nextstep: The movie critique is missing two critical pieces:

1. We like our Nollywood. With all it's flaws, it is ours; it entertains, employs and sustains us. We've seen it improve over the years and there are now some movies that would rival some of the critiques' choices and even some of the movies that come out of Hollywood ("Last Flight to Abuja" and "The Meeting", come to mind)

2. Nollywood is not about making movies for western tastes. Can you imagine "Egusi with isi ewu and stock fish" winning culinary awards in an event dominated by French judges? But shall we then insult our food for not being a critique's choice? Mba nu.

They can take their awards. We'll keep our homegrown industry that employs us jare.

“is it not better to produce nothing than to produce crap?”

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 .

safarigirl: 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

safarigirl: 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

RoyalRoy:

and you with all your space consuming name could not stand up for your country. I will never believe a South African Movie will ever make sense more than a Naija one with their poor diction and acting. They may be way ahead on soap operas and series but not in a regular movie.


And you sat there taking all the biased bashing and you still have the guts to come home and lament ? Shame on You.

safarigirl: 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

BluIvy:

You guys are crazy!!! Really, hip and fun? Nollywood is the one selling on uncivilized, fetish and craziness manner of Africans, with lots of voodoo, rowdy girls whoring for money and other stupid staff. Just because you cannot relate to the South African diverse culture does not mean it is not there. SA movies are reality based not some cooked up horror night stories like Nollywood, with loud old man and women acting like primary school kids.

Mr bones is 20 something years old and its comedy. Please let Nollywood continue to produce garbage as long as they make money but believe it will always be called garbage, because garbage's other namee is " garbage" with money or not. KAPISH!!!

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 .

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 .

davidif:

Why are some Nigerians always so close minded and defensive when it comes to criticisms? How do you expect to learn and grow when you attack anyone that criticizes you or justify your flaws and faults all the time? O ga o.

What is so artistic about "blackberry babes" Or "skelewu babes". Pray do tell me?
You don't need to make a western themed to make a movie. Naija people self. Na wa for una o.

anonimi: Genevieve Nnaji said something similar about the need to up our game in Nollywood and was criticized by many on this thread:

https://www.nairaland.com/1800723/movie-director-blasts-genevieve-nnaji

RoyalRoy:

and you with all your space consuming name could not stand up for your country. I will never believe a South African Movie will ever make sense more than a Naija one with their poor diction and acting. They may be way ahead on soap operas and series but not in a regular movie.


And you sat there taking all the biased bashing and you still have the guts to come home and lament ? Shame on You.

Obi1kenobi:
You clearly don't get the bone of contention. Nobody is asking Nollywood to shoot movies portraying Nigerians as forest-dwelling cannibals. They're asking that Nollywood makes films of substance that portray our culture, history, politics etc to the world and do it with competence, assiduous attention to detail and professionalism. Not the garbage that is financed and churned out by Idumota and Upper-Iweka marketers. All this chest-beating doesn't negate the fact that to anyone who knows anything worthwhile about films, Nollywood is little more than an embarrassing caricature of our society. We consume it because it's all we have. The same way we endure our misery in Nigeria because it's all we have. That doesn't mean we should laud what deserves criticism.

Where are Nollywood movies about pre-colonial Nigerian history? Where are Nollywood movies about important figures in Nigerian history - both pre and post-colonial? Where are movies about the civil war? About political turmoil since independence? About the cultural impact of colonialism? About stimulating topics of conversation in our day to day lives? About professionals (lawyers, doctors, policemen etc) in their line of work? Any attempt at anything remotely stimulating to the intellect in Nigerian movies often reveals how far behind we really are. I've seen black-and-white American and European movies from the 1930's that accomplish feats in technical proficiency that no Nigerian movie can come close to matching. You can view some Youtube clips of Charlie Chaplin if you doubt this. The first step to rectifying such a problem is an admission of shortcomings. Many Nigerians like you choose the path of empty chest-beating arrogance as if that will solve the problems.

VillageBoi:
The thing with we Nigerians is you DARE NOT criticise Nigerians or Nigeria or we will blow a gasket.

kenraj: @ Speedyboy, Villageboi, Ikamenze, sholay2011 and nextstep....

