The Scramble for Nollywood and The Status of Lagos State

The Scramble for Nollywood and The Status of Lagos State

Everyone wants to have a bite of a hot pizza. 

I hope the current scramble for Nollywood by the major streaming video services from America is not like the scramble for Africa by European powers  (between 1881 and 1914).

Entertainment is Power 

I wonder if the Nigerian government knows the dynamics of the overwhelming power of our entertainment industry beyond the glitz and razzmatazz and surplus  economic returns.

The internet has become the most powerful vehicle of the entertainment industry since the inventions of the cinema and television.

The sociocultural, socioeconomic and sociopolitical powers of entertainment can define and determine the future of a nation and the civilization of the people.

Entertainment generates more revenues for America than oil. 

That is why California is the richest state in the United States.

The economy of California, with a gross state product of $3.2 trillion as of 2019, is the largest sub-national economy in the world.

California is the home of Hollywood, Silicon Valley and Mountain View, the headquarters of the entertainment industry and of the Big Techs, including Apple, Alphabet and Meta. And is home to five of the world's ten largest companies by market capitalization and four of the world's ten richest people.

Without the internet, these Big Techs will not be Big and without entertainment, they will not become the biggest tech giants in the world.

Lagos is the powerhouse of the economy of Nigeria and the capital of the entertainment industry in Nigeria, the home of Nollywood and the home of Yabacon, the Silicon Valley of Nigeria where there are the first tech unicorns in Africa. And Lagos can become to Nigeria what California is to America. 

As it has been noted that if California were a country, it would be the fifth largest economy in the world, likewise Lagos would be the fifth-largest economy in Africa if it were a country.

The realization of the awesome developments of tech startups connected to the entertainment industry in Lagos is what has attracted the biggest American streaming video services to Nollywood. 

Disney already has a base in Nigeria with the long term partnership with Kugali Media.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/11/africa/disney-africa-kugali-iwaju-partnership-spc-intl/index.html

I am excited about the Scramble for Nollywood and the competition for our original content. 

Only the best is good enough for us. 

As we say in my mother tongue of Igbo language, NKIRUKA, which means that the future is greater. 

This is the Big Picture of Nollywood I saw coming years ago. The future is here.

- By EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima 

Publisher/Editor, 

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series 

247 Nigeria (@247nigeria) / Twitter

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

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

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

"The Hand of God" is One of the Best Films in 2021

#God

#netflix
#italy🇮🇹
#italian
#bestpicture
#cinematography
#academyawards
#Oscars 

#academyawards2022
#94thAcademyAwards

"The Hand of God" (Italian: È stata la mano di Dio), the 2021 Italian drama film written, directed, and produced by Academy Award winner, Paolo Sorrentino is affirmatively one of the best films of the year.

The Cinematography should get a nomination at the 94th Academy Awards  for  Daria D'Antonio.

It competed for the Golden Lion at the 78th Venice International Film Festival where it won the Grand Jury Prize.

It is the Italian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards.

The Story:

In 1980s Naples, young Fabietto pursues his love for football as family tragedy strikes, shaping his uncertain but promising future as a filmmaker.

"The Hand of God" is a story full of unexpected joys, such as the arrival of football legend Diego Maradona, and an equally unexpected tragedy. Fate plays its part, joy and tragedy intertwine, and Fabietto's future is set in motion. Sorrentino returns to his hometown to tell his most personal story, a tale of fate and family, sports and cinema, love and loss.

Starring:Filippo Scotti, Toni Servillo, Teresa Saponangelo

My Verdict: It will get up to 4 nominations at the 94th Academy Awards for the Best International Feature Film, Best Cinematography, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. 

Distributed by Netflix
Release date
2 September 2021 (Venice)
24 November 2021
Running time
130 minutes

Definitely one of the top 10 must see movies on my Top Watch List of 2021.

Chioma Ude To Speak @ Dubai Expo 2020: Canon Brings Women Trailblazers From The Middle-East and African Film Industry

Cinema – A Social Catalyst: 

Dubai Expo 2020: Canon Brings Chioma Ude and other women trailblazers from the Middle-East and African film Industry to speak on the dynamics of the power of the cinema for sociocultural, socioeconomic and sociopolitical reformation and transformation.

