Spike Lee blasts Nollywood

KASIE ABONE, Cannes, France

Nigerian film makers have been lambasted for allegedly plagiarizing creative works from other lands even as they are advised to attend international film festivals if they must make films of international standards.





http://odili.net/news/source/2009/jun/26/704.html


Respected American film maker and prolific advertising director, Spike Lee, punctured Nigerian film makers, saying they bootlegged a lot of his films. Lee told at a press conference in Cannes International Advertising Festival that Nigera made huge films but regretted that a lot of plagiarism went on in Nigeria without any check.

Responding to a question by this reporter on how Nigerian film makers could improve on their creating, Lee fired back:

"You are from Nigeria, Lagos? Those people are bootlegging my films a lot. Let them attend international film festival like the ones held in Cannes and other places to learn how to make great films that would be of international standard.

In a press conference to announce winners of the MOFILM UGC (User Generated Content) Competition, Lee, who was the competition’s jury chairman, said with the explosion of digital devices youths with creative talents would tell a great story using the new technological devices. He said with User-Generated Content, there was little limit to what youths of these days could do using digital devices.

He said a lot of talents abound not only in America and Europe but all over the world. He stated that the era when people went to school to learn film making was fast being replaced by people simply deploying the digital devices with their talents to tell great stories in digital devices.

"You don’t have to call your God to help you get a job. You can tell great stories using these hand-held devices. And to do this creativity is very key. It is a very special thing that empowers you to tell great stories."

Another important tool necessary to tell stories is the skill of story writing. In his words "You don’t have to go to school to be a good film maker. You have to work on developing your talent. You have to work on your writing skills or find someone who can write for you. Writing is key to film making. Whether it’s a piece of music, novel, play or commercial, you must learn how to write."

The MOFILM competition brought together a powerhouse set of 12 brands which consisted of AT&T, Best Buy, PepsiCo, Hewlett Packard, Kodak, Renaissance Hotel, Nokia, Philips, Telstra, Unilever (Omo), Visa and Vodafone. Each brand posted a brief on the MOFILM website, which allowed entrants from all over the world upload their films and compete for the awards and prizes. Each brand selected their favorite video, which went to compete for the grand prize on set with Spike Lee.

At the end of the highly competitive outing, Hiroki Ono, 23-year-old Japanese won the gold prize with $12, 000,000 cash award along with Nokia’s top prize of having his winning video "Feel the Globe" embedded into more than 10 million handsets and the opportunity to be on set with Spike Lee on his next project.

Winning the silver medal was an Indian from California, the United States, Mr. Mahesh Pailor, with is video "Ordinary Creative Guy" for Best Buy, a story about his father. He received $6,000 cash with Best Buy’s top prize of $10,000 gift card.

The bronze medal went to California’s Jeff Jill with his video "Larry Had the Internet" for AT&T. He received $3,000 cash along with AT&T’s top prize of $2,000 and tickets to American Idol finale.

Mr. Lee commented, "I really have enjoyed the MOFILM competition. Any medium that allows creative talent to come to the fore gives them the platform to showcase their gifts, which is gratifying to me. User-Generated Content has to be a good thing for both film and advertising industries."

All the winners expressed satisfaction for the opportunity to be showcased at the Cannes festival, saying they were spurred to develop their talents even further.

I don't watch alot of Nigerian (Nollywood movies) wish I did but I do believe especially seeing some of the names of movies that Nigerian movie writers and maybe producers do plagerize. I guess its because they assume none of those people will be watching their movies. Guess Lee does. HOWEVER, and this is a big however. American film people (Hollywood) also plagerize alot. Especially Japanese horror movies and some comedy. Like the office complete rip off of the British version. The Ring was also a rip of from some Jap movie.

arrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh bad.

will they listen?

savanaha:

I don't watch alot of Nigerian (Nollywood movies) wish I did but I do believe especially seeing some of the names of movies that Nigerian movie writers and maybe producers do plagerize. I guess its because they assume none of those people will be watching their movies. Guess Lee does. HOWEVER, and this is a big however. American film people (Hollywood) also plagerize alot. Especially Japanese horror movies and some comedy. Like the office complete rip off of the British version. The Ring was also a rip of from some Jap movie.

