Salient ingredient of a vibrant film industry is the presence of production companies. These companies become even more relevant when they possess up-to-date, not obsolete equipment. Many young Cameroonians who have displayed passion in filmmaking have been setting up such structures with the vision of making the local industry a force to reckon with. One of them is Peter Njodzeka whose Penjo Entertainment Production is undoubtedly a million miles step-forward initiative for Cameroon.

One cannot ignore the fact that he is a rising name in the entertainment industry in Cameroon, and how his work, has affected major lives and campaigns. His ability to produce quality movies and pictures caught our attention and we had to meet up with the father of 2, who shared his dreams with us after his recent talent beauty pageant Miss West Africa Cameroon he recently organized and selected Miss West Africa Cameroon to represent Cameroon where she will face other 25 contestants from 25 countries in Gambia in December 2011. He has also been selected to be the main organizer of Miss University Africa Cameroon representative to join other 35 countries in Nigeria for the finals in 2012.

Created over a year a year ago, Penjo Entertainment Production, based in Cameroon's capital Yaounde was born out its CEO's uncontrollable passion for photography and motion pictures. "Even without a camera, I would borrow one to take snapshots of water points I set up via the NGO I run," Peter explains. He continues: "My funders noticed I was doing nice photographs and thought I could do better if I had more sophisticated equipment and that is how one of their donor my first camera, and as time was going, I was able to save some money to buy what I have now"

One of my joy and pride is my current relationship with CNN World View News, which I shot and submitted for broadcasting in the previous Ngon Nso festival, where the world was able to watch Ngon Nso on CNN. I was so happy because showing the Nso culture to the entire world is showing Africa to the world. As the main contributor from Cameroon, I shoot, edit, put voiceover, interviews and send to the CNN broadcasting house.

Fully inspired, the young filmmaker later acquired other equipment including his professional Canon 7D High Definition (HD) camera with a complete matte box kit, Sony Z1-U HDV Camera, boom pole, Rode NTG-3 mic, TASCAM DR-100 professional sound recorder, 2 professional tripods, professional wind shield, Lights, Jells, Photo studio professional lights, Dolly, music speakers, projector plus large screen, Laptop, Printers, 2 professional editing suite with appropriate software (Adobe Master Collection Pro CS5, Sony Vegas Pro 10). Before he knew it, Penjo Entertainment Production was in place.

Penjo Entertainment Production has since been producing adverts, short and long films, documentaries and still photographs. Some of its latest productions include Keyboard, The Children, Sneak (in Lamso - a mother tongue in Cameroon), Orphans (documentary), Weep and Beriwo (to be launched soon).
According to Penjo Entertainment Production CEO, the company is set for further projects all in a bid to keep the local film industry alive. "I find it pleasing to contribute my own little quota to the growth of the seventh art in Cameroon, reason why I'm putting in such effort," he says. "I intend to collaborate or partner with other filmmakers so that together we can do quality jobs for our compatriots whom I think should be served appropriately," he adds.

Penjo Entertainment Production is situated at the Mendong neighborhood in Yaounde. Its CEO could be reached via penjoka@yahoo.com or +237-7771-6288.