mekaprime:

It don't think its marketing related problem that made half of a yellow sun flop, I think the problem was that the flick wasn't like the book. Its common knowledge that the transition from page to screen of some of our beloved stories/novels tend to have some of their primary appeal lost in translation.


Filmmakers are faced with the herculean task of slicing and dicing a books’ broadest scopes to fit into a 2-hour movie structure, this is were writers/filmmakers who aren't well grounded in the art, hit the rocks. But seriously, the best approach to this would be to split the movie into sequels so as to encompass/capture the whole novel.

The director, Bandele acknowledged that in his journey to the heart of Adichie’s over-450 page text he had to look for ways to maintain a compelling, credible and coherent story on screen, thus sacrifices were made and scenes slashed mercilessly due to budget and timing limitations, and further more, he had to tell a linear story from the perspective of just one major character. A necessary approach it was, but it didn't yield the maximum desired results.

Your points are solid and your insights are well laid out, so I guess we can say the fault lies with director then. If he found it difficult to adapt the story why not hire a professional screen writer? One who has had success adapting novels to screenplays instead of taking the mantle and doing a bad job. I believe at the hands of a seasoned screenwriter the adaptation would have fared better.

I'd really like you to check out The boy who harnessed the wind . Though its not Nollywood, i just wanna know your inputs about the flick. It's actually a literary adaptation of the book titled The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by Bryan Mealer and William Kamkwamba directed & written(both debut) by our very own Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Thanks for this recommendation, I will read the book first before I watch the movie. I don't like watching a movie adaptation of a book before reading the book. I will let you know what I think when I'm done.

mekaprime:

You know, it was easier for them to sell their culture & tell their story how they deemed fit because Malawi has just one language which is Chichewa that's asides English. But here in Nigeria/Nollywood, making movies that tend to promote the culture & language of just one tribe, wouldn't go down well with such a flick, no matter how good it is, take Lionheart for instance. That's why most producers adopt the English language 90% while 10% goes to the indigenous language.
But of a fact, as of now,no Nollywood movie, no matter how well made it is, can rival THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND.

I don't think language barrier is the problem, after all, Malawi is an highly diverse nation with multiple ethnic groups, same as Nigeria.

oyetpel:


Language barrier is not what is killing our Nollywood but Nigeria as a whole retard to change.

When i was young Superstory was the No 1 thing then, you dare not interrupt on Thursdays between 8-9pm while its airing, and i remember Wale Adenuga adapted 'the gods are not to blame' with the actors in yoruba attire, so any director can tell each tribe's story in English.

Its just...... for example our Music industry, our musicians will tell you that they are singing these types of songs because that's what fans want to hear, so it all comes down to business. You are learned and you are vast on current trends all over the world but it might interest you that over millions are still content with the craps Nollywood is still putting out, so why will they want to change just like our musicians.


The only thing people like us can do is to lament on Nollywood is missing out according to our standard.

For me Nollywood is not for me, like how can you have a movie industry without genres? Lionheart was billed as comedy on Netflix, imagine?

What's stopping then from making movies on Awolowo? Zik? Balewa? Bello? Dangote? Obasanjo? Civil war between Nigeria and Biafra.

At least you saw Hotel Rwanda and how it shook the world and everyone was touched by it, was it Rwanda language that was spoken there?

Let one Foreign director have the urge to make a movie about something in Nigeria and you will see how it will sell.




Finding Fela, was a documentary made by a white man and it won an Oscar even with the docu being mostly in pidgin.

What's stopping a movie director to make a movie on Fela, i will love to see it, will most Nigerians see it? Will the director make money with it?

Cinema is not our culture here and directors aren't getting much from their movies, so they have to do business as usual, and gather as much donations from wealthy people.

I am not blaming Nollywood but its the reality.

Wow, quite insightful, I concur a 100%.

KoiceReloaded:


I get the sense that you lack comprehension skills sometimes.

From the way the guy said it, it's obvious he doesn't know the difference between tv series and movies. When a person referred to something as "a tv series" in one sentence, and then "a movie" in another, what does that tell you about the person?

Abeg bro, make sure you reason properly before you quote someone, okay?

I ain't fighting you man.

Didn't you see where the guy said he's still in season 1 (S1)? At least he didn't edit his post.

It was clear the guy meant BB is a tv series.


Isn't Television movie/film also a Television Series?



Don't be cheap.

oyetpel:




I didn't even think about the subtle message, you are right about that, and the director likes taking gibe at white people ala get out and blackkkmans.

Lol..its a flick by Jordan Peele, you ought to know his Modus operandi/Signature move by now.

oyetpel:


I ain't fighting you man.

Didn't you see where the guy said he's still in season 1 (S1)? At least he didn't edit his post.

It was clear the guy meant BB is a tv series.

