Nigerian Filmmakers: Beyond Nollywood, Beyond Netflix

Nigerian Filmmakers: Beyond Nollywood, Beyond Netflix

TV is not Cinema and Cinema is not TV.

- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

Nigerian filmmakers must capture the big picture of the future of Nollywood.

Majority of the filmmakers in Nigeria should know and understand the importance and significance of Art Direction and Production Design in filmmaking. 

Many of them don't even know the definition of Art Direction.

There is no filmmaking without Art Direction.

Netflix in Nigeria: It is No Longer Nollywood As Usual

The filmmakers in both Nollywood and Kennywood must now be more adventurous and ambitious in the content and context of filmmaking beyond mere narrative storytelling.

Any dummy can play guitar. 

But any dummy cannot be Carlos Santana or Sir Victor Uwaifo.

Nigerian filmmakers are still using having their movies on Netflix for bragging rights when none of them has made the official selections of the most competitive and prestigious international film festivals in the world after decades of making movies.

We are still waiting for them to be in the official selections for the Cannes Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, Toronto Film Festival and compete with the best filmmakers in the world and not competing against themselves in Nigeria.

They have been making movies even before C.J Obasi got his GCE and he has gone ahead of them to win coveted awards at the Sundance Film Festival, FESPACO and other esteemed international film festivals where they have failed to make the official selections or failed to win any prize.

The future of Nollywood is bigger than Netflix.

Beauty is more than having a pretty face.

99.99 percent of the biracial actresses in Nollywood can't act.

Three of them are annoyingly amateurish.

They have been featured in movies just for having a pretty face by intellectually challenged filmmakers in Nollywood who think having white looking Bimbos in their movies will attract more viewers and moviegoers.

Having a pretty face and being photogenic can attract filmmakers, but acting begins with learning how to act and not pretending to act when you don't know how to act.

We are two years to the epoch of 100 years of filmmaking in Nigeria. But I doubt if the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy had a clue until I have mentioned it.

How much have we achieved in a century of Nigerian Cinema?

What are milestones in the history of filmmaking in Nigeria since the production of the first feature film, "Palaver" in 1926 by the Academy Award winning English filmmaker, Geoffrey Barkas?

The making of "Palaver" was published in the second edition of the NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series in 2014.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

The Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series,

The first book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.

Letter To Nollywood

I received good replies from intelligent and wise people who read the firrst important and timely letter I wrote to NOLLYWOOD. The following is an updated version of it 

As written in 

◄ Proverbs 11:14 ►

"For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers."

The wisdom of the world is nothing to the Wisdom of God.

It is important to accept wise counsel.

I have updated this message, because a big insurance company told me last week that when the company wanted to support Nollywood, the President of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN) of over a decade ago and the leadership of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) antagonized each other and refused to cooperate on the program. So, the company left and never wanted to support Nollywood again.

When I recommended that AMP should be changed to the appropriate Producers Guild of Nigeria (PGN), it is for the best interests of the Nigerian film industry. 

Intrigues and shenanigans are childish and foolish in professional bodies.

Unprofessional practices have actually caused the untimely demise of several actors and producers in Nollywood without any insurance policy.

The good news is: I have attracted another multinational company in the entertainment industry and I have already recommended a thorough seasoned professional in Nollywood to them. Because, she is above aboard; a woman of substance; a woman of dignity, integrity and nobility of over 40 years professional experience in the Nigerian film industry; from the cradle of Nollywood, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) where I also started my career and was paying my monthly tax from the age of 17, when I was earning N400 monthly for four years before going on to work for the John Hopkins University''s Population Communication Services (JHU/PCS) at 21 as a public health illustrator and later as a translator (through which I paid, the Nollywood actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo to do translation of English into Igbo for the family planning methods booklets fully illustrated by me for the whole Nigeria. I met him at the Radio Nigeria office in Ikoyi, Lagos).

Finally, from a dialogue in my "Once Upon a Time in Nollywood":

Even if you are driving a stolen car in Nollywood since 2010 to date, do your best to drive it well and maintain it, so that people will not even know the truth. I will even enjoy the jolly ride with you and your passengers 😀.  

PS: 

For those who are good enough for the production of documentary films, funding is available for you.

I don't know if anyone applied for the Sundance Documentary Fund I mentioned before the closing date. If you did not apply, you can apply for the 2024 round closing in April.

https://apply.sundance.org/res/p/2023dfpfaq

The Sundance Institute was funded by the MacArthur Foundation.