PRESS RELEASE

Advancing gender equality & celebrating women empowerment at Dubai Expo 2020: Canon to bring together women trailblazers from the Middle-East and African film industry in a thought-provoking panel discussion

The panel discussion is envisioned to celebrate the creative efforts of women filmmakers who make an immeasurable contribution to the enrichment of the industry and to discuss how the industry can re-invent itself to reduce gender disparity

Access Multimedia Content

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, November 11, 2021/ -- In alignment with the company’s relentless commitment to promote gender equality and women empowerment, Canon  (Canon-CNA.com) will bring together an esteemed panel of women entrepreneurs from the film industry in Middle-East and Africa at Women’s Pavilion, Dubai Expo 2020; Canon is the Official Printing and Imaging Provider of Expo 2020 Dubai taking place from 1 October 2021 until 31 March 2022; To register for the event, please click here -> https://bit.ly/3ohOq4y Canon Middle East (CME) and Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) announced today of their upcoming panel discussion on ‘Women in Filmmaking: In the spotlight and studying landscape of Cinema and Media today in Middle-East and Africa’ to be held at Women’s Pavilion, Dubai Expo 2020. As part of the company’s endeavor to celebrate women change-makers in the creative industries, a noteworthy panel consisting of women filmmakers from the Middle-East and Africa will be brought together on 18th November 2021 at the Women’s Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. The panel discussion is envisioned to celebrate the creative efforts of women filmmakers who make an immeasurable contribution to the enrichment of the industry and to discuss how the industry can re-invent itself to reduce gender disparity. The Expo 2020 Dubai Women’s Pavilion, is dedicated to celebrate the efforts of women in creative industries in order to reaffirm Expo’s commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment. The Women’s pavilion is a platform that celebrates the significant parts that women, known and unknown, have played throughout history and continue to play in the present day, based on the principle that when women thrive, humanity thrives.

Read the report on TALK OF THE TOWN By Orikinla

http://totnaija.blogspot.com/2021/11/cinema-social-catalyst-dubai-expo-2020.html

Highlights of the Opening Day of 10th Anniversary of AFRIFF in Lagos

The opening day of the 10th Anniversary edition of the annual Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) held on Sunday, November 7, 2021 attracted hundreds of people, including the top A-List stars of Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry in the Filmhouse Cinemas at the Landmark Retail Boulevard on Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.

Chioma Ude, the Founder and Executive Director of the annual Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) with Mr. Herbert Wigwe, the Group Managing Director and CEO of Access Bank, the leading major sponsor of AFRIFF.

Chioma Ude with Ukonwa Kuzi-Orizu Ojo, Chief Marketing Officer, Prime Video and Amazon Studios with James Farrell, the International Head of Local Originals, Amazon Studios.

Before the Nigerian premiere of the opening film, Amazon Studios' sci-fi action thriller, "Encounter" directed by Michael Pearce, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank Plc, the leading major sponsor of AFRIFF lauded the visionary leadership of Chioma Ude, the Founder and Executive Director of one of the best film festivals in Africa and said Access Bank will continue to support AFRIFF. Claire A. Pierangelo, the US Consul General to Nigeria also commended the remarkable success of AFRIFF and that the US Consulate is happy to partner with AFRIFF. Ukonwa Kuzi-Orizu Ojo, Chief Marketing Officer, Prime Video and Amazon Studios with James Farrell, the International Head of Local Originals, Amazon Studios were the keynote speakers and they announced the big plans of Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Studios to increase the international appreciation of Nollywood by hiring M-Net West Africa's former Regional Director, Mrs. Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu as the Principal Head of Content Acquisition for Prime Video in Sub-Saharan Africa. Kemi"Lala" Akindoju was the MC of the opening day event.

Fast rising filmmaker and action hero, JLeo Uche with famous actor, Wale Ojo.

 JLeo Uche with Mr. Victor Okhai, President of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN).

Angela M. Gordon, American filmmaker and writer with Wale Ojo and JLeo Uche.

The celebrated filmmakers, actors and stakeholders in the Nigerian film industry who were at the event, included Mr. Victor Okhai, the President of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN),  Mrs. Joke Silva-Jacobs, Kunle Afolayan, Charles Novia, Francis Onwochei, Ugezu J. Ugezu, Teco Benson, Obi Emelonye, Jay Franklin, Wale Ojo, Wole Ojo, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Osas Ighodaro and JLeo Uche. They had interviews on the red carpet with both local and International guests, participants and visitors.  There were cocktails and foods for everyone at the event. 

