And for our next trick, we shall ..............

So new year is upon us. 2013 is here. Over the past few years an evolution has begun in Nollywood. Starting with Ije: The Journey and The Figurine , a new standard was set in Nollywood for what was possible and 2012 gave us hilarious like The Meeting and Phone Swap. From making home videos we’ve gone to hitting the cinema, not only at home but abroad, with films premiering in the United Kingdom ,the US and even collaborations with  European countries.

A new niche has been carved , raising the expectation for old fans and bringing in new fans that may not have been won over by previous standards; and it seems Nollywood is on a train going to an exciting destination.

However as a huge movie fan, i noticed we are still sticking within a few genres and even sometimes same storyline ;Nigerian immigrant gets into trouble, troubled marriage that looks great on the surface , or romantic comedies. As we grow and get better, there are some genres and sub genres I’d like to see.

COMING OF AGE
Knowing my childhood, and the adventures I’ve heard my friends tell of theirs(very exciting) Climbing trees, taking short cuts across neighborhoods backyards and having to rabbit when they decide to have a little target practice. After school lessons and wearing double shorts to school when whippings(Doctor Bulahlah)  were in the wind. Childhood in the 80′s is full of good memories and i think that is a great story material that has not been harnessed. One great example of a coming of age movie is STAND BY ME(1986) by Rob Reiner. If you haven’t seen it before, please do. Another is LORD OF THE FLIES(1963). Ok, this one is  quite dark but it’s also a powerful commentary on humanity , touches a little on satire too. which is the next thing id like to see

SATIRE
With Nigeria’s political and social history, we are practically over flowing with potential satire movies. There’s so much going on , i’m surprised i haven’t seen a satirical movie made. We have them in literature in the books of Achebe(A man of the People)  and Soyinka(A play of Giants), and in newspaper comic strips but nothing to the best of my knowledge on the screen. George Orwell had two great ones ; Animal Farm and 1982. I think we are ripe for open season on satires. Even “The Simpsons” is a satirical look at dysfunctional suburban , America. On TV The Colbert Report is satirical news, where vices ,follies, abuses and short comings are held up to ridicule. Just imagine the hilarity that could ensue.

BIOPIC/HISTORICAL BACKDROP
Ok, here we are making a little progress with two films lined up Lions of 76 and Half of a Yellow sun. Both have stories set within a historical backdrop. But as per biopic. We have many leaders, historical figures, From politics, to music to social movers, they all need biopics so the younger generations can learn about their forerunners. A Fela biopic has been talked about , but that’s not being done by Nigerians, not Nigerian producers anyway. In the US MLK, Malcolm X , and Mohammed Ali have had biopic(s). Why can’t we have on Awolowo, Azikwe, Abiola, Soyinka etc
Taking it back a little further. Most of us have seen Braveheart, or if not seen heard  of (if u never hear where u don dey) Though some creative liberties were taken with the story, the Scots are now very proud of the movie and recently used it for national promotion. I’m sure we have legendary warriors from pre-colonial times whose stories would be fascinating on the screen.

ADAPTATIONS
Whether from our own writers( which there are many potentials) or just  great universal stories. Shakespeare has many great universal human stories, which can be set in an Africa Think Hamlet,Twelfth Night,Henry IV,The Merchant of Venice. How about Jane Austen? Think Sense&Sensibility. Now, imagine setting it in Pre Independence Nigeria.Get the picture. Or if you prefer to be Pan-African, we have books by Soyinka,Achebe,Ben Okri and others which can be translated to the big screen. Why haven’t we done them yet?

URBAN LEGENDS
We’ve all heard those stories from boarding school friends or siblings. Enough stories to make several seasons of the Twilight Zone, Goosebumps and Tales from the Crypt. From Bush Baby to Madam Koi Koi to poo eating demons. The mere word of mouth illustration was enough to put the fear in many of us. What about a visual visceral illustration on an IMAX screen. Something that can put to shame Candyman, Boogie man , Mothman and every other western urban legend that’s scared the living daylights out of some of us. And we’ve not even touched on Slasher movies.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but just some that come to mind right now. Let’s not restrict ourselves to just drama and comedy , let’s explore the sub genres that are out there and have more diverse cinema.

What other genre/sub genre would you like to see in Nigerian Cinema? Drop a comment . Cheers

The Future is FAME

So a little while back i'm watching Fame, the 2009 remake of the 80's classic. If you've never heard about either one, Fame is a movie that chronicles the life of seven different young people admitted into the New York  School of Performing Arts . They include a drama student Doris that wants to act on the stage and screen., another drama student Ralph that just wants to be on the stage. Coco that wants a career in drama music and dance.Leroy who  longs to be a dancer. Montgomery that wants to be a word famous actor. Bruno a music student and Lisa another dance student. We also follow their teachers and everything they go through in the four years that they journey through the school. Some of them go on to achieve their dreams due to talent resilience and skill development and it doesn't work out so well for some others.

That movie also reminded me of Backstage , a South African tv show also about a performance arts academy and the trials of the students who often learn that it takes more than just talent to make it in the creative and entertainment industries.
 
This got me thinking seriously that there is the need for a performance arts academy in Nigeria. Performance Academy both at the secondary level and the tertiary level.

With the growth of the movie industry there is a need to feed it with new talent, who have crafted that talent into skill.  Currently when an audition is called for there a lot of walk ins People without any training or any acting experience that just want to be famous. A lot of people like this are cast everyday in home video productions and it leads to disaster on the screen. Now granted people can have ambitions it's great when happens that a diamond in the rough is discovered. However we have to remember that a movie is like a chain, and the actors are meant to be one of the strongest links, cos even with a great director and out of this world cinematography, and £100m budget, if the acting link is weak,the house of cards falls.

 Acting is a profession and it should be treated as such and not just a hobby people just jump into, or means to satisfy the hunger for being in the spotlight. Kids that want to be doctors go to medical school. Aspiring lawyers to to Law School, why can't aspiring actors put themselves through the same ropes to achieve their dreams?

I've been fortunate to work on two seasons of a talent show and in traveling across the country i could see the hunger in the eyes of young Nigerians to become actors, singers and dancers. Some should consider an alternative career but for many those that have the X-factor, they need a place that they can attend to harness those talents, a school where they can receive the proper training and go on to become the next Fela, Lagbaja , Onyeka Owenu ,Chiwetal Ejiofor. David Oyelowo,Nonso Anozie. Nigerian, both home bred and Western raised who are globally recognized for their various talents. And I'm not just talking some place where they have 6 weeks of classes,taught by someone that can't act in the first place and are dubbed actors.

Instead of spending four years studying a "safe" and professional degree which would make them just another corporate zombie. They could upon finishing secondary school be admitted into this academy. For narration sake let's call it the Lagos School of Performing Arts(LSPA).  The same way a student would write JAMB or SAT to seek admission into the University, these talented kids would audition to enter the Academy and they will be admitted based on merit into a degree course and like any of their other colleagues in a regular University, come out at the end of four years with a Bachelor's degree. We have private universities started to educate professionals in other industries don't we ? Just think what a Performing Arts school could do for the Creative and Cultural Industries.

