Ikenna

New member
Early-Career Professional
Joined
Jul 20, 2026
Messages
7
Location
  1. Africa
Role
  1. Producer
Compensation
Revenue Share
Work Type
  1. Hybrid
SEEKING: LEAD PRODUCER & LINE PRODUCER

ABIEYUWA | $5M AFRICAN EPIC FEATURE

Project: ABIEYUWA

Format: Feature Film

Genre: Historical Epic / Drama / Action-Adventure

Production: International / Pan-African

Target Production Budget: Approximately $5 million USD, subject to professional breakdown and budgeting

Current Stage: Completed AI-assisted proof of concept; feature development and production team assembly

THE PROJECT​

I am seeking an experienced Lead Producer and Line Producer to join me in developing ABIEYUWA, an ambitious African historical epic feature film that I intend to produce as a professionally made live-action production.

My name is Ikenna Ezuma, a Nigerian author, storyteller and independent filmmaker. I am the creator and writer of ABIEYUWA, an original epic inspired by my novel of the same name.

Set against the backdrop of the historic Kingdom of Benin, ABIEYUWA follows a formidable African warrior drawn into a dangerous struggle involving prophecy, betrayal, political ambition and the survival of a kingdom.

The story moves across kingdoms, forests, villages and battlefields, culminating in large-scale warfare and an epic confrontation that I envision as a major cinematic African production.

I have spent substantial time developing the story, screenplay, characters, environments, costumes, action sequences and visual world of the project.

Rather than waiting for a studio to finance the concept before demonstrating its potential, I independently created a completed AI-assisted feature-film proof of concept.

WATCH THE PROOF OF CONCEPT​

ABIEYUWA — The Movie / AI Proof of Concept:

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

I strongly encourage interested professionals to watch the film before contacting me.

IMPORTANT: THE PROOF OF CONCEPT REPRESENTS ONLY PART OF THE STORY​

The completed AI-assisted film is not the entirety of the ABIEYUWA story. It represents approximately 45% of the larger narrative and was created primarily to demonstrate the project's characters, world, tone, visual language and cinematic potential.

The complete story exists in the original ABIEYUWA novel, which provides the broader narrative, character arcs, political conflicts, journeys, battles and larger dramatic progression beyond what is presented in the proof of concept.

For anyone seriously considering joining the production team, I strongly recommend reading the novel in addition to watching the proof-of-concept film.

The film will show you what I have already been able to create independently.

The novel will show you the scale of what I am actually attempting to bring to the screen.

Together, they provide the clearest understanding of the larger-than-life epic I envision for ABIEYUWA and why I believe it has the potential to become a substantial live-action African feature.

The novel is available to serious/interested production professionals upon request.

WHO I AM LOOKING FOR​

1. LEAD PRODUCER​

I am looking for an experienced Producer who can work with me from the development stage through financing, packaging and eventual production.

The ideal candidate should have demonstrated experience with feature films and preferably have experience in one or more of the following:

  • International or independent feature-film production
  • Film financing and fundraising
  • Production packaging
  • Investor/studio/production-company relationships
  • International co-productions
  • African cinema or productions involving African territories
  • Action, historical or large-scale productions
  • Crowdfunding or alternative film financing
  • Distribution and sales strategy
The Producer will work closely with me as the project's Creator and Lead Producer to transform the existing proof of concept into a professionally packaged live-action feature.

Responsibilities will include helping to:

  • Develop the production strategy
  • Build the founding production team
  • Refine the financing strategy
  • Coordinate with the Line Producer on budget and scheduling
  • Develop relationships with potential investors, production companies and strategic partners
  • Explore crowdfunding and other financing avenues
  • Develop the project's production and distribution strategy
  • Prepare the project for professional industry presentation

2. LINE PRODUCER​

I am seeking an experienced Line Producer / UPM capable of taking a large-scale screenplay and translating it into a realistic production plan.

This is particularly important because ABIEYUWA contains:

  • Large-scale battle sequences
  • Stunt and fight choreography
  • Historical environments
  • Palace and village sets
  • Forest and river locations
  • Large numbers of extras and warriors
  • Boats and water-based sequences
  • Weapons and archery sequences
  • Practical effects
  • VFX-heavy sequences
  • Multiple African production territories under consideration
The Line Producer will be expected to work with the Producer and me to conduct a professional production breakdown and determine:

  • Realistic production budget
  • Shooting schedule
  • Location requirements
  • Crew requirements
  • Cast/extras requirements
  • Set construction requirements
  • Equipment requirements
  • Transportation and accommodation
  • Stunt/action requirements
  • VFX requirements
  • Post-production requirements
  • Insurance and production contingencies
  • Potential production incentives/rebates
  • Practical ways to maximize a $5M target budget
The $5M figure is a preliminary financing target, not a claim that the final production budget has already been established. I want an experienced Line Producer to help determine what the film can realistically achieve within that range.