If you have a film festival with a film institute or foundation, you can apply for the establishment.

We need a Nollywood Museum for the Nigerian film industry from the making of the first feature, "Palaver" of 1926 to date.

See details on The MacArthur Foundation grants.

100&Change, our competition for a single $100 million grant, is open to any proposed solution to any critical problem of our time. Nonprofit and qualifying for-profit organizations may apply. The competition cycle repeats every three years.

https://www.macfound.org/info-grantseekers/

PS:

Please, don't apply for funds to misappropriate the money to enrich yourselves. If you do so, I will also report the misappropriations of the funds which I have done before as a national Program Consultant for the UNICEF in Nigeria for NGOs.

We cannot point accusing fingers at the government for corruption when we are not innocent of corruption. 

Corruption is corruption; from the closet to the Office of the President; from the bedroom to the boardroom.

I have seen greedy filmmakers in Nollywood who misappropriated hundreds of thousands to millions of naira given to them for film and TV productions. And the funders have been disappointed and discouraged from supporting Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,.

The  Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series,

The first book on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry since 2013. Distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.

Women Are the New Game Changers in Nollywood

Yesterday I was at the Glover Memorial Hall on the Lagos Island, Lagos, Nigeria on Wednesday afternoon,  JULY 19, 2023.

I met with some of the leading key members of the Women in Film and Television International (WIFTI) in Nigeria who are major stakeholders in Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry who have been committed in the overall capacity development of the film and TV industry since the 1980s to date.

We discussed the Big Picture of the future of the Nigerian film industry in view of the great prospects.

The female filmmakers in Nigeria have produced the most highest grossing movies in Nollywood since 2010 to date. The most recent movies include the following:

Battle on Buka Street (2022): (₦668,423,056) by Funke Akindele.

Omo Ghetto: The Saga (2020): ₦636,129,120 by Funke Akindele.

The Wedding Party (2016): ₦452,288,605 by Kemi Adetiba.

Ijakumo (2022) ₦278,496,384 by Toyin Abraham

King of Boys (2018): be  ₦244,775,758 by Kemi Adetiba

View the complete list of the highest-grossing Nigerian films  on Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_Nigerian_films

The highest grossing movies have been acquired by Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and other top OTT streaming services in the world.

These leading women making fantastic movies also have some of the best film and TV studios and film schools in Nigeria.

These outstanding women are changing the narratives of stereotypical views of women in Nollywood in the sociocultural, socioeconomic and sociopolitical perspectives on the Nigerian society.

More details will be published in the third edition of the NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series focusing on the notable Nigerian female filmmakers in Nigeria and the Diaspora and the most powerful women in Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRRORED® Series

Tribeca Festival Announces Stephanie Linus, Brendan Fraser, Chance the Rapper as 2023 Jury Members

Tribeca Festival Announces Stephanie Linus, Brendan Fraser, Chance the Rapper as 2023 Jury Members

The 2023 Tribeca Festival has officially unveiled its star-studded jury which includes the award-winning actress and filmmaker Stephanie Linus. She will be joining a roster of several dozen actors, writers, filmmakers and producers including Brendan Fraser, Chance the Rapper, Jeremy O. Harris and more to decide winners in 15 award categories.

 

The highly acclaimed festival which will run from June 7 to 18 in New York will present awards in categories spanning narrative and documentary features and shorts as well as the immersive storyscapes vertical, games and audio storytelling. All award winners will be announced at the Tribeca Festival ceremony on June 15.

 

Other members of the A-list jury includes Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”), Zoey Deutch (“The Politician”), Dianna Agron (“Glee”), Zazie Beetz (“Atlanta”), Kate Siegel (“Hush”), Nina Dobrev (“The Vampire Diaries”), Piper Perabo (“Covert Affairs”), Noah Centineo (“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”) and Chloë Grace Moretz (“Kick-Ass”).

 

The Tribeca Festival was founded in 2001 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan after 9/11. This year’s lineup will feature emerging and household names in 109 feature, narrative, documentary and animated films from 127 directors across 36 countries.

Warner Bros. 100 Years of Storytelling

Warner Bros 100 Years of Storytelling

 By Mark A. Vieira

Foreword by Ben Mankiewicz

Description

In this official centennial history of the greatest studio in Hollywood, unforgettable stars, untold stories, and rare images from the Warner Bros. vault bring a century of entertainment to vivid life.