Now lets say three students seek admission into LSPA. Bola who wants to be an actor. Chioma who wants to become a dancer and Uwem who wants to become a composer. They all audition and successfully get admitted and they begin their journey for the next four years into the creative arts, harnessing their talent and developing it into a craft. Upon graduation they all seek work in their various talents.

Upon graduation they all begin their forte into the creative industries. Bola goes straight away and auditions for tv shows and movies and soon lands work on a soap, where his ability stands out from everyone else who had no training, He knows all the techniques Meisner,Method, Character,Improvisation, he knows how to wield them like a skilled pianist in a concert. This standout ability from everyone else that entered through, "i sabi person there", just being eye candy. His performance on the soap catches the eyes of  Writer/Director Kenneth Alli an NFI and NYFA graduate making his feature debut after a string of successful short films an documentaries and is looking for a fresh face. It  turnout out to be a breakout role for the actor and a smash hit for the director.The two form an alliance similar to Scorcese and Deniro, and go on to make many more stunning films. Did i forget to mention that Uwem scored that first film,based on Bola's referral and people could just not get the sounds out of their heads.  Uwem had been making original scores and music for the theater, radio and advertisements and the movie project was just what he needed to fully show his capability.

Chioma the dancer gained popularity in her neighborhood when she taught a couple of high school girls some great moves for their Press Show. At that press show is a music video director that needs a dancer and choreographer . She does and that leads to a score of music videos which she dances in and choreographs. Soon there is a higher demand for her and she opens a dance studio. It's a gigantic hit and aspiring dancers from all over the world come to learn from her. A producer is making a talent show and he needs a Judge for the hopefuls  & mentor for the finalists He asks his teenage daughter who the hottest dancer is in the country is and Chioma is mentioned. He tracks her down and hires her as a judge on the show, which becomes a monster hit and sells on CD. He also goes on to become a long time collaborator of Kenneth's and becomes one of the most demanded composers for stage and screen.

Now that's a nice neat scenario and it doesn't always happen that way. Some people remain in the doldrums of obscurity for the rest of their career, some never make it and give up finding something else more secure. But some do make it through all the rejections and the gigs way below their talent and training, and eventually they make it. They become stars in their own home and some even gain global recognition.

Having sat through numerous auditions ranging from sitcoms, dramas and movies, my discovery is that 9 out 10 auditionees have no training They've never taken a course, a class or any form of training on a professional or amateur level. They just heard about an audition, have an aspiration to act and show up. and they already define themselves as "im an actor", even though from their audition is it evident that they don't know the first thing about acting or capability to convincingly deliver a line. Let's not even talk  about finding a connection with the character or their motivations. How is a director meant to work with people that wake up one morning and decide "im an actor" just cos of the desire for fame? It does not apply to engineering . law or medicine,so why should acting be taken any less seriously?

Now there are some people who have the natural talent and they build it up along the way but there is still a need for training. Even naturally great writers have an editor that helps them polish up what they produce. Musicians still have voice coaches and producers to help them perfect what they have.  Many of the best actors in the world today either went to a school of performing arts. Cut their teeth in the theatre or started acting right from their pre-teen days.Putting on shows for their friend and family. Going on to act in school plays and then enrolling in a performing arts school, a theatre program or skipping the academia and touring with a theatre troupe, learning the ropes hands on. Just like an apprentice would from a master.

Grammy wining performer the late  Amy Winehouse had the natural talent , and that talent was enhanced by attending first the Susi Earnshaw Theatre School and then the famous Sylvia Young Theatre school .The school also produced a variety of  performers such as Singer/Actress Billie Piper, All Saints group members Nicole and Natalie Appleton,actor Ashley Walters(Bullet Boy) na d numerous others in the British music and television industry. Alongside their training they received their GSCE, which was a pretty good deal if they decided to go an get a degree in something else.

Perhaps the most prestigious and well known performance arts academy is Julliard, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. Founded in 1905 it trains about 800 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama and music. Founded as the Institute of Music Arts because there was no Music school in the US and too many students were going to Europe. Sound familiar?  The school offers various programs and degrees . Bachelor of Fine Arts or a diploma.  Bachelor of Music .Master of Music, Doctor of Musical Arts. Know who graduated from Julliard? Here's just a few of them Christopher Reeves,(Superman),Ving Rhames(Pulp Fiction,Mission Impossible),Kevin Spacey(The Usual Suspects,American Beauty),Bradley Whitford(The West Wing), Robin Williams(Flubber,Hook),Anthony Mackie(Adjustment Bureau,Notorious),James Marsters(Buffy,Smallville),Steve Guttenberg(Short Circuit,Three men & a baby),Marcia Cross(Desperate Housewives,Melrose Place),Val Kilmer(The Saint, Tombstone, Heat) and those are just from the dance and drama department. I'd list the music department alumni but it be moot at this point. .....Ok, i'll mention two. Remember the pink panther theme? Yeah, that one.The composer  Henry Mancini is a Julliard graduate. Also remember the Star Wars and Superman themes, John Williams , also a product of Julliard. Im sure the picture is painted very clearly now.

On mentioning this topic on Twitter it started an interesting debate , and the case for "natural talent" was presented. It' was  stated that some people don't have to get training because they have natural talent. But i disagree, even with natural talent there is still a need for professional training. Many people have a natural talent for design, whether it be cars,or buildings. but Toyota or a Housing company wouldn't just hire them based on natural talent without any formal training in ALL that is required in safely and properly designing a car or building. Taking it further and out of the world of the arts. In sports there are many people born with talent, people like Usian Bolt, Tiger Woods, David Beckham,The Williams sisters were all talented in their various disciplines at young ages. Upon noticing this budding talent their parents took them to coaches and schools where they were trained and their raw talent transformed into professional skill. They just didn't become champions and professional athletes based on raw talent alone they went through years of grueling training to refine themselves from ambitious kids to trained professionals. Even as trophy winners and world class athletes, this athletes have coaches till this date. Just ask yourself, what would the Premier League,NBA,Olympics be like if all the athletes were admitted based on raw talent alone?

For the Film industry to rise to the next level and take prominence on the global stage, we need more people actually trained in the creative arts, as a profession, rather than just it being filled with people that stumble into it. We would see better written scripts, greater performances, directors that take us on phenomenal journeys. Cinematographers that paint with light and show us amazing moving pictures. We'd have more people dedicated to their performance, doing the necessary leg work it takes to portray  their roles.  These are the disciplines that would have been ingrained in  them while in school. We don't treated our Medical,Law,Engineering or any other profession with such nonchalance , i think it's time we gave the same respect to the Film Industry.

