Jane Thorburn
Nollywood - Just doing it (2008), by Jane Thorburn
United Kingdom / Nigeria, 30’. Production: After Image
Starting in1992, the Nigerian movie-making business has exploded into a self-sufficient, multi-billion-naira industry, independently producing up to 2000 home video dramas a year.
Using inexpensive digital technology, enterprise and raw energy, Nigerians have not allowed the lack of Government or foreign investment to hold them back. They are telling their own stories their own way to an enthusiastic African audience.
But with such an overwhelming number of new productions for sale every week and a reputation for variable quality, has Nollywood reached its peak or is it only just getting started?
Can Nigerian production overcome the lack of training and finance by taking advantage of the latest digital technology?
Now that the government is taking an interest, can Nollywood be structured to avoid losing the profits to piracy without losing creative or commercial freedom?
Jane Thorburn spent time in Lagos talking to some of the most committed and successful Nigerian directors and producers about their work, frustrations and hopes for the future.
JANE THORBURN co-founded the production company AFTER IMAGE in 1979, directing, editing and series editing the majority of the company’s productions. One of the early successes was the Arts Magazine programme Alter Image, which ran for three series. The programmes established an important reputation for quality and innovation and received a number of international awards as well as having seasons devoted to the company’s work at the Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Taomina film Festival in Italy. In 1989, The Greatest Show on Earth was the official entry of Channel 4 to the Montreaux Television festival. In 1994 the After Image production The Empress won the Royal Television Society best production design award and a special mention at the prestigious IMZ Opera Screen. Other productions include The Score, a classical music magazine series for BBC2, Camera, an opera written specially for television featuring Dagmar Krause, two documentaries for the Discovery Channel and Pull, a sculptural ballet made with Bruce McLean and Ashley Page. Other productions include S.O.S. Songs of Seduction and The Lift, for BBC2 and the Arts Council. Currently course leader for BA Broadcast Television Production at the University of Westminster. Recently directed several short films in Cuba, Vienna, London and Nigeria, which have been screened at international festivals.