The history of Warner Bros.is not just the tale of a legendary film studio and its stars, but of classic Hollywood itself, as well as a portrait of America in the last century. It’s a family story of Polish-Jewish immigrants—the brothers Warner—who took advantage of new opportunities in the burgeoning film industry at a time when four mavericks could invent ways of operating, of warding off government regulation, and of keeping audiences coming back for more during some of the nation's darkest days.

Innovation was key to their early success. Four years after its founding, the studio revolutionized moviemaking by introducing sound in The Jazz Singer (1927). Stars and stories gave Warner Bros. its distinct identity as the studio where tough guys like Humphrey Bogart and strong women like Bette Davis kept people on the edge of their seats. Over the years, these acclaimed actors and countless others made magic on WB’s soundstages and were responsible for such diverse classics as Casablanca, A Streetcar Named Desire, A Star Is Born, Bonnie & Clyde, Malcolm X, Caddyshack, Purple Rain, and hundreds more.

It’s the studio that put noir in film with The Maltese Falcon and other classics of the genre, where the iconic Looney Tunes were unleashed on animation, and the studio that took an unpopular stance at the start of World War II by producing anti-Nazi films. Counter-culture hits like A Clockwork Orange and The Exorcist carried the studio through the 1970s and '80s. Franchise phenomena like Harry Potter, the DC universe, and more continue to shape a cinematic vision and longevity that is unparalleled in the annals of film history. These stories and more are chronicled in this comprehensive and stunning volume. 

Copyright © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Nigeria Daily: There is No Life Insurance Policy in Nollywood

 https://twitter.com/nigeriadaily/status/1658099965514661890?t=1oEgRQxxtcd8rGZ5ipGPSw&s=09

The last time I signed a contract as an actor with insurance was in 1996 for a Nigerian action movie. Segun Arinze, Regina Askia, Emeka Ike and other top actors were in the cast.

I have written and published an article on the importance of insurance policy for Nollywood.

Ibinabo Fiberesima addressed it during her tenure as the President of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN). But I have not heard about it again.

There are no regulations for professional contracts for the cast and crew by both the AGN and Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN). So, they don't have any insurance policy.

There is too much opportunism in Nollywood and disregard for professionalism. And the opportunists feel offended and upset when you ask for professional ethics in the Nigerian film industry.

-  Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Publisher/Editor,
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series,

See The 100 Most Influential People of 2023: TIME100

Time Magazine

See The 100 Most Influential People of 2023 | TIME100

Source: time.com

Published: April 2023

All people in this work:

Ali Wong - Actor

Angela Bassett - Actor

Aubrey Plaza - Actor

Austin Butler - Actor

Colin Farrell - Actor

Drew Barrymore - Actor

Jennifer Coolidge - Actor

Jerrod Carmichael - Actor

Ke Huy Quan - Actor

Lea Michele - Actor

Michael B. Jordan - Actor

Natasha Lyonne - Actor

Pedro Pascal - Actor

Shah Rukh Khan - Actor

Zoe Saldana - Actor

Kylian Mbappé - Athlete

Lionel Messi - Athlete

Patrick Mahomes II - Athlete

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter - Entertainer

Doja Cat - Entertainer

Steve Lacy - Entertainer

Bella Hadid - Model

Padma Lakshmi - Self

Thom Browne - Self

Wolfgang Tillmans - Self

Joe Biden - Other

Idris Elba To Build Film Studios in Ghana To Attract Hollywood

Famous British actor and director, Idris Elba recently met with the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House, during his visit to Ghana.

During the meeting with the President of Ghana discussed building a film studio in the country. 

He also urged the president to create favorable policies for filmmakers to thrive. 

He noted that he has plans to shoot a movie in Ghana. 

In a video from their meeting that has gone viral on social media, Idris Elba was seen pitching the idea of establishing a film studio in the west African country.

He noted that there is a lot of filmmaking potential that the lack of facilities has stifled. He also spoke about the importance of government policies in boosting the film sector in Africa.

“We’ve studied the models of obviously South Africa’s incredible incentive package, and around Europe, obviously, Greece, Morocco, these are all places where they realize the value of the filmmaking dollar and have brought that policy into play,” he said to the Ghanaian president.

Idris Alba during a meeting with the President of Ghana discussed building a film studio in the country. 

He also urged the president to create favorable policies for filmmakers to thrive. 

He noted that he has plans to shoot a movie in Ghana. 