THE LARGER VISION​

My intention is to build a Pan-African production, with principal production potentially taking place in Ghana or Kenya, while drawing talent from across Africa.

I envision participation from outstanding professionals and cast members from countries including:

Nigeria • Ghana • Kenya • Senegal • Mali

The goal is not simply to make an African film.

The goal is to create an ambitious African epic that can stand confidently in the international marketplace while remaining deeply rooted in African identity, history and culture.

The existing AI proof of concept is intended to demonstrate the potential of the story and visual world.

The next stage is to determine how we can translate that vision into a professionally produced live-action feature.

WHAT WE ARE BUILDING​

The initial team will eventually expand to include key department heads such as:

  • Director of Photography
  • Production Designer
  • VFX Supervisor
  • Stunt/Fight Coordinator
  • Casting Director
  • Additional production and creative personnel
However, I deliberately want to begin with the Producer + Line Producer, because these two roles will help establish the production and financing framework from which the remaining team can be built.

COMPENSATION / PARTICIPATION​

This is an early-stage founding-team opportunity.

The project is currently in development and financing has not yet been secured.

Therefore, I am looking for professionals who are genuinely interested in the project and open to discussing an appropriate deferred compensation and/or negotiated production participation structure, subject to formal agreements and successful financing.

I am also interested in building a long-term production relationship rather than simply filling a temporary crew position.

Any equity, producer participation, backend participation, deferred fees or other compensation would be formally negotiated and documented based on the individual's role, contribution, experience and level of involvement.

WHAT I CAN OFFER​

You would be joining a project that already has:

  • An established original IP
  • An underlying novel
  • A developed feature story
  • A screenplay
  • A completed AI-assisted proof of concept
  • Extensive character and world development
  • Visual development materials
  • A pitch deck
  • A preliminary production vision
  • An established online presence and audience-development effort
  • A clear ambition to pursue international financing and production
Most importantly, the project already exists beyond the idea stage.

I am looking for professionals who can help take it from proof of concept → professionally packaged feature → financing → production.

WHO SHOULD APPLY​

Please contact me if you are:

  • An experienced feature-film Producer or Line Producer
  • Comfortable with ambitious independent productions
  • Experienced in international collaboration
  • Interested in African cinema and stories
  • Comfortable working at development stage before full financing
  • Able to contribute strategic rather than merely administrative thinking
  • Serious about building a long-term professional relationship
Please include:

  • Your current location
  • Relevant producing/line-producing credits
  • IMDb/Stage 32/website or professional profile, if available
  • Examples of feature films you have produced or line-produced if available
  • Your experience with budgets in the $1M+ range if available
  • Your experience with international productions or African productions, if applicable
  • A brief explanation of why ABIEYUWA interests you

FINAL NOTE​

I understand the scale of what I am proposing.

ABIEYUWA is not intended to be a small production.

But I also believe ambitious films become achievable when the right people come together around a strong story, a clear vision and a realistic production strategy.

The proof of concept exists.

The story exists.

The vision exists.

Now I am looking for the right production professionals to help build the team capable of taking ABIEYUWA to the next stage.

If you are an experienced Producer or Line Producer who sees the potential in what I have created, I would like to hear from you.



Ikenna Ezuma
Creator / Writer / Lead Producer
ABIEYUWA
 
Genre
  1. Drama
  2. Action
SEEKING: LEAD PRODUCER & LINE PRODUCER

ABIEYUWA | $5M AFRICAN EPIC FEATURE

Project: ABIEYUWA

Format: Feature Film

Genre: Historical Epic / Drama / Action-Adventure

Production: International / Pan-African

Target Production Budget: Approximately $5 million USD, subject to professional breakdown and budgeting

Current Stage: Completed AI-assisted proof of concept; feature development and production team assembly

THE PROJECT​

I am seeking an experienced Lead Producer and Line Producer to join me in developing ABIEYUWA, an ambitious African historical epic feature film that I intend to produce as a professionally made live-action production.

My name is Ikenna Ezuma, a Nigerian author, storyteller and independent filmmaker. I am the creator and writer of ABIEYUWA, an original epic inspired by my novel of the same name.

Set against the backdrop of the historic Kingdom of Benin, ABIEYUWA follows a formidable African warrior drawn into a dangerous struggle involving prophecy, betrayal, political ambition and the survival of a kingdom.

The story moves across kingdoms, forests, villages and battlefields, culminating in large-scale warfare and an epic confrontation that I envision as a major cinematic African production.

I have spent substantial time developing the story, screenplay, characters, environments, costumes, action sequences and visual world of the project.

Rather than waiting for a studio to finance the concept before demonstrating its potential, I independently created a completed AI-assisted feature-film proof of concept.

