Some Nigerians that I know in the UK watch Nigerian movies (many don’t). One reason why they do so is to express amusement at the poor acting and production.

For my part, I don’t look out for faultlessness. I look out for something distinct. I never both watching movies filled with bogus American twang. I prefer the side-splitting movies, more especially those in Pidgin or Igbo. If I want to watch a good thriller, it surely wouldn’t come from Nigeria. We are not just there yet.

Having lived in the united kingdom for more than half my life I recently came in contact with nigerian movies. The acting was so bad, the production was awful, the story line was lame, however I watched it because ...... I dont know. The reason why nigerian movies are not going to make it is the lack of artistic licence. Films from Mali and Burkina Faso have artistic licence and culture. They are set in rural villages. The nigerian one I watched was about a spoilt daughter who was interested in driving her mercedes. A storyline set in ijebu or calabar with local music and dances would interest me more. I have white friends that sit for hours watching the christening ceremony of my daughter done in nigeria with a juju band in the evening. We have good cinematography. We should develop the culture first and then worry about making the money after. Unfortunately like most things in Nigeria, its lets make money first!!!!

Angela just made a good point, watch Nigerian films when you want to laugh or you really have nothing to do.

@Omon.............How can an industry that's at least 13 years old (living in bondage came out in 92) still be in the infancy stage

You don't need an IQ to understand a Nigerian movie, in fact the first 20 minutes is enough for you to decipher the whole movie.

These movies are meant for the LIGs ( Low Intelligence Group).

****These movies are meant for the LIGs ( Low Intelligence Group).****

@Jio, good point!

To the best of my knowledge, alot of Nigerians abroad watch Nigerian films despite all the criticisms it has received.

I bet they watch it in secret...
Let's just face it, the movies are bad and I don't see any progress in the nearest 5years. Even the producers, actors and the rest justify their poor productions by saying 'they produce what happens in the country'.
The truth is that non of them have any knowledge about what they are doing...
The writers are not good enough and the directors are a little out-dated.
The new films we see are just 're-mixes' of the old ones..
For the movie industry to improve, the game players must first of all admit that what they produce is junk and not worth airing...

Kelvin, why do you think they watch it in secret? are you sure of what you are saying? Do you know that these actors / actresses are celebrated more  by Nigerians abroad than Nigerians here?

People say that Nigerian films are the worst from Africa, can someone explain to me why Africa magic on DSTV shows more of Nigerian films and less of other African countries movies?

Nigerian films are not all that bad, there are good ones and there are horrible ones. The same with American films.

I will recommend some Nice Nigerian movies for all the Nigerian film haters! Please stop expecting them to be as good American movies! just watch them with an open mind!

1) I Belong
2) Girls hostel
3) Private Sin
4) One dollar
5) Dangerous Twins
6) Games women play
7) Sharon stone       etc
Brave heart

I Can't remember the names of some other ones that are really nice, when i do, i will continue!

People say that Nigerian films are the worst from Africa, can someone explain to me why Africa magic on DSTV shows more of Nigerian films and less of other African countries movies?

The only reason why DSTV shows so many Nigeria movies is that Nigeria is its biggest market after South Africa. they dont have a choice. It is all about money.



Nigerian films are not all that bad, there are good ones and there are horrible ones. The same with American films.

The difference is that most Nigerian movies are crap while the poor American movies have a special standard (B movies) u will know what u are buying.

I will recommend some Nice Nigerian movies for all the Nigerian film haters! Please stop expecting them to be as good American movies! just watch them with an open mind!

1) I Belong
2) Girls hostel
3) Private Sin
4) One dollar
5) Dangerous Twins
6) Games women play
7) Sharon stone etc
Brave heart

I have seem 2 out of these movies. My assessment was:

1) Dangerous Twins

Was highly recommended by all Nigerian movie lovers.
Very good concept. very poorly executed. It came in 3 parts when It should have lasted one and a half hour at most.
Too much time spent letting us know it was filmed in England. Na London we wan chop. It started with promise and ended in disappointment.

2) Sharon Stone

What was so good about the movie? It was mediocre. The title was not original. poor job. I think Genevieve has better movies out there.

The Nigeria movie industry has potential. Its problems can be traced to funding. It requires longterm funding.

Right now the industry is funded by the traders located in (Alaba, Idumota)Lagos, Aba and Onitsha. They are also called marketers.

These traders are used to businesses that turnover in a month or two (They import and sell spare parts or electronics). There profit margins are thin and they make money from very quick turnover.

They are replicating this in the movie industry. They make a movie in 2 weeks, make 2 movies on one set, cut a movie that should be 1 and a half hrs into 3 parts. etc. The fact that they are mostly illiterate or semi illiterate makes things worse. The concept of quality means nothing to them as long as they make money.

As far as they are concerned, they are not building an industry, they are doing a business. They do it as long as they get returns. If returns dwindle, they move on to the next business.

[quote][/quote]

You can watch movies made by mainframe movies and Amaka Igwe for a better quality.

They also have limited budget but they make quality movies. They make far fewer movies than the rest.

@ seriks:
Oh, my! You're so wonderful. I couldn't have said it better.

Of them all, I only respect Tunde Kelani of Mainframe Production. This is the only person that takes his time and plots wisely before churning stuff out.

