Tuesday 18 November 2008

Let us together build Nollywood up, this can replace for the nation the market of the oil industry, if the investments are right.


This is the high time that we need to further educate the public as a campaign medium on doing things the right way. I believe we in the Diaspora are in an advantage position to suggest leads to where and how Nollywood should go, if you know what I mean.

For instance, what is the professional proceedure in engaging in a film production?
Where is the place of professional contracting?
Where is the place for the payment of royalties?
What about making real African movies rather than todays' Nollywood melo dramas. Where and who do we go to for the right kind of funding for international standard productions?
Can our films realy make a presence on international frontiers, festivals and competitions?
Can our films one day get international distributions?
What about the proper sales of movie rights; What is a National right, Continental right, Global right, Theatrical rights, DVD rights, Televisionn Rights. Where are we technically?
What happens to collaborative training programmes?
What happens to state of the art equipment aquisation for our productions?

It is happening in Sereleone, South Africa and other third world countries, even though in small proportion?
Where are the investors to make these happen?

If Nigerians truely claim to own Nollywood, they should stand up to the challenges and put their money where their mouth is - the film maker is not 100% percent responsible for the poor state of Nollywood, the few who are making an impact or difference have been empowered by right funding. I think the Nigerian investors, business men, millionaires and billionaires must at this time take this as a patriotic challenge and start thinking of the funding for good movies. Out in the Western world, a good movie would cost not less than 250,000 pounds, and that is a low budget movie. Please compare this to what obtains in Nollywood, where the films in the market today are made for about 10 - 20,000 pounds at the most. So the effect is that no money to acquire the right kind of equipment, or even hire the well trained professionnals, what about spending more money to ensure detailed rehearsal by the artists.

What I am say in effect is that the true division of labour in film making must begin to be reflected in Nollywood, film makers should be allowed to do the business of film making, while business men must wake up to the challenge of funding for great film making, I still believe Africa have not started yet, but we shall start soon, and the world will be taken by storm.

It is time for all Nigerian Millionaires an billionaires to grown this industry, and stop waiting for her to be grown lean on the blood of filmmakers while waiting to take over what we have manager to build from nothing. The industry is not fully built yet, she needs every penny available from the pocket of every Nigerian available to build her up, this can replace for the nation the market of the oil industry - trust me - that is if the investments are right.

Thanks again and keep building Nollywood.

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