I Prefer Observational Documentary Style

 I Prefer Observational Documentary Style 

In documentary film production on people, places and other subjects, I prefer observational documentary style, because to me it is best to let the people involved to tell their stories; to show us their lives, societies and treasures without anyone giving a guided tour with a microphone or interviews along the way. The people are the best narrators of the narratives of their lives and living conditions and habitations in different perspectives.

Don't speak for them or tell us about them when they can speak for themselves and tell us about their lives. I want to hear: *we are.." and not *they are"; "I am" and not "he is" or "she is". 

A documentary film is not a news report. I mean reporting about a person, event or incident is not a documentary film. 

Michael Moore, the famous Academy Award winning American documentary filmmaker said it is best to produce a documentary film like a true life movie.

In the production of my first attempt in documentary filmmaking, "Lagos in Motion", there was no narrator. 

The camera was the storyteller; showing us the different places in Lagos, the largest megacity in Africa with the people in the city going about from place to place.

The "Reading in Motion" scenes show young Lagosians, Cynthia Agu and Celina Ideh reading novels by Bisi Daniels inside the car whilst on the road in Lagos city.

 In the cinematic scene of "reading in motion", there was no soundtrack. I simply showed the young Nigerian actress, Celina Ideh reading a book, the novel titled "Conspiracy of Lagos" by Bisi Daniels whilst sitting inside a car in motion on the road in the city. 

It is like a scene in a movie. 

- Ekenyerengozi Michael China

See "A Guide to the 6 Types of Documentaries"

Documentaries are a form of non-fiction film that attempts to document reality and capture the world as it is. They can vary drastically in the subject matter that is being portrayed as well as in the style that this subject matter is depicted. The different documentary styles were first laid out by Bill Nichols, a film critic, in 1991. Nichols characterized the types of documentaries as follows: 

1 Expository 

2 Participatory 

3 Observational

4 Performative 

5 Reflexive 

6 Poetic

 https://www.impactcreative.com/different-types-of-documentaries/#:~:text=A%20Guide%20to,Poetic

Content Development Strategy and Content Marketing Strategy for Film Production, Acquisition and Distribution for Nollywood

 

Content Development Strategy and Content Marketing Strategy for Film Production, Acquisition and Distribution for Nollywood

There is no film production without preproduction of which the most important components are research and development of the film project, script development and recce.

For example, I spent four years on the location for the script development of "Naked Beauty". I have completed the research and development during the recce on Bonny Island in Rivers State before the accomplished multiple awards winning Nollywood filmmaker and film studies scholar, Dr. Chika Christian Onu came to visit me where I was staying in the Residential Area 1 of the Nigeria LNG Limited. And we coauthored the screenplay which I published the book as a case study for screenwriting for film production in Nigeria. It was printed in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America.

The content development included development of the principal characters in the drama based on the people in Agaja village on Bonny Island.

Naked Beauty is available on 

https://www.lulu.com/fr/shop/michael-chima-ekenyerengozi-and-christian-chika-onu/naked-beauty/paperback/product-453339.html

Research and development of the screenplay comes first in preproduction of a film for television or the cinema.

What is Content Development Strategy?

Research on the kind of content you want to produce; the genre and the target audience.

Whether it is a movie, documentary or music video.

What kind of content will attract your target audience.

Your target audience should decide the kind of content you want to produce.

Do surveys for the needs assessment of your target audience.

What kind of entertainment they want.

Your content must connect with the target audience.

You cannot communicate with someone you cannot connect to or with.

There is no communication without connection.

You have to speak to the target audience in their own means of communication; in their most common language.

This is when you have to use content localization for the best interests of your target audience wherever they are located.

The details of the rest are common knowledge of the culture and haute couture of the target audience.

Beware of tribal and religious taboos.

Appreciate and respect the peculiarities of the personalities of the target audience.

Don't provoke them with what you have written in the screenplay as shown on the screen.

Common sense is enough to know that you don't show people eating pork with relish to Muslims.

Avoid heresy. 

You have to produce what appeals to them.

Your story and the characters must have characteristics they are familiar with; people they can relate with in their society.

Your content must resonate with them on their lives and lifestyles in the events and incidents in the story.

