June 16th, 2007
Another round of intellectual masturbation on Nollywood is taking place this weekend in the United States of America. It is called NF Convention ’07 and organised by a body that calls itself Nollywood Foundation. The theme of this year’s programme is Emerging Talents and Technologies.
A statement from the organisers says: "Nollywood Foundation, Inc. (NF) is delighted to have guests join them, along with many of Nigeria’s and Hollywood’s film industry talents, for NF Convention ‘07 from June 15th through 17th. The convention will feature award-winning actor Danny Glover as the keynote speaker and Nigeria’s own, award-winning actor, writer, and director, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, as a special featured guest."
It goes on to say "the weekend kicks off on Friday, June 15th with practical workshops during the day followed by a VIP reception that evening at 7 p.m., at the Omni Hotel, Los Angeles (251 S. Olive Street). The reception will include catered delectables.
"On the evening of Saturday, June 16th, at 7 p.m., NF features Hollywood icon and award-winning actors, Danny Glover as the NF Convention ‘07 keynote speaker, and Nigeria's own, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Lost, The Bourne Identity, and Oz) as a special featured guest. A special presentation highlighting the career of the Akinnuoye-Agbaje will also be shown.
"Tickets for the NF Convention ‘07 are: $100 for convention registration, which includes all events, and $50 to attend the VIP reception only. Convention fees will be waived for participants travelling from Africa."
The obvious question anybody would want to ask is, of what relevance is the convention to the Nigerian motion picture industry?
According to NF, the convention has a tradition of advancing the technical and creative standards of the Nigerian film industry, as well as encouraging international collaborations with professional guilds and associations in Nigeria. It will "provide participants numerous opportunities to meet, interact and participate in engaging panel discussions with an array of entertainment industry panelists - some of whom are renowned personalities from Nollywood, Hollywood, and Bollywood - as they give insights on advancing Nollywood films through technology, pre- and post- production, directing, financing and distribution. Guests will also enjoy the opportunity to attend hands-on workshops focused on sound, post-production editing, cinematography, fashion and beauty and screenwriting."
The 2006 convention attracted from Nigeria, Genevieve Nnaji, Rita Dominic, and Zack Orji, Lancelot Imasuen, Mildred Okwo, Ego Boyo; and Isaac and Nneka Moses, presenters of Goge Africa. From the U.S.A., the NF Convention attracts personalities such as John Maatta, general counsel and chief operating officer for the CW television network; award-winning Screenwriter and author, Segun Oyekunle, president and CEO of Arufa Productions; James Makawa, CEO of The Africa Channel; Director of the hit movie Phat Girlz, Nnegest Likke; Hollywood Actors, Jimmy Jean-Louis (Phat Girlz and Heroes); Hakeem Kae-Kazeem (Hotel Rwanda); Razaaq Adoti (Amistad); Tangi Miller (Madea’s Family Reunion); screenwriter and producer, Michael Ajakwe, Jr.; Christina Marouda, president of the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles; producer and Academy Award nominee, John Corser; and James Mathers, president and co-founder of the Digital Camera Society. Funds raised from NF Convention ‘07 are used to directly support NF’s annual convention as well as to facilitate NF’s rotation of its annual convention at various venues within and outside Africa to groups interested in Nigerian and African cinema.
It should, however, be noted that the convention has never been held anywhere near Africa, let alone Nigeria.
Nollywood Foundation is an incorporated non-profit organisation based in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. Its principals are Dr. Egbe Osifo-Dawodu, president; Dr. Sylvester Okwunodu Ogbechie, vice-president; Mr. Dapo Otunla, secretary and Ms Lisa Poole, treasurer.
Members of its board of advisers include Ego Boyo, Lancelot Imasuen, Nnegest Likke, Efere Ozako, Makin Soyinka and former director of the National Troupe of Nigeria, Dr. Bayo Oduneye
Its stated objective is to bring Nigerian movies and culture to an international audience, to serve as a forum for new ideas and contexts, and to encourage Nigerian cultural development projects in film and new media. Those fronting the project say "NF's annual convention provides promotional and educational benefits and also creates an avenue where significant international film/video industry collaborations and business occur - a U.S./Nigeria co-production was a tangible result from the NF 2006 Convention. As a follow-up to NF's ‘06 convention, NF was part of a team that met with the Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, and his economic management team to bring issues that affect Nollywood's industry to the forefront and find pragmatic solutions.
"NF also collaborated with the U.S. Department of Commerce in a presentation to members of the Nigerian judiciary on copyright issues as they affect Nollywood. More recently, NF presented a paper on "Developing Africa's Media and Entertainment Industry" at the 2007 Harvard Business School’s Africa Business Club Conference and on "Working in Africa" to the Women in Film and Video, Washington, DC organisation."
As good as all that looks on paper, the average Nollywooder is far removed from the activities of NF. Besides, the association falls into the somewhat uneducated trap of thinking Nollywood captures the entire movie making business in Nigeria. The Yoruba and Hausa-speaking segments of the business have since made it clear that they are no part of Nollywood.
Beyond writing thesis and getting some actors and producers to travel to America, Nollywood Foundation needs to convince Nigerian motion picture practitioners that it is not all talk and no action. It is instructive that they come to discuss the Nigerian motion picture industry – or Nollywood, if that is all they care about – in Nigeria. They should come here and experience Nigeria and see firsthand what it is like to shoot a movie here.
There have been reported cases of people who have fallen out with the organisation over alleged irreconcilable differences. Some Nigerian stakeholders are also disassociating with them on a daily basis.
Madu Chikwendu and Ejike Asiegbu, presidents of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) and Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) respectively have spoken to us about the Convention. They both stopped short of calling it a fraud. We will bring you the full transcript of their contributions soon.
http://www.independentngonline.com/?c=132&a=28596
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