The Ring is not plagiarism. It is a remake. Proper credit was given to the original novelist and writers (see the credits) and the movie was done with the blessing of the people that made the original. Royalties were also paid.

Can you honestly say the same about a Nollywood "remake"?

lwkm

Spread the word.

Jealousy!

When last did he make any half-decent movie?

Abeg, the guy is a has-been. He should look for the demon that his blocking his creativity rather than envying other people's success.

I can't recall any Nollywood movie that ripped off any Spike Lee movie except perhaps copying the title? Even then, Hollywood studies often produce several films with the same title but different director, actors etc.

The whole world is stunned at Nollywood's growth; this 'brotha' is busy bringing us down. Yeye!

Make we hear word joo!

Rams:

The Ring is not plagiarism.  It is a remake.  Proper credit was given to the original novelist and writers (see the credits) and the movie was done with the blessing of the people that made the original.  Royalties were also paid.

Can you honestly say the same about a Nollywood "remake"?

Hollywood rips a lot of Asian movies and Asian movies(minus India) are not innocent either. I don't know about Indian movies.

Here is the real koko of Spike's bad belle


Nigerian film DVDs fly off the shelves in South Florida

[21 September 2007]
By Georgia East
South Florida Sun-Sentinel (MCT)

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/article/nigerian-film-dvds-fly-off-the-shelves-in-south-florida

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.—They’ve never walked along the dusty roads of Lagos, Nigeria, or set foot in an extravagant mansion in Ghana.
But fans of African movies now being sold in South Florida say they find themselves glued to their screens because in so many ways, the faraway continent feels so familiar.

“It’s everything from the drapes hanging at the entrance door in the kitchen to the way people go down on their knees before saying good morning to their elders,” said Hermante Leonard, who sees similarities to her Haitian culture in the movies.

Despite mediocre sound quality and a lack of special effects, Nigerian films are growing in popularity in South Florida, especially among Caribbean natives. In strip plazas in Lauderdale Lakes, Miramar, West Palm Beach and North Miami, vendors who used to specialize in movies from Jamaica and Haiti said they’ve recently switched their focus to African films because of the demand. “These movies are entertaining,” said Fay Bailey, a retired nurse from Jamaica. “They showcase the beauty and strength in Africa, and there’s more laughter than anything.”

Fans say they help satisfy a need here, where mainstream films starring black actors are few and far between. They like the intelligent dialogue, relative absence of nudity and the prominence given to areas of Nigeria and Ghana not usually seen on Western television.
The Nigerian film industry, often referred to as “Nollywood,” churns out about 1,500 new movies a year, making it the third largest in the world, after Hollywood and India. Industry analysts estimate it grossed $286 million last year, compared with $2 billion brought in by Indian films.
African movies are performed in English with story lines that center on infidelity, family cohesiveness, folklore and spirituality. Unlike Hollywood blockbusters, however, these films are usually made on a shoestring budget of about $20,000, and sell here for about $10.
Caminito Rose, who is originally from Haiti, began selling the movies about four months ago in his North Miami store, Lionel Productions African Movie Mall. He said on an average Saturday he sells about 400 Nigerian movies.

Fans say it’s not the price but the story lines that keep them wanting more. Hopeton Green, of Lauderdale Lakes, said he buys them because “the backgrounds reminded me so much of Jamaica. The way the people dressed, their demeanor. The accent was the only thing that really marked the difference.”

Leonard said she became hooked after watching “Blood Sisters,” about a bad sister trying to destroy the good sister’s life. So about a year ago, she started selling the movies at her music stores, Se Mizik Lakay, in Lauderdale Lakes and Oakland Park.
Other retailers say their clients introduced them to the films.

“I started selling them about two months ago because people came to me and asked me for certain titles,” said Jerome Altidort, manager at VS Music Store, in West Palm Beach, which specializes in Haitian music and movies.

Nigera’s movie industry got its start in the early 1990s, when Nigeria was undergoing a financial crisis and foreign films were scarce. Experts say violence at that time kept many Nigerians from going to local theaters.