THE CINEPHILE CHRONICLES- THE WHAT'S AN "AFRICAN STORY" RANT??

I'm a Cinephile, phewwww, there , i said it.  i LOVE movies, there are few other things i love more than a great movie. In addition to that i'm a film maker myself , so talking shop about movies  , the  movies i'd love to make,the one's i wish i had made and the directors i admire is one of my favorite past times and something i often find myself doing when i get with fellow cinephiles.

When i express the desire to make certain genre specific films ,  with  stylized dialogue, pop culture references, every once in a while i'll get some Afrocentric Malcom X  type that says   As an African, you need to tell "African" stories, tell "our stories/culture". This has increasingly begun to get me peeved.Why, because it presupposes that there is something specific that is an African story.


What exactly is an African story, and why should i be restricted to this? Should creativity or artistic expression be limited to your genetic code, culture or geographical settings? Is an Artist born in France only limited to drawing the Eiffel Tower, Croissants,Stripped shirts and Marie Antoinette. Is a German writer bound to only write about WW2, German engineering and skinheads.

It reminds me of a time a friend was mad at MTV Base when it first came out. Mad at their assumption that because we were African we only listened to Hip Hop and R&B ,and therefore they never showed any Rock or Alternative music.Should creativity be limited only to what one has experienced or sees around them? If so, George Lucas had stuck to this "your culture" babble he would never have created the Star Wars franchise, there would be no Superman, Lord of the Rings, He Man, Robocop or any story beyond human experience


So what is the definition of an African Story? Is it one set in Africa? Is it one that tells of a historic event or historical figures. Is it something that puts African traditions and culture on display? Is it one that involves out fore fathers , mythology and superstitions?


Is it one from South Africa ,Kenya , Nigeria or Sudan. If there is an African Story is there also a European story, that British,French,Italian, Russian film makers have in mind and should tell?

Is the African story that which Hollywood has portrayed in films like Amistad, The God's must be Crazy , I dream of Africa. Those films that give westerners the idea that we all run around in loin cloth chasing wild animals and retreating to out huts.  Or is it those War child,Famine,poverty, martyr boring 'African' movies that win at festivals but you wouldn't want to watch at the cinema even if they gave you a free ticket , pop corn and a massage. I suppose Native American film makers should only make films about Tepees, Totem poles,Peace pipes, performing rain dances and being chased by cowboys.

When you talk with some people about making a film.You get excited , cos it's inspired by a classic, it has stylized dialogue, great sequences and enough pop culture references to blow QT's and Kevin Smith's collective load.  They start to push , an African Story agenda on you. "That's not African,you have to make an African Movie". You have to make something bus drivers, area boys and people in the village can enjoy. By the time they are done, they have watered down every creative juice from your idea and it is a bland,dull semblance of it's former self. An emaciated version which you'd cross the street to avoid.

But let's really take a look at this from a Global point of view. Tarantino has Italian roots, Guillermo Del Toro has Hispanic roots,Hitchcock was British and Truffat was French, all great directors from diverse cultures.But you never see any of them , making films that say "hey , look at me, this is my culture.And i hardly think when picking projects , any of them thought, "Hmmmm. Let me tell them, my Italian,Hispanic,British or French story". Nor do the fans, go to the cinema thinking,"i want to see a European story".

I, like many others grew up reading books by foreign authors like Enid Blyton, Roahld Dahl, Judy Blume ,Alan Ahlberg,Dr Seuss etc Not for a second did i read the back of the book and say ,"Huh, that's a good British/Swedish story, let me read it". The one and only thing that drew me were the story, the plot and the reading pleasure i perceived I'd get from reading them.

Also as a cinephile i love a wide range of movies. From the works of Frank Capra to Hitchcock to Woody Allen to Guy Ritchie etc . They make great movies, which you can enjoy regardless how different your culture is from theirs. It never feels like you are being schooled on their culture. The engaging story with interesting characters is what grabs the viewers attention, and if we learn something new about another culture , that's great.

Now, there are specific films that are like constant exposition of a certain culture, which still manage to be entertaining . Usually stories involving ; Culture clash, e.g An Indian girl growing up in England wants to play football much to her parents chagrin . A wedding eg A Greek Girl marries outside her culture and the groom learns how bizarre their traditions could be.  Fish out of Water stories do this quite well.

If say, someone chose to adapt Chimanda Adiche's book 'Half of a Yellow Sun' for the big screen, THAT would be a good telling of the Biafran Story, not only will it cover a significant aspect of history, but many traditions and cultures of the characters involved. Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart was a brilliant African story, the key word being STORY. It was a human story that happened to be set in Africa, and that is why it did so well. The events could have happened half away across the world ,granted a few changes here and there,but it was the human story, and not the African story that captured our attention.

Like in mythology, it's the construction of the stories and the characters that capture us, and not necessarily their geographical location. For example, Shongo is a mythological god of thunder in Nigeria, but all the way over in Scandinavia , they have Thor, in Greece it's Zeus in Roman mythology it's Jupiter. Some could surmise that it's all the same character seen from different cultural perspectives. Now, their geographical locations will affect the cultures they come from, and there is where the culture is put on display.

For example,if we properly wanted to tell a story "our story" distinct from a Western story, with elements of our culture;let's take a coming of age story, with characters , say 12 years old boys.

They skip  going to after summer tutorials(lesson) to instead go shoot at lizards with catapults, throw sticks at fruit trees in a crazy neighbors house, and get chased, a general day of adventure and exploration.They are pre teen boys morphing into adolescence and developing new interests, and we see how it affects their friendship, as some mature faster than others. Wrap all those element around the story of one of the boys dealing with his father's conflict with the extended family over his turning down of a Chieftancy title that could make them all rich because of it's clash with his "western" religious beliefs, BOOM, there's a story.



And things along those lines.
 

Many "African" films that manage to make it to film festivals , are , stating it bluntly, DULL . They may have great cinematography and performances,but ‎are more effective as Valium than entertainment, and won't be flying off DVD rental shelves anytime soon. And personally, even the African American films,with themes that shout  "i am black, hear me roar"."We are black here's how we are oppressed". Let's put sentiment aside,i find them exhausting,a bit depressing and have not desire to watch them.

If instead of setting out to tell a good story, you want to force feed er sorry, i mean educated people on  "this is my culture check us out" , you might as well go and make a documentaries for National Geographic and The History Channel.

Now don't get it twisted, there are stories that need to be told. Historical events, both from the immediate past and from yesteryear. Figures in our nation that need biopics made about them. Dark stories of keeping traditions  that need to be brought to light so they are eradicated,  it's not all about escapology. But, that all depends on the interest of the story teller. Directing is often equated to getting married, If one is not totally passionate about it, there is no point. There is a reason Michael Bay makes different type of movies from Michael Moore, or Kevin Smith from Paul Greengrass. So i am not totally opposed to telling stories that inform both the world and upcoming generations ,who we are and where we are coming from. But back to the case at hand

We need to  tell a great human story that captures the emotion,and imagination. Whether it be to make one laugh, cry, shout or sit down and reflect, should be the most important agenda. Tell an engaging story with fascinating characters FIRST and then, the location,nuances, idiosyncrasies, slang and speech patterns and world view of your characters will represent their culture, THEN you have your African Story. KAPISH.