Don't be cheap.

So you didn't see where the guy said "It's a cool drug themed movie?

Bro, don't fall my hand na. I didn't know you're this dull o. Na your type dey fail simple exam.

KoiceReloaded:


So you didn't see where the guy said "It's a cool drug themed movie?

Bro, don't fall my hand na. I didn't know you're this dull o. Na your type dey fail simple exam.

A tv series is a movie albeit a direct-to-television movie.

After saying tv series and mentioning he's in Season (S1) you should have got his drift.

KoiceReloaded:


So you didn't see where the guy said "It's a cool drug themed movie?

Bro, don't fall my hand na. I don't know you're this dull o. Na your type dey fail simple exam.

At the bolded, probably the dude doesn't know the difference between a Movie & Series. A lot of folks don't actually know that they are distinct from each other.

oyetpel:


A tv series is a movie albeit a direct-to-television movie.

After saying tv series and mentioning he's in Season (S1) you should have got his drift.

Chai! Now, I see the problem. You're clueless as well. Lolz.
Next thing, you will tell me television actors win Oscars too.

Do yourself a favor and google the difference between a movie and tv series. Being an ignoramus is not something to be proud of.

mekaprime:

At the bolded, probably the dude doesn't know the difference between a Movie & Series. A lot of folks don't actually know that they are distinct from each other.

Don't mind koice.

The guy wrote tv series, continued that he's in Season 1, the guy knows about what he said.


Well let me help koice, 'it's a cool drug themed television movie'.

KoiceReloaded:


Chai! Now, I see the problem. You're in the same boat as him. Lolz.

Next thing, you will tell me television actors win Oscars too.


Do yourself a favor and google the difference between a movie and tv series, and stop making a fool of yourself online.

Television movie/series have their own award show and Theatrical movies have Oscar.

...

mekaprime:

At the bolded, probably the dude doesn't know the difference between a Movie & Series. A lot of folks don't actually know that they are distinct from each other.

Exactly what I am trying to tell oyetpel. The dude obviously doesn't know the difference.

oyetpel:


Television movie/series have their own award show and Theatrical movies have Oscar.

Dude, a tv series is not and I quote " a movie albeit a direct-to-television movie". It can't be a movie when it is shot in a different format and have different factors guiding it. A simple visit to google will convince you of this, but no, you'd rather wallow in your ignorance.

oyetpel:


Don't mind koice.

The guy wrote tv series, continued that he's in Season 1, the guy knows about what he said.


Well let me help koice, 'it's a cool drug themed television movie'.

Just listen to yourself, chai.

The curse of La Llorona

Is it that we lovers of the idiot-box just love to argue ni or its just a thread thing?

Another needless dick-measuring contest will soon degenerate into fisticuffs.

Na wa ooo.

Just so you know, TV series are shot with Android while Movies are done with iphone.

That's the major difference.

But they are both PICTURES THAT MOVE, hence the word MOVIE!!!

Case closed.

Next....

Unionised:
Is it that we lovers of the idiot-box just love to argue ni or its just a thread thing?

Another needless dick-measuring contest will soon degenerate into fisticuffs.

Na wa ooo.

Just so you know, TV series are shot with Android while Movies are done with iphone.

That's the major difference.

But they are both PICTURES THAT MOVE, hence the word MOVIE!!!

Case closed.

Next....

Nobody asked for your half-baked opinion.

You've been noticed, now run along, kiddo.

mekaprime:

Spot on. The flick simply captured all the ills we face as Africans, living in a third world continent.

The film deals more with a boy's ingenuity through difficult times.I repeat,the continent of Africa is not the only place in the world that encounters the challenges depicted in the film.Africa's woes are just more highlighted than others

kongolo:
The film deals more with a boy's ingenuity through difficult times.I repeat,the continent of Africa is not the only place in the world that encounters the challenges depicted in the film.Africa's woes are just more highlighted than others

This.

In Bangladesh, large swaths of India, Cambodia, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, the populace face far more socio-economic difficulties than most African countries do. The west just love to accentuate our inadequacies more because, it falls within their age long "africa is a poverty stricken continent" narrative.

KoiceReloaded:


Nobody asked for your half-baked opinion.

You've been noticed, now run along, kiddo.

You know what, I'm in a good mood today.

Thanks for the stylish yab.

1-0

KoiceReloaded:


This.

In Bangladesh, large swaths of India, Cambodia, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, the populace face far more socio-economic difficulties than most African countries do. The west just love to accentuate our inadequacies more because, it falls within their age long "africa is a poverty stricken continent" narrative.

Exactly.It's all about the narrative.For example,Arnold Swarznegger was recently attacked in south africa by a crazed man and some US analysts were discussing the issue and comparing the legal system in south africa to north Korea.I was like "WHHHAAATTT!!!"

