Always on
This project successfully funded on 4th November 2025, you can still support them with a donation.
Breaking Barriers : Unseen Life of Orlando Martins
London, Greater London, United Kingdom
Crowdfunder is secure
Your payment details are protected
Aim
Development funding to embark on crucial research and preliminary production phase for a feature-length documentary.
From Lagos to Hollywood, and battling racism in the golden age of cinema, "Breaking Barriers: The Unseen Life of Orlando Martins" unearths the extraordinary, untold story of the first African actor to achieve international acclaim, whose pioneering spirit paved the way for generations.
Martins began his acting career appearing in various films, such as the adventure "Sanders of the River" (1935) with Paul Robeson and Leslie Banks, "The Hasty Heart" (1949) with Ronald Reagan and Patricia Neal and the Trevor Howard drama "The Heart of the Matter" (1954). He also appeared in the action flick "Simba" (1955) with Dirk Bogarde and "West of Zanzibar" (1955). He continued to act in productions like the Victor Mature action film "Safari" (1956), the Tyrone Power adventure "Abandon Ship!" (1957) and "Sapphire" (1959) with Nigel Patrick. He also appeared in the Audrey Hepburn dramatic adaptation "The Nun's Story" (1959). Nearing the end of his career, he continued to act in "Killers of Kilimanjaro" (1960) with Robert Taylor and Anthony Newley, the comedy adventure "Call Me Bwana" (1963) with Bob Hope and the dramatic adaptation "Sammy Going South" (1963) with Edward G Robinson. He also appeared in the dramatic adaptation "Mister Moses" (1965) with Robert Mitchum. Martins last acted in the Wole Soyinka comedic adaptation "Kongi's Harvest" (1973). He passed away in September 1985 at the age of 86.
ORLANDO MARTINS WIKIPEDIA PAGE : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orlando_Martins
-------
The Need for Funding:
We are seeking development funding to embark on crucial research and preliminary production phase for a feature-length documentary. This funding will enable us to:
Deep Dive Archival Research: Uncover rare footage, further photographs, personal letters/correspondence, and documents from archives in Nigeria, the UK, and the USA. This includes searching for uncredited appearances, interviews, and historical context of the era.
Locate & Interview Key Individuals: Identify and initiate contact with other surviving family members globally, film historians, cultural critics, film and TV talent and actors who were influenced by Martins or worked/associated with him during his active years and beyond.
Develop a Robust Narrative Arc: Create a detailed treatment and script outline for the documentary, charting Martins' journey from Lagos to the global stage, highlighting his struggles, triumphs, and the socio-political landscape he navigated.
Secure Rights & Permissions: Begin the process of identifying and securing necessary rights for archival materials, film clips, and music.
Produce a Compelling Sizzle Reel/Proof of Concept: Utilize initial research and interviews to create a powerful visual presentation that showcases the documentary's potential and attracts further production funding.
A stellar line-up of potential participants has already been proposed as talking heads including: Shaun Parkes, Ice T/Jorge Hinojosa, Simon Mirren, Regé-Jean Page Maxim, Skepta, Damson Idris, Misan Harriman, Colman Domingo, OT Fagbenle, Dame Julie Coker - https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/12/julie-coker-prescottepega-others-celebrate-nigerian-hollywood-legend-orlando-martins/ David Jonsson, Ramsey Noah, Adam Croasdell - amongst several others.
Why This Story, Why Now?
Orlando Martins' life is a powerful and timely narrative that resonates deeply with contemporary discussions around representation, identity, and the enduring impact of systemic barriers in the entertainment industry.
Pioneering Black Excellence: Martins was a true pioneer, breaking ground as one of the first Black African actors to achieve international recognition in a predominantly white industry. His story is an essential, often overlooked, chapter in the history of Black cinema and global entertainment.
A Journey of Resilience: His path was not easy. From working on the RMS Mauretania and as a circus performer/wrestler ("Black Butcher Johnson"), to sharing the stage with Paul Robeson and being voted one of Britain's top 15 favorite actors, Martins' journey is one of remarkable resilience and determination against formidable odds.
