CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Film is a form of entertainment created by film producers. Kosalalita and Qiu state that film is a live picture, called a moving picture. The film is technically a collection of images arranged into one to form an image that can move. In general, films are often called 'cinema' or life pictures that form an art as a representation of life, construction trends from the world of entertainment, and also business, (84). Kosalalita and Qiu further state that films are divided into several types of genres, including horror, action, drama, thriller, comedy, animation, fantasy, and romance. The production of these genres are of the same. Production of film is a systematic process by which the idea conceptualization comes first, then followed by script development, casting, acting/directing, recording, and editing, (84). Omeora, Edemode and Aihevba note that film production is the process of creating film contents. There are three production processes, these are the pre-production, production and post production, (352). Kosalalita and Qiu state that film production is the process of making film. It involves a number of complex stages including an initial story, idea, or commission, through screenwriting, casting, shooting, sound recording and pre-production, editing, and screening the finished product before an audience that may result in a film release and an exhibition. Film production takes place in many places around the world in a range of economic, social, and political contexts, and using a variety of technologies and cinematic techniques, (87).Films are created by recordings of people and objects (including fantasy and imagination) using a camera, or some are made with animation. Filmmaking exists and develops throughout the world in various economic, social and political cases, and uses various cinematographic technologies and techniques.
In the pre-production stage of film making, the producer plans the whole process for the film production. According to Igwe,
At this stage the producer sets the preparation of concepts and designs, making flow diagrams, directory management, and material collection. Pre-production is the stage of planning and preparation for production. In the pre-production concept the ideas, synopsis, scenarios, time schedules, scripts, budgets, storyboards, casts and crews, locations, and properties and settings are considered, (13).
The second phase is the production. Production is the process that most determines the success of the creation of a film. Omerua, Edemode and Aihevba note that the director oversees shooting process and becomes responsible for the production process. People who take part in this process include the cameraman, the light technician, who regulates light. Set design the set and the make-up and costumer provide skillful work of arts. and the sound engineer who records sound, (352).
The last phase is the post-production. Kosalalita and Qiu state that
After shooting is completed, the next stage is post-production, which is film editing of the shooting. Film editing is done in order to obtain a complete and interesting video for the audience to enjoy. Some of the activities carried out in the video processing or editing process include: the arrangement of film, the making of cinematic look, adding music, editing narrator voice, giving transitions, and adding inserts, (87).
Today, the place of Nigerian video film as a means of entertainment, education and social enlightenment cannot be denied. Nigerian video films especially those produced in English have continued to enjoy considerable patronage beyond the shores of Nigeria. Nigeria film industry has attracted the attention of scholars and world. Joe states that there are general questions as regards to the challenges of video film production in Nigeria. The challenge of lack of fund and lack of government support are some of the challenges of producing a movie in Nigeria, (24). Joe argues further that it takes average of 4 million to 5 million naira to make a movie in Nigeria. A producer needs money to execute the film making budget, (24). Apart from this, the sourcing of talented casts and getting better location with quality camera and quality editing techniques are some of the problems facing production of Nigerian film in Nigeria.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Film making is very essential in the portrayal of reality and facts in the society. Today, the place of Nigerian video film as a means of entertainment, education and social enlightenment cannot be denied. Nigerian video films especially those produced in English have continued to enjoy considerable patronage in and beyond the shores of Nigeria.
The production of film in Nigeria has not been easy because of some challenges facing film producers. Every human endeavor is faced with challenges; the video film industry is not exempted from challenges which if surmounted, will contribute to its development and growth. The challenges include funding, quality control, piracy, sourcing for actors among others. There have been calls in recent times from within and outside the Nigerian video film industry popularly referred as Nollywood for the challenges of the sector to be addressed by appropriate authorities. These calls have revealed that almost every movie production in Nigeria is problematic and has been affirmed by practitioners themselves. As a result of this, the Nigerian film maker is subjected to many constraints which aim at stifling and emasculating the great role he could play in reflecting and expressing the efforts and endeavors of the people. These revelations therefore necessitate an investigation into challenges of film production in Nigeria.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The general objective of the study is to examine the challenges and prospects of film production in Nigeria. The study objectives are;
- To examine if finance affects the production of film in Nigeria film industry
- To examine if sourcing of actors challenge film production in Nigeria film industry.
- To examine if effect of piracy in film production in Nigeria film industry.
- To establish the problems of categorization of Nollywood into Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa and its effects on development of the industry.
- To identify whether there is possible solutions to the challenges affecting film production in the film industry.
1.4 Rationale of the Study
The study is very important because of the many challenges facing film production in Nigeria. The study will provide knowledge to film makers because of the prospective objectives of the study.
1.5 Significance of the Study
The study will to benefit film makers in Nollywood and researchers especially in Theatre Arts Department. It is important to note that the study will help film makers to understand how finance affects the production of film in Nigeria film industry. Again it will expose film maker to the knowledge on the present challenges and prospect of film production in Nigeria. Finally, the student researchers and other researchers shall benefit from the study because the findings from this study shall add to existing literature and knowledge.
1.5 Scope of the Study
This study is limited to challenges and prospects of film production in Nigerian Nollywood. The study shall focus on challenges and prospect of production of film in Nigeria film industry.
1.7 Research Methodology
The research adopts literary method. The method is analytical because it focuses on written and printed library materials. Literary method is a type of research method that analyses data collected from books, journals, theses, reports, and literary works. The relevancy of this study comes from the aspect that the researcher will source for written literary resources, review on the works and present them.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
The researcher faced with some challenges while carrying out the research. These include, limited literary resources and time frame to complete the work.
