After Nollywood Premieres what next?

I have been priviledged over the years to watch a lot of Nollywood premieres in the UK and I must commend the cast and crew of such movies for making efforts to produce and premiere such movies. That said, I am also aware that I am aware that it is costly from shooting of the movie to the actual premiere. A breakdown of a good movie would include paying the cast, the cinematographer, the producer, the director, in some cases paying for location, advertising for the premiere and actually paying  for the venue of the premiere. Lots of money is involved  in actually putting up a premiere that in most cases, sponsorship has to be obtained.

One would think that the funds spent would be recouped at the premieres but this is not the case. In spite of the fact that the premieres are priced with tickets costing between £15 and £40, most of these tickets about 60% to at least 75% are given out free to cast and their guests, to promoters, to sponsors, to people in the industry etc. The question then is how do the producers of the movie break through.

Nollywood as much as it is an industry is also a business. Everyone is in business to make profit. While I understand that a producer may have the funds and want to tell a particular story and may not be concerned about the costs, this is not the case in most cases. I am sorry to say, but most of our producers lack strategy and do not think beyond the premiere leaving them in debt and the Executive Producers running out of pocket.

Some of the premieres even though they are below par are premiered for various reasons. To some it is for fame, to some just to show they have arrived and although some are genuine, there is no follow up or back up plan after the premieres. Some of the movies die a natural death after the premieres, there are no marketing strategies for such movies and it is such a pity.

Even the Bible says that before one builds a house, he should count the costs. It is my view that before anyone dreams of even shooting a movie talk not of premiering it, they should think of the total cost and think of how the movie can be marketed and bring in some of the much needed revenue. It is a shame if a good movie just goes to rest after a premiere. There are people in the UK who can help market our movies at the right price and others can help advertise properly. Others can act as consultants but if things are done properly, our movies would not end up at premiere level.

My plea is that producers should think twice before jumping at a premiere!!

Babs Carew

Lead reviewer