To fill the void, local directors began filming with hand-held cameras and producing movies on a shoestring budget. The video films, as they’re called, often have sequels and, in some cases, up to four or five parts.

Some movie watchers say they block out time to watch the films, which are usually about three hours long, because once they get into Part 1, it’s difficult not to watch the sequel.

“I know it sounds (like a) cliche, but you really feel like you’re experiencing your roots,” said Opal Brown, of Pembroke Pines.
Industry specialists say easier access to the films is increasing their popularity, especially in New York City, Washington, D.C., and South Florida.
“The distributors of these video films don’t have to rely on a huge marketing strategy,” said Onookome Okome, author of the upcoming book “Nollywood: Cinema, Culture, Society.”

But piracy is also a big issue and local retailers say it’s hard to compete with the copiers who sell at rock-bottom prices.
“I used to have a lot more customers, but the piracy is slowing things down,” Leonard said.
Back at African Movie Mall, patrons Fay Bailey and Cherley Sanon are debating which story lines are more intriguing.
Sanon, who is Haitian, watched her first film about three months ago in a hair salon. She now has 20 titles and said she likes the movies that show off the affluent Nigerian neighborhoods.

Not so for Bailey, who countered, “I like the movies that bring me right into the villages.”

Most Nollywood films are empty. No susbstance whatsoever. Pathetic.

too bad

blacklion:

Jealousy!

When last did he make any half-decent movie?

Abeg, the guy is a has-been. He should look for the demon that his blocking his creativity rather than envying other people's success.

I can't recall any Nollywood movie that ripped off any Spike Lee movie except perhaps copying the title? Even then, Hollywood studies often produce several films with the same title but different director, actors etc.

The whole world is stunned at Nollywood's growth; this 'brotha' is busy bringing us down. Yeye!

Make we hear word joo!

Why in the world will Spike be Jealous of nollywood For your information his last film "Miracle at St. Anna" was one of the best films to come out last year. Spike is not bringing nollywood down.They already do a good job at that.

I DON'T MIND Spike Lee to critic Nollywood but to condemn them or talk about them as if they are low life's, not from him we supported him since he first picked up a home camera to shoot do the right thing, Mo better blues and when he had a store at Dekab Avenue in Brooklyn.
How much education does he have , he started from the pity and rise to greatness and we love and support him for that.
He should try and help not condemn this people who has little but know material like he did when he started.
They are found of putting down any good thing that come out AFRICA and they will be the first to say they are AFRICANS, I think Nollywood should learn from this and stop trying to be like Hollywood they will be the first to crush you and to Spike bootleg movies found all over Brooklyn, Bronx and China Town, how can you blame your misfortune on Nigeria, what a dumb statement.
Some of them are Black Americans not African American guys beware

blacklion:

Jealousy!

When last did he make any half-decent movie?

Abeg, the guy is a has-been. He should look for the demon that his blocking his creativity rather than envying other people's success.

I can't recall any Nollywood movie that ripped off any Spike Lee movie except perhaps copying the title? Even then, Hollywood studies often produce several films with the same title but different director, actors etc.

The whole world is stunned at Nollywood's growth; this 'brotha' is busy bringing us down. Yeye!

Make we hear word joo!

Typical response from people with "typical mentality"!

Spike lee is a legend. No Nollywood director/producer/script writer have matched his success. If Lee's stuff was pirated, he's within his right to speak out about it. That is the point, that is the issue. For people like me, I am disappointed at the rubbish that is regularly churned out of our movie industry called nollywood.

spike lee has a right to complain about his films being bootlegged but what i don't agree with is the way he was patronizing. he wasn't even specific about which of his films were pirated. did he mean that producers here copied his scripts or that his films were being just plain pirated? if he meant the latter then nigeria is not the only guilty party. i mean we should we learn to call some of these stars to order not allow them misyarn any how cos they feel one is too dumb or insignificant to respond.

just my 2 kobos

Since when did Spike Lee become "respected"?

Yes Spike is a respected black director in America. More respected than John Singleton, Quentin Tarantino, etc.