Factors Affecting Growth of Film Industry in Africa
National University of Science and Technologhy
NAME: DAVID
SURNAME: MAKACHA
STUDENT NUMBER: N0070508B
COURSE: MEDIA IN AFRICA
DEPARTMENT: JOURNALISM AND MEDIA STUDIES
QUESTION
Outline factors hindering the development of film Industry in Africa Gebre-Egziabher (2006) notes that film was first introduced in Africa in the 1920s. It was used as a propaganda tool to manipulate the Africans to endorse the white minority rule. Gebre-Egziabher (2006) further mentions that it is in the 1960s that Africans embarked on the production of their own films. These films as noted by scholars, reflected the socio-political experiences particularly the colonial experiences and the post colonial nation building exercise. As the trend continued, more African filmmakers began involved and more African themes were incorporated into the films. Since its introduction in the 1960s, the African film industry has faced a number of challenges that are hindering its growth. This essay shall attempt to discuss the challenges that African filmmaker are facing in their attempt to boost the film industry. Among these challenges include: lack of funding, lack of technology, lack of well equipped training facilities, censorship, equipment shortage and many others that will be outlined and explained below. One of the factors hindering the growth of film industry in Africa is lack of financial resources or limited funding. Movie making as noted by Ogbor (1999) is capital intensive. Shooting a good film requires large sums of money, which can span to $60 million in developed countries to pay for transport, crew, props, equipment hiring and other factors involved in production of film. In African countries this money is not readily available to the filmmaker. What makes the situation worse as noted by Augustine-Ufua Enahora (1989) is that film is a risk business which does not guarantee revenue. For instances, facts in America as noted in a South
NAME: DAVID
SURNAME: MAKACHA
STUDENT NUMBER: N0070508B
COURSE: MEDIA IN AFRICA
DEPARTMENT: JOURNALISM AND MEDIA STUDIES
QUESTION
Outline factors hindering the development of film Industry in Africa Gebre-Egziabher (2006) notes that film was first introduced in Africa in the 1920s. It was used as a propaganda tool to manipulate the Africans to endorse the white minority rule. Gebre-Egziabher (2006) further mentions that it is in the 1960s that Africans embarked on the production of their own films. These films as noted by scholars, reflected the socio-political experiences particularly the colonial experiences and the post colonial nation building exercise. As the trend continued, more African filmmakers began involved and more African themes were incorporated into the films. Since its introduction in the 1960s, the African film industry has faced a number of challenges that are hindering its growth. This essay shall attempt to discuss the challenges that African filmmaker are facing in their attempt to boost the film industry. Among these challenges include: lack of funding, lack of technology, lack of well equipped training facilities, censorship, equipment shortage and many others that will be outlined and explained below. One of the factors hindering the growth of film industry in Africa is lack of financial resources or limited funding. Movie making as noted by Ogbor (1999) is capital intensive. Shooting a good film requires large sums of money, which can span to $60 million in developed countries to pay for transport, crew, props, equipment hiring and other factors involved in production of film. In African countries this money is not readily available to the filmmaker. What makes the situation worse as noted by Augustine-Ufua Enahora (1989) is that film is a risk business which does not guarantee revenue. For instances, facts in America as noted in a South
References: Edwards, J.R.(2008) BUILDING A Self-Sustaining, Indigenous Film Industry in Kenya: A study on behalf of the World Story Organizatio : Unpublished Essay Enahora, A.(1989). “Film Makers and Film Making in Nigeria: Problems and Prospects” in Africa Media Review, Vol. 3, No. 3,1989. African Council on Communication Education: Gebre-Egziabher, L. (2006). Digital Filmmaking: Panacea or Scourge for African Cinema: Unpublished Essay John O. Ogbor(1999) Entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa: A strategic management perspective AuthorHouse: Amazon.com online publication Report to the Department Of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (19998). Cultural Industries Growth Strategy (CIGS): The South African Film and Television Industry Report. Department or the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology: Pretoria http://www.dailynews.co.zw/index.php/entertainment/37-entertainment/4896-playing-warriors-to-premiere-friday.html accessed 17-11-11 http://www.dailynews.co.zw/index.php/entertainment/37-entertainment/5167-when-piracy-triggers-violence.html accessed 17-11-11 http://www.indianmi.org/suffer.htm accesses 11-11-11 http://www.greenstone.org/greenstone3/nzdl;jsessionid=8D5C061DF5F7526190B6852F1686F7B7?a=d&d=HASH01aa555dd24e33d993443b03.12.pp&c=mhl&sib=1&dt=&ec=&et=&p.a=b&p.s=ClassifierBrowse&p.sa= accessed 11-11-11 .