CONFESSIONS OF A MEDIA BRAT

Some people talk about being an Army Brat;a child of a career soldier esp one who has lived in various places as a result of military transfer ,but i on the other hand, am a Media Brat.

In my twenty some art years i consumed a dosage of NTA, VHS recordings of Fun Factory ,The Discovery,History and National Geographic channels, Channel O,TNT(before becoming TCM),Cartoon Network. Insomnia ridden nights were occupied by reading the Britannica. I started reading Sidney Sheldon and Jefferey Archer novels at as young as 14, a long way off from my Roahld Dahl,Judy Blume and Enid Blyton days. If this was an interstellar journey, you can call me Jean Luc Picard.

In recent times I find that in the excitement of conversation the other party gets lost in translation as I unleash a constant barrage of pop culture references. If they ask me “what are you doing tomorrow night” and I reply in a devious tone “same thing I do every night ……” when something works out I say “I love it when a plan comes together” . If on a journey and i am asked the correct road, a smug reply of “Roads! Where we’re going , we don’t need ,roads”.

When a friend is being elusive, I talk about going Woodward &Bernstein on them. If they flaunt their skills of deductive skills I may give a “Well done Sherlock” or “Way to go Nancy Drew” naturally, dependent on plumbing. A reference to a good friend may land a “Kimosabi”,and bewilderment can conjure a “whatcha talking bout Willis”. When a female storms out incited by an action or statement of mine a grinning “she wants me” in the best Elvis voice one could muster(not that it happens).

Naturally, the very best is , in the prediction of conflict produces “going to the mattresses”, and negotiation brings on “make him an offer he can’t refuse” A person that manages to display real genius is Dexter or better yet Einstein.

When confounded I want to exclaim, ” Great Scots” or "Billions of Blistering barnacles”, but that one rarely, if ever ,comes out. Houdini, for those that manage to untangle themselves from the most awkward of situations or you might remind a mouthy individual about the curious case Jimmy Hoffa, don’t know who he is ! EXACTLY.

If you are lost right now,and you have no idea what I am on about,you are probably an alien to the immersion and invasion of dialog, by the almighty frequency that is, pop culture . Either that or pop culture is a third language that you grasp little snippets of before having to sift through the onslaught and halt the slugger for a slower pitch. As a child of the 80′s that ‘teened’ in the 90′s, where sitcoms crafted the shuffling contradiction of cognitive dissonance known as my mind, it was a GREAT time to be young, being raised by the neighbors on Sesame Street, playing with the odd kids that lived at Fraggle Rock, as Mr Rogers tried to tell you a story, childhood was blissful.

Certain times, in the middle of nowhere, I can crack up or chuckle at a random nostalgic memory that spins by like a game of Russian roulette . It could be a scene from Fred Quimby's Tom&Jerry which I had a preference to, over the less aesthetic Chuck Jones animation . Or I switch into the voice of Peter Lorre’s bug eyed scientist, whose inquiry's are followed by disturbing maniacal laugh I find amusing.

A popular one I have used in recent times is “i’m coming down with Bamboo Fever”,a little throwback remix to the early work of Spike Lee, i had to proceed to explain the part of the world where Bamboo comes from and it’s replacement of the original word.

An overtly curious female might be April O Neil, or the more popular Lois Lane(the old movies). Two good friends(guys) Tango &Cash or Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid(Billy). Aldrich Ames who is considered the Judas Iscariot of American Intelligence , can be the dude that runs his mouth on his boys, just to get the ladies in a frenzy, might end up like Tessio, and no “for old times sake” would get him out of that one.

I may sign off a conversation with “here’s looking at you kid” ,comment on an exciting new acquaintance by “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship” or fantasize about dramatically storming off, exiting with the classic “frankly my dear I don’t give a damn”.

A random, “have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moon light?” might freak out the receiver, which precisely illustrates “what we have here,is failure, to communicate”. In recent times,it has been as welcome, as suggesting “Mien Kampf” as a Barmitzpha gift that coincides with Yom Kippur.

Just like the time I was chatting online with a female friend and went , “What’s new pussy cat?” I could almost feel the “shoryuken” come through the IM, before explaining it being the title of a classic song,which i used as an inquiry of her state of well being . Luckily it was not the case of a Bunny Boiler.

As a media brat, you notice the allusions paid to your favorite cinematic pieces . Like the TV series Prison Break, and it’s numerous allusions to The Shawshank Redemption, or noticing how similar JJ Abrahams’ Alias, is ,to earlier 90′s series ,La Femme Nikita, with Peta Wilson. The recent movie Wolverine, for a regular person, it’s awesome. However, for comic fans, and what was done to the characters ,it felt like dropping the soap at..well Shawshank. Regarding the Tarantino flick, Inglorious Basterds is a throwback to the classic men on a mission days of Dirty Dozen/Where Eagles Dare, two great films.

Being a media brat has it’s odd points, like being the only one to get an inside joke or retort heard on a tv show or movie, that no one else in the room gets, and as you roar in laughter, your friends give you the silent “i hope you are ok ” stare. Or making a reference regarding a particular situation, as i did recently on, “pulling a Ferris Bueller”, and almost getting one of those, blinking clueless stares you see and hear so dramatically in cartoons.

The most basic one , which the vast majority are familiar with, is the CSI mode to something fishy with the term “something is rotten in the state of Denmark”, if they are still puzzled, That is an indicator for plain reference and allusion free english being the modus operandi.

So, now in thought process,I shift gears into Defcon 1, when not speaking to a

Book worm+film geek+babysat by telly =Media Brat ,

I have to scream “book em danno” at the mental SWAT, who make a pre emptive strike,so i don’t deliver a pre mature “Fatality” to conversations, through thoughts that try to pull a Houdini.

So whether it’s breaking down in the courtyard after submitting final thesis screaming FREEEEEEEEDOMMMMM . Screaming “Are you not entertained” to the seething mob after defeating the school bully. Hissing back “you can’t handle the truth” at those odd questions women like to ask, but really don’t want (or like) the real answer eg Is that woman prettier than me? Do i look fat in this?

