Article by - Oris Aigbokhaevbolo

Nollywood took a beating at the Durban International Film Festival due to the quality of most of our films. In fact, my presence as a critic was greeted with surprise. One participant asked how it was possible to be a critic in so ‘chaotic’ a movie industry.

Too much happens at festivals. Most of it, not within the cinema halls—the conversations, the flirting, the drinking, the debates, the communal meals, the lingering animosity of a heated exchange.

With the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), a lot happened onscreen as well. I saw a low-budget sci-fi vampire flick set in 1930s Ethiopia; I saw a tale of corruption set in Kenya; I saw a young man, on account of a woman—what else?—go from ménage a trois to murder in Johannesburg; I saw the faces of several critics whose only proof of life earlier, to me, was text; I sat beside the beautiful star of a movie premiering and listened as she, with happiness and alarm, spoke to her partner about the shock of her father’s presence at the screening of a film with risqué moments.

But mostly I saw Nollywood take a beating.

Take these incidents. One. After the screening of Veve, the film on political corruption in Kenya, I turned to my compatriot Terh Agbedeh. He was looking at me. We shook our heads: “Nollywood never start.” This, even as we agreed Veve wasn’t excellent.

Two. At the end of the much-hyped South African production Cold Harbour I was impressed even as the film’s black lead’s uncertain fate in an ambiguous ending was a letdown. (The white director later explained she couldn’t go through with the scripted tragedy after Marikana—to always consider racial politics is the burden of a public performer in South Africa.)

Cold Harbour Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnIwascAUXo

Separate discussions with two South Africans produced different opinions. Film critic Kavish Chetty touted the film’s quality, hinging his praise on two politically charged scenes.

Jozua Malherbe, a filmmaker taking part, as I was, in the Talents Durban program was unimpressed. He said Cold Harbour gave the impression—from its trailer I assume—that it was a thriller but it failed to be a good example of one. Unburdened by both hype and trailer, I explained that the film was drama with action diversions. I believe(d) so, yet that was talk; I was thinking: here is a man spoilt by a national cinema producing excellent films regularly.

Nigerian cinemagoers don’t have that luxury. A film half as well made as Cold Harbour will meet with deserved acclaim. Expression of chagrin at the little letdowns of a film with such production values as Cold Harbour is a privilege exclusive to customers of better fare.

Gavin Hood’s Best Foreign Film Oscar for Tsotsi is the acclaim-peak of a cinema tradition that has, save for commercial appeal, eclipsed the Nigerian film industry. As a country in love with excess, we citizens, surrealists, are quick to tout volume of production that places the country as third in production, after the other –woods, as proof of success. The volume of releases of the Nigerian film industry is, however, a tribute to the industry of the Nigerian—it is not evidence of artistry.

Because a film festival is mostly about artistry, it was certain Nollywood will be excluded; yet with evidence came a sting.

Living Funeral Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRqxVja0KPo

The 2014 DIFF catalogue listed two and a half films from Nigeria—half because Biyi Bandele’s Half of A Yellow Sun is credited to both the UK and Nigeria. The others, Udoka Oyeka’s short film Living Funeral and Chika Anadu’s B for Boy, are wholly Nigerian. None of these films screened in competition. (A fourth film Gone Too Far, also not in competition, was directed by Destiny Ekaragha, who is of Nigerian parentage.)

Such is the Nollywood stigma that when I asked Chika Anadu at the Q and A session after the screening of the super-serious B for Boy if she considers her film Nollywood, she said no. She went on to clarify. Nollywood had made her career possible; but while its very visible viability gave her aspirations credibility, she feels unconnected to its sensibility.

B for Boy Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEhTbVimeX4

The filmmaker is of course free to profess a dissociation from her country’s major cinema tradition. But with the Nigerian film industry only into its third decade, is total dissociation necessary? Might it not be prudent to profess a change in direction as opposed to freeing oneself from a tradition that has given young filmmakers freedom in the first place?

Again, Anadu’s use of Ngozi Amarikwa, famous for her role in some of the earliest Nollywood films, and Oyeka’s use of Liz Benson, star actress of 90s Nollywood (avant la lettre), means the novel directors are yet to discover novel tools. And here the irony of expressing an exception to Nollywood shows: these young non-Nollywood filmmakers in going forward are using tools of the past. Not to say there is no place for Nollywood vets, but the situation is akin to a farmer using hoes and cutlasses while speaking endlessly about mechanised farming.

