HAPPY ANONYMOUS:
This
is a sponsored post.
Misleading
title huh?
So
I've been diligently seeing the series " how to get away with murder"
the moment I knew it was directed by
Shonda Rhimes. If you are a movie addict like me then you will know that Shonda
Rhimes and Debby Allen are some of the directors that makes Hollywood rock.
I
once overheard someone say " I
reject every spirit of Olivia Pope" in response to another's comment. Have
you seen Scandal? Greys anatomy? And the recent How to get away with murder? The
way these movies are planned and characterized with the mind blowing story
lines lives you awe struck. What about
24? Prison break? The butler? Et al. Do you ever wonder " "how the
hell did this director do this"?
Much
of the impression we have about the developed countries is what we get from the
media especially movies.
I
totally agree that movies should somewhat be culturally relevant, but is all
there is to Nigeria rituals? Aristoism? Mother-in-laws
tormenting their son’s wives? And people being poisoned? Just why are we telling a single story of ourselves.
I reckon with people like Emem Isong,Blessing Efiom, and a few who have raised
the bar with content but still majority of these movies dwell on the themes I
mentioned above.
These
things do happen, but we have told these stories for too long, there are other
stories that we can tell and sell too and make some money as well. It was said
that the renowned late activist Funmilayo Ransome- Kuti floated a political
party and at a point even ran for prime minister. I have imagined a movie about
her life with an iconic actress playing the lead role. Tell me, would this make
sense or not?. Do I talk about the legendary love story of Late Dim Odumegwu
Ojukwu and his wife Bianca? Why is it not a movie yet?. The Yar'Adua sickness debacle is a block buster movie waiting
to be made. So you see my point, there are other stories to tell besides the
ones we are telling currently.
There
is a new crop of writers of Nigerian origin, many of which are gaining
international recognition, because of the stories they tell about this same
Nigeria. Each paints a different but true picture on his/her canvass and the
world is beginning to Sit up and look. In another country a book like ‘Things
fall apart’ would have been made into a movie several times,(
angels and demons, deliver us from evil, a time to kill, lord of the rings,
harry potter etc were all novels) we even had to wait for Hollywood to come
make a movie out of “Half of a yellow sun”
by Chimamanda and in typical Nigerian fashion we had to complain about our
actors not getting the lead roles.
Nollywood
has a lot of jokers, but it also has a lot of very talented people who can
really bring it. These people are often under utilized by the kind of scripts
we hand to them. We should stop telling these single stories, there is so much
more that we can talk about.
As
my mind drifts back to the movie, Michaela is very frantic and saying " I can't find
my engagement ring, its missing, it was right here"……I just got up and left to get myself a drink. I surely deserve a bottle of coke and popcorn while I enjoy
this blockbuster.
Signed:
Happy
Anonymous loves plenty Jesus, white chocolate and a hopeless romantic. Visit her
blog HERE.
------
We will love to get a comment from you. Scroll down to leave a comment...people are commenting already!
To follow 360talkatives authors on Social Media, Click Here
To join our site, Click Here
Real movie freak you are dear. I like the whole plot of the article nontheless. I think the problem with Nollywood isn't actually just a lack of creativity. After all, to come up with the (dull) ones we see often is not possible if there is no creativity. I think the main problems lie with us the consumers. I feel we have gotten to a point in our existence here, were we only would want stories of the kind they chun out. More creative and non-juju plots will simply fail to sell as much as the she-wants-to-kill-my-son plots. There lies the problem.
ReplyDeleteMy dear let them give us a trial first. Personally I can't remember the last time I saw a nollywood movie. I'm still having a cold feet about 30 days in atlanta.#yea I know its cool, I've seen the review# but these asaba / aba movie are total crap. I refuse to settle for less than best. Newaiz when nollywood start getting it rite, my neighbours will let me know.
DeleteDon't you think that will be a rough blow on the industry? I am referring to consumers refusing to see naija movies even when they have started doing the 'atlanta' level kind of movie. I have been part of a movie set-up before, and did so for over 6 years and I know that if you refuse to buy movies from us, we are definitely going to lose financially. But that will equally result to a decline in the quality of movies we make. Essentially good movies will always demand for good money. Nice write up all the same.
DeleteWho hasn't heard of, "tell me about the beginning and I will tell you who it will end"? The perfect naija movie
ReplyDeleteLolz.. Some of the nollywood chick flicks are also predictable sha buh there's always a twist to it that the naija directors lack. Oh how I love CREATIVITY
Delete