Nollywood veteran, KOK
Based on experience gathered on the job as an entertainment reporter covering fast growing Nollywood for years, it is very, very uncommon for an actor to call a press conference on an individual basis. So, consternation was the apt word, when most of us on the beat got an SMS from top thespian and African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) reigning actor Kanayo .O. Kanayo, inviting us to one recently.
Even though KOK, openly admitted that the essence of the interactive session was basically to thank and express his deep appreciation to men of the fourth estate, he did not fail to point out some daunting challenges bedeviling and constantly hindering the growth of Nollywood, the acclaimed third largest movie making industry globally.
According to KOK, he wanted to know if the Nollywood grass is still green, 15 years since the industry kicked off on a fairly good pedestal. In his words: “After Living in Bondage, we have not really done anything spectacular. Though some people insist that this green has withered, others say it has finally gone brown, but the bitter truth is we must re-invent ourselves. Again, if we must walk on the water, we must leave the boat”, he declared.
Speaking further, the top actor who also lamented the dearth of “big money” in Nollywood, is also of the view that adequate funding would provide a good measure of stability, engender quality, promote excellence and completely eliminate all forms of professional misconduct.
“I strongly believe that one of the ways of solving the problem of insolvency in our industry is through re-capitalization”, he maintained. And to achieve this effectively, he wants the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) to efficiently supervise, co-ordinate, and regulate the consolidation of production and distribution companies throughout the federation.
“My suggestion is, while production companies should capitalize to the tune of N100 Million, distribution companies on the other hand should target between N300 and N400 Million, in addition to having presence in at least 30 states of the federation,” he added.
And when reminded that such move might backfire, even though it worked in the banking sector, KOK, maintained confidently that if we do things rightly, investors would be willing to take more risks: “And who knows, we may find ourselves at the capital market, earlier than we may anticipate. We cannot over-emphasis the importance of a good source of revenue in any production”, he affirmed.
KOK, who openly concurred that Nollywood is at crossroads, is also appalled that the motion picture industry is working in an environment without enabling laws. He also lamented the fact that a good number of A-List actors like him have suffered undue marginalization in sponsorship to international festivals. All these he stated are being hampered by the absence of institutional funding mechanisms.
On the inherent vices compounding the industry KOK went further to state that actors as part of their social responsibility activities to the larger society, should champion religiously the fight against drug abuse and addiction, HIV/AIDS, same sex indulgence among other vices currently threatening the industry and nation respectively.
Still taking a swipe at Nollywood for churning out wishy-washy and substandard movies, he fired thus: “We are all imitators, moving in circles and around the same old themes in our earlier efforts”.
Proffering solutions to the way out of the doldrums, he insisted “big money” must come handy in the motion picture industry. “We really need to capitalize or consolidate, just like they did in the banking industry and it is now relatively stable”.
Meanwhile, to further uplift the much needed growth Nollywood craves for, KOK, who frowned at the over hyped “phenomenal growth” of Nollywood, disclosed he is out to contribute his own quota with the emergence of the KOK Foundation for The Arts: “It is a centre for the advancement of excellent art. It also enjoys the gracious collaboration of eminent Nigerians both home and abroad” The amiable actor from Mbaise, Imo State also pointed out that the foundation is driven by the philosophy of enthroning and envisioning an ideal industry practice parameter that would eventually oil and power a “millennium compliant Nollywood”, which is also capable of meeting the arduous challenges in the global film industry.
“I am convinced that my colleagues and I would have failed the next generation of potential Nollywood practitioners, if a sound foundation was not laid for their eventual take off. Our predecessors failed in this regard. We do not intend to fail also,” he posited.
Still baring his heavy mind, KOK, who is very passionate about Tinsel Town, is also no doubt very perturbed about certain tendencies that are still prevalent in the industry. He is saddened and worried that Joe Layode, one of Nigeria’s finest actors, died unsung and in abject poverty, because according to him, “Nollywood is still working on borrowed legs”. He also lamented the sudden demise of J.T Tom West, whom he regretted had been swept into the trashcan of history”, without any succour for his parents, siblings and, perhaps children. “There are no safety nets in Nollywood”, he said in an emotion laden voice. He added that if nothing is done urgently, actors might cease to command the respect, patronage, and admiration of their fans and patrons. “I maintain again, our work is hampered by the absence of institutional funding mechanisms,” the revered thespian submitted.
While lending a voice to KOK’s historic interactive session, Madu Chikwendu, the vocal national president of Association of Movie Producers (AMP) stressed that for Nollywood to move forward, work effectively and woo the right investors, proper structures must be on ground. “From a general perspective, the biggest problem or challenge facing Nollywood, is the absence of proper structures and infrastructure, once these missing links are in place, the industry would be on sound pedestal and position for the challenges of global movie making as it is obtained in advanced climes, we will soon get there…”
Also speaking at the well applauded session, unarguably the first in the annals of Nollywood, controversial script writer and top movie director, Ebereonwu, however argued that Nollywood currently lacks direction and organization, these he attributed partly to lack of professionalism, poor leadership and incessant wrangling among practitioners and stakeholders. “We need to put our house in order for this industry to move forward. Again, most of the script writers and directors of today are mediocre, due to lack of funds, people are now making movies through short cuts and this does not augur well for Nollywood…”
Concluding, eloquent and articulate KOK, a father of three and revered veteran in the motion picture industry, pleaded with members of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) to immediately seek ways of collaborating more with Nollywood. “I want us to effectively bring ANA into Nollywood,” he concluded.
First published, February 2007.
Culled from Azuh Amatus’ best selling books, FAMOUS FACES…
