WhatsApp commissions very first leisure task, a film that includes Nigerian NBA star
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WhatsApp, the well-known messaging app owned by tech big Meta, is bowing its to start with initial enjoyment task afterwards this thirty day period — a small movie featuring NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo, born in Greece to Nigerian mom and dad, was named the 2021 NBA All-Star MVP and led the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA Finals title that yr. In the 12-minute movie, titled “Naija Odyssey,” the pro basketballer “tells his origin story of lots of origins as he reconciles his roots, birthplace and sense of belonging among cross-cultural worlds,” in accordance to WhatsApp’s description. The athlete inked an endorsement deal with WhatsApp in February of this 12 months.
Narrated by Antetokounmpo and his mom, Veronica, “Naija Odyssey” is loosely primarily based on the typical Greek epic poem “The Odyssey,” depicting distinctive moments in his daily life. “In Greece, my academics instructed tales of vacationers battling the sea, preventing to obtain their way dwelling — to locate themselves,” Antetokounmpo suggests in the voiceover for the film’s trailer (observe under). “I was on that very same journey.”
“Naija Odyssey” is directed by filmmakers Nono Ayuso and Rodrigo Inada and edited by Mikkel E.G. Nielsen, who won the 2021 Oscar for movie enhancing for Amazon Studios’ “Sound of Metallic.” WhatsApp will launch the film on Sept. 21 on its social media channels, YouTube and Amazon Primary Video clip.
Why did WhatsApp commission the movie? The job is really a piece of branded articles trying to find to capitalize on Antetokounmpo’s all over the world fame and connect the information that WhatsApp can provide people with each other. “‘Naija Odyssey’ is a tale that reinforces how WhatsApp helps us embrace our multifaceted life,” stated Vivian Odior, WhatsApp’s international head of advertising and marketing. “In navigating relationships, identification, and even adversity, WhatsApp is there — enabling you to embrace all sides of you by connecting you to these who make a difference most.”
The uplifting information of “Naija Odyssey” seems in aspect built to counter the narrative that WhatsApp has served gas the unfold of misinformation and furthered societal divisions — which in some situations has led to serious-entire world violence.
Meta (previously Facebook) obtained cell messaging app WhatsApp in 2014 for $19 billion. WhatsApp now has extra than 2 billion every month consumers. The WhatsApp deal is cited in the FTC’s pending antitrust lawsuit from its mother or father corporation, with the company alleging that the acquisition was aspect of Facebook’s anticompetitive modus operandi to invest in up possible rivals. Meta has said the FTC’s claims are “an energy to rewrite antitrust guidelines and upend settled expectations of merger evaluation.”
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