Destiny Ekaragha on Gone Too Far!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3d2ZapWDSg

On several occasions my presence at the Durban Film Festival as critic was greeted with surprise. A participant asked how it was possible to be critic in so ‘chaotic’ a movie industry.

That was a hard one, but in the grand scheme of hard questions presented to Nollywood-backing Nigerians at the Durban International Film Festival, I got off easy.

A Nigerian journalist was discussing the existence of Rwandan cinema, when, perhaps in jest, he was asked by a filmmaker from that country: “is it not better to produce nothing than to produce crap?”

SOURCE - http://thisisafrica.me/lifestyle/nollywood-nightmare-durban-int-film-fest/

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My people, na so we see this article. What do you all think?

We knew this before na. We knew our movies + our industry na thrash. We know say we no join for movie matter.

But that's not the news. the news is that people wey suppose sabi, wey know better thing film follow join people wey dey do rubbish films.

Lagos monopoly is the Bane of creativity in the nigerian entertainment industry

Diaris God o!!

VillageBoi: Diaris God o!!

There's God indeed. All these threads that you're sharing will answer.

Nollywood has to get it right sooner than later o.

*Goes back to studying hooks in scriptwriting *

sholay2011:

Nollywood has to get it right sooner than later o.

*Goes back to studying hooks in scriptwriting *

Not just getting it right but getting it right CONSISTENTLY... one off flukes are not enough.

Come oh, na right hook abi left hook

VillageBoi:

Not just getting it right but getting it right CONSISTENTLY... one off flukes are not enough.

Come oh, na right hook abi left hook

Getting it right CONSISTENTLY no easy oh...but persistence with willingness to learn should get us there.

Lol...right hook ko, front hook ni. Smh.

sholay2011:
Getting it right CONSISTENTLY no easy oh...but persistence with willingness to learn should get us there.

People can do things 'consistently' abi we dey fear? Willingness to learn won't get us there but a willingness to apply what we have learnt will.

No cinemas.

No good distribution network.

Nollywood dey fight CGI dinosaurs.

By the way, how our Oscar waka dey go sef?

VillageBoi:
People can do things 'consistently' abi we dey fear? Willingness to learn won't get us there but a willingness to apply what we have learnt will.

Hmmmmm....no be say we dey fear joor. But I know getting it RIGHT consistently isn't piece of cake. Doing things WRONGLY consistently is quite easy though.

Well yeah, applying things we've learnt. Mr Villageboi...I duff my hat. I hope to see you in real lyf someday.

sholay2011:
Well yeah, applying things we've learnt. Mr Villageboi...I duff my hat. I hope to see you in real lyf someday.

Of course you will see me in real life. There's a whole bunch of you guys on NL I can't wait to meet. Damn, that'll be crazy fun.

Jayboy124: No cinemas.
Nollywood dey fight CGI dinosaurs.

Hahahaha oloshi... agbero boys done sell all the dinosaurs as grade 'A' meat. Even aliens dey fear come Naija make boys no rough them up, pull their shoe and send them packing.

VillageBoi:
Of course you will see me in real life. There's a whole bunch of you guys on NL I can't wait to meet. Damn, that'll be crazy fun.

Lol

sholay2011:
Lol

Na only 'lol' you fit tok?

Jayboy124: No cinemas.

No good distribution network.

Nollywood dey fight CGI dinosaurs.

By the way, how our Oscar waka dey go sef?

'they' are working on it.

VillageBoi:
Na only 'lol' you fit tok?

Yes naa.

Lol

What's this about exactly? Durban film festival.... What's that? Nollywood films screen in much bigger festivals, who cares what South Africans think? They've always been anti-Nigeria, so to hell.

And we Nigerians; in our eyes (in all aspects of life), every kid is the best in the world, except ours. Who've bothered to know what's going on in SA film industry right now? Or what South Africans actually think about their films?

Talk of consistency, why didn't they keep winning oscars after Totsi? Talk about the Oscar sef, They won Oscar once and so effing what?!!! That's 10 years ago, get over it already! Look around, nothing really changed after Totsi.

Not one single Bollywood film has ever won an Oscar, yet Indians are not killing themselves over it. They are not using Oscar to measure their success, infact they don't care about it! Yet, everyone around the world will pick bollywood then take many many steps before even thinking of recognizing our almighty Oscar winning SA industry.

