A Nigerian graphic designer, Louisa Jlo, has taken to her Twitter page to call out Nollywood actor c-m director Ramsey Nouah over unpaid services for Living in Bondage movie, which the actor directed.
According to the young lady, who uses the Twitter handle @louisajlo, she was contracted by the media director attached to the project to work on graphic designs for the set and promotion of the actor’s Living in Bondage movie in 2018. She also claimed that their agreement was reached verbally and no paperwork was done to document their discussions.
Louisa, however, said that she requested for a down payment and that the media director at the time told her that the budget for the movie had not yet been approved and that she would be paid once it was.
The young lady said that she continued working on the project despite having a full-time job at the time. She said she was given a long list of things to design and that she designed them from scratch using her initiative because there was no brief.
According to Louisa Jlo, the media director later informed her that he was fired from the project and that the project will not be using her work. She said all her attempts to get compensated was futile.
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Louisa said she was hurt about all her wasted effort and was surprised to see that her designs, which were supposedly discarded were used in the movie. Apparently, she only found out a few days ago after watching the movie, presumably for the first time.
She called on the Twitter community to retweet her tweets as she wanted to be paid for her services.
Read her tweets below:
Dear Twitter, I said I will make a thread. So I will.
In 2018, I was contacted to work as the graphic designer for the ‘Living in Bondage’ movie. I was very excited as I had never been on a big project like that before hence I knew nothing and did nothing related to paperwork.— Louisajlo (@louisajlo) June 16, 2020
I just accepted the job and started working straight away. The only thing I remember requesting was a down payment. But the then media director pleaded that the budget was yet to be approved but I shouldn’t worry. As soon as it is. He will avail me some funds towards my charge.
— Louisajlo (@louisajlo) June 16, 2020
I agreed, and continued working. I had a full time job so I would from work go to the hotel where the crew members were lodging to work. There I saw Ramsey Nouah who was the director of the film. I was given a long list of things I’d need to design but there was no brief.
— Louisajlo (@louisajlo) June 16, 2020
I started designing majority of the graphics from scratch using only my initiative. They wanted a cult symbol, company logos, a blog page design, an Instagram page for Nnamdi, a photoshop of him in Nysc uniform, custom license plates and a lot of other stuff.
— Louisajlo (@louisajlo) June 16, 2020
I started with the cult symbol and the pictures below shows the progression. This is because, as there was no brief, they kept making changes constantly, kept saying what they didn’t like etc. Most of these feedbacks were from Ramsey and the producer Chris Odeh pic.twitter.com/MSYTEMcbDU
— Louisajlo (@louisajlo) June 16, 2020
They eventually showed likeness for the 4th design. I really felt good. Cos it felt like I was making a huge progress. I continued working on their requests, having sleepless nights and when it came to money, I’d be told they’re still having meetings concerning that. I continued
— Louisajlo (@louisajlo) June 16, 2020
Then it came down to designing the company logos for the movie and after I sent in my designs, I was told they weren’t good enough. I accepted and kept working until the media director came to me with a shocking news that I shouldn’t work on the company logos again
— Louisajlo (@louisajlo) June 16, 2020
And that the powers above (the superior crew) had Contacted someone from Abuja to do them. I was sad but I accepted. So I asked him what about the rest, he said of course I can continue with the rest. I said okay. In addition to this up and down system,
— Louisajlo (@louisajlo) June 16, 2020
There were times I would not receive feedback on designs I had sent for up to 3 days. It kept delaying my work and when I’d ask the media director he’d even show me text chat on how he has sent them to Ramsey Nouah and he’s yet to respond. Out of positivity I felt maybe he’s busy
— Louisajlo (@louisajlo) June 16, 2020
I don’t even want to talk about the fact that they moved us from that hotel to another with a cramped up room space and deadbeat facilities.. But we managed somehow. At this stage, I had still not been paid, not even the down Payment I asked for. But I was given food and airtime
— Louisajlo (@louisajlo) June 16, 2020
Things took a wrong turn when I was rushing from work so I could go complete my designs then I receive a call from the media director saying he was fired. I was like what?! What happened? He explained to me that the crew said they weren’t pleased with the quality of work
— Louisajlo (@louisajlo) June 16, 2020
That he was bringing and how he handled his part of the production process. I was sure of the facts cos I know the media director’s sister who confirmed to me that he was fired. I said okay, what about my work and designs and even my payment. He said he wasn’t paid
— Louisajlo (@louisajlo) June 16, 2020
That he was bringing and how he handled his part of the production process. I was sure of the facts cos I know the media director’s sister who confirmed to me that he was fired. I said okay, what about my work and designs and even my payment. He said he wasn’t paid
— Louisajlo (@louisajlo) June 16, 2020
And as for my designs, that they neglected them. Saying they didn’t even like them and they won’t be used. I kept dragging him my money for months to be very honest but there was little or nothing he could do and I later realized and gave up. All he said was he is really sorry
— Louisajlo (@louisajlo) June 16, 2020
And that he truly understands how I feel and even promised to compensate me when he gets any money. Because of my kind of person, I was very fine with that. After all, working on such big project was really worth it. But this is where it gets really painful.
— Louisajlo (@louisajlo) June 16, 2020
Almost 2 years after Living in Bondage (Breaking Free is out and guess what, they used my designs in the movie. My blood and sweat, my sleepless nights and broken backs after claiming they were not good enough. Worse of, I wasn’t credited, I wasn’t paid. I wasn’t even compensated
— Louisajlo (@louisajlo) June 16, 2020
I watched the movie just a few weeks ago and got really emotional when I saw my works. I have been trying to contact Ramsey and he has been ignoring. All I wanted was just to be compensated for my hard work. pic.twitter.com/UIXwnSUWim
— Louisajlo (@louisajlo) June 16, 2020
Note, not all my designs were used. Which is fine by me even though I put in a lot of work. But here are some of the designs side by side scenes from the movie. pic.twitter.com/cJcksClAAS
— Louisajlo (@louisajlo) June 16, 2020
— Louisajlo (@louisajlo) June 16, 2020
In all honesty, all I ever wanted was to be acknowledged and compensated. Not ignored and belittled like a nobody. I have never dragged anyone on Twitter. I lead quite a private life and I’m all about my hustle. This is my story and your Retweet will help it be told.
— Louisajlo (@louisajlo) June 16, 2020
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