Nollywood has been receiving a facelift lately and has also made a significant progress these last years. Filmmakers are working with new ideas and premiering their movies on many different international festivals. As a result of the recent quality improvements of Nollywood movies, the industry is finally gaining the attention and acceptance of the international audience. So we will have a closer look at six things that we are hoping for in the new Nollywood.
New Nollywood Location
As much as this is beginning to resound over and over again, it is no doubt that the Nigerian film industry needs a designated location. A location is important because, just like Hollywood, you can find attractions and landmarks such as the walk of fame. Filmmakers should hurry to put up a new Nollywood location with a sign so that everyone knows that this is Nollywood. This could furthermore be a great location where art students can go for tours and excursions.
Movies in Foreign Languages
Quality shouldn’t be all about cameras and pictures or even performances and storylines. Quality is also about language. Being a country with more than 200 languages, Nigeria is making movies in local languages as well as in English. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Since filmmakers include subtitles, a movie made in Yoruba or Hausa can still be enjoyed by everyone.
But now it is time for the new Nollywood to mix things up a little bit and make it even better. Inter-language movies are yet to be seen in Nollywood. French, Spanish, Portuguese and many more languages can be incorporated into movies made in Nollywood. Creating fictional languages like the Dothraki language, are among the things we love about Hollywood. We hope that Nollywood can give us that someday too.
Extinction Movies
When we say extinction, we do not only mean animal extinction. Hollywood is especially famous for making some of the best extinction movies. Movies like “Book of Eli”, “World war Z”, just to name a few, are very creative and entertaining. Nigerians and Africans also have stories alike worth sharing. There are many examples of ancient civilizations that have disappeared and been forgotten in Africa. With a little research, we can make huge stories out of them.
Fictional Characters
If you have ever heard or read any African folklore, you will know that Africans have a lot of interesting fictional characters. But it is saddening that the movie industry does not know what to do with these characters. Many movie characters, including Pecos Bill and John Henry, are characters from American folklore. Filmmakers in Hollywood simply created a place for them on the big screen.
Historical Movies
Did Africans not partake of World War 1 & 2? There has to be a story that can come out all the hunger, starvation and suffering. People lost their families and their homes and sacrificed their lives for the colonial powers. Someone should put them on screen for the new age to see. If we are ignorant about our history, we are bound to repeat the mistakes. The New Nollywood should teach us this.
Racism Movies
Africans are very good at accusing Americans and the westerners of racism. Americans have always tried to put up movies to tell their own stories about racism. Maybe Africans are being racist themselves to the non-Africans. It is time for Africans and Nigeria, being at the forefront of movie production in Africa, to tell their own part of the racism story.
These 6 things are not too much to ask of the New Nollywood. Nigerians deserve more and we believe many directors have what it takes to make such movies. What are your thoughts? Where should the New Nollywood designated location be? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
The new Nollywood location has to be in Enugu!