Nollywood Producer and technical consultant for Filmlab Africa, Omope, recently shone a light on a crucial issue afflicting the Nollywood film industry.
Omope drew attention to the fact that the film industry often fails to recognize film as a business venture, instead viewing it as an individual pursuit.
This observation came to the fore during an interview with Nollywire, where Omope emphasized the prevalent revenue problem in Nollywood and attributed it to the industry’s inclination to treat itself as a collection of individuals rather than cohesive businesses.
It’s clear that a pivotal factor in this issue is the disparity between how the film industry and the tech industry present themselves. According to Omope, tech professionals are adept at positioning themselves as businesses, thus effectively securing financial support.
In contrast, Nigerian filmmakers often struggle to take a similar approach. Omope delineated the process followed by tech professionals, explaining that they establish a business to house their ideas, gauge market fit, develop the product, and then seek financing.
This stands in stark contrast to the traditional approach prevalent in Nigeria, where filmmakers tend to focus solely on their roles as producers or directors without embracing the entrepreneurial aspects of their ventures. Highlighting the objectives of the Filmlab program, Omope underscored its focus on educating filmmakers about the entrepreneurial dimensions of their craft.
The initiative, designed to empower emerging filmmakers and TV producers in Nigeria, provides a comprehensive support framework to assist participants in effectively showcasing their creative productions.
As it is sponsored by the British Council, the program aims to foster collaboration between Nigerian and British filmmakers through co-production. By encouraging partnerships between filmmakers in both countries, the initiative seeks to develop films that appeal to local and international audiences and foster sustainable businesses within the industry.
Story by Obaapa Janee