I am and for the foreseeable future , will be, a media brat, Analyze That.

there was a girl i used to know

There’s just “something about you”
that seemed like you just stepped off a cloud from mount Olympus
cos, you are my cocoa butter amazon princess
some may say, it’s a “bitter sweet symphony”
or even “virtual insanity” that i consider you my “sweetest taboo”.
Sometimes i ask myself “are you that somebody’”
and as much as i try to deny it
I’ve got you “under my skin” ,
your presence makes me feel like i can “fly like an eagle”
further denial causes me “trouble sleeping”
cause im “so into you”
Your aura alone “knocks me off my feet”
and if it were FaceBook, our status would be called “half crazy”
but i have to give my “confession”
“every little thing” i do, you’re on my mind
yet you say i’m “just a friend”
My attempt at “breakin the habit” has failed “each time”,
and “it’s alright”, even though sometimes it feels like you “pushin me away” 
“i aint mad atcha”
cos, you inspire my “ascension” to higher heights,
and in my mind there’s “no doubt”
that “if i ever” fall she’d be “someone like you”

TRICKS OF THE TRADE

THIS IS AN EXCERPT FROM A SHORT STORY I WROTE  YEARS AGO, STRAIGHT FROM THE ARCHIVES ,PLEASE CHECK IT OUT .

Sesan Davies was arrested for murder in the first degree. The neighbors were horrified at what had just taken place in their neighborhood, it was going to affect the real estate prices .The news of her death spread through the papers, the Headlines read ; MAN KILLS LOVER IN THE HEAT OF PASSION, LOVERS NIGHT ENDS IN MURDER

The fact that she was having an adulterous affair made the story even hotter .It was in the talk shows and for a while all the attention of the media was on it .The husband was said to be out of the country, and unavailable for comment. The trail was to come up, the prosecuting lawyer was Dele Thompson a hot shot lawyer, that had a good career.

From his prison cell Davies maintained that he was innocent .The anxiety for the trail was building up. The country was affected by it, those women having affairs began backing out fearing such a fate happening to them. Radio stations had a number where people could call in to give their opinion about the upcoming case. Many people called in saying he should get the chair; others said the lethal injection.

Most others said that they should lock him up and throw away the key. Davies lawyer Yemi Adedeji invited the press in an attempt to counter act the negative press his client was getting. “My client is innocent and all the evidence him is plainly circumstantial and this trail shall prove that” The case finally came up a few months after the incident .

The judge didn’t want the press in his court because of the publicity the case had been getting, and so the press waited outside for anything they could get. The jury had been carefully chosen from very young people, to middle aged to pensioners from all walks of life. The were not to listen to news concerning the case or talk about the case outside the court. They were going to be well taken for the duration of the case. Word going round was that it was an open and shut case. The commotion in the courtroom, the few people that were privileged to be in the court room discussed. The judge had a change of heart and had allowed a few members of the press inside, provided they didn’t take pictures while the trail took place.

The defendant was escorted in by his lawyer and a uniformed officer. People whispered as the handsome young man walked in dressed in a pin stripped expensive suit. In walked a face no one knew, a young man that looked like he was in his thirties ,had the handsome look of an actor from the 40’s, sort of like an ebony combination of Cary Grant & Clark Gable. He walked towards the desk to the right of where the defense team was sitting, and he sat down placing his briefcase on the table.

People started to talk wondering who this was ,and where Dele Thomson was.
The bailiff walked in with a file under his arm and announced “All rise” The court were on their feet “His honor Judge Bola Soyinka is presiding” The judge walked in and sat down, the court followed Case 90125, the State versus Sesan Davies, in the murder of Mrs. Tracy Martins. He handed the file to the judge.

Will the defendant please rise, the judge said speaking for the first time Davies and his lawyer rose up “What shall ye plea ?” We plead not guilty your honor The judge up on his podium peered over his glasses at the prosecuting lawyer He noticed this say, “Who are you sir?” ,he said because he knew Thompson ‘Good morning your honor’ ‘What’s good about the morning a man is here on trail for murder’ “I’m here standing in place of Mr Thompson who is unavailable for the case

“That still doesn’t tell me who you are” “I’m Seun King, your honor Mr Thompson had me take the case when he realized that he couldn’t be here” “Would you require a recess to prepare for the case?” “Thank you your honor, but that won’t be necessary I’ve been briefed” he went back and took his seat. The gavel came down
“Court is in session” Mr Adedeji would you like to give your opening statement.
“Thank you your honor”. He walked unto the floor and paced . My client ,Mr. Sesan Davies he said pointing him “is here accused of murder,

We will during the process of this trail, see why this accusation is ludicrous, not only is my client innocent, but he’s been framed for a crime that he did not commit he went back to his seat. “Your witness” he said. “Well it ain’t whistling Dixie” ,muttered King under his breath “Mr. King” prompted the judge.

He stood up and took the floor. “You all just heard , the defense giving a statement, and I quote not only is his client innocent but he’s been framed for a crime he didn’t commit. Is the defendant Roger Rabbit that someone would frame him for a crime . Did the big bad wolf come to Mrs. Martins residence and kill her? As this trail proceeds I’ll show the court , undeniable, irrefutable evidence that implicates Mr. Davies of the crime he’s accused of”.

He returned to his seat “The Defense calls Mrs. Sharon Silva to the stand”. The witness came up ,she was an attractive young lady in her twenties ,like one of those girls guys drool over in music videos. She wore a plaited skirt with a jacket to match , the bailiff came up to her with a Bible asking her to place her left hand on it and raise her right. “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God”?. “I do” “Ms Silva”, said Mr. Adedeji, “how do you know the defendant Mr. Davies”? “Well Sesan and I dated while we were in high school”. “And while you dated ,what kind of guy would you say he was?” “He was very sweet, always bringing me gifts, taking me to nice places”.

“So you’ll say he was a nice guy!” “Yes” “How would you describe Mr. Davies in general”? “He’s a nice , sweet guy a charmer , the kind of guy that a girl’ like to be with all the time she replied smiling ,while looking at the defendant across the room .Who returned a smug grin. King saw this starry eyed gaze, and cleared his throat to bring her back down to earth. “I’ll soon wipe that smug off your face, lover boy ,he thought.

“So you’d call him a gentleman?” “Yes” “Thank you Ms Silva, No more questions your honor”, he returned to his seat and King stood up and approached the witness “Mrs. Silva” “Ms Silva” she said in a correcting tone

“Sorry, Ms Silva, for how long were you and the defendant, Mr. Davies ,in a relationship?” “A year and a half” she replied confidently “Wow a year and a half, that’s quite a long time, so you must have gotten to know him quite well, didn’t you?” “Very well” “And in the period of your relationship, Did you and Mr. Davies ever argue?” “Sure we did” she answered shrugging her shoulders, “all couples do” “Sure they do, but did Mr. Davies ever hit you during any one of your arguments?” “No he didn’t, he’d never hurt anyone” “Oh really Ms Silva” He walked to his desk and brought out a file from his briefcase, he walked back

“Your honor here I have a hospital report that states Ms Silva been brought in her massive bruises to the face, and a broken wrist. Let me see that said the judge he was handed the report .The confident smug expression was gone, and he whispered to his lawyer. ”It wasn’t his fault, It was all my fault” “ The witness will restrain her self and will only speak when answering questions”, he said in a reprimanding tone” He handed it back. “No more questions your honor”, he returned to his seat. The defense didn’t look too happy. The witness may step down from the box, she stepped down feeling quite disappointed in her testimony, her eyes met with Davies ,and she looked like she was going to burst into tears .