The blockbuster actor revealed that he has a movie he is currently shooting and would love to shoot some parts of that movie in Ghana. He disclosed that pre-production is set for August, and principal photography would begin in December.

#IdrisElba #Ghana #SouthAfrica #Nigeria #Filmmaking #FilmStudios #filmmakers #movies #actors 

#August #filmindustry

Read more on 

https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/lifestyle/idris-elba-adds-ghana-to-list-of-african-countries-he-wants-to-partner-with/4z27x1x

Idris Elba to Join in Conversation at the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend in Abidjan

PRESS RELEASE

Idris Elba to Join in Conversation at the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend in Abidjan

Elba is an award winning actor, musician, filmmaker and philanthropist, well-known for roles such as Nelson Mandela

Access Multimedia Content

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, November 21, 2022/ -- The Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND 2022) (https://www.CANEX.Africa), taking place from 25 – 27 November 2022 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, will feature international superstar Idris Elba. The actor is scheduled for the “When giants speak” Fireside Chat on Saturday 26 November, among other activities. Idris Elba will bring his wealth of experience and insights into the global film industry as part of the CANEX WKND programme, which includes panel discussions, Fireside Chats, Masterclasses and Live performances. With roots in Sierra Leone and Ghana, Elba represents the astounding success of people of African descent within the global entertainment industry. He joins a list of over 100 top speakers from Africa and the diaspora, representing a range of creative sectors, who have confirmed their participation in Africa's most sought-after gathering of creatives. Elba is an award winning actor, musician, filmmaker and philanthropist, well-known for roles such as Nelson Mandela in the biographical film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Stringer Bell in the HBO series The Wire, and DCI John Luther in the BBC One series Luther, for which he won a Screen Actors Guild award for Best Actor. Organised by African Export Import Bank (Afreximbank) in partnership with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, CANEX WKND is a major milestone in the Bank's implementation of its Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme; a multi-faceted intervention aimed at supporting and developing Africa’s rapidly growing creative and cultural industries. Afreximbank has identified the African diaspora as an essential component of the CANEX programme. CANEX WKND will also feature some of Africa and the diaspora’s top creative names, experts, brands, and thought leaders that will include: Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya (Nigeria) Didier Drogba, Retired Professional Footballer (Côte d'Ivoire) Alex Okosi, Managing Director of EMEA Emerging Markets at YouTube (Nigeria) Elvis Adidiema, Director, Sony Music for French-speaking Africa (Congo) Abdul-Karim Abdullah, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Culture Management Group (CMG) and Afrochella Festival (Ghana) Magali Ohouens, Modern Art Specialist & Exhibition Coordinator at Cécile Fakhoury Gallery (Côte d’Ivoire) Armando Cabral, Founder and Creative Director, Armando Cabral (Portugal) and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Author (Nigeria), amongst others. Sessions are open to all registered CANEX WKND delegates along with all Masterclasses that commence on Thursday 24 November. For more information and to register for free go to www.CANEX.Africa. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of CANEX WKND 2022.   Multimedia Content: Download CANEX 2022 Institutional Videos Spot TV 30" https://bit.ly/3XevO6d Welcome Video by Pathé’O https://bit.ly/3GE7W6d Annoncement Video Yemi Alade https://bit.ly/3UUXY4B   Annoncement Video Jospeh Dahouet-Boigny https://bit.ly/3tKM9C7 Download CANEX 2022 promotional material https://bit.ly/3XlRL31 Media Contact and Press Relations: M. Amadou Labba Sall W: +20 120 532 0254   Email: asall@afreximbank.com M. Toussaint Alain W : +225 07 89 13 12 97 Email : toussaint.alain@aol.com Social Media: Facebook: https://bit.ly/3tO1RfS Twitter: https://bit.ly/3hPHnQS Instagram: http://bit.ly/3UXxsHi LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/3UHjKZs YouTube: http://bit.ly/3UYuZfN SOURCE CANEX WKND 2022

www.APO-opa.com

The Best Headshot for Success from Casting Calls to Auditions

https://www.nollycasting.com

 The focus needs to stay on your face and not your clothes or accessories!

Your headshot is your marketing tool! Your headshot is not just a picture; it represents your professional image and brand. It’s a professional photo of the talent where the focus of the photograph is the person’s face.

It is utilized to identify you as well as distinguish you from the crowd. It is the first impression you make to the public before they meet you in person. Therefore, the photo must look like you and represent you well!

