MAC 215

DR. LANRE AMODU

MS. FOLA AFOLABI
While there are many prospects of
Nollywood (like profit making, economic
growth, job creation and raising of stars),
it is important to note that there are a
number of controversies and challenges
within the industry.
No industry exists without challenges!
1. Piracy
2. The term ‘Nollywood’ and its origin.
3. No formal/regulated structure
4. Funding/business.
5. Technology
6. Absence of film village.
It’s important to understand the
difference between patent, trademark
and copyright, for us to understand what
piracy really means.
 It is a violation of copyright, it can also be called ‘Copyright
Infringement’.
 This means the stealing of someone’s intellectual property.
 Hijacking of someone’s ideas.
 This is the biggest challenge in the Nigerian film industry.
 Pirates have their cabal with associations.
 It is crime that has eaten deep into the industry.
 Some even have the backing of the military (allegedly).
 Pirated copies are made to compete with original copies, but they sell more and
make more profit because they were cheaply produced.
 It is a nightmare for producers, marketers and distributors
and all stakeholders in Nollywood.
 Buzz Nigeria claims 8 out of every 10 Nollywood films are
pirated.
 This is because the government is lackadaisical about the
issue of piracy. It can be battled with strong political will
and strong legal backing.
 It is important to note that there are laws against piracy in
Nigeria, but it remains a thriving business.
 Creation of awareness to the public to stop buying pirated
copies of intellectual properties.
 Stop street hawking of the same.
 Holographic printing (security printing).
 Maximum government support
 Collaboration among various stakeholders in the industry
(alternative marketing).
 Jonathan Haynes in 2015, traced the first use of the term Nollywood to
an article in New York Times (2002).
 Itwas titled “Step Aside L.A and Bombay, for Nollywood”.
https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/16/world/step-aside-la-and-
bombay-for-nollywood.html
 According to Ayengho (2012), it is believed that the term Nollywood
is a blend of the words ‘Nigeria’ and ‘Hollywood’.
 While there is an ongoing controversy about the name,
Ayengho (2012) further stated that Nollywood is defined as
‘the totality of activities taking place in the Nigerian film
industry, be it in Igbo, English, Hausa, Itsekiri, Edo, Efik,
Ijaw, Urhobo or any other of the over 300 Nigerian
languages.
It is safe to say that the industry is a house
divided against itself.
This is because of our ethnic diversity.
Even within the various division
 The controversy of the Yoruba travelling theatre (Hubert Ogunde,
Baba Sala etc..) and Kenneth Nnebue’s ‘Living in Bondage (1992)’.
 Some stakeholders do not agree with the use of the term ‘Nollywood’
(maybe because of its foreign origin-from Hollywood).
 The term is still used widely as a collective name for its sub-
industries like Kannywood, Nollywood USA, Ghanaian-English
Language cinema (sometimes called Ghannywood), and Yoruba
Language cinema (sometimes called Yoruwood).
 There may be other subdivisions, which are not clearly defined and
structured.
 The issue of the celebration of Nollywood at 20.
 The rumoured trademarking of the term ‘Nollywood’ by an
abroad based Nigerian-Nicholas Opara with The United
States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
 See proof: https://nlipw.com/guy-went-trademarked-
nollywoodby-rotimi-fawole-textthelaw/
 Nollywood is an all-comers’ game. The industry is too open.
 Difficulty in maintaining a particular standard.
 Many learn on the job. Most do not have formal training.
 The government is not enforcing any standard.
 When there is no proper structure, foreign investors will not
have proper clarity.
 Most industries have funding issues, Nollywood has that issue too.
 The cost of producing a film is colossal.
 Most producers resort to cheap productions because of lack of funding.
 Renting of equipment are expensive.
 Hiring the good crew members are expensive as well.
 Sometimes, they struggle to survive.
 Few times, bank loans and government funding are available for
producers.
 According to some authors, Nigerian actors are the least paid in the
world.
 Most times, for them, its about Passion!
 Many technical crew member don’t know the kind of
equipment to buy as a result of no formal training.
 Some others that know are limited by funding and are
persuaded to use what is available.
 With the recent rise of the dollar, most equipment are
expensive!
 Many Nollywood movies are shot abroad.
 When they are shot in Nigeria, random locations are used.
 Runaway productions are costly.
 The California Film Commission in the U.S invests heavily
in infrastructural development in order to attract film
producers and investors.
 Mumbai Film City is an integrated film studio
complex situated near Sanjay Gandhi National Park
at Goregaon East, Mumbai in India. It has several
recording rooms, gardens, lakes, theatres and
grounds that serve as the venue of many Bollywood
film shootings.
Equipment rental
Shooting locations
Accommodation
Movement and availability of qualified
technicians
Actors
 China Film Group Corporation (CFGC), is the largest, most
influential state-owned film enterprise in the People's
Republic of China. According to Forbes, it is a state
monopoly that all imported films have to work with. It also
runs theatres and finances, produces, and distributes films.
In 2014, the company was the largest film distributor in
China, with 32.8% of the market.