A good filmmaker should be a good storyteller.

The success of storytelling depends on planning.

You must have a plan.

What's the subject on?

What is the purpose?

The conclusion and resolution of conflict in your story.

Planning is like weaving in cloth making. 

You must know how to spin your yarn so that you don't spin your wheels in the long run.

Content Marketing Strategy

You must have a content marketing strategy.

The most successful filmmaker in Nollywood, Funke Akindele is the best case study in both content development strategy and content marketing strategy in the Nigerian film industry.

Funke Akindele

Funke's comic character of "Jenifa" was based on research and development of the personality of the semi literate Yoruba village girl who speaks her own peculiar form of Pidgin English in both coherent and incoherent speech. She is an impressionable and vulnerable naive young woman who is desperate to improve her life no matter the odds against her in the boisterous city of Lagos in order to get a proper education to fulfill her ambition in the highly competitive Nigerian society.

From the making of the iconic comic character of "Jenifa" for the cinema to the TV series of "Jenifa's Diary" and to the making of her Nollywood Blockbuster, "A Tribe Called Judah" (partly based on the true life experiences of her mother), Funke Akindele has shown the successful route of content development strategy and content marketing strategy. 

She is currently the highest grossing filmmaker in the Nigerian film industry with a total Gross of over ₦2.9 billion from the box office.

I told my younger sister who is one of the millions of her fans, that I can commission Funke Akindele to produce my proposed romantic comedy, "Omo Naija in London" and be rest assured of the box office success. 

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

The Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series,

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

"IWAJU" is A Complete Masterpiece in Original Storytelling and Animation

"IWAJU" is A Complete Masterpiece in Original Storytelling and Animation

“Iwájú” will air* across Africa on Disney Channel—distributed on DStv platform (Channel 303)—this April and May, giving viewers across the continent an opportunity to view the series in territories where Disney+ is not available. “We created ‘Iwájú’ as a love letter to Lagos, Nigeria, and an ode to the rich legacy of African storytelling,” said Director Olufikayo Ziki Adeola. “We’re proud to share this series and hope that it inspires more Africans across the world to share their stories and shape our collective narrative.”

 “We created ‘Iwájú’ as a love letter to Lagos, Nigeria, and an ode to the rich legacy of African storytelling,” said Director Olufikayo Ziki Adeola. “We’re proud to share this series and hope that it inspires more Africans across the world to share their stories and shape our collective narrative.”

Says Christine Service, Senior Vice President and General Manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa: “‘Iwájú’ is a true celebration of the creativity and storytelling excellence that is at the heart of Disney, bringing the immense talent and creative vision of home-grown filmmakers to the world. With the distribution of the series on Disney Channel, the release of the ‘Disney Iwájú: Rising Chef” mobile game and the “Iwaju” Original Soundtrack Score, we are excited to give audiences across Africa the chance to experience this ambitious and uniquely innovative series.”

A first-of-its-kind collaboration with Pan-African entertainment company, Kugali, “Iwájú” is an original animated series set in a futuristic Lagos and tells the exciting coming-of-age story of Tola, a young girl from the wealthy island, and her best friend, Kole, a self-taught tech expert, as they discover the secrets and dangers hidden in their different worlds. “Iwájú” streamed exclusively on Disney+ Feb. 28, 2024, in a six-episode event.

See complete media on 

https://dam.gettyimages.com/thewaltdisneystudios/iwaju

The Beauty of Shared Arts Premieres on CCTV-1, Telling Stories of Exchange and Mutual Learning Under the Belt and Road Initiative

PRESS RELEASE

The Beauty of Shared Arts Premieres on CCTV-1, Telling Stories of Exchange and Mutual Learning Under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

The Beauty of Shared Arts premiered on October 5 at about 8:00 PM on CCTV-1 and was simultaneously broadcast on online media platforms such as Yangshipin.cn and CCTV.com

Access Multimedia Content

BEIJING, China, October 6, 2023/ -- Amidst the 10^th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China Media Group (CMG) and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China jointly produced The Beauty of Shared Arts, a grand TV program focusing on international cultural exchanges, to showcase the charm of diverse cultures and promote their exchanges. Themed around the Cultural Silk Road, this program welcomes guests from BRI members and offers a panoramic view of cultural interplay, open collaboration, and interaction among diverse cultures through the BRI. Featuring artists in China and beyond, The Beauty of Shared Arts presents viewers with refreshing contents, including singing, dancing, theatrical performances, and acrobatics to showcase the profound fusion of different cultures, as the BRI builds a modern Silk Road for the shared benefit of countries around the world. The program premiered on October 5 at about 8:00 PM on CCTV-1 (https://www.CCTV.com/) and was simultaneously broadcast on online media platforms such as Yangshipin.cn and CCTV.com.

