Archive for December, 2009

The Suicide Mission in Nollywood

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

In Nollywood, the second largest movie industry in the world, dog eats dog. And it is news as big as man biting dog. As they say in journalism, it’s no news for a dog to bite a man. After the pioneers and veterans of Nollywood, Mercy Johnson is a favourite actress of many people, yet she is one of the most scandalised in the business. A promising actress, there is no doubt that she is crying when she is doing that on set. This is one of her shocking dog-eat-dog experiences, told a newspaper: “Let me tell you this story. When I was heading for Benin, I was supposed to leave at a particular time but I didn’t leave. My friends kept calling me and that’s why I am telling you that people can be terrible.

They were calling me and asking to know when I was planning to leave and I told them I wasn’t sure yet. I eventually decided to leave on a Monday with an 11.45 a.m. flight. Do you know that at precisely 11.45 a.m., a woman appeared at the airport screaming at the top of her voice that I should leave her husband alone. She told officials at the airport that she was hundred percent sure that I was aboard the flight.” There are similar stories on some other Nollywood people, indicating how competitive the industry has become, and the need for a unified Nollywood to address its mounting challenges. Mercy is one of the Nollywood people I have been studying to develop the characters of a novel I am planning to write on the industry. Another person is Mike Ezuruonye. I like it that outside the “scandals”, some of which look too silly to believe, Mercy has defied another of Nollywood’s dirty fads to commence marriage processes to her fiancé.

cont… http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=162550

Pushing the Nigerian motion picture industry to the next level

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

THE staple of the growing stand-up act in Nigeria is taking pot shots at Nollywood, its characters, and in particular the way the movies are produced. One particular anecdote is that of Jim Iyke’s telephonic conversation with Mofe Damijo who was on his way to London when Jim’s call got through to him. On learning that Damijo will be staying three days in the United Kingdom, Iyke asked whether he was with his camcorder. Answering in the affirmative, Iyke advised Damijo to shoot about ‘40 scenes’ and ‘other actions’ before returning to Nigeria. Iyke believed this would enable the two to produce tens of movies and of course earn good money from selling the movies!

Although very derogatory and the story makes the audience reel off in deep laughter because the joke bears some semblance to what plays out in the real world of Nollywood movie production, more salutary stories have been told about Nollywood, and these stories not only raise the profile of the industry, but also that of the country. Nollywood is an industry that Nigerians ought to be proud of….

cont … http://www.modernghana.com/movie/6004/3/nollywood-and-africamagic-pushing-the-nigerian-mot.html

Nollywood to Undergo Film Industry Training

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

Nigeria is the world’s second largest film-producing country but, according to the managing director of Del York International, Linus Idahosa, there is a need “to stem the tide of marginal competence in the (Nigerian film) industry”.

With this in view, Del York International is partnering with the prestigious New York Film Academy to conduct film-making and acting training programmes in Nigeria.

Del York International hosted journalists in Abuja, on Tuesday, November 24, 2009. The press briefing held at the International Conference Centre, and was attended by Nollywood actors, Stephanie Okereke and Francis Duru. Miss Okereke, who is a graduate of the New York Film Academy, spoke about the success of her debut work, “Through the Glass” – a film she wrote, directed, co-produced and starred in.

The special guest speakers were the Minister for Information and Communication, Dora Akunyili; and Emeka Mba, the director-general of the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board.

Mrs. Akunyili stressed that the film industry is one more tool in laundering Nigeria’s image. Making reference to the controversial Sony advert and Hollywood film “District 9″, she implored “Nollywood, please help us to tell our own stories.”

Mr. Mba pointed out that local storytelling could be inadequate, citing the difference in the portrayal of magic and witchcraft in the Harry Potter series and Nollywood films.

The Del York-organised programme is the first outing of the film academy to Africa and will cater for 1000 students in both Abuja (February) and Lagos (March). Tuition for each student is $3,500.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5489926-146/story.csp