Twenty-four filmmakers from Nigeria are to embark on an intensive four-week course at the Colorado Film School, United States, this spring to hone their skills in general film making.
Their mission also is to raise professional standards for future film production in Nigeria, and eventually to help the country compete for international awards.
The Nigerian film industry, popularly known as Nollywood, trails the United States’ (Hollywood) and India’s (Bollywood) in terms of volume of content.
But many of them are for domestic consumption and the technological level of these films are considered below standard.
Now, through an economic development grant in Nigeria known as ‘Project Act’, the country has enlisted the help of Colorado Community College (CCA), which houses the Colorado Film School, to raise the standard.
Now, through an economic development grant in Nigeria known as ‘Project Act’, the country has enlisted the help of Colorado Community College (CCA), which houses the Colorado Film School, to raise the standard.
According to a report in the industry which was made available to THISDAY yesterday, the Nigerian filmmakers will spend 20 days and study 44 one-hour modules training in different facet of film making such as script writing, story structure, character development, writing dialogue, directing actors, eliciting reality behavior in performances, moving the camera, and lighting.
President of the Directors Guild of Nigeria, Andy Amenechi, said the benefits from the training wouldn’t be restricted to the participants alone.
He said through the dissemination of information after the group returns to the country in terms of professional tutorials and on-set mentoring, other film makers would benefit from the exercise.
According to him, “Filmmaking is about doing the right thing.
There is no Nigerian, American or Taiwanese filmmaker, there are international filmmakers, and there are certain specifications you need to make films.
According to him, “Filmmaking is about doing the right thing.
There is no Nigerian, American or Taiwanese filmmaker, there are international filmmakers, and there are certain specifications you need to make films.
“And if you want to compete in the international marketplace, you must have those standards. There’s no left, right or centre about it. So we have decided to be on the path of international best practices so that we can compete in the marketplace.”
He added that the Nigerian grant is focused on Colorado Film School to provide that foundational piece, given that the school has been cited as one of the top 25 film schools in the world by Hollywood Reporter magazine.
“It’s going to be a revolution,” Amenechi predicted, adding that: “I foresee a different style, a professional input into filmmaking from this programme.”
It was learnt that the relationship between Community College of Aurora and the Nigerian Directors Guild began several years ago but gained prominence when Nigerian student, Ike Onyeka, went to Colorado on his own to take classes at the film school.
His colleagues back home in Nigeria were immediately impressed with the skills and knowledge he had gained during his time in the US upon his return home.
The full contingent arrived at the school in late March after getting their visas from the Lagos consulate and will remain in the Denver area until late April.
Director of the Colorado Film School, Frederic Lahey, according to the report, said: “My justification when the film school started was to provide democratic access to the means of expression, and if we can do that on a global level, it’s a tremendous privilege and responsibility.
“Many of the Nigerian participants in the intensive programme raved about learning how to take ideas and skillfully and artfully execute them.”
According to Amenechi, Nigerians are famous for being “storytellers for generations,, imparting knowledge in their people through tales by moonlight to children.
“An opportunity now exists to take one of those generational tomes and stand on the red carpet at Cannes or Los Angeles, allowing the world to watch and judge their (Nigerians), work.
“That’s our aim at the end of the day. But if we work at it, we’ll get there. South Africa had a programme for five years targeted at winning an Oscar. After five years, they got an Oscar nomination because they worked at it. For us, we’re going to work at it from here.”
“That’s our aim at the end of the day. But if we work at it, we’ll get there. South Africa had a programme for five years targeted at winning an Oscar. After five years, they got an Oscar nomination because they worked at it. For us, we’re going to work at it from here.”
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