With concerted efforts from member countries, the BRI has yielded fruitful results over the past decade, as it has promoted public well-being and fostered cultural dialogues among BRI members. Following the initiative’s footsteps, The Beauty of Shared Arts shot VCRs and held interviews around the world to fully capture the BRI’s vision: We advocate respect for the diversity of civilizations, the common values of humanity, the importance of inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and robust international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.

In one episode, the program introduced viewers to the touching mentorship between Chinese train conductor Dai Rui and her Laotian counterpart Tong Kangmi on the China-Laos railway. During the episode, the two conductors sang One Belt One Road, together with Laotian singer Atisal Ratana and Hong Kong actor/singer WONG Cho-lam. The BRI has not only connected economies but also created closer ties between people from different nations. Upcoming episodes of the program will also feature guests from African BRI members. Through the program, viewers feel the emotional side of the BRI, as they witness the similarities, mutual understanding, and friendship between different cultures.

From the story of joint BRI contribution to the artistic performances on stage, The Beauty of Shared Arts transcends national boundaries to present direct dialogues between different cultures and arts. For instance, through their shared love for the blue and white porcelain, Director of the Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Institute WANG Yanjun and famous Turkish artist Adil Can Güven struck an immediate connection on the program. Through innovative stage collaboration between the Turkish Fire of Anatolia Dance Troupe and Chinese dancers for the New Blue and White Porcelain, the program vividly illustrated the artistic charm of the distinct yet harmonious cultures of China and Türkiye, generating fresh cultural dynamics through mutual exchange.

The program offers many other highlights: Serbian singer Slobodan Trkulja and Chinese singer SHA Baoliang creatively adapted the classic song Bella Ciao/Goodbye My Friends; celebrated pianist LANG Lang engaged in a musical dialogue with Kazakh singer Dimash Kudaibergen on the same stage. Through the program, touching stories are seamlessly incorporated into various art forms, including music, dance, and visual aesthetics, to create a series of impressive artistic feasts.

The Beauty of Shared Arts, broadcast on CCTV-1, invites all viewers to witness the evolution of the BRI, an epic story of our times.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of CCTV-1.

Media Contact:
Name: Shalon.lu Wang
Email: wangqiushi@yangshipin.cn

SOURCE
CCTV-1

New NFTs on Midnight Angels and Brave Girls of the Night

New #NFTs

1. Midnight Angels
2. Brave Girls of the Night 1
3. Brave Girls of the Night 2
(the third and fourth will be minted tomorrow).

I have been creating NFT #series on #women showing their challenges in life from the V for Vivian series to THE MATRIX WOMAN series and today I started the Brave Girls of the Night series.

I call them Storytelling NFTs.
The "Scars of Vivian" on the true life cases of women in abusive relationships, failed marriages and domestic violence is most likely going to have a film adaptation for international release. An art collector of NFT artworks has selected it with four othes which are among my most special NFTs, including "Ethereum Rising".
I am creating these NFTs with the film adaptations on my mind.

#Vivian
#women
#relationship
#marriage
#love
#sex
#domesticviolence
#genderequality
#freedom
#storytelling
#film
#filmadaptation

View them on the Algorand #blockchain on
https://nftmyimage.com/@nigeriadaily

In Her Eyes Through Her Eyes Filmmaking Workshop For Women By Women

"In Her Eyes Through Her Eyes Filmmaking Workshop For Women by Women.

It is the most transformational filmmaking workshop by women for women in the history of the film industry.

100 women

To be trained by 4 women who are accomplished filmmakers.