In association with The Smithsonian, there was a Soirée Opening Night Fashion Party  at the Shiro Lagos Asian Restaurant and Bar opposite the Filmhouse Cinemas. Famous trendsetter and multiple award winning TV host, Denrele Edun was the cynosure of the Soirée.

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

Fair and White Unveils Jackie B as Brand Ambassador for Nigeria

Fair and White Unveils Jackie B as Brand Ambassador for Nigeria

Thursday, November 4, 2021 wi remain indelible in the minds of many beauty enthusiasts. It was indeed Thursday to remember.

The ambience was gay. It exuded glamour and panache laced with glitz.The atmosphere spelt funfair.

As invited guests- mostly celebrits, beauty experts, distributors and brand journalists- thronged the venue, no one was left in doubt as to the grand nature of the event.

Venue was Reserve Resturant, Karimu Ikotun, Victoria Island, Lagos and the gathering was at the instance of commodity conglomerate, Bozac Continental Ltd which was unveiling Jackie Lureino Bent, popular as Jackie B, as the latest brand  Ambassador of Fair and White range of beauty product.

Before Jackie, delectable Esther Agunbiade and Toke Makinwa have represented the brand as Ambassadors. 

Esther was the Brand Ambassador for the Gold range while Makinwa represented the So White & So Carrot Ranges.

The Bozac group holds the sole franchise for Fair and White brand in Nigeria.

A unisex international beauty brand, the Fair and White variants, are made  in France for people of colour by Labo Derma France.

The new brand Ambassador who is Senator Grace Bent's daughter, was a housemate in the 2021 Big Brother Naija reality show.

It was indeed an "A" rated event because it again afforded the Bozac group the opportunity to celebrate natural African beauty.

On hand to ensure a successful outing were Bozac's senior managers led by the son of the president of the group who is also a Director in the company, Kene Chibueze.

Mr Chibueze held fort for his father and he gave a good account of himself in that regard.

In his brief remark, he stressed that Bozac group has always promoted and will continue to promote African beauty.

Chibueze assured consumers and distributors of Fair and White that the brand, having been around in the past 25 years, will continue to maintain quality and excellence as well as beauty needs of African women.

Its believe in African beauty, he disclosed, accounted for the reason Bozac opted for Jackie B, a ravishing African beauty, as the new face of a variant of the brand,  Fair and White Gold which was launched in 2014.

According to Chibueze, "other products have tried to look like Fair and White Gold but of course, if it is not Fair and White, it cannot be like Fair and White. Our brand is distinctive, it is on a class of its own"

The Managing Director and Chief Executive officer of Fullpage Communications Ltd Ingram Osigwe who also doubles as Media Adviser to Bozac dazzled all with his superlative performance as compere for the event.

He on his part equally assured the public that scintilating advert strategies that will take the brand to its desired target audiences are in the offing.

Jackie B came with Mr Amadi Victor Obisike, owner of the Agency that handles her PR and her Personal Assistant, Chukwulobe Favour.

Looking queenly in her dress, Jackie B appended her signature to the endorsed deal amidst applause and clinging of glasses.

Bozac's team at the signing ceremony included the group's legal Adviser, Barrister Gabriel Airewele, Kene Chibueze 
Director, Oluwatoyin Ogunbowale
Human Resources Consultant, Sunday Adekoya , Sales Manager,
Prince  Emma Okon
Assistant  Sales Manager, Onyebuchi Oformata,

Sales representative,Ijeoma Ezenma, Sales representative, Modupe Adebimpe, Brand representative and Olaitan Adegun, Warehouse manager.

Evidently elated Jackie B revealed that a day after she left the BBNaija house, many companies made endorsement offers to her but she opted for Fair and White because she considered it a legacy brand, a brand that sticks to what it represents.

Being of Northern Nigerian extraction, the new brand ambassador pledged to take Fair and White to the nooks and crannies of the region and help open the frontier of northern market for it.

Her mother, Senator Grace Bent, she said, was happy with her decision to endorse the brand.
At the event were also Mercy Ikoro, 
Deputy Business Manager
The Sun Publishing Ltd, Onyekachi Evelyn 
CEO , Switkaybedding, Mogbogu Chinyere,
Complete Bridals  among other important dignitaries.