You guys made really matured, concise and explicit points. I admire your maturity at corrections and not apportioning blames or using derogatory and vulgar languages on each other after admitting your errors. It's people like you that can make us grow wise and correctional and not some boastful lads who acts as "know it all" on this forum.

Kudos to you guys and more grease to your shoulders for your points and rendering apologies where you all went wrong.

Obi1kenobi: Making matters worse is the fact there is barely any improvement, if any, in about 20 years of operation. I grew up in the mid-90's watching the films of Joke Silva and Liz Benson shot by the likes of the Ejiro brothers, the Amatas, Teco Benson etc and they're arguably better than the thrash Blackberry Babes, Kukere Babes etc nonsense that I see on movie posters in the street these days. You could argue the film-making equipment are a bit better (naturally, electronic technology advances a lot in a short time) and consequently, you have clearer pictures, but the film-making process hasn't improved. I'm referring to the writing, the directing, the acting, the costuming etc. It's just embarrassing.

BluIvy:
But behind this mask of ultra-confidence lies a fragile self-esteem, vulnerable to the slightest criticism.


What I would not know is whether a personality disorder could be assigned to a larger group of people? Because this disorder best explains most Nigerians to me.

TonySpike: What is missing in nollywood is to ability to fuse thought provoking storylines with logical and intellectually organised plots.

Ik09:
Filmmaking is a lot more than having a story to tell -knowing HOW to tell that story is just as important.

Frankly, I think our film industry has become too comfortable.

Obi1kenobi:
Nobody is asking Nollywood to shoot movies portraying Nigerians as forest-dwelling cannibals. They're asking that Nollywood makes films of substance that portray our culture, history, politics etc to the world and do it with competence, assiduous attention to detail and professionalism.
We consume [current Nollywood] because it's all we have. The same way we endure our misery in Nigeria because it's all we have. That doesn't mean we should laud what deserves criticism.

Any attempt at anything remotely stimulating to the intellect in Nigerian movies often reveals how far behind we really are.
The first step to rectifying such a problem is an admission of shortcomings.

Justcash: @ Op; While I have to admit that you have a valid point, I must also point out that your criticism is too narrow because you surprisingly omitted the dichotomy between "Quality" and "Cost". More still, your focus on quality completely negated the philosophy upon which creativity is embedded. So, does the fact that Nollywood movies are of low quality imply that the creativity is missing? Does it mean that there are no embedded meanings in our movies? The crux of acting and shooting movies is to communicate. Is this factor missing in Nollywood? If you say yes, I will totally disagree with you because the most "crappy" Nollywood movies gat messages that they want to pass.
Meanwhile, how come you deliberately avoided the issues of socio-economic viability of movie production when trying to make such an international comparison? I remember watching Indian movies, they were totally crap, but they made sense and sold globally. If you can reduce the cost of movie production and make sales while passing the same message in a cheaper movie, would you ignore that just because you want to compete with South Africans? Meanwhile, who told you that "Half of a Yellow Sun" is a half British production? Going by your logic, how many South African Movies are really African?
YOU MUST LEARN TO ARGUE OBJECTIVELY. NIGERIANS ARE NOT IDIOTS.

BluIvy:

You guys are crazy!!! Really, hip and fun? Nollywood is the one selling on uncivilized, fetish and craziness manner of Africans, with lots of voodoo, rowdy girls whoring for money and other stupid staff. Just because you cannot relate to the South African diverse culture does not mean it is not there. SA movies are reality based not some cooked up horror night stories like Nollywood, with loud old man and women acting like primary school kids.

Mr bones is 20 something years old and its comedy. Please let Nollywood continue to produce garbage as long as they make money but believe it will always be called garbage, because garbage's other namee is " garbage" with money or not. KAPISH!!!

Jayboy124:

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?

BluIvy:

You guys are crazy!!! Really, hip and fun? Nollywood is the one selling on uncivilized, fetish and craziness manner of Africans, with lots of voodoo, rowdy girls whoring for money and other stupid staff. Just because you cannot relate to the South African diverse culture does not mean it is not there. SA movies are reality based not some cooked up horror night stories like Nollywood, with loud old man and women acting like primary school kids.

Mr bones is 20 something years old and its comedy. Please let Nollywood continue to produce garbage as long as they make money but believe it will always be called garbage, because garbage's other namee is " garbage" with money or not. KAPISH!!!