Be seen as a professional, not as an amateur, so the way you present yourself in your photo is very important.

You must have a good, high quality, professional headshot if you want to be taken seriously by industry professionals!

We require all talents to upload a professional headshot within 30 days from today, and if you fail to do so, we will remove your profile from our database! But don’t worry, we are here to help you!

Below, we share some tips with you on how to acquire a good headshot!

Here are some tips for a good headshot to prepare for your auditions!

1. PROFESSIONAL

Go to your local professional photographer to book your photo session! Don’t settle for a photo taken by your phone because the low quality will show! Hire a professional who will know how to capture you well in the most professional way possible. It is worth the investment!

2. SHOW YOUR ESSENCE…SMILE!

Don’t forget to smile and engage with the camera! This is the best way to showcase your personality is through the expression on your face. Ladies, please avoid wearing heavy make-up and extravagant hairstyles. Wear just enough make-up that enhances your natural beauty and hair that shows your face!

3. WARDROBE

Choose wardrobe that complements your skin tone. Bright, solid, colors are best. Avoid heavy patterns and prints as they can become distracting. We also want to see your eyes so please stay away from sunglasses and hats. Please do not use any props!

4. LIGHTING, BACKGROUND & ANGLE

Please stay away from busy, distracting backgrounds and make sure that you have great lighting — whether it is shot indoors or outdoors!

See the professional headshot photos of the actors and models registered on Nollycasting.

https://www.nollycasting.com

NEW INTERNATIONAL CASTING CALLS ON NOLLYCASTING FOR ALL ACTORS AND MODELS

NEW INTERNATIONAL CASTING CALLS ON NOLLYCASTING FOR ALL ACTORS AND MODELS

There are new casting calls for local and international roles on 

Nollycasting, one of the leading talent websites for actors, actresses and models in the world.

There are on going casting calls for roles in new movies, TV series and modelling in Lagos London, Paris and other cities in the world

Nollycasting is open to all actors and models of all ages and races worldwide for new and old actors and models including roles for  established actors like the celebrated Nollywood star Stephanie Linus who is a multiple award winning actor, model, brand ambassador and director, starring in movies and TV series in Nollywood and Hollywood and TV commercials such as in the popular GREE air conditioner advert.

Check out the beautiful actors and models on

 http://www.nollycasting.com/director/view/talent

Five Outstanding Nigerians Invited To The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2022

Five outstanding Nigerians, including distinguished directors Newton Aduaka and Blessing Effiom Egbe, accomplished actors Funke Akindele-Bello and Daniel K. Daniel and notable talent agent Josiah Akinyele are among 397 New Members of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in 2022. 

Membership selection is based on professional qualifications, with an ongoing commitment to representation, inclusion and equity. This year's class of invitees includes 71 Oscar nominees, including 15 winners.

See complete list of the new members on https://www.oscars.org/news/academy-invites-397-membership.

***

According to the Academy, the "membership process is by sponsorship, not application. Candidates must be sponsored by two Academy members from the branch to which the candidate seeks admission." 

Nollycasting is Attracting International Casting Directors

Nollycasting is Attracting International Casting Directors

Nollywood diva, Stephanie Linus' Nollycasting.com is attracting international casting directors in search of new faces for film and TV productions, music videos, adverts and fashion shows.

"Nollywood actress, Onyinye Odokoro got a major role on Nollycasting for Sky Original TV Series' "Unwanted” in Italy where she is now acting alongside top actors," said Stephanie. 

"Unwanted" is produced by Sky Studios, Pantaleon Films and Indiana Production and directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel. 

Sky released first look images for the new Sky Original drama, “Unwanted.” Inspired by the book “Bilal,” an investigative book from journalist Fabrizio Gatti, the eight-part series tells the story of an undercover human rights defender who is helping migrants journey from Africa to Europe as they battle human traffickers and government officials. https://www.google.com/amp/s/variety.com/2022/tv/global/sky-unwanted-first-look-images-1235188198/amp

NBCUniversal Global Distribution are handling international sales of the series on behalf of Sky Studios. “Unwanted” is set to air on Sky and streaming service Now in all Sky territories. The release date has not yet been announced. 

Stephanie said she is already looking at the profiles of the actors and models on Nollycasting for the cast of her new film projects by Next Page Productions.

Casting directors in America, Spain, the UK, France and Italy have been asking for Nigerians and other Africans for roles in acting, modeling, TV commercials and music videos.

