DECODING THE PROBLEMS OF THE CAMEROON FILM INDUSTRY (C.F.I)
THE POLICY OF COMING FROM THE OPOSITE DIRECTION
After serious studies,using the ‘Survey Research Method’ and the ‘Content Analysis Method’, using the Buea population as the sample audience,it is my pleasure to finally let the world know, about some of the possible problems hammering COLLYWOOD, and some possible ways at tackling them. Cameroon is a country with a people who have an extra ordinary perception and love for entertainment. Acountry made up of young minds who keep thinking ‘outside-the-box. It is made up of young talented youngsters who despite all what others say, still stand up on their feet and cry out that wonderful creed with president Obama ‘Yes we can’.
The Cameroon Film Industry could be termed ‘a baby industry’, but that does not mean its body/members are babies, for if my history doesn’t fail me, one of the countries in Africa were cinematography started is this very Cameroon. Thus, a time has come when; we need to put an end to the long entertainment suffering. The time has come when we need to put an end to mediocrity in film production; the time has come when we need to take the bull by the horn, the time has come when our home made films are supposed to compete with others and why not top in all aspects. Now the big question is HOW DO WE DO THIS?’
In line with my struggle to decode these problems, there are some key questions we should all be pondering on.
Q1] ‘why do Cameroonians not enjoy watching Collywood films?
Q2] ‘Why do Cameroonians not have trust in collywood products?
Q3] ‘Why is attention not given to Cameroon films as they are given to other West African countries?
From these questions, I think the major problem of the Cameron film industry, is: To win the trust of her audience. In other to decode these problems, I have formulated and designed the theory of ‘COMING FROM THE OPOSITE DIRECTION’. Let us ponder on some hypotheses: Nollywood is second to Hollywood and let’s assume she is moving at an arithmetic ratio of 1, 2,3,4,5 and she is now about 70% gone, Ghollywood is coming from that same direction and they are approximately at 60% and she is moving at a geometric ratio of 2,4,8,16,32. Now statistics and experience have proven that COLLYWOOD is moving at a pace far lesser than an arithmetic ratio of .5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 e.t.c. Thus if she (C.F.I) also comes by that same route, it will take her a very long time to arrive were the others are and so difficult to win the trust of her audience, because of the stiff competition. But, if she ‘COMES FROM THE OPOSITE DIRECTION’, there is a high probability that Collywood shall easily meet up with the others, gain trust from her audience and why not by by-pass the others.
I know the next question will be, ‘HOW DO WE COME FROM THE OPPOSITE DIIRECTION?’ It is very simple. In decoding these problems, I have decided to identify and tackle some key players in the field.
A) STORY/SCRIPT WRITERS.
First and foremost, we must begin by revising the angle from which we attack our stories. This is very important and vital as the plot is considered the pivot of a good movie. Thus our script writers should start bringing in ideas that are out of the ordinary and obvious stories we see every day. The industry (C.F.I) needs stories with a different touch. For example one of my recent writings titled ‘DE APOCALYPSE’ (for more information contact the scriptwriter) is a horror movie, with an African touch and background. A genre as horror is a rare asset to come by in our locality. Such a story line and plot explains what I mean by ‘COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION’
B) THE FILM MAKERS.
Furthermore, the film makers need to develop a spirit of ‘KOINONIA’. By this I mean oneness, togetherness. A great scholar once stated that ’many hands do light work’ thus in respect to this statement, the film makers need to collaborate and work together. Mind you, a tree cannot make a forest. You need the help of others and even experts. By experts’ comrades, I don’t mean only the big and older people in the field, for statistics has proven that, much of the work is being done by the young. It is evident in the movies and music done in Cameroon these days. If there exist mutual understanding, and they work together, as a team for the common good of all, the industry shall have the best crews ever. This is what I mean by ‘COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION’. More so, when we stop minding sizes, ages, ‘big-guns’ e.t.c and concentrate on the brains, the ideas, the varying God-given talents, and what each and everybody has to offer, then the industry will start ‘COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION’.
Also, still on the movie makers, another thing we lack is strategy. Once we start employing professionalism into our job, and actually stop by-passing others and engaging in division of labour, putting at the back of our mind that every single department in the film making milieu (e.g. the marketing sector, the advertisement and publicity bureau) is independently dependent on the other, that is what I Christian ‘COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION’. N/B: this terrain can fetch so much money; in fact, it is a source of livelihood for some.
C) THE FILM ACTORS.