Because they call you people african monkies.

some American's do not even know that Nigerians have a movie industry.

well, wat the nigerian producers expect? some of these movies are ...... i really dun know wat to say!!!!!!!!!!!! they really need to improve so they'll make pple interested in these movies. i'm African but can't lie. I watch Nigerian movies when i'm bored. it's not like they take away the boredom. they add to the boredom n i can easily go to sleep!!!!!!!!!!!!

we are not trying to compare them to Hollywood but they need to change the story lines. with they story lines they have, u look at the poster n know what the movie is about

they need to surprise us sometimes. there's usually no tention in me cuz i know wats gonna happen . well dats my opinion pple have different opinions n i respect their decisions.

that's funny

seriks, thanks for sharing your list of interesting Nigerian movies.

Interesting Nigerian movies? Did you understand @seriks' post? He was only rebutting @AngelaK, for crying out loud!

i must say their movies are whack, everything is just lame, they have the same story line , which is predictable by a four yr old. I just hate watching their movies. its annoying.

You're right, brother! But these guys tend to be making excuses for them in the name of patriotism.

rubbish patriotism , the most annoying thing i hate is that if the story aint about Church or Fetish things , it would be about a brother killing the sister for money, and also those two Dwarfs they use for kids role. They disgust my being

Honestly, I am laughing out loud! Well said, well said.

AJISAFE
ha infact i love you believe me (though not in a sexual way o). I thought i was the only sensible person being offended by the crap that is being portray as movies. You definitely hit the nail on the head and i totally agree with your points.

Someone said nigerians abroad watch home videos, fine no problem but who are these people? are they not the same set of razz uneducated ignoramus that watch it in nigeria. oh because they have now manage to sneak into western countries now make them intelligent. For your information educated and ENLIGHTEN nigerians abroad do not watch it.

Personal i think some of this movie producers should be arrested and jailed for defamation of our corporate character and image, believe me i feel that strongly about it. I absolutely do not think any intelligent person will watch nigeria home video period.

Also before i usually get emotion and disturbed by the garbage 'nollywood' churn out until i realised that this films were not intended for people like me. There were being produced for people with low I.Q, these people are the target market.

True.

This discussion could be extremely healthy toward your growing film industry. I decided to join so I can set the record strait about what was meant more specifically when I said "Americans Don't Watch Nigerian Movies...." when I was quoted in Jos during SHOOT!2005 I was not being sarcastic or being disrespectful of the home movie industry - I wasn't even concerned with "Nollywood" I was referring to films on the big screen.

There are very few features that make it big in America and even fewer that come from abroad. I was just stating fact there are no Nigerian films on our big screen - However I do expect over the next decade a handful of films will make it to theatrical distribution in America I'm not expecting anything to come out of Nollywood. But from a team like Mainframe or another resourceful group serious in producing something that expresses a real Nigerian story not trying to make it whitewashed but totally honest - entertaining - well told story - void of technical issues -

The films will have to be noticed first in film festivals where they receive distribution in the reel world of the film industry. I respect Nollywood just for what it is - home movies. Now if anyone wants to learn how to make movies that lets the viewer suspend their disbelief - and in a dark theater allow the audience to travel to another world -

Honestly there are very few foreign films that make it to theatrical distribution in the U.S. the ones that do are - way beyond good. A few examples of foreign films that made it big. "City of God" from Brazil and "My Life as a Dog" Sweden.

I actually was watching yesterday an interview done in south africa...the dude actually made the point of bad audio quality of most of Nigerian movies. I don't think a Nigerian movie Producer has really come and has prepared sincerely to do a film for th world market really. Not the storyline but video quality, camera angles, lighting, props and all that. Even down to packaging, prints on the CD and the rest so what do you expect.

Swish:

I actually was watching yesterday an interview done in south africa...the dude actually made the point of bad audio quality of most of Nigerian movies. I don't think a Nigerian movie Producer has really come and has prepared sincerely to do a film for th world market really. Not the storyline but video quality, camera angles, lighting, props and all that. Even down to packaging, prints on the CD and the rest so what do you expect.

I am really with you.

@ mackwish,
good thing you clarified your point.

@ angela k,
you recommend private sin? did you take time to really watch that. ok maybe the storyline was good( not flawless) but did you remember genevieve in a wheelchair, supposedly paralised[b] but shaking her legs all through[/b]? and nobody saw that? director, producer, other members of the cast, crew.... RMD was there and nobody saw genevieve on a wheelchair swinging her legs from side to side throughout..... oh my... what can i say?
its really insulting what these people churn out every week.
i tire o.

Why should Americans bother watching Nigerian home videos/movies when most nigerians (yours truely inclusive) don't even watch. The point is that most of the films are done in a rush with an extremely low budget and almost the same storyline.

angela k,

1) I Belong
2) Girls hostel
3) Private Sin
4) One dollar
5) Dangerous Twins
6) Games women play
7) Sharon stone
Brave heart

The title of these movies you recommended sucks and am sure they would be as bad as the title, but then you're the expert here. Personally, l won't spend my precious time on these.

Read this....http://www.nollywood.net/vbee/showthread.php?p=2279#post2279

@owon
what is there?

Actually i know for a fact that even if Americans arent watchin our films Ghanan's our,Jamaicans(believe it or not) serria leones our n so....so whas the big deal?