Nollycasting is free to use for both new and seasoned talents in the film and TV industry. In partnership with its subsidiary, Next Page Talents, the platform also provides customized talent management services for creative individuals who want to take their career to the next level. 

"It's easier than ever to cross that gap between having the right skills and finding the right job on Nollycasting.com. Creative individuals such as actors, models, music artistes and more can upload their profiles and highlight their skills, thereby positioning themselves to be discovered by casting directors who are actively recruiting for such roles" said Stephanie Linus who is currently in the United States of America in preproduction for one of her new film productions: a crime thriller on the triangle of human trafficking in America, Europe and Africa.

Visit https://www.nollycasting.com to see the international casting calls.

NOLLYWOOD: How Can A So Called Booming Film Industry Be Full of Hungry Actors and Directors?

NOLLYWOOD: How Can A So Called Booming Film Industry Be Full of Hungry Actors and Directors?

Nollywood makes news headlines as a booming film industry, the second largest in the world after the Bollywood of India in the production of movies estimated to be worth over US$250 million annually which is less than the total budget of Avatar ($280 million), Tangled ($260 million), Spider-Man 3 ($258 million) or Pirates of the Caribbean sequels ($300 million).
See "Nollywood: The Nigerian Film Industry by Harvard Kennedy School on http://www.isc.hbs.edu/pdf/Student_Projects/Nigeria_Film_2008.pdf, which every literate person in Nigeria and others in the world should read

The realities in Nollywood are different from the booming headlines, because majority of the actors and directors are living in poverty from Lagos to Asaba.

Majority of the filmmakers are not well paid for their movies by the leading multinational cable TV network, MultiChoice Nigeria of the MultiChoice Group and many of them just wanted to have their movies on the DStv Channels of MultiChoice such as the Africa Magic for the publicity. Then only few of them smiled to the bank from the box office revenues of their movies distributed and exhibited by local film distributors and cinemas. The cinemas have not been making enough for a so called booming film industry without a film market. The highest grossing Nollywood movie from the box office in Nigeria, Funke Akindele- Bello's "Ọmọ́ Ghetto, The Saga" made less than N700 million which is not even up to the monthly incomes of the co-CEOs of Netflix, Reed Hastings who  earns more than $40.8 million annually and Ted Sarandos who  earns more than $38.2 million annually.
So, Nollywood is still far from the news headlines of a booming film industry.

#nollywood #bollywood #ceos #boxoffice #income #revenue
#film #netflix #filmmakers #africa #nigeria #network #india #school #bank #filmmarket #distribution #cinemas #actors #directors #spiderman #avatar #harvard #movies #dstv #multichoice #asaba #budget #hastings #sarandos #news #africamagic #piratesofthecaribbean

Nigerian Film Corporation, Show Us the Money!

 The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC). should be run by competent professional experts with proven knowledge of the film industry locally and globally and not by civil servants without any proven expertise and experience in the management of the Nigerian film industry.

As we speak, Nollywood and Kannywood are made up of independent film and TV studios, administratively challenged ad-hoc producers association; financially challenged guild of directors; administratively challenged actors guild; accredited and unaccredited film schools and film festivals doing their best without any competent government administration.
The NFC had a film festival two weeks ago and majority of Nigerians did not even know about it, because of the administrative incompetence of the corporation. The theme was "Show Us The Money" and there was no film market to attract international acquisition and distribution companies to show them the money.

 
- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
The Publisher/Editor, NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series.
@247nigeria Twitter.

#film #Nigeria #Nollywood #Kannywood #actors #producers #directors #guild #accredited #government #management #experience #money #schools #administration #civil #corporation #filmmarket #studios #filmschool #filmindustry #filmfestivals

Vision Films Releases "The American King" in Theaters on January 28

 

Vision Films Releases "The American King" in Theaters on January 28 

#Hollywood
#Nollywood
#Akon
#Coming2America
#Blacks
#blackpanther
#blackpower
#blacklivesmatter

Vision Films, Inc. 

Jan 18, 2022, 08:56 ET

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vision Films announces the limited theatrical and VOD release of the Adah Obekpa's The American King on January 28, 2022. A day and date limited theatrical run begins at The Sun Valley 14 in Charlotte, NC, The Laemmle in Glendale, CA, Studio Movie Grill in Philadelphia, and Emagine Theaters Chatham and Riviera 12 in Chicago and Detroit, respectively. The DVD release follows on March 1.

