Osofisan
From: Francis Ameyibor, GNA Special Correspondent, Lagos.
Lagos, July 10, GNA - Professor Femi Osofisan, a Lecturer at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria on Monday said most Nigerian films portrayed cultural and ideological deficiencies. He said most of the films promoted alien customs and inferiority complex among the people worse than the films produced by colonialists. "Themes for Nigerian films lacked intellectual depth, fine distinctions, and compounded complexity in characterization and repetition of the scenarios."
"Deficiency in adventure in the list of films of a particular actor, director, genre, as well as failure to adhere to most basic rules in costume, lighting and make-up," Prof Osofisan observed at the Sixth Lagos International Forum on Cinema, Video and Motion Picture in Africa. The Forum on the theme: "Story, Story, What's Your Story," was organized by the Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria, (ITPAN) in collaboration with the Nigeria Film Corporation (NFC) and the French Embassy of Nigeria.
It was also used to identify exceptional features film projects from West, East and South Africa and packaged it to pitch at the Feature Film Festivals.
The forum featured screening, workshops, exhibitions and presentations by renowned international and Nigerian filmmakers, professionals and policy makers from Ghana, Benin, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Senegal, and France.
Speaking on: "From Nollywood to Nollyweight? Reflections on the Possibilities of Literature and the Burgeoning Film Industry in Nigeria," Prof Osofisan explained that the deficiencies were due to intellectual deficit of the people involved in the profession. "Those who finance production of films as well as those who write the scenarios for Nigerian films (Nollywood) are only interested in film making as business to make quick money and not bothered by the aesthetic or ontological dimensions of film production," he said.
Prof. Osofisan noted that most often there were no scripts for the actors on location; only a scenario or series of scenarios, would be announced by the director or producer as a general guide for improvisation, just as in the old days of the travelling theatres. He expressed concern about the promotion of superstitious habits of the belief in miracles and witchcraft rather than in concrete empirical variables and direct physical participation in social struggle. "This, ironically in spite of the fact that all the special effects they employ to conjure up, their magic are achieved only with the aid of technology, with scientifically-manufactured implements," he said. Prof. Osofisan expressed concern about censorship on Nigerian films, adding "instead of wasting time with censorship, the line that would be productive for us to pursue, in order to displace the deficient films from the market is simply to embark on the production of an alternative repertoire of films and make sure that they are abundantly available for consumers."
Mr Femi Odugbemi ITPAN President, said this year there had been remarkable improvement in African cinema with many films winning international awards and recognition.
He called on African film makers to sharpen their focus on the salient issues, develop motion picture production to serve the interest of the market, capitalize on their strengthens in the fiercely competitive global environment to create and grow a sustainable business model for African films.
Mr Odugbemi said work of the African filmmaker was vital to the sustenance of the African heritage, cultural identity, economic and social transformation of African nations.
"We have a responsibility to work for its survival, expansion, impact, forge cooperation and find common grounds for the African storyteller to entertain and communicate."
"We have a responsibility to find mutually beneficial solutions to the unique challenges that confront the African filmmaker in a changing global environment," he said.
