Saving Nollywood: Is Nollywood in Trouble?

chibumga izuzu

July 8, 2014 11:10 AM

Nigeria movie industry, Nollywood, is popular for releasing movies with absurd names, and funny storyline. Nollywood Icon Genevieve Nnaji was recently criticized for allegedly describing Nollywood as "Bland & Mediocre". Let's tag along with Pulse blogger Uchechukwu as he airs his thoughts.

Truth be told, Nollywood is in deep trouble. I'm one person who believes in Nollywood and its revolutionization. I foresee a Nigerian story that will take the world by storm.

Do we ever imagine that we have films like 'The Figurine', 'The Last Flight to Abuja', ' The Mirror Boy', and recently Chimamanda Adichie's adaptation of 'Half of A Yellow Sun'?

The titles of Nollywood films will get you cracked up before watching the film, take for instance 'ASUU Strike', 'Chocolate Pinging Salon', 'Dorobucci Girls', 'Missing School Girls' etc.

Casting is another headache, why should Segun Arinze father Ramsey Nouah? Why should Pete Edochie wear same beard whether he's playing wealthy or wretched man?

Scripting is another issue, sometimes I begin to wonder if some Nollywood films are scripted or the producer decides on whatever each of the characters say or do.

Location makes Nollywood films look terrible, how can Clem Ohamaeze (a wretched farmer) live in a house nicely painted with iron sheetings?

Make ups and costumes does not go well with Nollywood. Why would we have Jim Iyke hit his head on the dashboard, but have his legs and hands squeezed up in bandages?.

Why won't we use sacks as costumes in an epic film? Is it that our producers and directors didn't read history before going into a film project? Did we have wrappers before or after the coming the white men?Recycling stories: If Director Pee made huge success in a film titled 'Detective Ibu'. It is another thing for producer CeeCee to create a different project, not coming with recycled script of 'Osuofia Investigates'.

The new trend is making the likes Nkem Owoh and Funke, Chiwetalu Agu and Ngozi Ezeonu, John Okafor and Eniola Badmus go to school.

Solving the problems of Nollywood is not all about talking but coming out to act. To wrestle Nollywood from captivity and mediocrity, let's come together to tell a better Nigerian story. Nollywood is ours, lets reclaim it.

Written by Uchechukwu Obiakor

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