Do you speak Spanish? On my list of must-do's... ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mr. Worf" <hellomahog...@gmail.com> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:03:23 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Article: African Americans tune into Nollywood
Good point. I actually enjoy watch Telemundo. (even the commercials!) It is like watching tv from an alternate universe. Especially the news. There's a lot of stuff that they don't edit out. They have mastered the soap opera and narco-war type stories into a low budget art. Every time I see a crappy movie on cable or on syfy I have to ask "WTF!?!? Who approved this garbage and how did they get the money???" AND are they actually making money off of this garbage?? On Tue, Aug 4, 2009 at 9:00 PM, Keith Johnson < keithbjohn...@comcast.net > wrote: Yep, and the quickly and cheaply made fare works for good cheap fun. I find your analysis of those three countries interesting. I think off Mexico, with its telenovella's, the short-lived series that come and go ina year or so, and are highly watched by the masses. Another model of doing it cheap (relative to other productions) and quick, keeping profits high. I've long advocated a telenovella approach in the States. I think shows like "Lost" and "Heroes' could benefit from a fixed run where they get in, tell the story, then get out. Interesting that these countries where there's so much poverty can do some interesting, innovative fare, while we, with all our money, turn out sometimes equally bad junk with a higher price tag--SyFy movies, anyone? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mr. Worf" < hellomahog...@gmail.com > To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, August 4, 2009 10:46:34 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Article: African Americans tune into Nollywood You're right. I forgot to bring that up in my last post. Most of the people in Nigeria only make about $200 a year compared to the US. But their movie industry is thriving because there are people that can afford tvs and vcrs and dvds there in the cities. The eastern and northern parts of Nigeria is very rural. (The northern part is muslim.) They also turn out 4 times as many films as they do here because their business model is completely different. They make movies for direct to dvd release instead of theatrical release. That's a big difference in how things are done and frees up the limited funds for more films and profit potential instead of risking a large amount of making film stock, securing theaters, marketing etc. There are some similarities between Nollywood, Hong Kong, and Bollywood. All three have severe poverty and a very small wealthy class. The middle class is also very healthy in all three despite the problems in the rest of the world. So that leaves them with a lot of disposable income. On Tue, Aug 4, 2009 at 7:34 PM, Keith Johnson < keithbjohn...@comcast.net > wrote: I say more power to them. Living here in America--with DVD's, Hulu, VCRs, hundreds of channels, Blockbuster, iPods--we indeed forget how expensive all these things are. We forget that even the poorest people in America can sometimes manage to get cable TV, or at least TV using "rabbit ears", maybe even take in a movie now and then. You have countries like Germany were no talent hacks like Uwe Bole get subsidized by the government to make bad films. As you say, none of that exists in Nigeria. And just as black Americans revolutionized everything from basketball (ball and a goal, rather cheap fun versus, say, ice hockey or golf) to rap (the voice is the cheapest instrument around), I celebrate their pluck and innovation in doing what they can with less resources. And you know, the movies may be crude and repetitive, but they provide work for a few people, give people a way to hone their craft, and provide entertainment to the masses. Keep on keepin' on, I say/ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mr. Worf" < hellomahog...@gmail.com > To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, August 4, 2009 12:55:27 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Article: African Americans tune into Nollywood I think that the problem is that people forget how expensive it is to make a movie. Just renting the camera can be $5-10,000 a day. (digital video is a blessing) This forces people into doing a very short shooting schedule of 4 or 5 days unlike hollywood. add to that the crew, permits etc (it can cost $5000 or more to shoot in San Francisco on the street with all of the permits. Most directors can't afford it so they do it illegally.) On top of that there is editing, sound and post production, music licensing etc. A simple film can be $1,000,000 while a bigger film can cost $20 million. In Nigeria none of this exists. They don't have the cash, the crew, or expertise yet. BUT, I think that there will be some directors sooner or later that will get tired of making the melodramas that they are putting out and break the mold. It is just a matter of time. I would love to see some stories with a distinct african feel to them. What happened in Hong Kong, and in Bollywood is happening in Nigeria right now. On Mon, Aug 3, 2009 at 5:51 AM, Milton Davis < mv_media_...@yahoo.com > wrote: Black folks are so desperate for entertainment including them that they'll settle for less, i.e. Nollywood, urban lit. I see nothing wrong with Nollywood as long as the craft improves with time. The statement that made me laugh was 'Black Hollywood.' Am I missing something? A black hollywood exists? The only persons in 'Black Hollywood' is Spike Lee, Tyler Perry and T.D. Jakes. Wesley will be doing time soon so he doesn't count anymore. (Note to self; when MVmedia blows up, pay taxes!) That straight to DVD stuff isn't much better that Nollywood movies. If I see one more wacky hip-hop comedy starring rappers and strippers I'll scream! I know the Hudlin Brothers and Mr. Singleton are lurking in the shadows, but none of them produce enough work to claim the title of Black Hollywood. I wish there was a 'Black Hollywood.' (sigh) --- On Sat, 8/1/09, Mr. Worf < hellomahog...@gmail.com > wrote: From: Mr. Worf < hellomahog...@gmail.com > Subject: [scifinoir2] Article: African Americans tune into Nollywood To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Date: Saturday, August 1, 2009, 4:25 AM Nollywood. I think I am going to be packing my bags shortly. http://newsone. com/nation/ african-american s-tune-into- nollywood/ -- Bringing diversity to perversity for 9 years! Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/ -- Bringing diversity to perversity for 9 years! Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/ -- Bringing diversity to perversity for 9 years! Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