“The defense calls it’s next witness Ms Stella Raymond” The bailiff swore her in. She was a middle aged woman that was looking quite younger than her years, she adjusted her skirt as she sat in the witness book ,as if she felt some freshman was trying to look up it. “Ms Raymond what is your relationship with Mr. Davies?” I was his the guidance counselor at his high school. “During that period you had several discussions with Mr. Davies didn’t you?”. “Yes I did” “How would you describe him”? “He was a young man that talked about the kind of future he wanted”
“And what kind of future was that?”

“One that he’d be able to relax in a house with a big backyard, where he could have barbecues with his family and watch his kids play. He said he’d like to own a family restaurant, one that he and his wife would run and eventually hand over to their kids, when retiring .It always brought a smile to his face”. “And did you come across many students like that during your time in the school?”.

“No, many of them wanted to just party a lot of them wanted to avoid responsibility”.
“So you would say he was one of those students of a sound mind and focus?”.
“Objection your honor, the witness is a guidance counselor, and not a psychiatrist; she is not in the position to answer that question. “Objection overruled” Adedeji sighed with relief “Ms Raymond ,what can you say about Mr. Davies?”

“He’s a very intelligent young man and he can do anything that he puts his mind to” “Thank you Ms Raymond, no more questions your honor” King rose from his seat as Adedeji took his “Where do you currently work Ms Raymond?” “Diamond Alliance Insurance firm, I’m a personnel officer” “Ms Raymond, where did you work before the high school where you met the defendant?”. “I worked at a youth center in another state”. “And why did you leave that employment?”. “I didn’t like the place it was too hot, so I moved to a cooler climate, she said grinning”. The court chuckled , Order ,yelled the judge bringing he gavel down repeatedly “Are you sure you don’t want to change that statement Ms Raymond?”. “No, I’m quite sure” “Do you know a Dr Edozie?” She shifted in her seat uncomfortably.

“No”.

“No! Let me refresh your memory” he said picking up a file and reading from it “Stella Raymond diagnosed with Nymphomia Addictium. Patient is addicted to sex and has an intense craving for it. Psychological treatment advised”, he stopped reading .He held up the file for all too see ”This is a psychological evaluation of Ms Raymond by Dr Charles Eberechi for the youth center she worked in, after she was found quote “infran grante delicto” with one of the young persons she was counseling. Isn’t that the real reason you left the youth center, Ms Raymond”? She was shaken, her past had come back to haunt her “Need I tell you, need I remind you Ms Raymond, that you are under oath” “Yes it is”.

“Did you or did you not have a sexual relationship with Mr Davies which led to your discharge from his high school?”. “Objection your honor, the prosecution is badgering the witness’. “Sustained,Mr King, you will refrain from asking questions that are not directly related to this case, the jury will disregard the question”. It was too late the damage was already done.

“No more questions your honor” The defense was stark faced, two of his witnesses have been shot down and discredited. It was too early in the case to be having such luck The prosecution calls Mr. Fred Agbaje The witness a chubby balding man in his fifties was sworn in “Mr. Agbaje tell the court what you do” “I own a restaurant on Kole Adeshina street, Mrs. Davies used to come there” “Do you know that man?” he asked pointing at the defendant “Yes, sir I do, he and Mrs. Davies started to come in together on a regular basis a few months ago”. “Is there anything you want to tell the court about Mr. Davies”? “Yes sir, about two weeks ago when he and Mrs. Martins came in he became angry and violent after he saw Mrs. Martins looking at another man.’ “When you say angry and violent, tell us exactly what you mean?”.

”Well, he got very angry and wanted to start a fight with the man he then dragged her into the car.”
“Then what happened, did they drive off ? ” “No, not immediately, they argued in the car and then he hit her”.

“Thank you sir, no more questions your honor” “Does the defense have any questions for this witness?”, asked the judge “The defense has no questions for this witness”. The Attorney and his client had the unspoken look of loss in their eyes The case was turning to a nightmare; he couldn’t believe the luck he was having. The prosecution was just killing every rabbit he could pull from his hat, and he was beginning to run out of options. He was dreading what was going to happen next.

“The prosecution calls it’s next witness, Dr Osaki Braide” A middle aged man in a Yetunde Phillips two piece suit ,walked up to the witness stand.
He was a respectable looking man, and from the Harry Fernandez watch he was wearing was doing quite well to do in his chosen profession. He was sworn in by the bailiff. “Dr Braide, can you please tell the court what you do”. “Well I’m a Pathologist ,with a Ph D in Anatomy , I ‘m an expert on the structure of the human skeletal structure amongst other things .I lecture at the Lagoon University and I have a private practice off Broad Street.” “Can you please tell us how you got involved in this case?”. “ I carry out independent post mortems for the police when requested.” “And why would there be a need to carry out an independent post mortem?” I was told that it was requested by the defense, they he felt that the police were conspiring against his client.” “A conspiracy theory?” ”I guess so”. “And what were your findings doctor”? “It was discovered that the victim died of a broken neck, there were also serious lacerations on her throat, which would indicate, that she was also being strangled.” “And what kind of force would it take to cause some one’s neck to snap?” “A reasonable amount of force, it’d take someone quite strong to do that” “Doctor, is there any evidence that links the defendant ,Mr. Davies, he said pointing at the defendant ,who had an expression like his hand had just been caught in the cookie jar, to the victim’s death” A cotton swab was taken from the victims genital area, and some semen was found. It was analyzed and the DNA was an exact match to that of the defendant’s sample that was taken when the investigation was going on” “Was there any indication that anybody else had sexual contact with the victim”. “No there wasn’t “Thank you Doctor ,no more questions your honor ,he returned to his seat.

Peering over his glasses the Judge asked, “Does the defense have any questions? “No your honor ,no questions” Over the next few hours, the prosecution tore down every witness that the defense could bring up.

They presented evidence that proved Davies violent past, and his early involvement in crime. Forensic evidence showed that, the defendant had last sexual contact with the witness, and that the marks around her throat had the witness marks all over it. The evidence against him was outstanding; he was found at the scene of the crime and was the only one that was seen entering the house, with the exception of the deceased.

The defendant gave his own story and held his claim of innocence stating that she was already dead when he got there. The counsels were asked to give their closing statement. The defense knew he had lost and in an attempt to save his client he made an pathetic emotional statement ,all he could do was to pray for some sort of miracle . They waited in anticipation to hear what this Prosecutor that had performed so brilliantly would say.

He stepped up to the floor pacing, everyone waiting with bated breath “Ladies And Gentlemen of the jury, over the past few hours we’ve heard accounts of witnesses. They have come here to give us evidence, concerning the character and past of Mr. Davies.

