Private Project

The Birth

An excruciatingly painful miscarriage sends a woman into the abyss of a terror filled night where she must battle with a talking baby who sounds like Chris Tucker, Aliens that try to invade her body and looming shadows from every corner.

Will she make it out alive or will she be consumed by the terrors of the night?

  • Segilola Ogidan
    Director
    Tainted Canvas, A Romantic Comedy Featuring Lara and Tobi, Love Prevails
  • Segilola Ogidan
    Writer
    Tainted Canvas, ARCFLAT, Mum Dad Meet Sam
  • Barbara Babarinsa
    Producer
    Adire, ARCFLAT, Tafiya
  • Segilola Ogidan
    Key Cast
    "Monife"
    Tainted Canvas, A Naija Christmas, Love Prevails
  • Paul Utomi
    Key Cast
    "Ola"
    Country Hard
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    22 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    August 1, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Nigeria
  • Country of Filming:
    Nigeria
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Segilola Ogidan

Segilola Ogidan is a multi award winning British/Nigerian Writer, Actress Director and Producer. She runs OKP Productions Ltd in the UK. Prior to that she worked as the Development Executive at Intandem Films, a renowned International Production, Sales and Distribution Company.

Segilola has since gone on to write and produce a number of critically acclaimed films such as LOVE PREVAILS, MUM, DAD, MEET SAM, her directorial debut film TAINTED CANVAS, her second feature, A ROMANTIC COMEDY FEATURING LARA AND TOBI, a quirky offbeat comedy and her latest offering, short film THE BIRTH based on her personal experiences.

Segilola’s work has won awards at The Monaco International Film Festival (BEST SCREENPLAY - 'TAINTED CANVAS'), Sedona, LA International Film Festival (BEST SCREENPLAY - 'TAINTED CANVAS'), Cinema New York Film Festival, New York Cinematography Awards (BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY - 'TAINTED CANVAS'), African International Film Festival (SPECIAL JURY PRIZE FOR OUTSTANDING FILM - 'TAINTED CANVAS'), Luxor African Film Festival (GRAND JURY PRIZE - 'MONA'), Palermo Film Fest, Africa Diaspora Film Fest, British Urban Film Festival (BEST SCREENPLAY - 'TAINTED CANVAS') and FESPACO among many others. Recently she received an AMVCA (African Oscars) nomination for BEST WEST AFRICAN FILM for her directorial debut TAINTED CANVAS. She has also successfully distributed films to Sky, Africa Channel, Multichoice (DSTv), Netflix Global and Amazon Prime. She is also a renowned actress.

Segilola has a BA (Hons) in Media Arts from the renowned Royal Holloway University of London and an MA in Cinema Studies from The University of Bristol.

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Director Statement

The genre, themes and plot exposition in this film opens up the doors to explore a stylistic shooting technique. I am massively influenced by the 1920 German silent horror film, directed by Robert Wiene and written by Hans Janowitz, 'Das Cabinet Des Dr Caligari'. The film, shot in black and white uses high contrast, jagged edges and looming shadows to intensify the horrors the protagonists endure.

It is important that we have a sense of hope at the end of this nightmare. I plan to shoot in Black and White with some colour saturations coming through at the end. I believe this is a great way to introduce the symbol/hint of the feeling of 'Hope' I want to end the film on. It is a nightmare no woman should have to go through, but it happens. All I can offer those who have gone through and who will go through is the notion of HOPE and with the risk of sounding cliche, knowing that there is light at the end of the dark tunnel.