7 days of programme on filmmaking.

100 short films on "In My Eyes Through My Eyes" testimonies by each of the participant on their true life experiences.

1 feature film.

Certificate of Achievement.

Membership in an international organization for filmmakers.

World premiere of "In Our Eyes Through Our  Eyes"  by all the participants in an international film festival before Christmas.

- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

The CEO, International Digital Post Network Limited.

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.

Too Much Noise in Many Hollywood Movies; Nollywood Should Not Copy Hollywood

Too Much Noise in Many Hollywood Movies; Nollywood Should Not Copy Hollywood

There are noisy sound tracks in many Hollywood movies, especially the action film adaptations of comic books and other action movies.

For example, there was more noise than sense in "Catwoman" 2004 film.

The discordant noisy soundtracks

often make the movies to look like cover-ups for bad directing and  storytelling.

Sound is important in storytelling. But not noise.

When music is too loud, it becomes noise.

There are also anachronisms in the soundtracks of several of the movies. Having rock music in an historical movie on the Roman Empire and ancient kingdoms is not different from showing the emperor wearing a Rolex in 2000 BC.

Soundtracks should be in accordance with the period as the costumes and the sets in the production design.

Soundtracks for fighting scenes don't need to be noisy.

You don't need noisy soundtracks for an action or adventure movie to be exciting and thrilling.

Viewers should not have headaches watching movies.

Nollywood is now copying Hollywood by making parodies of American action movies and comedies. 

They have made their own "Gangs of Lagos" like the "Gangs of New York". 

What's next? "Pirates of the Niger Delta" like "Pirates of the Caribbean"?

The most annoying are shallow  parodies of the "Real Housewives of Hollywood" and "Real Housewives of Atlanta" with their own "Real Housewives of Abuja",  "Real Housewives of Lagos" and other copycats' versions with women wearing costumes copied from the annual MET Gala or Hollywood red carpets.

Nothing beats originality in creativity.

There are many untold original Nigerian stories waiting to be told in movies and documentaries and not copying Hollywood or Telemundo.

I am still waiting for a great film on the Biafran war. 

The film adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's historical novel, "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Biyi Bandele in 2013 told half of the story of one of the bloodiest civil wars in Africa. There are still untold stories of the war that will be awesome movies.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series

Cameroon's "The Planter's Plantation" is a Masterpiece of African Cinema

Eystein Young’s "The Planter's Plantation" is going to become one of the classics of African cinema.

I will not be surprised if  Cameroon's entry for the Best  International Feature Film category of the 2023 annual Academy Awards makes the final nominees for the highly coveted award and also gets nominated for the Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Original Screenplay.

This is a masterpiece of cinematic beauty in storytelling and cinematography.

Famous Nigerian actor, Nkem Owoh in the leading male role of The Planter may end up becoming the first Nollywood actor to be nominated for an Oscar for his outstanding performance and Nimo Loveline as Enanga is a strong contender for the Oscar for Best Actress. 

"The Planter's Plantation" set in a West African Plantation in the 1960s tells the captivating story of a young determined girl who must battle family and external forces to preserve her late father's legacy, a colonial plantation willed to him by his white master at independence. Disagreements , betrayal and secrets bring back the colonial master's daughter to the helm of the Plantation. An allegory of Neo colonization.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) will announce the 15 shortlisted contenders for the international feature Oscar on December 21, 2022. The five nominees will be announced on the 24th of January, 2023 and the 95th annual  Academy Awards will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on 12 March, 2023.

#Cameroon #ThePlantersPlantation #Academyawards #Oscars #cinema #Africa #BestInternationalFeature #nominations #nominees #cinenatography #storytelling #Bestactor #Bestactress #Bestpicture #Nollywood #Nkemowoh

Everybody Has a Story

 Everybody has a story.
But not everyone will make history.
I am the chosen historian
Of my generation.
- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima.
Author of the "Diary of the Memory Keeper", "The Prophet Lied", "Scarlet Tears of London" and other books.

Sony Future Filmmakers Awards 2022

Sony Future Filmmakers Awards 2022

Supporting creative excellence within filmmaking

Win a visit to Sony Pictures Studio and gain exclusive insight into the industry.