As was revealed during the course of this case, we’ve seen that Mr. Davies certainly has a way with the ladies. He was able to charm his way into the heart of a married woman. We’ve also seen that he got an early start in crime; attempted rape, assault, armed robbery and now his latest murder. Do we believe the story of a sex addict, that had relations with him, when she says he had a focus and future .Do we believe a woman that still defended this man after he brutalized her and made her a constant visitor to the casualty ward ?

The evidence mounted him some say is circumstantial. However, do I need to remind the court of the testimony of the coroner that showed Mr. Davies had sexual contact with the deceased, and was found naked, at the scene of the crime?

You’ve heard the testimony of an independent consultant .He’s told you that it’d take a reasonable amount of force from a strong person to break the human neck. There is no physical or genetic evidence that anyone else was in the house. There were no signs of forced entry, and the defendant himself said he had a key. There were bullets holes in the wall, which indicated that Ms Davies tried to defend herself fro ma violent lover. So, who did it? The candy man? Mr. Davies was in a con game, his victim fell in love and grew attached and he had to do something about it, so he killed her.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I hope I have been able to prove without a shadow of doubt, that the defendant is guilty of the crime that he is accused of”.  He returned to his seat. “This court is in recess until the jury deliberates”. Down came the gavel .The judge walked out and as the people spilled out of the court they discussed the trail they had just witnessed .

The prosecution had left no room for doubt and the people just wondered how lenient or harsh the sentencing will be. The defense and his client refused to talk to anyone and went into a room ,where he tried to calm his client down .He had been pacing the office of his attorney and Adedeji had just convinced him to relax. The prosecution had been approached by several partners in law firms that asked him to give them a call. His pocket was full of business cards. The tension built as the jury was inside, deliberating for several hours .

The court was finally called back in for the hearing. The jury filled in and everybody tried to read their faces to see what they had decided. The court was seated and everybody waited anxiously .The bailiff walked in “All rise” They rose to their feet and the judge walked in and took his seat, and they theirs. “Mr. Foreman, Has the jury come to a decision” “Yes we have your honor” The foreman handed the paper to the bailiff who handed it to the judge ,who read it and handed it back “Will the defendant please rise” Davies and his lawyer rose. “What say ye” “We the jury, in the case of the State versus Mr. Sesan Davies in the case of the Murder of Mrs. Tracy Martins, find the defendant ……………………………..

NAIJA FILM- WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE???

So, once again, Nigeria or to be more precise,Nollywood, has been stated to be the 2nd largest producer of movies in the world. It is a claim to fame ,a bragging right of many of those in the industry. They reminisce about how it was built from nothing a little over 15 years ago and look where they are now, top of the world.....in quantity, but does that also translate to quality?

How many of our films make the film festival circuits? You may argue that , most Nigerian film makers are not aware of those, or are not interested in those. Granted, but let me further go on to ask. How many are good enough to make those circuits. How many can make the cut in respect to quality, entertainment, cross over appeal? Now, the usual counter to this question is , "We don't have Hollywood budgets so you can't compare us to them". "We are a young industry so you have to give us time to grow".

Ok, those are valid arguments, but here are some equally valid arguments. Back in 1992 , a young passionate 23 year old director Robert Rodriguez  with a $7,000 budget, made a film called El Mariachi. His budget was summed from money he had saved, sourced from family, friends and from donating his body for medical experiments. He had no studio support, or even a crew. All he had was his camera and his actors. He played the roles of producer,writer, director, special effect man and even caterer. His film was so impressive, that the studios bought it,transferred it to 35mm and released it in the cinema. El Mariachi went on the gross $2,040,920 and is still selling on DVD till today. That single movie launched his career, making him one of the hottest directors in the industry, with negotiating power some of his predecessors never had . He went on to make films like Desperado,From Dusk Till Dawn,Spy Kids, Sin City,and the recent Machete.

In his 20's Kevin Smith worked in small store in his neighborhood, inspired by a film called Slackers, a eureka moment struck him with an idea for a movie. With a budget of a little over $27,000 he crafted an industry defying movie called Clerks. Distributed by Miramax, Clerks became a cult favorite, spawned a sequel and a string of other movies by the director. and he became a bona fide Hollywood player who had carved his own niche by his peculiar way of writing dialogue and creating bizarre characters in films like; Clerks 2,Mallrats, Chasing Amy,Dogma, and the upcoming Red State.

The most recent triumph of low budget movie making,is a little movie called Paranormal Activity, took the world by storm in 2009. Following thematically the previous success and path of The Blair Witch project, it was made for $15,000. The final result was so good that it caught the attention of Steven Spielberg and was said to scare the living daylights out of him. Now remember this is the man that made people scared to go into the water, with his movie Jaws(1975), wrote the supernatural chiller Poltergeist, and is perhaps the world's most recognized ,respected and successful directors The innovation and creativity behind the movie is what the respect of the studios and film makers, the entertainment factor won fans, a movie that was made for $15,000, made...wait for it....$107,917,283 at the box office, yep you read that right. Do i need to cite more examples??? Are we still going to use budget excuses to justify really bad films.

There are so many amazing stories of film makers that did not allow a lack of big budget to hinder them from making ground breaking movies. The Independent film sector is full of numerous testimonials. The careers of  Chris Nolan(Inception), , Paul T Anderson(There will be Blood),Richard Linklatter(School of Rock) and several others were launched that way.  These directors did not have any studio funding them when they made their feature debuts. All they had was an incredible amount of passion, a dream.Family and Friends helped out with money to rent equipment. They then found a cast and crew that caught the vision and dove in. Most times taking a low or no fee, and dedicating weekends and personal time  to get those films made. They saw the bigger picture and decided that they had to be a part of it. And these are just the players in America!!!!, There are also the brilliant film makers from Mexico, Latin America, and Asia to contend with. They have made amazing movies, which caught the world, and thereby put them on a larger playing field. These "third world" filmmakers face many of the similar obstacles that we in sub saharan Africa experience.

Think it's only Hollywood? Ever heard of the French New Wave? It was an era of French Film Making, that started shortly after World War 2. The country and it's economy were still recovering from Hitler's devastation, there was not a lot of money and unlike the Americans they did not have a studio system. They had little money, and instead of that factor resulting in badly made movies, it sparked an era of innovation and creativity.It has been described as an artistic movement whose influence on film has been as profound and enduring as that of surrealism or cubism on painting, the French New Wave (or Le Nouvelle Vague) made its first splashes as a movement shot through with youthful exuberance and a brisk re-invigoration of the film-making process.

Two of the pioneers directors were Jean Luc Goddard and Francois Truffat, who became highly respected not only by film fans, but by Hollywood as a whole. Their new approach , inventiveness and general reinvention of established conventions  changed the game, and they influenced many upcoming screenwriters and directors. Quentin Tarantino(Inglorious Basterds,Pulp Fiction) was so influenced by them, that he named his production company after one of Goddard's films, and their influence is seen in his early films. What say ye about a Green Wave??

