How Nigerian Filmmakers Have Leveraged On Gadgets

In the world of film making today, there  has been an innovation in the last decade as the movie industry acclaimed as the 3rd biggest industry in terms of the quantity of movies churned our annually.

In The Beginning

Nollywood since the 90s has evolved since the era of home video and the acclaimed success story of the poster movie ‘Living In Bondage ‘ released between 1992/1993 by Okechukwu Ogunjiofor, who has now given us the epic thriller, AMINA released in 2021.

In the early days of Nollywood, the cameras and equipments uses then have been replaced by Hi-Tech equipment and one of this that has impacted on aerial shots are the use of drones carrying cameras. This obviously has reduced cost of shooting though in a relative manner because there are high budget movies and low budget movies and also very low budget movies of three million Naira.

Present Day Innovation

According to Abay Esho, a film maker and movie director of repute, the use of cameras and resolutions have moved from 2.5k to 4k resolution and we now have 6k and 8k resolutions.

“Cameras have gone absolutely digital. Arri, Canon, Panasonic, Sony and Red series are some of the most popular ones,” says Esho who has produced not less than eight movies and drama series.

Impact On Movie Production On Global Scale

Movie production in this clime, has improved as reflected in Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over the years. According to an online platform, former speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, in 2021 said the film industry (Nollywood) contributes 2.3 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). With over 2,500 movies produced annually, Gbajabiamila noted that the practitioners and movie ‘stakeholders deserve to be celebrated having invested in the sector without little or government investment from the early years.

Movies like Wedding Party, 30 Days In Atlanta, Battle on Buka Street that broke box office records in the cinemas have shown that with authentic stories emanating from Nigeria, and well packaged and produced with state of the arts equipment can compete with other movies anywhere in the world and win global awards.

The equipments used and its innovation have been a testimony that you use the best to get the best and ultimately generate your Return on Investment (ROI).

Creative Storytelling

The ability to capture unique and creative angles has expanded the storytelling possibiliEes for Nigerian filmmakers. Aerial shots can provide a different perspective on the narrative and add depth to art of storytelling. According to celebrated movie director, Yemi Amodu, the use of drones can make Nigerian films look more polished and professional. This can help Nigerian cinema compete on a global scale lead to return on investment.

LIGHTS:  We have access to assorted lights, from tungsten to soft lights(LED).

CAMERA SUPPORTS : Tracks and dolly, jibs and jib arms, drones and steady cams. All these are used in steady camera movements. Drone for example has replaced helicopters and are quite affordable! It has become so popular mainly because of its affordability.

LENSES : Cooke, Zeiss, Panavision, Canon are some of the quality lenses available for shooting depending on your budget.

Amodu who was the director of the Bank of Industry, BOI-sponsored movie, Shadow Parties, noted that  the use of drones among other equipments, has had a significant impact on filmmaking in Nigeria, as it has in many other parts of the world. Amodu said that drones have influenced and benefited the Nigerian film industry.

“In aerial cinematography, drones provide a cost-effective and versatile way to capture breathtaking aerial shots that were previously challenging and expensive to achieve. They offer filmmakers the ability to capture sweeping landscapes, cityscapes, and dynamic tracking shots, adding a new dimension to art of storytelling in this clime. Also drones equipped with high-quality cameras can capture stunning pictures and colourful scenery. It has also generated high-resolution effect. This has improved the overall visual quality of Nigerian films, making them more appealing to both local and international audiences. Drones have allowed filmmakers to explore and evaluate potential filming locations more efficiently. This has saved time and resources during pre-production. As a result, drones can significantly reduce the time and cost required to capture aerial footage. Traditional methods such as hiring helicopters were much more expensive and time-consuming. Drones have also been invaluable for documentary filmmakers and news agencies in Nigeria. They can capture footage in remote or dangerous areas and provide valuable insights into various aspects of the Nigerian history and geography,” says Amodu.

Capacity Building

Abay Esho noted that capacity building is one of the most important factor in the improvement of the Nigerian film industry. “Many of our crews are now getting trainings in some of the best film schools and universities across the world. Some local film schools are also churning out quality graduates.

“Productions are not particularly cheaper but you can work around a budget. From low budget films of three to four million Naira to medium budget films of between ten to thirty million Naira and big budget films of about fifty to hundred million Naira.

“It all depends on your story, the quality of cast and crew, locations, costumes e.t c  You definitely can’t use an A-list actor in a low budget film as the total budget is not even enough for an actor. You can’t use an Arri camera for example as it will cost you nothing less than N300,000 to rent one per day. You can’t engage a Yinka Edward as a Director of Photography (DOP) because your total budget cannot pay for his services. So your budget is a determinant of the the kind of project you’d get”.