Global Relevance: Born in Nigeria, making his name in London, and appearing in Hollywood productions, Martins' story transcends geographical boundaries, offering a unique perspective on the intersection of African, British, and American cultural history.
Inspiring Future Generations: His ambition to establish a Black Theatre in London speaks volumes about his vision for elevating Black talent. His legacy provides a profound source of inspiration for today's diverse storytellers and actors.
Untold History: Despite his significant achievements, Martins remains largely unknown to mainstream audiences. This documentary will finally give him the recognition he deserves, filling a crucial gap in cinematic history.
Rich Visual Potential: His life spanned significant historical periods – World War I, the Roaring Twenties, WWII, the post-war era, and the rise of Nigerian cinema - NOLLYWOOD. These periods offer a visually rich tapestry for storytelling, from the vibrant streets of Lagos to the grandeur of London theatres and Hollywood sets.
ABOUT THE TEAM ---
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:
BABA-JALLAH EPEGA - Great Nephew of Orlando Martins
Baba attended The King's School in Canterbury and Queen Mary University in London. Founder and CEO of major Entertainment, Events Management and Conferences Companies EMCA/EMC3, he started his career as a mathematician and banker including working at Bloomberg TV and Barclays Capital, using skills gained in that area to start his own event and media business. The company works with a range of mega brands like Universal, Cartier, LinkedIn, Virgin, Condé Nast and many more. He has featured on many media platforms including CNN, BBC, Arise TV, Channel 4 in the UK and LA Talk Radio,amongst several others, and has been involved in the production of a number of TV Documentaries.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-africa-67035427
DONAL MACINTYRE -
Donal MacIntyre is a well-known Irish investigative journalist, criminologist, and television presenter, most famous for his undercover reports on organized crime and social issues. He directed the 2007 documentary A Very British Gangster, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and focused on Manchester gangster Dominic Noonan. He serves as a visiting professor of criminology at Birmingham City University.
Donal is a Co-founder along with Hollywood Director Jim Sheridan of Dare Films Ireland http://www.darefilms.ie/
Donal was most recently featured in a documentary about his breathtaking career -
Donal MacIntyre: A Life In Crime - For over 30 ,years, Donal MacIntyre has worked as an investigative reporter. He’s been shot at, beaten and forced to move house more times than he can remember. He has been an undercover reporter over 50 times, secretly embedding with corrupt businesses, gangsters and criminals, made documentaries with the full agreement of some of Britain’s most dangerous men and many true crime series and his work has led him to become a criminologist digging into the reasons why criminals commit some of the most atrocious crimes.
JAYJAY EPEGA - Great Niece of Orlando Martins
Jayjay Epega is a publicist, media consultant, and producer who has worked extensively in the entertainment industry. Raised in the UK, she studied at the University of Southern California and is known for her work with major talent and media outlets. She worked at MTV, major record labels, and CNN. Her production credits include George Michael: Live in London (2009) and work on projects for Turner Broadcasting, BFI, BAFTA, AMPAS and BBC Studios. A prolific writer, Epega has contributed to a variety of publications, including CNN International, HuffPost, Daily Express, BBC Culture, and Medium. She is fluent in multiple languages, including Spanish, Arabic, French, Portuguese, and Yoruba.
https://hollywoodlondon.wordpress.com/2024/05/06/tom-parker-bowless-nigerian-culinary-adventure/
DIRECTOR:
MIMI FREEDMAN -
Mimi Freedman is an American documentary filmmaker who specializes in films about Hollywood history. She is best known for the 2005 documentary Steve McQueen: The Essence of Cool, and has produced films for A&E Biography, AMC Backstory, and Lifetime Intimate Portrait
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER:
DANNY PRESCOTT -
Versatile freelance producer/line producer working in both film and advertising (TVC, content & stills. Skills included script developing, financing, budgeting.
MEDIA CONSULTANT:
ROBIN FIELD -
Robin Field has worked in Publicity for over 15 years in New Zealand, Australia and in the UK, including a number of years at the BBC. He currently works freelance on a number of entertainment and lifestyle projects.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made