Lack of proper distribution network, scripting and poor funding have been identified as the major factors militaing against the growth of Nollywood.
Also identified as part of the constraints of the industry is the issue of lack of training as it affects the practitioners.
Industry operators and stakeholders who identified these constraints while brainstorming on the way forward for Nollywood at the quarterly art stampede organised last Sunday by the Committee for Relevant Art(CORA) blamed the problems of the industry largely on the inability of the film makers to decide on what format they want to write their scripts.
They also pointed out that inadequate distribution network creates room for pirates to feast on the sweat of the film makers. The panelists comprising notable film makers, critics and directors however took a holistic look at the state of the industry, and therefore posited that except something urgently is being done to address these anomalies, the industry will continue to suffer serious setbacks.
Setting the tone of discourse was Mahmood Ali-Balogun, producer of “Tango With Me”, who identified scripting as a major ingredients in reposition the industry.
According to Mahmood, many film makers are guilty of not deciding the format in which they want to write their scripts, adding “this a major problem in Nollywood.” He therefore urged the film makers to learn to identify the genre of the film they are making;stressing that a knowledge of the kind of movie you want to make will go a long way to improve the quality of movies that are churned from Nollywood.
But for Stephanie Okereke, whose presentation drew a thunderous applause and Vivain Ejike, distribution and training are the major constraints of the industry.
Kunle Afolanyan, the producer of the multiple award-winning movie, “Figurine”, while chronicling the story behind the production of that blockbuster movie, boasted that he had a strong desire to make films that would go to festivals as well as commercial films.
Other panelists at the well attended event were popular film maker, Emem Isong, Lilian Aluko, Kalu E.K. Atah, who represented the producer of the award-winning film Ïje: The Journey, Chineze Anyaene, and the producer of Champions of our Time. The event was coordinated by Steve Ayorinde, Editor of National Mirror.
Apart from the film makers, other stakeholders who graced the event were film marketers, make-up artistes and sound engineers. It was one event that attempted to point the way forward for the industry.
As noted by CORA spokesman, Toyin Akinosho “ we intend to engage those behind these works in an intellectually engaging and stimulating dialogue that will help us appreciate the new trend that Nollywood is negotiating”.
