The Nigerian Film Industry (Nollywood) remains the third largest movie industry in the world after the American Film Industry (Hollywood) and that of India (Bollywood), providing entertainment and employment to millions of people in Nigeria and beyond.
Perekeme Odon, who has been in the movie industry since 1995, believes that with more funding from the government, the industry will produce sterling movies, compete favourably in the international arena and improve the economy of the nation.
According to the award-winning make-up artist and movie director, “Nollywood has its own challenges like every other industry. We lack funding, enabling structural environment, training and lots more.
“There is no place in Nigeria where filmmakers can easily access credit facilities for movie productions.
“In the United States, for instance, you can mortgage certificates to get grants for productions. You can’t do that here in Nigeria, because of the tough and vexatious requirements by the CBN, Bank of Industry and the rest.”
Perekeme, who is also the current Public Relations Officer of the Directors’ Guild of Nigeria (DGN), however, poured encomiums on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State for embarking on the construction of the Asaba Film Village.
“Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has done well for Nollywood by building a state-of-the-art film village in Asaba. When completed, the facility will make Delta State the hub of filmmaking in Nigeria,” he said.
Perekeme stated further that, “Filmmaking encompasses every art because it has to do with an entire village, a community and a nation.
“The Federal Government should also make it a priority to man a state-of-the-art film village in the country and ensure it’s utilization.”
He equally advised other governors to emulate Okowa as well as host annual film festivals in their respective states.
Perekeme hails from Bayelsa State and is an elder brother to the popular musician Inetimi Odon aka Timaya, whom he said he also discovered and mentored like he did to the popular actress, Ini Edo.
The 2017 AMVCA & AMAA best make-up artist in Africa has a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and a postgraduate diploma in Broadcast Journalism from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Mass Communication at the University of Lagos.
Perekeme, fondly called Perewinkle in the movie industry, told Mangrovepen.ng that he still has much value to add to the Directors’ Guild of Nigeria, thus his decision to seek re-election as PRO in the Guild’s forthcoming elections.
According to him, “I am already in touch with the Directors Guild of America so that the DGN can partner with them for a few exchange programmes to build the capacity of filmmakers.
“Our desire is that for every Hollywood movie being produced, some Nigerian filmmakers should be part of it to understudy them.
“We will equally encourage mentorship in Nollywood with the aim that every family in Nigeria will have a filmmaker.”
The Del-York Creative Academy directing alumnus, who became a member of the DGN 10 years ago, equally said he will join other filmmakers to strongly push for the passage of the Motion Picture Council of Nigeria (MOPICON) Bill that has been in the National Assembly since 2006.
“The passage of that bill will make us a Council, and we will start having international collaborations with our foreign counterparts; and the Government will focus more attention on the industry like they’re doing to other regulatory bodies in the industry,” he noted.
Nice one I would say. Congratulations my Izon brother.
Thanks a lot.