Notable Nollywood actors

History
The first Nigerian films were made by filmmakers such as Ola Balogun and Hubert Ogunde in the 1960s, but they were frustrated by the high cost of film production. However, television broadcasting in Nigeria began in the 1960s and received much government support in its early years. By the mid-1980s every state had its own broadcasting station. Law limited foreign television content so producers in Lagos began televising local popular theater productions. Many of these were circulated on video as well, and a small scale informal video movie trade developed. Nigerian film is thus a video movie industry; Nigerians call them 'home videos'. There is some debate concerning what caused this small local market in videos to explode into a booming industry that has pushed foreign media off the shelves in much of Africa and is now marketed all over the world. Use of English rather than local languages served to expand the market. Aggressive marketing using posters, trailers, and television advertising also played a role in Nollywood's success. Many point to the 1992 release of Living in Bondage, a film about a businessman whose dealings with a money cult result in the death of his wife, as the industry's first blockbuster. Since then, thousands of movies have been released. One of the first Nigerian movie to reach international fame was the 2003 release Osuofia In London, starring Nkem Owoh, the famous Nigerian comedic actor. Modern Nigerian cinema’s most prolific auteur is Chico Ejiro, who directed over 80 films in a 5-year period and brags that he can complete production on a movie in as little as three days. Ejiro’s brother Zeb is the best-known director of these videos outside of the country.

The first Nollywood films were produced with traditional analog video, such as Betacam SP, but today all Nollywood movies are produced using digital video technology. Only recently, Time magazine published an article rating the industry as the third-largest after Hollywood and Bollywood.

Production
Nollywood has one studio, Studio Tinapa in Tinapa, Calabar. Most movies, however, are not produced in studios in the Hollywood style. Video movies are shot on location all over Nigeria with distinct regional variations between the northern movies (made primarily in the Hausa language), the western Yoruba-language movies, the Igbo movies shot in the southeast,(Benin City) Edo Language shot in Benin city and the popular English-language productions, also shot primarily in the southeast. Many of the big producers have offices in Surulere, Lagos. Shooting films in Nigeria is difficult.

Nigerian directors adopt new technologies as soon as they become affordable. Bulky videotape cameras gave way to their digital descendents, which are now being replaced by HD cameras. Editing, music, and other post-production work is done with common computer-based systems.

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Rating: Reviews: Name: africana09   11/18/2009 10:12:28 PM Review: if u dont like the movie dont watch Name: tchapchu   11/16/2009 11:26:48 PM Review: Ghana stop that crab. This movie is a disgrace to the African movie industry. I am so disappointed in the Ghanian actors (Jackie Appiah, Majid, ect) for being so cheap. Booooooo!!! Name: SKOS   11/13/2009 4:17:42 PM Review: The majority of the reviews in in the negative sense but what beats my mind is the number of people who have watched it compared to the other supposed better movies. Over 200,000 people have watched it - how does that compare with any of the other movies. It makes those look almost insignificant. Why? Name: becebright   11/10/2009 5:14:29 PM Review: OMG! Believe it or not, the storyline is from a Yoruba Nigerian movie. If you gonna copy another movie, the best you should do is make is better not worse!! Name: anke   11/9/2009 9:21:16 AM Review: I cannot image that Ghanaian women and men can be so loose. This is the third Ghanain movie I have tried to watch without been judgemental. But I must say affect barely making it through ten minutes, I am very disappointed on how the actress allow themselves to be so sexually expose and do not leave nothing to the imagination. There is a limit on following the Americanised way of making movies. Remember that no matter the modernisation in our sociiety we are still Africans. I am very worried about the image they are potraying to the youth and those who watch their movies as we Africans are still battling with severe diseases such as HIV/Aid. There needs to be a revolution!!! Feel free to bad-mouth me afterwards, the truth needs to be told and I will not keep quiet about it. Not everything is good for us; there must be moderation. Please!!! Name: Africanchick9   11/6/2009 1:53:51 PM Review: OK...YALL R JUST SOME UGLY HATERZ CUZ THIS MOVIE IS OF THE BEST MOVIES NOLLYWOOD WILL EVA MAKE SO DEAL WITH IT...GO GHANA..IM LOVING IT Name: ivosan   11/5/2009 10:45:56 AM Review: dis movie cracks a lot. Name: newlife   11/3/2009 7:46:37 PM Review: This movie is a waste of time, the only good thing is the the houses and the nice Ride, other than that they need to think twice before stepping foot on stage. Name: disisice4   11/3/2009 5:21:07 AM Review: hmmm!! i will still wanna see for myself but...can somebody tell why the movie keep stoping 7mins into playtime or there about??. I like this Domelo guy cos he looks very much like me. Somebody plz advice me on how to proceed. Name: uniqueangel   11/1/2009 8:02:52 PM Review: The line that really cracked me up was when Majid Michael said you re gonna make me cry. i was thinking really? hes gonna make you cry? Dude what doesnt make you cry?! And if you re a Christian and wanna keep whats going into your mind and soul holy then dont watch this movie,,,, Name: roseysemirah   10/31/2009 9:59:34 PM Review: this movie is too rushed many parts r fast foward, dont really know whats going on. dont waste ur time dont watch Name: Callalily   10/31/2009 9:33:22 PM Review: i sooo agreee the storyline is all over the place it is tooo rushed Name: chelsea   10/30/2009 6:51:53 PM Review: what the hell do u mean by that?hater Name: ennie12345   10/30/2009 3:14:57 PM Review: this movie is kinda messed up...its all over the place.

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