Submit your best short films for free by December 13, 2022 

Enter now
https://www.sonyfuturefilmmakerawards.com/node/1

The winning and shortlisted filmmakers will be flown to Los Angeles, the home of Hollywood, for a three-day event.

Taking place in the historic Sony Pictures studio lot in Culver City, California, the inspiring program provides invaluable opportunities to support career progression. The 30 successful filmmakers will gain unparalleled insight into all aspects of the filmmaking process. From pitching to legal to working with talent agencies and using cutting-edge technologies, the outstanding workshops provide exclusive access into the inner workings of the industry. Winners are announced during a black-tie awards ceremony at the Cary Grant Theatre.

Filmmaker winners
The Filmmaker competition elevates original voices that bring a fresh perspective to storytelling. The three winners receive $5,000 (USD), an FX9 Cinema Line Camera (plus lens), and are flown, along with the shortlist, to Los Angeles for a two-day workshop program and a black-tie awards ceremony.

Student Filmmaker winners
The Student Filmmaker competition rewards the talent soon to shape the industry. The two winners and their institutions receive a range of Sony camera equipment ideal for filmmakers. Winners are flown, along with the shortlist, to Los Angeles for a two-day workshop program and a black-tie awards ceremony.

Future Format winners
The Future Format competition challenges filmmakers to respond to a technical brief. The winner receives $2,500 (USD), a range of Sony camera equipment ideal for filmmakers and is flown, along with the shortlist, to Los Angeles for a two-day workshop program and a black-tie awards ceremony.

Awards Timeline
July 26, 2022

Competitions open 

December 13, 2022
Competitions close 

February 22, 2023
Winners announced during ceremony.
February 23 to 24, 2023
Two-day workshop program
#filmmakers #filmmaking #career #opportunities #future #creative #event #legal #talent #storytelling #awards #competition #prizes #winners

Nollywood Has Nothing Original To Show Us On Netflix

Nollywood Has Nothing Original To Show Us On Netflix

From all I have seen of NIgerian movies on #Netflix so far, including the Netflix's Nigerian Originals in movies and series, I don't see any that can compare and compete with the best from America, Asia, Europe and Australia on Netflix in screenwriting, casting, directing, production design, music and cinematography. 

There is nothing new that is different from the normal melodramas of #Nollywood on DStv, IROKOtv and public TV channels.

Too much makeup, inappropriate costumes without knowledge of appropriate costumes for storytelling with the cinematography and the music is out of sync with the different scenarios showing  apparent ignorance of using soundtracks for characterisations and the acting is plastic in many scenes like they want to copy scenes from the telenovelas of #Telemundo.

A total lack of originality.

The best NIgerian series is not on Netflix, it is "Oasis" currently showing on TVC.

- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Publisher/Editor, 

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series 

247 Nigeria (@247nigeria) / Twitter

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

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

Poor Reading Culture in NIgeria is Showing in the Poor Screenwriting in Nollywood

Poor Reading Culture in NIgeria is Showing in the Poor Screenwriting in Nollywood

You have to be a good reader before you can be a good writer and you have to be a good writer before you can be a good screenwriter.

You cannot be good in storytelling if you are not good in reading and writing.

I have written about the literature of motion picture.before, but I can bet  that majority of the people in Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry ignored it, because of their intellectual ignorance of the importance.

Majority of the screenplays of NIgerian movies are intellectually deficient in message development and dialogue. 

How can someone who doesn't read novels, plays, poems and essays be a good screenwriter?

You can see the evidence of poor intelligence in sentence structure of the dialogue. 

You can see the lack of intellectual comprehension in the poor characterization.

In most cases, what we have seen is garbage in and garbage out (GIGO)

You cannot give what you don't have.

Many of the screenwriters in Nollywood are lazy to do research on the historical personalities in the film adaptations of historical biographies such as on Queen Amina of Zaria, Mary Slessor and Madam Tinubu. They end up with poorly researched screenplays for the film and TV productions. But the filmmakers often use good casting, directing and cinematography to cover up the intellectual deficiencies of the screenplays.

Reading is essential for screenwriting in storytelling. 

