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

DISTRICT 9- A CHALLENGE TO ALL NAIJA AUTEURS

The movie District 9 has gotten a lot of attention in the months of it's release. First the anticipation of a riveting Sci Fi movie. Then the people that were blown away by how well executed it was, then recently the concern and up rise of the portrayal of Nigerians in the movie.

I must admit, sitting in the cinema, every time "the Nigerians" was hammered in description to the negative characters, it stung a little but i carried on regardless. I wont say i hated the movie, because it was indeed, very well done.

BUT in retrospect i can see why peeps would be enraged. It's bad enough that Cop shows and Sitcom make us a punch line. But this was something else on a whole new level.

My consolation was that , they were not Nigerian actors, nor did they speak in any Nigerian language, nor did they have Nigerian accents. BUT , most non Nigerians would not detect that fact

Many people would say

"We have more important things to be worried about"

but we have to remember how powerful a medium film is. Both to the intelligent, and those that just absorb and believe EVERYTHING that they see on TV and in the movie, Film leaves a powerful impression on the mind for a very long time.

We all know how Germans have been associated with Nazi ,Neo Nazi History in the movies. The same goes for middle easterners as terrorists. Indians as convenience store clerks and Asians as martial arts masters. These portrayals find their way into the subconscious,and even if it is for a microsecond,affect our perceptions , and with a movie as popular as District 9, it looks like it is going to become a part of popular culture.

The fact is, the consistent reference and Hammering on "The Nigerians" was unnecessary, and "the gangsters" would have been sufficient enough,without specifying a nationality.


I found this quote on a blog , which i find very insightful

"Whatever any film maker may portray, the most important thing really is that Africans need to start telling their own stories more than they have done so far. Africans need to make their own compelling films – both fiction and non-fiction. As an an African proverb says “Until lions are able to tell their own stories, the story of the hunt will always glorify the hunter”  -Supo Orimogunje

The Nigerian entertainment scene is growing in large proportions, TV ,and especially music which is now global.

Isn't it about time, we loose all the VooDoo, Advanced Fee Fraud(419) and Prostitution stories in our movies? There are sooo many other aspects of Naija life we can write and make films about.

Chimamanda "Purple Hibiscus" Adichie, has become the pioneer of a new generation of Nigerian voices. .A voice that the world has taken seriously because of the QUALITY of the compelling and captivating stories she writes .

Isn't it about time we do the same in our film making? Compelling stories, that are well made and excellently performed, that would sweep the floor and blow minds all across he world.

This is a challenge for all screenwriters,directors producers and all those involved in TV and Film of Naija origin both inside and outside Naija.

We have the potential to tell fascinating Nigerian stories, those grounded in reality, fairy tale or fantasy, which we have many.

What stops us from adapting stories by Soyinka, Cyprian Ekwensi,Chinua Achebe and others, into screenplays?

What stops "The return of Ikenga"(War Epic) or "Things fall Apart"(Historic) from being made into epics, or "Without a Silver spoon"(Triumph of the human spirit) from becoming Naija's answer to "The Pursuit of Happyness" . We have sooooo much potential, which can stop the recycling of predicable and somewhat contrived stories.

I've said it a million times "City of God" is a prime example to show the impact a well made film can have to an industry. It's a Brazilian film made outside Hollywood, on a minimal budget and no big names, and it took the world by storm. The Nigerian film industry has that untapped potential too.