These examples dispel every excuse that we can possibly use about budgets. WHY, most of their budget went to film, stock that they shot on, so we can strike that cos we don't shoot on celluloid. We don't have big budgets??? Well, we do what they did, write within the budget and use innovation and creativity to craft something extraordinary. The actors fees in most Nollywood films today, exceeds the entire budget of what Chris Nolan made his first feature film. So what excuse do we still want to use 17 years later.

The biggest hurdle is the status quo. We are happy with the status quo, we are happy with the patronizing pat on the back that we get from the world because of what we "overcome" to make movies. They are only impressed that we actually get them made, but rarely if ever with what we actually make. They are impressed the same way, a parent would be impressed by their toddler making a discernible painting. So, we are the 2nd largest film producers in the world. How many of our films have been picked up for international distribution? How many fans are there outside the Afro Caribbean community and their friends and family?

We rush into production, with scripts that come off as if they were scribbled on a table napkin, shoot within a week and the next ,it's out. Sure, the producers will make a huge profit, but what next? 10 years on will people go back to buy or watch those films? Will an anniversary edition be released for the fans? Will a generation that never watched it seek it out because they have heard their parents, uncles, and pop culture celebrate the movie constantly? We rarely see the bigger picture. The time that can be dedicated to make one great movie , is spread over 10 lackluster movies because of myopic sight.  Last year the 25th Anniversary of Back to the Future(BTF) was celebrated. It was rereleased in the cinema and an anniversary DVD was also released. 25 years later it still has a legion of old and new fans, that are seeing it again, thus making money for the producers. WHY, it was an incredibly well made film, that still looks better than films being released today. You may say BTF was not made on a little budget, ok. Kevin Smith's debut , "Clerks", also had a 10 year anniversary DVD released, the film has a huge following, who were the some people that watched his follow up releases.

There is hope yet. In the past 6 years a few Nigerian directed movies, with Nigerian actors at the forefront have enjoyed cinematic release worldwide, a few of them picking up awards while touring the international film festival circuit. You may have heard of a few of them; Figurine, Ije:The Journey, and the recent Mirror Boy, which had a Leicester Square,London premiere.  The glimmer of better films is on the horizon, as  a new generation of film makers rise. The bragging rights we have been claiming all these years are actually becoming legitimate. But these few films are but a drop in the Ocean to the possibilities of what we could be doing. If the average producer focus on making 3 great films a year, instead of 20 quick sale mediocre ones, the industry will be much better for it. Our current drive through "i want it NOW", microwave attitude to making films, is not healthy for the growth of the industry. It may bring immediate satisfaction and results, but no long term nutrition and growth. Just the same thing over and over, enough for sustenance but not for development.

Ok, so yes, Hollywood also likes quick profit, but also knows how long term profit is beneficial too. There are several cases but one of them is that of The Shawshank Redemption. A triumphant film , directed by Frank Darabont(The Green Mile,The Mist) based on a Steven King novella, IMDB fans rate it as once of the greatest films ever made. On it's 1994 release it did not make a lot of money, at the box office, but as word of mouth spread, it became a fan favorite, and sales on DVD rentals went through the roof. Many from first time viewing others from repeat viewings. 17 years later people are upgrading their DVD copy to a Blu Ray copy so they can still enjoy it. There are films released that same day, that would have made a profit in the box office, but today are nowhere to be seen. Are you getting the picture?

For a moment , let's forget about Hollywood, and focus on World Cinema, a term used primarily to refer to films made outside the US and the UK.  Cinema from other corners of the world that are equally as brilliant and often better than what Hollywood has to offer. Most of these films do not have big budgets, but are just incredible on so many mind blowing and breath taking levels.  Films from Mexico, Brazil Argentina, South Africa, Spain, Germany,Pakistan etc These are the films that usually clean up at film festivals and receive critical acclaim.

Ok, let me clarify a few things. World Cinema does not usually get as much exposure as Hollywood made films. Not because they are less quality, but simply because of the distribution power of Hollywood, and the fact that many english speakers have an aversion to watching movies made in another language or outside America and don't like to read subtitles Even British movies are snubbed by many. However , within the industry, Many producers, directors and actors have huge amount of respect for World Cinema. The actors and directors in these films are often invited to Hollywood,  and though their movies don't always make it to the cinema screens their movies are sold on DVD in international chain stores such as HMV, Blockbusters, Nu Metro, bookstores and available online at Amazon, Barnes&Nobles etc  These international video chain store markets are avenues that Nigerian home videos have not broken into yet even though some other African films have.

I want you to take a journey of imagination with me. Imagine a time, where our films are reckoned with on the same level as World Cinema films. Cinematic-ally, performance wise and the general entertainment value, enjoyed not just by Africans, but by any viewer. Imagine a time where like the British ,Spanish and Australian actors and directors that work in Hollywood, our own stars and directors are sought after. A time when African Americans are no longer called to play roles of Africans, but they come straight to Nigeria to cast because of our impressive work. A time where we have proper sets, locations, trained cast and crew, that Hollywood comes calling for collaborations. They come on a regular basis to shoot films here and work alongside us. A time where they are running after us to make films for them to distribute and show in their cinemas.

The amazing film Brazilian "City of God" was not an American production, but it took the world by storm.Why?  Because the Americans saw how good it was and they promoted it. It showed the Brazilian story, but it was relatable to the viewers. The makers went on to produce a companion piece Elite Squad which got great reviews. The South African movie Tsotsi , won an Oscar, and it's director Gavin Hood,was hired to direct Wolverine: Xmen Origins. Nollywood makes more films a year than either one of these countries , so why can't the same apply for us, if we step up our game?

This write up is not intended to praise foreign film makers and put down our own people. But as with many other things in the country, there is a lot of room for improvement. We are all glad with the change in the music industry that has taken place over the past 7 years. We have embraced the change and are glad the era of half baked and no talent artists is gone. I write this to inspire upcoming film makers and take away the "budget`' excuses of the current one. YES, a good budget is important to bring out a certain level of quality, but as cited, many of the film makers we respect today worked within tiny constraints. They learned to live with those little budgets and used innovation and creativity to achieve amazing results.

Granted, socio -economic conditions , and orientation in Nigeria is different from the countries of those cited in the examples, but if we are genuinely going tostake a title as movie makers in the world, we have to switch up our game.

Recently in a CNN interview , the director /producer of a African American film, on the challenges of getting black centered films into the mainstream said. "if we keep singing the same song, we will keep dancing to the same tune, and i for one want to dance to a different tune". Nigeria is on the precipice of being a great film industry, not just in numbers , but in quality. But, until we have a paradigm shift in the industry, many of these things will remain but lofty dreams.