Thread: Enugu: From Coal City to Home Movie Haven

Enugu: From Coal City to Home Movie Haven

Daily Champion (Lagos)
NEWS
February 7, 2004
Posted to the web February 9, 2004

By Uzo Chikere
Lagos

Enugu, the capital of Enugu State has long been known as the Coal City. Mention of Enugwu Ngwo can only remind most people of men who spot pick helmet with strong head lamps piercing the darkness of the coal mines around Ugwu Aaron, Ugwu Michael and Coal Camp.

Today, all that has seemingly faded into shots taken by camp corders and huge movie cameras under the directives of today's Nigerian home movie directors.

Hardly does a day pass without Enugu and its residents witnessing actors, actresses, producers and directors with a large crew shooting on locations presented by the citys enchanting scenic beauty.

Before the present time, Jos, in Plateau State had been described as the future Hollywood of Nigeria to the extent that the headquarters of the Nigeria Film Corporation was sited there. Film-makers from abroad even took interest in Jos when in 1986, a UK based out-fit chose to shoot SOWETO in Jos.

But Enugu, another hilly city with coal under its soil, has since taken the centre stage in film making and questions are being bandied. Why?

Saturday Champion found in Enugu recently that although, brilliant flicks could be shot in other cities, Enugu has turned out to be many a film maker's delight.

A movie director who confided in Saturday Champion while on location in Enugu, noted that the city has enormous attraction for movie makers. According to him, Enugu provides for a director all the natural effects needed to boost the quality of any flick.

Apart from the picturesque effect which is obvious in the shots, taking artistes from Lagos to Enugu for a shoot is cost-effective. Artistes who live in Lagos, while in Enugu, for a shoot on location, would not be distracted in any manner. They remain focused for the duration of the shoot whilst being highly professional because they are compelled by a situation prevailing outside their area of residence, to be precise and businesslike.

For TChidi Chikere who has directed quite a number of block-buster home movies in Enugu, shooting in the coal city puts him on his toes. There is the financial consideration, especially in a regime of low budget movies.

According to him, there is nothing wrong with shooting films in Lagos or any other city, except that Enugu has on offer, generous value for film makers.

In a shoot that involves a couple of locations within a city which further entails shuttling from one part of the town to the other, within a limited time, Lagos would certainly not be ideal due to its chaotic traffic disposition.

Shooting a film in Enugu on sets at for instance, Agbani Road, Independence Layout, and Trans Ekulu, all in one day, TChidi explained, can be coordinated and easily managed as against artistes and technical crew being locked in a hell of traffic jam that Lagos presents always.

While a director and his crew can in a record time complete shooting on location in Enugu, a Lagos shoot can take more time that a very low budget would accommodate, he maintained.

Shooting in the Coal City is in many way of great advantage to home movie directors. Another director who strictly insisted on anonymity, told Saturday Champion that Enugu has a huge edge above most cities in Nigeria which may present every other qualities required for shooting film of any design.

An active member of Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), he deposed that Enugu is a reservoir of veteran actors and actresses who hardly need much of casting or auditioning.

The likes of Chilasa Amoro, Pete Edochie, Patience Ozokwor and many more he revealed are residents of Enugu he pointed out, further stating that "they are like an already made raw materials for the initial production of a mass appealing films.

The hospitality industry in Enugu is yet another encouragement for film producers, directors, costumers and other auxiliary service providers to the home movies sector. Hotels charge very reasonably for their accommodation, feeding and even laundry.

Aware of the business value of an entire crew for between 14 and 30 days' shoot, Hoteliers in Enugu would still restrict charges to congenial rates.

Both directors, and executive producers cherish this so much and they are not in a hurry to seek other cities for their shoots.

Given the friendly and accommodating disposition of the indigenes, it is no wonder that an average of six films is shot in Enugu every week.

Saturday Champion learnt that separate crew constantly clash at locations while taking sets.

But this has always been managed in very mature manner that had severally plugged what would have degenerated to unpleasant altercations.

With the hills, the red-earth cum clay soil, coupled with its wonderful scenic layout, it is difficult to think that home movie makers would be in a hurry to abandon the Coal City for another one presently. May be, the founding fathers failed to name it movie city.

Good to know that there are video shoot friendly cities and towns in naija.
It helps the local economy of these towns to be exactly that.