‘Looking for Nelao’ Sequel In the Works

Five years ago, award-winning film-maker Oshoveli Shipoh introduced the unorthodox love story of Edward and Nelao to his audience.

‘Looking for Nelao’ became an instant hit. This love story starred LC Muenjo as Edward, a young man who searches for his girlfriend, Nelao (KC Nuwuses), after waking from an 11-month coma following a car accident.

The 2015 film, which is available on YouTube, is applauded by fans for its themes.

With stellar performances in this silent short, Shipoh saw an opportunity to pick up the story of the star-crossed lovers, five years after rekindling their relationship.

‘Protecting Nelao’ is a Covid-19-related short film which is currently in its pre-production phase, says Shipoh. This time round, the couple’s love is tested once again in a pandemic-ridden world amid Covid-19. After recovering from the virus, Nelao and Edward are facing new perils, and Edward has to keep them both safe.

“Due to the fear and paranoia of the public, Nelao is facing various threats,” the director says, adding this romantic thriller incorporates post-apocalyptic themes nuanced with drama and action.

“We have a guy who is trying to protect his partner from society. And we are looking at a society that doesn’t quite understand the depth of transmission.”

The director is aiming to go into production at end of the month, but is facing a few challenges himself. With social-distancing regulations in place, he has to implement strategies to prevent the spread of the virus. Crew members often range from 30 to 100, but Shipoh has to work with a skeleton crew, meaning he’ll be doing most of the work.

“We’ll be wearing masks on set with hand sanitisers and taking all precautions to prevent any form of transmission.”

Shipoh says it is important for him to continue creating content on a regular basis despite challenges.

“The moment you shoot a project and get feedback, you realise you could have done certain things better,” he says.

“How else can we grow as an industry if film makers do not step out of their comfort zones and face new challenges?

“I have the responsibility to keep inspiring and triggering film-makers to go out there and create content and not feel limited.”

While the film will be cinematically inspired, the director is taking the opportunity to spark real-life Covid-19 conversations.

“What’s next? How do we move forward as a society? How does society deal with people who had the virus?”

Although the story is based on current affairs, Shipoh implores his audience to keep in mind it is fiction.

“This is a story about what could happen,” he says.

Film enthusiasts can follow Shipoh on social media to stay up to date with the progress of ‘Protecting Nelao’.

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