I was the youngest professional scriptwriter in Africa when I started writing for the puppet drama series of the NIgerian Television Authority (NTA) when I was 18 years old and I wrote for four years. Before then, I was already a notable young writer interviewed by the Times International newsmagazine for my play, "The Prodigal".

Reading improved my intellectual comprehension and literary abilities in creative writing and scriptwriting.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima

Rita Dominic: The Best Actress of the Year in 2021 in Nollywood

#Nollywood

#movies
#actors
#filmmaking
#awards
#filmfestivals
#rita
#ritadominic

Rita Dominic: The Best Actress of the Year in 2021 in Nollywood

Rita Dominic as Anjola in "La Femme Anjola" by Mildred Okwo.

"La Femme Anjola" revolves around a stockbroker who fell in love with a mysterious woman. Anjola is married to a gangster who owns a nightclub where she does live performances.

Rita Dominic is one of the best actors not only in NIgeria, but the rest of Africa and the world. She is one of the few actors I know who can turn a bad screenplay into a masterpiece.

The cinematic experience of "La Femme Anjola" will be more romantic when dubbed in the French language and Spanish language. Mildred Okwo should have the theatrical release of the French language copy in French speaking countries and the Spanish language copy in Spanish speaking countries.

The subtleties in the storytelling and intricate cinematography made this unique romantic drama the most accomplished of all the movies  produced by NIgerian filmmakers in 2021. The intellectual abilities of the director were shown in the artistry, imagery and poetry of "La Femme Anjola". It is going to become one of the classics of African cinema.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Publisher/Editor,
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series
The first book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry since 2013,, printed in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
Art and book design by Juvelin Aripal in the Philippines.
Published by International Digital Post Network Limited.

2022 and the Big Picture of the Future of African Content

#happynewyear

#Newyear
#newyear2022
#2022
#happiness💕

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
- Eleanor Roosevelt.

Dreams are only for the living.
Dreams come true for only those who are alive to believe in their dreams; to run with their visions and to fulfill their destinies.

Our destinies are not in the stars.
Our destinies are in our hands.

I prayed all the way into the New Year 2022 with exaltations of praises and thanksgivings to Almighty God for the victory He has given us. Then I fell asleep and had a dream: my first dream of the Year.
I have been and I have seen the Big Picture of the Future of higher grounds of greater heights of success and victory.

The dream is about the globalization of the film industry and Lise Romanoff, the Managing Director/CEO of Vision Films of California.talked about what is the best content for the  continent of Africa and for the rest of the world; African content for Africans and African content for the world.
Have we done any survey of the audience in Africa?
What do Africans want to watch?
What are their choices and preferences?
Have we asked them or we have just been showing them what we assume that they want?
They say "Word of mouth is loudest in Africa" and how does that affect and reflect on the marketing of content in Africa?

Storytelling is the heart and soul of content.

We are telling our stories about our lives in Africa. For we are the best to tell our stories to the world and not by others. But how do we appreciate and evaluate ourselves? How we tell our stories will define who we are and how the rest of the world we see us as Hollywood has been telling the stories of America; as Bollywood has been telling the stories of India and as Nollywood has been telling the stories of NIgeria.

How we present our content will determine the value of the content.

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

Sound and Screenwriting in Nollywood and Kannywood

Sound and Screenwriting in 

Nollywood and Kannywood

Majority of screenwriters in #Nollywood and #Kannywood need to learn how to include sound cues during screenwriting and not during post production.

If we ask even those who claim to know a simple question about sound in screenwriting, they may not know, because they have not shown that they know in several of their film and TV productions.

Seeing is believing.

Many people listen, but only few learn in Nigeria. That's why we hear and see repetitions of the same mistakes in film and TV productions in Africa's largest film industry.

They still don't know how to use sound for characterisation in screenplays before the principal photography.

They just copy and paste soundtracks during post production without creating and composing any original score.  

Sound in a movie includes the music, leitmotifs, dialogues, sound effects, ambient noise, and/or background noise and soundtracks. 

There is what I call the "Ambience of Romance" in filmmaking and it can only be achieved with sound.

And what is the ambience of romance in screenwriting and in the atmosphere of a scene?