Bottomline is; i don't envy SA cinema! I don't wish Nollywood to be in its shoes. I don't want Nollywood to start making propanga-ridden western stereotypical films, just to attract western audience. That's what SA is doing and most South Africans bash their filmmakers for that and more. Most even use Nigeria as an example for their filmmakers. I don't want an industry without self esteem. I don't care if we keep producing crap, as long as we don't loose ourselves or start making some "shitty Tarzan-like" films. I'm comfortable with Nollywood depicting the typical Nigerian world and i even want them to up that "hip" style, a big NO to some "pity party" films! No way!

I'm sure the day Bollywood will start getting Oscar is when they start making "slum dog nonsense" kinda films where they'll depict some indians struggling to make it. That's the Oscar spirit; if it ain't hollywood, then don't depict a civilized citylife of your country, else no Oscar for you. What they want are films with strong "messages". You know what the message is .

VillageBoi:
Hahahaha oloshi... agbero boys done sell all the dinosaurs as grade 'A' meat. Even aliens dey fear come Naija make boys no rough them, up pull their shoe and send them packing.

Mutants, super heroes... I know say all go dey fear come here, loooooooool.

Even Thor hammer go miss if he dare enter Naija.

prof800:

'they' are working on it.

I hope say rigging no go dey.

Anyone heard of the film 50 Kisses?

speedyboi: What's this about exactly? Durban film festival.... What's that? Nollywood films screen in much bigger festivals, who cares what South Africans think? They've always been anti-Nigeria, so to hell.

And we Nigerians; in our eyes (in all aspects of life), every kid is the best in the world, except ours. Who've bothered to know what's going on in SA film industry right now? Or what South Africans actually think about their films?

Talk of consistency, why didn't they keep winning oscars after Totsi? Talk about the Oscar sef, They won Oscar once and so effing what?!!! That's 10 years ago, get over it already! Look around, nothing really changed after Totsi.

Not one single Bollywood film has ever won an Oscar, yet Indians are not killing themselves over it. They are not using Oscar to measure their success, infact they don't care about it! Yet, everyone around the world will pick bollywood then take many many steps before even thinking of recognizing our almighty Oscar winning SA industry.

Bottomline is; i don't envy SA cinema! I don't wish Nollywood to be in its shoes. I don't want Nollywood to start making propanga-ridden western stereotypical films, just to attract western audience. That's what SA is doing and most South Africans bash their filmmakers for that and more. Most even use Nigeria as an example for their filmmakers. I don't want an industry without self esteem. I don't care if we keep producing crap, as long as we don't loose ourselves or start making some "shitty Tarzan-like" films. I'm comfortable with Nollywood depicting the typical Nigerian world and i even want them to up that "hip" style, a big NO to some "pity party" films! No way!

I'm sure the day Bollywood will start getting Oscar is when they start making "slum dog nonsense" kinda films where they'll depict some indians struggling to make it. That's the Oscar spirit; if it ain't hollywood, then don't depict a civilized citylife of your country, else no Oscar for you. What they want are films with strong "messages". You know what the message is .

Am....am I dreaming

Speedyboi is back?

*Mouths 'Oh my God' *

speedyboi: What's this about exactly? Durban film festival.... What's that? Nollywood films screen in much bigger festivals, who cares what South Africans think? They've always been anti-Nigeria, so to hell.

And we Nigerians; in our eyes (in all aspects of life), every kid is the best in the world, except ours. Who've bothered to know what's going on in SA film industry right now? Or what South Africans actually think about their films?

Talk of consistency, why didn't they keep winning oscars after Totsi? Talk about the Oscar sef, They won Oscar once and so effing what?!!! That's 10 years ago, get over it already! Look around, nothing really changed after Totsi.

Not one single Bollywood film has ever won an Oscar, yet Indians are not killing themselves over it. They are not using Oscar to measure their success, infact they don't care about it! Yet, everyone around the world will pick bollywood then take many many steps before even thinking of recognizing our almighty Oscar winning SA industry.

Bottomline is; i don't envy SA cinema! I don't wish Nollywood to be in its shoes. I don't want Nollywood to start making propanga-ridden western stereotypical films, just to attract western audience. That's what SA is doing and most South Africans bash their filmmakers for that and more. Most even use Nigeria as an example for their filmmakers. I don't want an industry without self esteem. I don't care if we keep producing crap, as long as we don't loose ourselves or start making some "shitty Tarzan-like" films. I'm comfortable with Nollywood depicting the typical Nigerian world and i even want them to up that "hip" style, a big NO to some "pity party" films! No way!

