TAMPAN, FilmOne MD strike deal on pre-shooting assessment

Producers under the umbrella of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria and the management of FilmOne Entertainment have struck a deal on pre-shooting assessment of story ideas and scripts.

In the arrangement, FilmOne, owners of a chain of cinemas, will help to assess the film ideas from TAMPAN members, particularly from the perspectives of commercial viability. This is one of the outcomes of a conference held by TAMPAN in Ibadan, last week.

FilmOne Entertainment’s Managing Director, Moses Babatope, who was one of the resource persons, told the filmmakers that a desk would be created for the purpose, with a promise that more attention would be given to Yoruba movies in FilmOne adventures.

Many of the films produced in the Yoruba sub-sector of the Nigerian film industry have not been making it to cinemas, thus causing some anxiety and fear that there is partiality in favour of the English language section of Nollywood.

This issue was thus one of the major ones thrashed at the conference. Indeed, popular actor, Damola Adetunji, challenged Babatope on this, asking him whatever might have gone wrong.
Babatope, however, noted that, as business people, the cinema owners would always be ready to take any film that the audience would like.

According to him, technical qualities and the creative importance of the movie should not carry a filmmaker away alone. He said, “we are business people. We are always after value. We always want something marketable. We want good movies. At times, technical qualities might not be there; yet, the film will still make a commercial success.”

He added that the quality of entertainment the movie offers is important just as marketing and promotion are crucial. “I give you the examples of Alakada Reloaded and A Trip to Atlanta. They did well because of their commercial qualities. So, don’t just depend on your creative judgment. When Odunlade brought The Vendor, we saw it as potential hit. When AY first brought A Trip to Atlanta, I sort of doubted it. But the movie went on to do well at Silverbird Galleria. I later called AY, and, since then, he has not gone to any other cinema.”

Babatope also cited the example of The Wedding Party, which, he said, thrived on memorable performances. Held at Mauve21 Hotel, Ring Road, the conference was moderated by popular actor and lawyer, Tunji Bamisigbin, assisted by Femi Adebayo Salami. Some of the moviemakers in attendance were, Adebayo Salami, Jide Kosoko, Yinka Quadri, Lanre Hassan, Joke Muyiwa, and Iya Awero. The younger generation idols in attendance included Odunlade Adekola, Muyiwa Ademola, Damola Olatunji, Yemi Amodu and Abbey Lanre. It had the blessing of the Executive Director, National Film Corporation, Alhaji Dayo Thomas.

It featured as resource persons acclaimed scholar, writer and dramatist, Professor Bode Sowande, lecturer at the Department of African Languages and Literature, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye; Dr. Oluwakemi Adagbada; seasoned judge and film journalist/critic, Dr. Shuaibu Hussein and Babatope himself.