Veteran filmmaker Emem Isong Misodi has joined the league of authors with the release of her memoir titled Phoenix: Rising Out of the Ashes. The book was unveiled yesterday, September 5, which was her birthday.
According to the filmmaker and author, writing the book “has been not only therapeutic but also transformative.” In a post Isong shared on her Instagram handle days ago, she talked about why she wrote the book. She said:
As a child, I knew I wanted to be a creative or involved in the arts. At the time, being an art student sounded like a complete waste of time and a poor career choice for anyone.
Many parents, including mine, were enthralled by the ‘nobler’ professions.
Against all odds, I pursued a career in the arts and became a screenwriter and movie producer.
I made that career decision many years ago. And now, having witnessed the meteoric rise of Nollywood in Nigeria, I want to take you behind the scenes of my own journey, which only a few people are aware of.
Choosing to write about my entire experience for me. Only now do I realize how far I’ve come and how many lives I’ve touched around the world.
It’s time to tell you my stories through the pages of a book. I can assure you that it is as intriguing – if not more so – than any of my previous films.
Emem Isong
Isong is a scriptwriter, film producer and director. She is the founder of Royal Arts Academy, a film school established in 2010. Her filmography includes Special Jollof, Ayamma, and, recently, Hammer. She is a sister to Uduak Isong, who is also a filmmaker. Emem and Uduak Isong are currently working on a film adaptation of Radio Sunrise, a book written by their brother, Anietie Isong.
