Uduak Isong
Uduak Isong Oguamanam is a Nigerian Nollywood scriptwriter, producer and entrepreneur based in Lagos, Nigeria. She is best known for the comedy films Okon Lagos and its sequel Okon Goes To School, Lost In London, and Desperate Housegirls. Falling is Isong Oguamanam's first film under her own production company, Closer Pictures, based in Lagos, Nigeria.
Early life and education
Uduak Isong Oguamanam is from Akwa Ibom State, South-South Nigeria. She is married to Chidi Oguamanam, a medical doctor. Her sister is Nollywood director and producer Emem Isong Misodi. Isong Oguamanam studied Communication Arts and Russian languages from the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.She has a master's degree in New Media and Society from the University of Leicester. She also has a Diploma in French from Alliance Francaiein, Lagos, Nigeria.
Career
Isong Oguamanam's first job was in the aviation industry as a cabin crew member for two years. She also worked in the capital market and telecoms industry. Isong Oguamanam began writing prose and poetry. She ventured into film "when it looked like it was the more lucrative thing to do". Her early films were produced through Royal Arts Academy, Lagos, owned by her sister, Emem Isong Misodi.Isong Oguamanam set up Closer Pictures, Lagos. Falling is the first film produced under Closer Pictures. Falling tells the story of love and betrayal. The budget for Falling was 10 million Nigerian Naira.
In 2010, Isong Oguamanam directed her first film To Live Again. It was adapted from her short story which was published by Farafina magazine based in Lagos.
Training
Isong Oguamanam has attended training and film-related events. She attended the Berlinale Talent Campus, in Berlin, Germany as a result of her screenplay Unfinished Business.In 2012, Isong Oguamanam was chosen by the British Council, Nigeria to the UK-Nigeria creative world partnership programme, in London, UK.
She also attended workshops at Raindance in the UK.
Awards
In 2006, Isong Oguamanam was awarded the Commonwealth Short Story Prize.Advocacy and social work
Isong Oguamanam tackles societal issues though her work. Her first project, To Live Again, deals with the stigmatization faced by people living with HIV. In 2012, she produced and co-wrote Kokomma which tackled female sexual abuse. Her film, Fine Girl, is the story of a young girl who turns to prostitution to save her dying father.Isong Oguamanam also speaks on issues affecting Nollywood. In February 2018, she advised fellow film producers to "let other people sing their praise" in response to producers releasing unverified box office figures.
Okon
Isong Oguamanam created the Okon character with the first in the series, Okon Lagos. Actor Imeh Bishop Umoh acted as Okon. There are other films in the series such as Okon Goes To School. Lost In London is the latest in the series, that continues Okon's adventures in Lagos.Filmography
Okon Lagos, Okon Goes to School , Kokomma , Lost In London, Kiss and Tell, Desperate House Girls, Fine Girl, It’s About Your husband, American Boy, Falling , A Piece Of Flesh, Holding Hope, Stellar, Unfinished Business , Edikan, Through The Fire & Entanglement , Timeless Passion, Bursting Out Troubled Waters, I’ll Take My Chances, Weekend Getaway, Beyond Disability, Champagne , Dining With A Long Spoon, On Bended Knees, Stolen Tomorrow, Mrs Somebody, Forgetting June, All That Glitters, Misplaced, Lonely Hearts, Getting Over Him, Apaye, The Department'',| Year | Title | Role |
| 2007 | Unfinished Business | Screen Writer |
| 2007 | A Piece Of Flesh | Screen Writer |
| 2009 2009 | Edikan Through The Fire & Entanglement | Screen Writer Screen Writer Screen Writer |
| 2010 | Holding Hope | Screen Writer |
| 2010 | Bursting Out | Screen Writer |
| 2011 | Okon Lagos | Producer |
| 2011 | Kiss and Tell | Screen Writer |
| 2011 2011 | I'll Take My Chances Spellbound | Screen Writer Screen Writer |
| 2011 | Timeless Passion | Screen Writer |
| 2012 | Mrs Somebody | Screen Writer |
| 2012 | Forgetting June | Screen Writer |
| 2012 2012 | Kokomma Troubled Waters | Producer Producer |
| 2012 | Weekend Getaway | Screen Writer |
| 2013 | Okon Goes To School | Producer |
| 2013 | On Bended Knees | Screen Writer |
| 2013 | Stolen Tomorrow | Screen Writer |
| 2013 2013 | All That Glitters After the Proposal | Screen Writer Screen Writer |
| 2013 | Misplaced | Screen Writer |
| 2013 | Lonely Hearts | Screen Writer |
| 2014 2014 | Apaye Dining With A Long Spoon | Screen Writer Screen Writer |
| 2015 | Desperate House Girls | Screen Writer/Producer |
| 2015 | Champagne | Screen Writer |
| 2015 | The Department | Producer |
| 2015 | Beyond Disability | Screen Writer |
| 2015 | Falling | Screen Writer/Producer |
| 2015 | Stellar | Screen Writer/Producer |
| 2016 | Fine Girl | Screen Writer/Producer |
| 2016 | It's About Your Husband | Screen Writer/Producer |
| 2017 | American Boy | Producer |
| 2017 | Lost In London | Producer |
| 2017 2017 | Troubled Waters Cash Daddy | Producer Writer, Producer |
| 2018 | Getting Over Him | Producer |