Freetown — At least two Sierra Leoneans would represent the country in this year's Next Movie Star (NMS) - a TV reality show in Nigeria aimed at discovering future video stars in West Africa.

NMS is a three weeks show for 16 talented but young minds -between the ages of 18 and 30- who wish to become movie stars. Its main objective is to discover, nurture and promote new faces for the movie industries within the sub-region.

Sierra Leone is being incorporated for the first time into the project, which is said to cost about $4 million to organize.

Put together by Digital Interactive Media (DIM) production in Nigeria, the maiden edition in 2005 and its subsequent, were held for Nigerians. But by 2007, the show spread its tentacles to neighbouring Ghana where seven contestants were selected for the show.

This year, NMS is taking a longer stretch as Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia have been added to the list of countries that would produce the 16 contestants.

"This is a dream come true for Sierra Leoneans. They have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. I'm proud to be part of this drive," says Jamal Conteh, the General Manager of ABC TV which will be partnering with DIM throughout the three weeks of production.

"This is another way to improve the movie industry in Sierra Leone," Conteh added.

In his explanation, MD/CEO of DIM, Sola Fajobi, said that NMS is the only reality TV show that MNET (on DSTV) pays to air on its network.

On the show's core values, Fajobi said: "It (NMS) is not just a talent show but a TV content which must be exciting and add value to sponsors." To be a part of NMS auditioning slated for September 30, interested Sierra Leoneans can register online at www.thenextmoviestar.net or by picking up a registration form at the ABC TV station on Siaka Stevens Street.

Though Fajobi stated that all selected 16 contestants would win prizes, the first will go home with a brand new car, three movie contracts, $5,000, a flat in choice location in Lagos, Nigeria and several other minor prizes like expense paid trip to the UK for the first three winners.