KoiceReloaded:


This.

In Bangladesh, large swaths of India, Cambodia, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, the populace face far more socio-economic difficulties than most African countries do. The west just love to accentuate our inadequacies more because, it falls within their age long "africa is a poverty stricken continent" narrative.

True.

Also true that we are poverty stricken.

Let's make movies that show the life of the average citizen, our history, heritage, and present economic realities.

i have no business with Afghanistan and Cambodia.

I want the world to hear my own story, from my perspective.

Unionised:


True.

Also true that we are poverty stricken

Let's make movies that show the life of the average citizen, our history, heritage, and present economic realities.

i have no business with Afghanistan and Cambodia.

I want the world to hear my own story, from my perspective.

We're not really poor, we're merely hemorrhaging our tremendous wealth and resources away due to weak union, corruption and greedy tax evading multinational corporations

If only we have a strong and transparent, and economically driven union like the EU, we could curb the corruption somewhat, and tax the greedy multinationals adequately. This way we can curb the bleed (there is more money leaving africa than money going in atm), and channel the funds into redeveloping our decaying infrastructures, and building new ones. Africa is not poverty stricken, we're just naive.

Our movies are not telling the right stories, because our people are not asking the right questions.

kongolo:
Exactly.It's all about the narrative.For example,Arnold Swarznegger was recently attacked in south africa by a crazed man and some US analysts were discussing the issue and comparing the legal system in south africa to north Korea.I was like "WHHHAAATTT!!!"

The_fuck?! Are you serious?

I know those_fuckers look down on us, but this is next level.

I bet most of them won't be able to locate Mali on the Map to save their miserable lives. That's how clueless they are.

Unionised:


True.

Also true that we are poverty stricken.

Let's make movies that show the life of the average citizen, our history, heritage, and present economic realities.

i have no business with Afghanistan and Cambodia.

I want the world to hear my own story, from my perspective.

My older sister who is into Nollywood told me that if she can be seeing movies like Queen of Katwe and The boy that harnessed the wind she will delete all her Jenifas and other nollywood movies on her system.

She said she liked the originality of the movies.

I like both movies too but do you thing its what we need every time? Though they are but true stories but Not everybody lives in the ghetto.

I will to see a Nigeria movie on;

(1)how betting is affecting youths,

(2) the ordeals of gaining admission to tertiary universities (favourable or not),

(3)how Nigeria missed it (economy) when oil was discovered in the 70s.

(4) influence of religion, politicians on the society.

(5) the loss of authority of traditional rulers.

(6) how economy contributed to the growth of internet fraud, implications on the Nigeria household.

(7) the current stream of fake life and social media show offs.


So many stories to put out, but na only romance + family palaver they prefer.

oyetpel:



My older sister who is into Nollywood told me that if she can be seeing movies like Queen of Katwe and The boy that harnessed the wind she will delete all her Jenifas and other nollywood movies on her system.

She said she liked the originality of the movies.

I like both movies too but do you thing its what we need every time? Though they are but true stories but Not everybody lives in the ghetto.

I will to see a Nigeria movie on;

(1)how betting is affecting youths,

(2) the ordeals of gaining admission to tertiary universities (favourable or not),

(3)how Nigeria missed it (economy) when oil was discovered in the 70s.

(4) influence of religion, politicians on the society.

(5) the loss of authority of traditional rulers.

(6) how economy contributed to the growth of internet fraud, implications on the Nigeria household.


So many stories to put out, but na only romance + family palaver they prefer.

That is all I am saying jare.

Economic realities of the day....

kongolo:
The film deals more with a boy's ingenuity through difficult times.I repeat,the continent of Africa is not the only place in the world that encounters the challenges depicted in the film.Africa's woes are just more highlighted than others

Nobody is disputing primarily what the flick is about, its the secondary/supporting attribute that i was simply hinting at. And the fact still remains just as you stated, these ills are more predominant in the African continent than anywhere else.

KoiceReloaded:


We're not really poor, we're merely hemorrhaging our tremendous wealth and resources away due to weak union, corruption and greedy tax evading multinational corporations

If only we have a strong and transparent, and economically driven union like the EU, we could curb the corruption somewhat, and tax the greedy multinationals adequately. This way we can curb the bleed (there is more money leaving africa than money going in atm), and channel the funds into redeveloping our decaying infrastructures, and building new ones. Africa is not poverty stricken, we're just naive.

Our movies are not telling the right stories, because our people are not asking the right questions.

You are still saying the same with long grammar.

We are poor.

We have challenges.

We need to store pieces of history mixed with fiction to make artistic and cerebral statements.

We need to document stuff.

We will not always be like this.

for posterity.....

Beorn:

I'm guessing you're a fan of the movie "Hobbit"