30th July, 2015
Eromosele Ebhomele
Stakeholders in the Nigerian movie industry have met at the Lagos State House of Assembly for the second time in two weeks calling on the government for support to improve the industry.
Speaking at a stakeholders meeting facilitated by a member of the House, who is also a movie star, Desmond Elliot, the movie practitioners emphasised that there is need for the promulgation and enforcement of appropriate laws to galvanise development in the industry.
A member of the Assembly, Olusegun Olulade, who also attended the event at the Assembly premises, told the team that included top movie producers and actors that the House was willing to work with the practitioners to develop the industry.
Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, had earlier promised the stakeholders of the House openness and readiness to support their course.
Olulade, who expressed his passion for the industry, further noted that piracy is a criminal offence that must be checkmated since it is a common enemy for the players in the industry.
“Producers and marketers expect returns for their works; if the industry is doing well, everybody would want to be part of it.
“Nollywood is a very vital sector of our society that everybody must support. We will support you to end piracy,” Olulade said.
A producer and film maker, Lancelot Imasuen, emphasised that motion picture had benefitted the Lagos State Government immensely and that a place like Surulere in Lagos should further be made attractive as it houses Winnies Hotel, where actors always meet to unwind.
“Lagos State Government has not shown enough commitment to the development of the movies industry.
“Seventy-five percent of Nollywood films are made in the state, while 80 percent of the practitioners live in the state.
“A place can be designated for the industry in the state,” he said.
In his contribution, actor and film maker, Prince Jide Kosoko, stated that there are other locations, where movie stars gather like Fadeyi and Odunfa adding that the government should intervene to help regulate the industry.
“We want laws, and policies that will help us to do our business without interference. We want the participation of the government in the continuous development of the industry on film exhibition,” he said.
Chief Emeka Ossai also said that the industry needed structures through which the state government could interface with the industry on security, adding that there is security for film makers in other climes.
“We are usually attacked by street urchins when we go for shootings and it is serious.
“When we tried to market our films directly, the local government officials were demanding money and levies from us. The industry should be taken more seriously by the government,” he stated.
Another film maker, Mr. Mahmud Alli-Balogun, stated that there is a law on hawking in the state, and that if this is put into force, it would reduce piracy.
He also said that the state Censors Board ought to work with the Federal Government on piracy as copyright is on the exclusive list.
According to him, “the headquarters of piracy is Alaba International Market, Lagos. We have tried to end this with the security agencies and that is where we have problems.
“What we lack is the will power to fight piracy as against what was done against fake drugs then. Piracy must be taken as a serious problem, we should fight it the way we tackle armed robbery.”
He added that there was a bill tagged: “The Motion Picture Council Draft Bill” (MOPICON) currently before the Federal Ministry of Justice and put together by movie practitioners.
The participants agreed that one of the best ways to fight piracy is to have cinema houses in designated places in the state and that the government should provide a conducive environment for this to thrive.
It was subsequently agreed, as suggested by a member of House, Olufunmilayo Tejuosho, that a committee should be set-up comprising lawmakers and movie practitioners to tackle the issues affecting the industry.
Other participants at the event included Ramsey Nouah, Aki and Pawpaw, Fidellis Ducker, Dayo Amusa, Ireti Osayemi-Bankole, Olurotimi Aina-Kusoro and Alhaji Lanre AbdulRasaq (Corporate Pictures), Bolanle Ninalowo, Joseph Benjamin, and Kalu Ikagu.