Black Gold Inks Deal With DeLaurentiis Productions for Film About the Tragedy and Injustice That Plagues the Niger Delta

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Award winning Director Jeta Amata has collaborated with thirty year veteran and award winning filmmaker Suzanne DeLaurentiis to produce a feature film called Black Gold: Struggle for the Niger Delta.  This is a powerful story of murder, greed and corruption in the unsettled Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. The film speaks of environmental injustice and the fight over control of the oil resources and its revenue largely generated from this region. 

It is the story of one local community's struggle against big-oil corporations and their determination to win the rights for their land and their livelihood. Locals are caught between the crossfire after a devastating Warri pipeline explosion and are forced to choose either protest and action or resorting to violence and kidnapping. 

The line between good and evil is blurred as corrupt government officials, greedy oil companies and violent rebels go on a war path over oil spills and the degradation of the land caused by oil exploration. Inspired by true events, Black Gold tells the story of the Niger Delta and its long and on-going crises. The Niger Delta region of Nigeria has 606 Oil-fields and exports 50% of all its oil resources to the United States and is the World's capital of oil pollution.

Fifty years of uncorrected oil spills and lack of clean-up has destroyed the environment and ecosystems leaving the area almost uninhabitable while obliterating the livelihood of its residents, costing them basic human rights such as health, access to food, clean water, and an ability to work.

Suzanne became intrigued by this story and after meeting with Jeta, decided to come on board as a consultant and one of the producers. The film has an impressive cast, starring Mbong Amata, Tom Sizemore, Vivica Fox, Billy Zane, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Sarah Wayne Callies, Razaaq Adoti, Dede Mabiaku, Eric Roberts, Larry Manetti and Michael Madsen.

Black Gold was also produced in collaboration with Wilson Ebiye of Rock City Entertainment and Ori Ayonmike of Starkid Inc. The film was shot on location in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and in Los Angeles, California. 

SOURCE Suzanne DeLaurentiis Productions