Next is tackling the movie actors. They need to develop what I term the culture of ‘STARTITUDE’. Mind you, in as much as there is attitude for an actor, there is also ‘STARTITUDE’. By ‘STARTITUDE’ I mean the way the actor dresses, talks, interacts with others, the kind of places he/she goes to e.t.c must be that of a celebrity. Be the stars of which you are. When I talk of being a star, I am not talking about driving in a car, living in a crib and all of that. Permit me share an experience, were I was an auditioning director, and a guy came in for an auditioning to star in a movie and was in bathing shoes. I tell you, that guy was a bomb. Come to think of it, imagine I am an audience for example, I get into an ‘achombo’ joint, and I see an actor eating the same puff balls and beans with me, for say puff balls for 70frs then beans for 30frs and the next day I see a film on T.V staring that actor, to be candid my psychology would play on me, and I won’t watch that film and even if I do, I will either not enjoy the movie or would see only faults in the actor and the film as a whole. Thus if we start acculturating ‘STARTITUDE’, then we shall start ‘COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION’.
In addition, statistics has proven that, Cameroonian actors don’t even consume home made products. By this I mean they don’t even watch Cameroon films. How then do they expect others to watch them? In an auditioning I carried out, of all the actors whom I asked the question ‘How many Cameroon films have you watched?’ only 15.3%: watched Cameroon films, and of this number only 4.8%: retained the title of the film, with the name of an actor who starred in it or the name of the director. By COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION’, it will mean, the Cameroon actors and film makers start buying, watching and promoting what others have done, see their mistakes and then correct their flaws, by not committing the same errors and try to improve.
D) THE GOVERNMENT/STATE
In other to COME FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION’, the government/state has to be a stepping stone, rather than a stumbling block. The government needs to help, financially by granting aids, the government would need to reduce the tariff for foreigners who want to invest in this sector in our country. Facts have proven that, one of the reasons for other industries surviving and growing is because their government served as a back bone. By this, I don’t mean the film makers should sit down idling around waiting for the government. NO! They need to take a first step then I think the government will come in, though it will be very difficult. An example is Bassek Ba’kobio.(check records: ministry of culture)
E) THE MEDIA
In other to COME FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION’, another major tool, to help enhance the Cameroon Film Industry, is the home media. Films are done for the public to consume, and the medium to get to them is the media. Thus if the home media can starve our public a little bit from foreign products so that they turn to buy, watch and like our home movies, we shall take a step ahead. But this does not mean if we keep producing below standard films, low quality films, no entertainment films, our audience is going to consume it, neither should they expect films like ‘Avatar’ from us at this stage. But with time why not?
F) THE AUDIENCE
And to our audience, it is good to criticize us, when we go wrong. The objective/goal of these criticisms should be geared towards encouraging the film makers and not to discourage them. It’s not enough just watering down the efforts of those trying so hard to entertain you. Thus in other to COME FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION’, it will not be enough identifying and pointing out errors, mistakes and problems. When you do, provide solutions. (If you think it’s that easy as some say, then I will advise you to try it). Apart from always criticizing, the audience can also appreciate when good work is done, even if it is just a scene in an entire movie.
To conclude this piece, I would like to say to the movie makers and actors in Cameroon especially the likes of Neba Lawrence, Agbor Steve, Agbor Gilbert, Kawa Anthony, Achille Brice, Mofor Clementine, Frida Eposi Chando, De Cobra Studio, Springboard Productions, just to name a few, to Keep the flag flying, and to movie lovers in Cameroon, I will say keep your fingers crossed, because just very soon, you will all be amazed at what Cameroon will be producing, and to those who have the talent, passion and dream of becoming a star someday, be it in front or behind the camera, I say, get on the train while its still moving slowly, for when it starts running fast, it will be difficult. I trust in the young generation because they are the foundation of tomorrow. But at the back of your minds know that many investors in Cameroon fear to put their capital in the industry because those who were ahead misused the money in several ways. So in erasing this ideology in the minds of viable investors, I will conclude by asking you all, to keep repeating to your selves ‘YES I CAN’.
DONE THIS DAY 16TH JULY 2011,
FEAST DAY OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL,
PRINCE-MICHAEL ENOBI (D’PRINCE)
Info line: Facebook: prince mykel enobi.
e-mail:princeenobi2005@gmail.com
THE TIME TO CELEBRATE VICTORY HAS COME
Fine Country Awards is an award winning ceremony organised by the Quibeku Film Empire at the of the pretigious Fine Country Film Festival in Cameroon. This is to serve as my own way to encourages amateur filmmakers to premiere their films for the first time. I love what Cameroonians are doing at the moment to promote us.
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