Dawn in the Creeks is a reality TV series that will follow teams of Niger Delta youths as they embark on a journey to create films in the Nollywood style, showcasing stories of non-violent transformation in their communities. Dawn in the Creeks is the centerpiece of the wider Niger Delta Legacy engagement, an initiative aimed at forging a legacy of peace and transformation in the Niger Delta. The effort is guided by a board composed of distinguished Nigerian thought leaders, with support from the U.S State Department.
The debut season of Dawn in the Creeks, set to premiere in spring 2014, will span five phases:
Phase 1: Meet & Greet – Renowned Nollywood filmmaker and Niger Delta native, Jeta Amata, will visit communities in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta States to form seven-person teams of local youths with inspiring stories to tell. All of this will be captured on film to form the opening episodes of “Dawn” Season 1.
Phase 2: Nollywood Academy – Teams from each community will travel to Lagos for an intensive training on social transformation, leadership, and film making in the Nollywood style. Teams will receive hands-on training from Jeta and other distinguished entertainment figures. Candid footage, celebrity visits, and the journey of these young film makers will be featured in mid-season episodes of “Dawn”.
Phase 3: Community Film making – Empowered with skills, equipment, and a budget, teams will return to the Niger Delta to produce their films. The young film makers will produce real-life dramas about conflict, oil, reconciliation and peace, while film crews capture every moment of their ambitious effort in episodes of “Dawn”.
Phase 4: Red Carpet Premieres – With their unique stories captured in true Nollywood style, and the public captivated by their journey, the young film makers will hit the red carpet in Lagos to release their films on the big screen. Red carpet-style interviews and behind-the-scenes footage will be featured in late-season episodes of “Dawn”.
Phase 5: Town Hall Reunion Show – Now stars in their own right, the teams will converge alongside real-life characters featured in their films for a live audience taping to tell the “story behind the story”. The reunion-style town hall, to be hosted by TV personality, Andre Blaze Henshaw, will mark the final episode of “Dawn” Season 1.