It's no longer news that Ken Nnebue's 1992 movie "Living in bondage" invoked the home video revolution, however, the slot of being the first to introduce home video into the Nigerian terrain  remains controversial. Charlatans and a few professionals invaded the movie turf eager to partake of the milk and honey. Traders dealing in spare parts in Idumota, Alaba, Iweka road, Pound road, suddenly became financers of movie projects and distributors. The boom was great for business and thespians were well rewarded. Piracy ironically acted as a catalyst in the exportation of the movies to other parts of Africa, Europe, and the USA. Over the years, there's been a decline in the production of movies, no small thanks to piracy, the Parts 1- 4 scheming technique, funding issues, distribution palaver, accounting issues on the part of marketers…..and of course competition from the theatres.
Theatrical releases which suffered a major set back and closure of the theatres dominantly in the late 80's was revived in the millennium epoch via Ben Bruce's Silverbird cinema situated in the Silverbird galleria in Lagos state. It was great being able to watch Hollywood movies on the big screens. It took a bit of time for Nigerian filmmakers to key into it, as quality and not quantity was a condition precedent to its acceptability to being shown on the big screens. A few solicited their services, but many still stood on the side lines watching.
However, when Stephanie Okereke's "Through The Glass" movie was declared to have made N10,000,000 million Naira in two weeks, the bystanders quickly decided they wanted a piece of the action. The number of Filmmakers taking their movies to the theatres slowly increased, however, the game was stepped up with the arrival of Chinaeye anyene's movie "Ije: The Journey" which currently holds the record for the highest gross box office in Nigerian cinemas. Nigerian filmmakers in the Diaspora have shown their films at the cinemas rather than towing the typical straight to DVD path walked upon by many movie practitioners in the land.
Sadly, some who do not have theatres in mind, upon hearing about the possibilities that abound via the system, quickly decide that the movie which they primarily shot for DVD purposes can equally be shown at the theatres, which is laughable. Of course the end result is a big time bombing at the box office. Movies such as Funke Akindele's (The Return of Jenifa), Mahamood Ali Balogun's (Tango With Me), Lonzo Nzekwe's (Anchor Baby), Kunle Afolayan's (The Figurine; Araromire, Phone Swap), Obi Emelonye's (The Mirror Boy, Last flight to Abuja), Tunde Kelani's (Maami) have had a notable run and good gross box office returns at the cinemas in comparison to their colleagues. Soaring popularity, potential nominations for awards, opportunity to recoup funds without competing with pirates, amongst others, have made filmmakers eager to go to the theatres first prior to considering dvd releases.
Silverbird, Genesis, Ozone, City Mall, Film House are the notable cinemas available in Nigeria, sadly with few chains in a country of over 160 million folks. Although theatrical releases have their short comings as well, it still remains the only platform that safeguards producers from piracy and avails them with the opportunity of making an impact in the industry when compared to home videos these days.
So long… auggiepo@yahoo.com
Theatrical releases which suffered a major set back and closure of the theatres dominantly in the late 80's was revived in the millennium epoch via Ben Bruce's Silverbird cinema situated in the Silverbird galleria in Lagos state. It was great being able to watch Hollywood movies on the big screens. It took a bit of time for Nigerian filmmakers to key into it, as quality and not quantity was a condition precedent to its acceptability to being shown on the big screens. A few solicited their services, but many still stood on the side lines watching.
However, when Stephanie Okereke's "Through The Glass" movie was declared to have made N10,000,000 million Naira in two weeks, the bystanders quickly decided they wanted a piece of the action. The number of Filmmakers taking their movies to the theatres slowly increased, however, the game was stepped up with the arrival of Chinaeye anyene's movie "Ije: The Journey" which currently holds the record for the highest gross box office in Nigerian cinemas. Nigerian filmmakers in the Diaspora have shown their films at the cinemas rather than towing the typical straight to DVD path walked upon by many movie practitioners in the land.
Sadly, some who do not have theatres in mind, upon hearing about the possibilities that abound via the system, quickly decide that the movie which they primarily shot for DVD purposes can equally be shown at the theatres, which is laughable. Of course the end result is a big time bombing at the box office. Movies such as Funke Akindele's (The Return of Jenifa), Mahamood Ali Balogun's (Tango With Me), Lonzo Nzekwe's (Anchor Baby), Kunle Afolayan's (The Figurine; Araromire, Phone Swap), Obi Emelonye's (The Mirror Boy, Last flight to Abuja), Tunde Kelani's (Maami) have had a notable run and good gross box office returns at the cinemas in comparison to their colleagues. Soaring popularity, potential nominations for awards, opportunity to recoup funds without competing with pirates, amongst others, have made filmmakers eager to go to the theatres first prior to considering dvd releases.
Silverbird, Genesis, Ozone, City Mall, Film House are the notable cinemas available in Nigeria, sadly with few chains in a country of over 160 million folks. Although theatrical releases have their short comings as well, it still remains the only platform that safeguards producers from piracy and avails them with the opportunity of making an impact in the industry when compared to home videos these days.
So long… auggiepo@yahoo.com