A new movie titled “When Heaven Closed the Sky on Her” is set to debut on September 19, featuring watch parties across six different locations in Lagos.
The 53-minutes movie, produced by Walkem Films, was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence. Despite its non-traditional production method, the depth of its quality and striking dramatic effects put it in a class of its own.
Apart from the screenplay’s creative genius—derived from the novel Ash Saturday by the film’s producer, Pastor Kenny Wale-Adeduro—other key elements, including the cast, theme songs, and technical details, were generated using AI.
The film took about four months to produce. According to Pastor Kenny Wale-Adeduro..it turned out to be a brilliant experiment showcasing the vast opportunities awaiting filmmakers who deploy AI tools in production.
The Movie
“When Heaven Closed the Sky on Her” is a compelling Christian drama about Omolola, a young widow whose life is shattered by the sudden death of her husband. Pregnant and grieving, she is falsely accused of poisoning him and becomes the target of family greed, persecution, and manipulation. Yet, through devastating loss, spiritual warfare, and unexpected turns, Omolola learns to trust God even when she cannot understand His plans.
Pastor Kenny Wale-Adeduro told Church Times that the idea for the movie began when she launched her novel, Ash Saturday about five years ago. “Everyone who read the book encouraged me to turn it into a movie,” she said.
Pastor Kenny Wale-Adeduro
Love for acting
Pastor Mrs. Wale-Adeduro’s love for acting dates back to her secondary school days. She first met her husband during a drama production while both were undergraduates, and they have remained active in drama ministry ever since. Together, they produced a Yoruba movie in Nigeria titled “Ana Nla” back in 1995.
However, her journey into AI filmmaking began early this year after attending online classes. Following the training, she decided to put her newly acquired knowledge into practice. She emphasized that while the film is an adaptation of her 2022 novel Ash Saturday, she used “AI tools to polish the dialogue.”
She noted that the project took close to four months to complete because she was committed to delivering high quality:
“It’s my story; I wanted it to come alive just as I had imagined. You need to understand that AI isn’t perfect, regardless of the prompt you use. I wanted every scene to be as realistic as possible.”
What sets the movie apart is its professional finish. It features original songs with Yoruba and Igbo elements, translated from English compositions.
The bulk of her expenditure went toward purchasing AI software, allowing her to produce the film without hiring an external production crew.
“I relied on God and AI tools. For the music, I knew the specific sound I wanted for every scene. I wrote down my ideas and used Suno AI to turn them into melodious compositions,” she explained.
Regarding the exotic locations featured across six nations in the movie, she states, “If you read the novel Ash Saturday, you will see how detailed I was in describing clothing, houses, and cars. Bringing my imagination into play made it easy for AI to generate those scenes.”
Copyright issues
Addressing copyright and legal concerns surrounding AI in the creative space, she stated: “I do not have those concerns. The story is entirely mine, and Ash Saturday was published on major global platforms long before the advent of AI. The theme songs were generated through paid Suno subscriptions, and I gave full credit in the film’s closing sequence indicating that AI tools were used.”
She disclosed that the entire production cost about ₦300,000. “That is far cheaper than paying for a human cast and renting physical locations. If I were to shoot this movie traditionally, I would have spent millions. But then you I used some of the most expensive AI platforms available.”
A.i.training programme
Building on this success, Pastor Kenny Wale-Adeduro is now using her skills to run an AI training programme complete with a fully developed curriculum. She has also authored a book titled “The AI Filmmaker’s Playbook”, designed as a practical daily guide for aspiring AI filmmakers.
Reflecting on the challenges, she noted that AI doesn’t always execute commands perfectly on the first attempt: “Sometimes I had to re-generate a 10-second scene more than 20 times.”
Despite these challenges, she expressed enthusiasm for continuing to produce standard movies and collaborating with others interested in AI production. She also dismissed fears that AI will disrupt traditional cinema or displace creative professionals:
“AI filmmaking technology has existed for a long time in different forms. It is similar to the studio visual effects long used by Hollywood. The only difference now is that everyone has access to that magnificent studio right in the palm of their hand.”
Message of the movie
Speaking on the core message of the movie debuting on September 19, she added: “The story reminds us that God’s silence is not God’s absence. When everything appears to be falling apart, we must resist fear, bitterness, and revenge, and continue to trust in God’s sovereignty. What the enemy intends for evil, faith in God can ultimately turn for good.”
The film also emphasizes that Christians must learn to trust God beyond what they can see, stand firmly on His Word, forgive those who cause them pain, and continue walking in purpose through seasons of uncertainty.
VENUES FOR THE MOVIE PREMIERE / WATCH PARTY
Date: September 19
Time: 6:00 PM
Locations:
Redeemed Christian Church of God (Royal Diadem Parish)
2 Victoria Street, Isolo, Lagos
1. Redeemed Christian Church of God (True Vine Parish)
Ijale Street, Ikorodu, Lagos
2. Redeemed Christian Church of God (Royal Court Parish)
4 Hussey Street, Opposite Yaba Tech, Yaba, Lagos
3. Paradise World Ministry
Sabo, Ondo City, Ondo State
4. Redeemed Christian Church of God (Throne of Mercy Parish)
52 Governor’s Road, Ikotun, Lagos
5. Redeemed Christian Church of God (Holiness Model Parish)
6 Ayodele Fanoiki Street, Olowora, Lagos
PROFILE OF PASTOR KENNY WALE-ADEDURO
Pastor Kenny Wale-Adeduro is a parenting, family, and lifestyle coach. She is the founder and coordinator of “FAMILY MATTERS with Pastor Kenny”, established in 2010, and hosts the Family Morning Prayer platform across YouTube and WhatsApp.
A professional Health Educator and serial entrepreneur, she serves as the CEO of @walkendiet, @walken_bags&closets, and MJ Apartments. She is also a travel adviser, facilitator, and social media enthusiast.
A well-traveled public speaker, she is the wife of the Assistant Pastor in Charge of RCCG Region 71 / Pastor in Charge of Province in The Redeemed Christian Church of God. Over the years, she and her husband have planted over 40 churches across Nigeria, Denmark, and the USA.
She is happily married with three children and many grandchildren.
She is the author of Ash Saturday (a Christian family novel) and Fit by Faith (a 30-day weight loss devotional), both of which have sold thousands of copies worldwide.
Instagram: @kenny_ejireolorire
Email: kennywalken@yahoo.com