The American King Trailer:   https://youtu.be/QXwAL-OrRhM

Shot on location in Los Angeles and Nigeria, The American King is a fish-out-of-water comedy that features Senegalese-American mega talent, rap artist, and producer Akon as a troublemaking American anointed by a mysterious High Priestess to fulfill a 400-year-old prophecy to become the new King of Africa. While he and his foolishly sophomoric buddies find themselves trying to adapt to the realities of being royalty, the US Government, including the President, takes a keen interest in exploiting the situation for their own benefit. Amidst the hijinks and lessons learned about the responsibilities that comes with being a leader, the story reveals its roots from the history and lessons of the 1619 Project. Racial and gender stereotypes, American politics, and more are addressed, lampooned, and satirized with no holds barred, and with the beauty and diversity of Africa as a backdrop. The story is loosely based on the firsthand experience of writer and director Obekpa, a prince and former heir to his father's throne when King of the Idoma nation, Benue State, Nigeria.

Read more on
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vision-films-to-release-akon-starrer-the-american-king-in-theaters-and-vod-timed-to-black-history-month-301462670.html

 

Patience Ozokwor in AZUMKUTA KINGDOM

"AZUMKUTA KINGDOM"
A new epic movie from #Nollywood available for international acquisition and distribution on Vuulr.

Director : Frank Ejelam

Producer: Saviour Okpara

Cast: Patience Ozokwor, Lord Frank, Frances

There are over 400 NIgerian movies on Vuulr.    

Click here to view the best NIgerian movies on Vuulr. .

#Nigeria
#Igbo
#epic
#drama #movies #entertainment #acquisition #distribution #netflix #amazon #africa

CASTING CALL For new film productions in Lagos

CASTING CALL

For new film productions in Lagos.

Preproductions for the part two of two new movies are in progress and this is an open casting call for actors and others who want to act in the movies and want a successful career in Nollywood.

We have been active in Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry since 1996 and now working with top filmmakers such as Leo Uche, Africa's leading action actor, stuntsman and director of  "Spiritual Revelation", the first Nollywood movie on Metempsychosis.

View the trailer on  https://youtu.be/u_dQ1EkGADs

View the new trailer of the first African Avatar film, "The Legend of Gatuso" on

http://totnaija.blogspot.com/2021/08/michaella-rosman-youngest-canadian.html?m=1

"The Legend of Gatuso" is a new movie by Leo Uche completed in 2021.

For invitation to the auditions on September 10, 2021, the Registration Fee is N10, 000 (ten thousand naira).

Registration Fee should be paid to the GTBank current account number 0016426297

Account name of Ekeyerengozi Michael Chima.

Those outside Lagos will have their auditions by Google Meet.

Best regards,

EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor, 

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series 

Vuulr Program Partner,

Ambassador of Drylab R&D AS of Norway,

247 Nigeria (@247nigeria) / Twitter

https://mobile.twitter.com/247nigeria

https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelchimaeyerengozi

Tel: +234 706 637 9246

Giovanni Rosman: The Canadian Man Who Came From Hollywood North To Nollywood

GIOVANNI ROSMAN was the first Canadian born actor to act in Nollywood movies.

What You Need Most To Make A Great Movie

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What You Need Most To Make A Great Movie 

"My mentor said what you need most to make a great movie are not big cameras, not big budget, not big cast, not big crew and not a big story. But a Big Imagination."

- Success Iyoha, from Benin City, Edo State, NIGERIA.

Case Study:

The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American supernatural horror film written, directed and edited by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez. It is a fictional story of three student filmmakers—Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, and Joshua Leonard—who hike into the Black Hills near Burkittsville, Maryland in 1994 to film a documentary about a local legend known as the Blair Witch. The three disappear, but their equipment and footage are discovered a year later. The purportedly "recovered footage" is the film the viewer sees. Myrick and Sánchez conceived of a fictional legend of the Blair Witch in 1993. They developed a 35-page screenplay with the dialogue to be improvised. A casting call advertisement in Backstage magazine was prepared by the directors; Donahue, Williams and Leonard were cast. The film entered production in October 1997, with the principal photography taking place in Maryland for eight days. About 20 hours of footage was shot, which was edited down to 82 minutes. Shot on an original budget of $35,000–60,000, the film had a final cost of $200,000–750,000 after post-production edits.

Budget

$200,000–500,000

Box office

$248.6 million