WATCH THE PROOF OF CONCEPT​

ABIEYUWA — The Movie / AI Proof of Concept:

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

I strongly encourage interested professionals to watch the film before contacting me.

IMPORTANT: THE PROOF OF CONCEPT REPRESENTS ONLY PART OF THE STORY​

The completed AI-assisted film is not the entirety of the ABIEYUWA story. It represents approximately 45% of the larger narrative and was created primarily to demonstrate the project's characters, world, tone, visual language and cinematic potential.

The complete story exists in the original ABIEYUWA novel, which provides the broader narrative, character arcs, political conflicts, journeys, battles and larger dramatic progression beyond what is presented in the proof of concept.

For anyone seriously considering joining the production team, I strongly recommend reading the novel in addition to watching the proof-of-concept film.

The film will show you what I have already been able to create independently.

The novel will show you the scale of what I am actually attempting to bring to the screen.

Together, they provide the clearest understanding of the larger-than-life epic I envision for ABIEYUWA and why I believe it has the potential to become a substantial live-action African feature.

The novel is available to serious/interested production professionals upon request.

WHO I AM LOOKING FOR​

1. LEAD PRODUCER​

I am looking for an experienced Producer who can work with me from the development stage through financing, packaging and eventual production.

The ideal candidate should have demonstrated experience with feature films and preferably have experience in one or more of the following:

  • International or independent feature-film production
  • Film financing and fundraising
  • Production packaging
  • Investor/studio/production-company relationships
  • International co-productions
  • African cinema or productions involving African territories
  • Action, historical or large-scale productions
  • Crowdfunding or alternative film financing
  • Distribution and sales strategy
The Producer will work closely with me as the project's Creator and Lead Producer to transform the existing proof of concept into a professionally packaged live-action feature.

Responsibilities will include helping to:

  • Develop the production strategy
  • Build the founding production team
  • Refine the financing strategy
  • Coordinate with the Line Producer on budget and scheduling
  • Develop relationships with potential investors, production companies and strategic partners
  • Explore crowdfunding and other financing avenues
  • Develop the project's production and distribution strategy
  • Prepare the project for professional industry presentation

2. LINE PRODUCER​

I am seeking an experienced Line Producer / UPM capable of taking a large-scale screenplay and translating it into a realistic production plan.

This is particularly important because ABIEYUWA contains:

  • Large-scale battle sequences
  • Stunt and fight choreography
  • Historical environments
  • Palace and village sets
  • Forest and river locations
  • Large numbers of extras and warriors
  • Boats and water-based sequences
  • Weapons and archery sequences
  • Practical effects
  • VFX-heavy sequences
  • Multiple African production territories under consideration
The Line Producer will be expected to work with the Producer and me to conduct a professional production breakdown and determine:

  • Realistic production budget
  • Shooting schedule
  • Location requirements
  • Crew requirements
  • Cast/extras requirements
  • Set construction requirements
  • Equipment requirements
  • Transportation and accommodation
  • Stunt/action requirements
  • VFX requirements
  • Post-production requirements
  • Insurance and production contingencies
  • Potential production incentives/rebates
  • Practical ways to maximize a $5M target budget
The $5M figure is a preliminary financing target, not a claim that the final production budget has already been established. I want an experienced Line Producer to help determine what the film can realistically achieve within that range.

THE LARGER VISION​

My intention is to build a Pan-African production, with principal production potentially taking place in Ghana or Kenya, while drawing talent from across Africa.

I envision participation from outstanding professionals and cast members from countries including:

Nigeria • Ghana • Kenya • Senegal • Mali

The goal is not simply to make an African film.

The goal is to create an ambitious African epic that can stand confidently in the international marketplace while remaining deeply rooted in African identity, history and culture.

The existing AI proof of concept is intended to demonstrate the potential of the story and visual world.

The next stage is to determine how we can translate that vision into a professionally produced live-action feature.

WHAT WE ARE BUILDING​

The initial team will eventually expand to include key department heads such as:

  • Director of Photography
  • Production Designer
  • VFX Supervisor
  • Stunt/Fight Coordinator
  • Casting Director
  • Additional production and creative personnel
However, I deliberately want to begin with the Producer + Line Producer, because these two roles will help establish the production and financing framework from which the remaining team can be built.

COMPENSATION / PARTICIPATION​

This is an early-stage founding-team opportunity.

The project is currently in development and financing has not yet been secured.

Therefore, I am looking for professionals who are genuinely interested in the project and open to discussing an appropriate deferred compensation and/or negotiated production participation structure, subject to formal agreements and successful financing.

I am also interested in building a long-term production relationship rather than simply filling a temporary crew position.

