Film Criticism and Film Journalism

Film Criticism and Film Journalism 

Anybody who can write and can study the Nigerian film industry can write on both Nollywood and Kannywood.

Don't mistake film journalism for film criticism.

Majority of those claiming to be film critics in Nigeria are either film journalists or commentators. 

You cannot be a film critic if you don't understand filmmaking. Because how can you do a critique of a subject you don't understand the concept, content and context?

You don't know about Lighting for Storytelling and you are a film critic?

You don't know how soundtracks are used in storytelling and you call yourself a film critic?

You don't know costume for storytelling and you call yourself a film critic?

What of histrionics in drama?

Should I go on?

You cannot be a good film critic if you don't know the history of filmmaking or motion picture.

Until reading what I have written now, 99 percent of the so called film critics in Nigeria don't know what is film noir.

In the study of fine arts, we study art history and criticism combined, because you cannot be a good art critic if you don't know art history.

There is widespread intellectual ignorance and posturing by those who claim to be film critics, but they don't even know that filmmaking is part of fine arts and film criticism is part of art history and criticism.

This must be news to them.

Can they discuss Abstract Art in Art History and Criticism with Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima?

Can they do a critique of my masterpiece, "The Metamorphosis of the HIV in the T-Cell" collected by Family Health International (FHI) or "The Eruption of the Love Virus" in private collection since 1993?

I don't even claim to be a film critic.

I am a film writer and historian on the history of Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry widely published, circulated and studied by scholars and students in different colleges and universities in Nigeria and other countries.

Why? Because of the importance, relevance and significance in film studies, African studies, art history and criticism.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Publisher/Editor,
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series,
The first book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry since 2013.