I am still waiting for the cinematic experience of Dolby Vision in Nollywood and Kannywood.

To me, any Nigerian filmmaker whose movies have not qualified for the Official Selections of the Cannes Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and Berlin Film Festival is not qualified to teach any  Masterclass. 

How can you teach a Masterclass without the proof of being a master of the subject?

How can someone who is still having issues with the nuances of sound in storytelling teach a Masterclass on directing or screenwriting? 

Do you know that majority of the filmmakers in Nollywood and Kannywood are clueless about spherical and anamorphic lenses? And they are teaching Filmmaking in some so called film and TV academies in Lagos, Asaba, Calabar and Kannywood without any certification or accreditation.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series

distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.

Experience Last Night in Soho in Dolby

In acclaimed director Edgar Wright’s psychological thriller, Eloise, an aspiring fashion designer, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer, Sandie. But the glamour is not all it appears to be and the dreams of the past start to crack and splinter into something far darker.

 https://www.dolby.com/experience/cinema

The Unique Music Videos of Davido and the Power of Storytelling

"JOWO" by Davido.

David Adedeji Adeleke, popularly known as Davido is one of the best young musicians of  the new generation in Africa and the rest of the world.

@MTV@RollingStone@RecordingAcad@billboard@nytimes@nprmusic
The Unique Videos of #Davido and the Power of Storytelling 

@davido has the best videos in Nigerian #music in artistry, imagery and poetry. "Jowo" and "The Best" are short films of outstanding cinematic experience.

pic.twitter.com/B5BSxN9Avm

— 247 Nigeria (@247nigeria) February 15, 2021

"A Better Time" is his best LP so far and he has made unique music videos of the songs in the LP.   

"JOWO" is a cinematic music video featuring Nollywood icon Richard Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD and the sultry reality TV beauty,  Rebecca Nengi Hampson of Big Brother Nigeria reality TV show. The video shows the conflict resolution to a gang war.

A good music video tells a unique story in captivating motion picture of vivid imagery.

The director of these videos,  Apampa Oluwadamilola, aka Dammy Twitch is a genius.  

FORBES: The Best Children’s Books About Entrepreneurship For Kids

Eevi Jones, bestselling author.

The Best Children’s Books About Entrepreneurship For Kids

by Stephanie Burns

 

A lot of parents (myself included) are always looking for ways to expand our children’s mind - especially when it comes to entrepreneurship. If you are eager to teach your kids about being a business owner, there are a few books that stand out. I sat down with Eevi Jones, an award winning & bestselling children’s book author, and the founder of Children’s Book University™, to get her take on what makes a children’s book great for budding entrepreneurs.

 From Forbes.

The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Gary Rubinstein (Author)  Mark Pett (Author)

Description

Being Perfect Is Overrated

Beatrice Bottomwell has NEVER (not once!) made a mistake. She never forgets her math homework, she never wears mismatched socks, and she ALWAYS wins the yearly talent show at school. In fact, the entire town calls her The Girl Who Never Makes Mistakes! One day, the inevitable happens: Beatrice makes a huge mistake in front of everyone! But in the end, readers (and perfectionists) will realize that life is more fun when you enjoy everything--even the mistakes.

From the award-winning children's book author Mark Pett: The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes is the perfect find for parents looking for teacher gifts or award winning children's books for their own collections. This book teaches growth mindset in a fun way, in the spirit of Your Fantastic Elastic Brain and Beautiful Oops. Like the little heroes in Rosie Revere Engineer, Most Magnificent Thing, and The Day the Crayons Quit, little Beatrice Bottomwell is an inspiration for kids who dream big.

Praise for The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes:

"Beatrice offers a lesson we could all benefit from: learn from your mistakes, let go, laugh, and enjoy the ride." --Jennifer Fosberry, New York Times bestselling author of My Name Is Not Isabella

"This funny and heartfelt book conveys a powerful message about how putting too much pressure on yourself to be perfect can suck the joy out of everything. Beatrice's discovery that you can laugh off even a very public mistake shows the importance of resiliency and helps perfectionist kids keep things in perspective. Most importantly, Beatrice reminds the reader that it's more important to enjoy the things that you do than worry about doing them perfectly." --A Mighty Girl