Any equity, producer participation, backend participation, deferred fees or other compensation would be formally negotiated and documented based on the individual's role, contribution, experience and level of involvement.

WHAT I CAN OFFER​

You would be joining a project that already has:

  • An established original IP
  • An underlying novel
  • A developed feature story
  • A screenplay
  • A completed AI-assisted proof of concept
  • Extensive character and world development
  • Visual development materials
  • A pitch deck
  • A preliminary production vision
  • An established online presence and audience-development effort
  • A clear ambition to pursue international financing and production
Most importantly, the project already exists beyond the idea stage.

I am looking for professionals who can help take it from proof of concept → professionally packaged feature → financing → production.

WHO SHOULD APPLY​

Please contact me if you are:

  • An experienced feature-film Producer or Line Producer
  • Comfortable with ambitious independent productions
  • Experienced in international collaboration
  • Interested in African cinema and stories
  • Comfortable working at development stage before full financing
  • Able to contribute strategic rather than merely administrative thinking
  • Serious about building a long-term professional relationship
Please include:

  • Your current location
  • Relevant producing/line-producing credits
  • IMDb/Stage 32/website or professional profile, if available
  • Examples of feature films you have produced or line-produced if available
  • Your experience with budgets in the $1M+ range if available
  • Your experience with international productions or African productions, if applicable
  • A brief explanation of why ABIEYUWA interests you

FINAL NOTE​

I understand the scale of what I am proposing.

ABIEYUWA is not intended to be a small production.

But I also believe ambitious films become achievable when the right people come together around a strong story, a clear vision and a realistic production strategy.

The proof of concept exists.

The story exists.

The vision exists.

Now I am looking for the right production professionals to help build the team capable of taking ABIEYUWA to the next stage.

If you are an experienced Producer or Line Producer who sees the potential in what I have created, I would like to hear from you.



Ikenna Ezuma
Creator / Writer / Lead Producer
ABIEYUWA

This is a very ambitious project, Ikenna. I like that you’re looking to bring in a Producer and Line Producer at this stage, before expanding the wider production team.

With a project of this scale, I’d be interested to know what you see as the biggest challenge right now financing, building the right production team, or finding the right production partners?
 
Thanks a lot, Michael. Building the right Production Team is paramount right now. A good Production Team makes all the difference.

Your question tells me your deep level of expertise. Thanks a lot again. I will appreciate any insight you might have to share further.
 
Thanks a lot, Michael. Building the right Production Team is paramount right now. A good Production Team makes all the difference.

Your question tells me your deep level of expertise. Thanks a lot again. I will appreciate any insight you might have to share further.

I completely agree. At this stage, I’d focus on building a smaller but very strong core team rather than trying to fill too many positions at once. For a project of this scale, the right Producer and Line Producer should not only understand production, but also be able to realistically assess and when necessary challenge assumptions around budget, locations, and what can actually be achieved.

I’d also look for people who bring genuine industry relationships as well as experience, particularly across financing, co-production, and international markets.

Do you already have a sense of whether you’d like to build the financing primarily through private investors, co-production partners, or a combination of different sources?
 
Well, it all depends. I think what I need right now is to secure the interest of an experienced Producer. After which we will discuss about the project and then decide the best route to take. Would you like to consider this role yourself? I see you as an industry professional. Let's discuss it if that's possible.
 
Well, it all depends. I think what I need right now is to secure the interest of an experienced Producer. After which we will discuss about the project and then decide the best route to take. Would you like to consider this role yourself? I see you as an industry professional. Let's discuss it if that's possible.

I think that makes sense. The only tricky part is that it can become a bit of a chicken-and-egg situation you need the right producer to help shape the financing strategy, but an experienced producer will probably want to see enough of the package to understand what they’re stepping into.

Since you already have the screenplay, novel, proof of concept and pitch deck, maybe the next useful step is putting together a very short producer-facing package: what is already in place, what still needs to be built, the realistic budget range, and exactly what you need that producer to bring to the table.

That might also help separate people who simply like the idea from those who can actually help move the project forward.

Have you already prepared something specifically for potential producers beyond the main pitch deck?
 
I think that makes sense. The only tricky part is that it can become a bit of a chicken-and-egg situation you need the right producer to help shape the financing strategy, but an experienced producer will probably want to see enough of the package to understand what they’re stepping into.

Since you already have the screenplay, novel, proof of concept and pitch deck, maybe the next useful step is putting together a very short producer-facing package: what is already in place, what still needs to be built, the realistic budget range, and exactly what you need that producer to bring to the table.

That might also help separate people who simply like the idea from those who can actually help move the project forward.

Have you already prepared something specifically for potential producers beyond the main pitch deck?
Hi George, many thanks for your insightful response.
Your points are valid. No, I haven't prepared a producer-facing package yet, though I thought about it recently.
 
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