikoyi, Westwood. Candidates must be a Nigerian within the ages of 18 and 55 with good spoken English and no criminal record. No previous acting experience is necessary.
Candidates are also to bring along a photo ID as well as a good quality self portrait (minimum size: 7 cm x 5 cm) and must be available for filming in Lagos between August 12th 2013 and September 22nd 2013.
Shuga will premiere on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322), Nigerian terrestrial broadcasters and other MTV networks and third party broadcasters around the world from World AIDS Day (1 December 2013). Other elements of the Shuga campaign will include a radio drama series, a peer educator programme, a comic book in Hausa and English, a mobile information service, social media and a range of digital platforms.
To continue the conversation about Shuga, please go to www.shuga.tv, like Shuga on www.facebook.com/MTVShuga, or followShuga on Twitter @MTVShuga using the hashtag #ShugaSuperstars.
Now that the auditions are over, what’s next especially for those that took part in the casting call?