What was the answer that popped into your mind when you read the title of this article? Did it align with the aforementioned recurring negative responses against progress, or was it a deep sigh embedded in a few minutes of silent, thoughtful projection into the future? to the industry breakthrough and injection of large doses of tried and tested entertainment based multi-progression vitamin formula discovered from the product of years of industry research, then you declare it’s possible!
Whichever school of thought you choose, the truth remains that Nollywood certainly has a lot to do to catch up in terms of producing “quality” rather than quantity. Does Nollywood have the dream of raising its flag above the others, putting Africa at the forefront of film productions in the world? However, it is vital, imperative and relevant to understand why Hollywood and Bollywood have a huge advantage over Nollywood.
It is recorded that the first feature film under the realm of Hollywood was made in 1914 entitled “Squaw man”, ironically the significant year in the annals of our historic sojourn when the northern and southern protectorates were merged by Lord Lugard to give birth to the great nation “Nigeria”.
Over the years, Hollywood has metamorphosed into a multibillion-dollar industry, growing primarily from well-defined “functional” structures on the ground. The movie genres on offer have blossomed from the usual stereotypical kinds to an infusion of more liberal ones like action, comedy, romance, suspense, science fiction, violence, adventure, crime, suspense, drama, family, musical, horror, fantasy. , animation, mystery, film noir. There is certainly something for everyone, even children can enjoy beautifully written and well-executed animated films, reviving the many fairy tales that were once bound on the pages of storybooks. Talking animals in movies, a product of creativity, eg Cats and Dogs, Racing Stripes, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, have provided viewers with a memorable viewing experience.
The big players in the industry own back lot studios where movies are also shot, and they use the synergies that arise from their ownership of certain print and electronic media to consolidate their financial gains. Theatrical releases are considered sacred and fit, first on the road to blockbuster with constant trailers airing regularly ahead of opening, with more than 30,000 screens owned by functional movie theater chains spread across the US. eager to see the promoted movies in theaters to quench their thirst for movies. The action translates into millions of dollars for the filmmakers, and also thanks to the well-structured film distribution system that guarantees legal and free access to these films.
Films are also seen on other continents, distributed to English-speaking countries, dubbed with voice-overs by actors in non-English-speaking countries, or simply subtitled. Access to these films for home viewing pleasure, months after the movie experience, is achieved through DVD purchase, DVD rental, and legal broadcast of the film on television stations. Low-budget movies aren’t left out of the picture, as DVDs are released directly to audiences after production. The financial empowerment to make big-budget movies comes from banks, companies, and wealthy investors who rely primarily on the track records of producers, directors, and actors, especially the popularity of those charged with taking the lead roles.
Perhaps what Hollywood has going for it is the combination of advanced technology spiced up with a well-crafted story, a great cast that results in A-rated quality movies. The modern high-powered use of “CGI” (images generated computerized to create unimaginable superior special effects), visual effects, beautiful cinematography, incredible stunts and scenes, use of 3D technology, clear audio with no sound interference, and high-quality output have certainly placed them far ahead of the pack. The top rated actors are highly paid and smile at the banks with millions of dollars. The presence of various well-structured organizations on the ground, such as the Writers Guild of America, the Motion Pictures Editors Guild, the Motion Picture Producers and Distribution of America, the Motion Picture Sound Editors, the Motion Picture Photographers Association, the National Organization of Theater Owners, America Cinema Editors, America Society of Cinematographers, Casting Society of America, Directors Guild of America, Producers Guild of America, have aided their dominance and fostered unity among members of the same team.
It can take months, and even years, for the proper planning, financial sourcing, and all the pre- and post-production stages of a film to be executed correctly, especially with the imminent consequences that could occur in a chaotic production. Hollywood doesn’t shoot movies in twelve days or less like its Nollywood counterpart.
The first film in India was shown on July 7, 1896, but its industry was born on May 3, 1913, with “Raji Harischandra”, a silent feature film by Dadasaheb Phalke. Alam Ara broke the silent film curse in 1931 and with legends like Dharmendra Singh Deol, Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini and a crop of fine actors like Jeetendra, the ’60s and ’80s saw reigning hits like Sholay, Amar Akbar Anthony, Johnny Mera. Naam, Seta Aur Geeta, The Burning Train, Bobby, Kabhi Kabhi, Dharamveer, among others. They currently operate in the shadow of Hollywood in Nigeria.
Bollywood’s popularity has continued to rise, opening up new markets and doors of opportunity for her, resulting in better quality productions that break away from the usual stereotypical marriage stories and boast of good cinematography. In addition, the opening of more theaters in his country has allowed him to register box office successes. Her dance has been infused with a combination of western dance styles with technological rhythms and millions of dollars (not rupees) are spent on making big budget movies from big studios and private distributors.
The realization and drive to be on par with its Hollywood counterpart in terms of special effects has seen experts in the required field from the US being brought in to bring them up to date, helping to open up a wider range of effects. of movie genres. Shooting in other parts of the world, such as Europe and other areas, seems to be a norm that makes waves among filmmakers there, especially with the blockbusters recorded while shooting movies in that terrain.
The history of Nollywood is not unknown to the Nigerian people, having sprouted its buds in 1992, with the acclaimed film “Living in Bondage”. However, we must not forget that Nigerian films shot on celluloid were already around before this period. In one of my articles titled “Nollywood: Origin and Unresolved Issues”, I gave a detailed account of how the Nigerian film industry evolved from the colonial era, through the “golden years” to the Nollywood era and the many problems that plague the industry. .
Financial and distribution problems, recycling of old faces, decisive plots, mock Hollywood movies, poor visual and audio quality production, banal stories, high predictability rates, ear-sore soundtracks, limited movie genre to choose from and the conspicuous absence of great visual and special effects, piracy, are some of the problems the industry has been struggling to overcome.
There is much to be done to restore the confidence of Nigerians in the industry. We could go on and on, whining and complaining about the setbacks, the inadequacies facing the industry, even though Nollywood stakeholders and friends have offered solutions time and time again. The question remains whether practical steps have been taken to implement the well thought out strategies that would rectify the problems, fill the gap and set Nollywood on the right path to glory.
Nollywood still upholds a large percentage of its Shibbolethian ideologies and has sailed the high seas for far too long, constantly being attacked by ruthless pirates from time to time. It is time for the Industry to put its house in order, ditch the prosaic movies and alter its course cleverly guided by the compass of the latest technology. There are new heights to reach, so Nollywood, where do you stand?
See you later… [email protected]