Why African Movies are doomed to fail
The African movie industry is bedeviled with many challenges, yet it is worth noting that in the face of these seemingly insurmountable difficulties the has been many successes chalked that is worthy of admiration, but many of the challenges confronting the industry are beyond the scope of movie producers, yet the is one pertinent challenge over looked by many film makers on the continent which could easily enhance and make the film industry globally competitive, one of such challenges is in the area of weaving compelling stories that has personality, flair, and interest, which captivates the audience and holds them spell bound by providing the intricate details and nuances that brings stories to life.
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In observing, comparing and contrasting both our local African film industry and internationally acclaimed Hollywood productions it can be noted that the is a lot of room for growth in our local African film industry, The fact that any successful movie must be built on the precepts of a strong plot should be enough to stress the importance of prioritizing the art of compelling story telling, you could have a brilliant story Idea but if it is not structured well it could fail at making the necessary impact it deserves and reaching a more discerning
One of the easiest ways to convey information to the masses is to provide it in a movie. This form of story-telling connects with visual and auditory cues, keeping the viewer in the experience. With the viewer captured by the screen, the producers and actors are able to share a story and immerse the audience within the emotions and actions of the subject. Such a method is utilized when telling the history behind the education assimilation of Native people in the movies “Indian Horse”, “We Were Children”, and “Rabbit Proof Fence”. Each of these went into the effects of education assimilation on individuals, showing glimpses of the general effect on the tribal nations.
The film also lacks diversity since it only focusses on suffering of white farmers thereby neglecting stories of indigenous communities or other marginalised communities which may have played a major role in the Agricultural history of the place. The limitation of lengthy presentation is also seen in this film where some viewers may find the pacing and length of the film too slow especially in the absence of traditional narrative structure. It also becomes a limitation to those viewers who prefer faster pacing stories and films.
Can a story really change the world? Every October I volunteer with the Washington West Film Festival, which raises money for a different cause each year. The motto of Washington West is “Story can change the world.” What they mean by this is, we as people are able to relate to one another through universal stories. Sadness and joy look the same in every country, and there isn’t a language barrier in the world that can prevent a filmmaker from sharing a story.
Hollywood is the home of flashing cameras, the famous red carpet, and glamorous celebrities. Hollywood is also the birthplace of extraordinary films which reach audiences across the world. The casting choices made by the film industry affects more than just the movie that is created. Hollywood directors and writers should have the social responsibility to avoid stereotyping ethnic characters because the stereotypes offer poor (and often inaccurate) insight into the culture, negatively impacts child viewers, and limits the amount of quality roles for actors/actresses with diverse ethnic backgrounds.
The mammy and uncle tome stereotypes were used to justify the mistreatment and exploitations of African Americans. These stereotypes were harmful and perpetuated the idea that African Americans were inferior and naturally suited to basic work. However, since the 20th century there has been significant shift away from these stereotypes in the hollywood filming industry . One of the most significant changes has been the emergence of African American writers, directors and producers who are able to make their own stories and control the narrative.
At breakfast during my two-week study trip to Ireland, a man found out I was from Atlanta, Georgia. Unexpectedly, he told me that I did not sound like a black southerner. He then demonstrated in a southern accent: “Hey man, ain’t y’all ready?” In that moment, I explained to him that not all southerners sound the same, nor do all African-Americans sound the same. Films do not represent Americans, yet some, though not all people outside the U.S, still use the stereotypes within films to do so.
While many Asian, Hispanic, and Black people tried hard to make their dream of acting become true, racial stereotypes always are the barriers that inhibit their future in the movie industry. Thus, directors are the only ones who can make that change. Some directors said that they just do their job which follows the audience interest. However, according to the documentary film "Yellow Face”, producers did a survey on a lot of American audiences about casting Asian actors to the movie that based on other cultures. The majority prefers using Asian cast because they can perform the original culture realistically.
Throughout the 70s, innovative and impactful movies featuring heavy African-American involvement hit the scene of thousands of theaters across the United States. The overall positive perception of Blaxploitation films provided many opportunities for black involvement in America’s entertainment industry that Hollywood failed to provide. Audiences positively perceived things that were not brought to light in the white dominated entertainment industry such as, new stereotype defying roles, uplifting messages, and the exposure of different communities and their issues. Blaxploitation was a result from African-Americans having a very strong desire to “see themselves empowered” in films (Christian). This genre of 70s cinema, were mostly set
If you could, would you want to be the richest person in the world, I bet you answered yes, but do you really know one of the most famous richest person in history was? Well, if you answered Mansa Musa you are correct! It is told that he was the richest person ever in history. Mansa Musa was the tenth emperor of the Mali dynasty. While Mansa Musa ruled from 1280 to 1337, Mali was an empire from 1235 to 1600 and many things happened during this time.
Representation in all aspects, race, age, family dynamics, and more give younger folks time to appreciate themselves early on instead of learning to love themselves years after. Having movies with a predominantly black cast and having black nominees leads to a culture of acceptance and talent. Young kids who see themselves in their role models are able to imagine themselves as actors and actresses, directors and producers. The “Oscar problem” essentially ends with the Oscars because the problem begins much before that. With deeper representation and more job opportunities, the Oscars can once again become a lively event that can be appreciated by all kinds of
There have been various perceptions concerning the history of Africa, and some of these have portrayed Africa in more negative than positive ways. In an attempt to examine the historical aspect of Africa through various lenses, this essay presents an analysis of evidence that have been brought forth towards understanding Africa’s role in world history, as well as reasons and lessons from the negative portrayal of Africa. The history of Africa has been viewed and understood through a variety of lenses in the past few hundred years. To begin with, the origin of the name Africa in itself has drawn a number of controversies that stem from the different perspectives through which the name has been examined.
Over the past century, film has served as a powerful means of communication to a global audience and has become a vital part of the contemporary culture in a world that is increasingly saturated by visual content. Due to the immediacy and the all-encompassing nature of film, the process of watching a film, is widely perceived to be a passive activity by the general masses. However, quoting Smith in his article about the study of film, “nothing could be further from the truth.” The study and understanding of film as an art form enhances the way we watch and appreciate films. It requires the audience's active participation and interaction with the film in order to fully comprehend the directors' intention behind every creative decision.
African culture very much impacted our American culture. Have you ever had peanuts, or eaten rice. If you have it is because African slaves brought them with them, while they were on the Transatlantic voyages. These are just one of the few things that the slaves have done for American agriculture.
Through movies’ ability to stay grounded in some truths, yet also push social boundaries, it is clear that films shape culture, and culture shapes film, making more important now than ever that filmmakers are aware of what they are putting out and the implications they will have. Not every movie producer
Being a visual medium of presentation, a film creates an instant, direct and more convincing impression on its audience fulfilling its dual purpose of entertaining as well as sensitizing the audience. A lot of movies based on social issues are now being made to create awareness among people about the issues besides entertaining the audience, which is perhaps the foremost purpose behind the making