I'm sure the day Bollywood will start getting Oscar is when they start making "slum dog nonsense" kinda films where they'll depict some indians struggling to make it. That's the Oscar spirit; if it ain't hollywood, then don't depict a civilized citylife of your country, else no Oscar for you. What they want are films with strong "messages". You know what the message is .

I think you're right about the 'slum-themed' stuff though but it's not always true. Have you seen the Iranian film A Seperation?

speedyboi: What's this about exactly? Durban film festival.... What's that? Nollywood films screen in much bigger festivals, who cares what South Africans think? They've always been anti-Nigeria, so to hell.

And we Nigerians; in our eyes (in all aspects of life), every kid is the best in the world, except ours. Who've bothered to know what's going on in SA film industry right now? Or what South Africans actually think about their films?

Talk of consistency, why didn't they keep winning oscars after Totsi? Talk about the Oscar sef, They won Oscar once and so effing what?!!! That's 10 years ago, get over it already! Look around, nothing really changed after Totsi.

Not one single Bollywood film has ever won an Oscar, yet Indians are not killing themselves over it. They are not using Oscar to measure their success, infact they don't care about it! Yet, everyone around the world will pick bollywood then take many many steps before even thinking of recognizing our almighty Oscar winning SA industry.

Bottomline is; i don't envy SA cinema! I don't wish Nollywood to be in its shoes. I don't want Nollywood to start making propanga-ridden western stereotypical films, just to attract western audience. That's what SA is doing and most South Africans bash their filmmakers for that and more. Most even use Nigeria as an example for their filmmakers. I don't want an industry without self esteem. I don't care if we keep producing crap, as long as we don't loose ourselves or start making some "shitty Tarzan-like" films. I'm comfortable with Nollywood depicting the typical Nigerian world and i even want them to up that "hip" style, a big NO to some "pity party" films! No way!

I'm sure the day Bollywood will start getting Oscar is when they start making "slum dog nonsense" kinda films where they'll depict some indians struggling to make it. That's the Oscar spirit; if it ain't hollywood, then don't depict a civilized citylife of your country, else no Oscar for you. What they want are films with strong "messages". You know what the message is .

+1999 Likes.

Jayboy124:

I hope say rigging no go dey.

Hahaha...
I hope so too.

prof800:
+1999 Likes.

Only 1999 likes... ah, that post na 9999 likes oh!

sholay2011:
Am....am I dreaming

Speedyboi is back?

*Mouths 'Oh my God' *

Haba, he has been back since nah! At least one miracle came out of the 2014 NL hack/crash... the dearly departed returned!

VillageBoi:
Haba, he has been back since nah! At least one miracle came out of the 2014 NL hack/crash... the dearly departed returned!

Lol. I know his moniker was 'revived' with the NL crash but didn't he is now back online...with his unmatched stubborness and strange comments

VillageBoi:
A Nigerian journalist was discussing the existence of Rwandan cinema, when, perhaps in jest, he was asked by a filmmaker from that country: “is it not better to produce nothing than to produce crap?”

And on this very last sentence, my own response is -

Absolutely not! It's far better to produce crap than nothing at all because by producing crap one is immediately on the first rung of the ladder to 'learning' and greater things.
*Ahem* errrrmmmmm Rwanda produces what?!?!

sholay2011:
There's God indeed. All these threads that you're sharing will answer.

Nollywood has to get it right sooner than later o.

*Goes back to studying hooks in scriptwriting *

What a waste of a thread, everyone knows this its not news, stop deceiving yourself about nollywood nothing will change they are making money in africa and they don't care..don't waste out time again with this rubbish nuff said

justcoolgmt: What a waste of a thread, everyone knows this its not news, stop deceiving yourself about nollywood nothing will change they are making money in africa and they don't care..don't waste out time again with this rubbish nuff said

Please, don't quote me.

Thanks.

A thousand gbosas to speedyboi for that awesome post abeg.

SA movies are extremely boring cuz they only shoot what Westerners like. No originality at all, nothing hip and fun. All their movies are either based on apartheid, drug abuse or some other shitty problem people would rather forget.

They're little pawns, the Western worl isn't interested in a civilized Africa, they only love watching woe-unto-I movies like Mandela, war and propaganda movies like that nonsensically boring Black Gold and ridiculous movies like Mr. Bones.

In fact, Osuofia in London was so famous cuz it depicted an impossibly uncivilized African in the Western World, which is exactly what they want to see