In a context where the film industry in Nigeria is experiencing rapid growth, some crucial issues were raised by Moses Babatope, co-founder of the Filmhouse group and former managing director of FilmOne, during a recent interview with Fatshimétrie.
One of the important issues pointed out by Babatope concerns the lack of adequate training and the absence of barriers to entry in the sector. He expresses his concerns about the phenomenon of individuals declaring themselves actors or producers without any prior training: “We have people who wake up one morning and claim to be actors or producers, without any training. It is difficult to criticize them because some have shown that they can also excel overnight,” he emphasized.
However, he warns against the risk of these exceptions becoming the norm, without real bases to respect, without definitive process and without professional certifications to guarantee the seriousness of actors and directors.
In the fight against piracy, a major scourge which hinders the progress of the sector, Babatope insists on the need to mobilize funds to promote the development of cinemas. According to him, cinemas are essential for the monetization of cinematographic works, but the lack of financing and support poses a real problem in the construction and expansion of these infrastructures.
It also raises the question of the importance of companies specializing in film marketing and the integration of technological players to solve various challenges, including the absence of production assurance. He calls for the creation of more film marketing companies and the intervention of technology players to improve the industry and address these challenges.
In conclusion, Moses Babatope highlights the importance of pro-film industry policies and government support in accelerating the growth of Nollywood. It calls for collective awareness and a concerted effort to ensure a thriving future for cinema in Nigeria.