What’s in 2011 Emmy Awards for Nigerians?
It is the belief of the Board that this semi-final Judging event for the 39th edition of The International Emmy Awards, which is billed to take place at the Abuja Sheraton And Towers Hotel on July 29, 2011 will provide a platform to help lift the industry’s flagging fortunes. Economically, it could be noted that […]
It is the belief of the Board that this semi-final Judging event for the 39th edition of The International Emmy Awards, which is billed to take place at the Abuja Sheraton And Towers Hotel on July 29, 2011 will provide a platform to help lift the industry’s flagging fortunes. Economically, it could be noted that these are difficult times. But the challenge of this event, set against a decreased level of investment and quality practice in Nigeria, is to engage the people in the motion picture industry once again.
This is because despite the industry’s downturn in terms of the net value, audiences are still interested in films — and the quality of films in recent times is better than ever before just because of the Board’s drive for accountable practice in the country. According to the NFVCB, Nigerian films can account for considerable per cent of the box office takings in Africa.
Only last year, President Goodluck Jonathan provided $200 million to the entertainment industry as recognition of the importance of the industry to the growth and development of Nigeria. The award of the hosting right to the country through NFVCB for the prestigious 2011 International Emmy Awards Semi-Final is therefore fallout of that recognition. Nigerians need to show strong presence at the global setting, with all their motion picture offerings. While screenings are very much the heart of The International Emmy Awards, thousands of industry heavyweights come every year simply to get down to business.
The coming of the semi-final judging events to Nigeria, according to Mba, is to involve Nigeria as a country in the schemes of the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences-particularly with the view to increasing membership of Nigerians and their entries for The International Emmy awards. This implies that The Academy has seen in the country this big, thriving home entertainment industry and/or market and also realises that there is a great opportunity to be tapped.
Being a member of IATAS allows the producers of a country to see what work is going on in other parts of the world. It also makes it easier to look for co-production opportunities. Now it is possible to interact with their counterparts from other countries. During such interactions, new possibilities can emerge. More cooperation can emerge, better exchange of ideas can happen-in terms of techniques, ideas and also finance. And there must also be a reversal of roles.
Going by this opportunity, if Nigeria eventually becomes a member of The Academy, the country could also have a day with the academy, following one of IATAS initiatives which is Academy Day. On such a day, 100 members of The Academy could be taken to Nigeria where they can get a chance to learn about Nigerian TV, government and the performing arts in the country. After all, The Academy had done one in Mexico and Beijing; and then they also did a sort of an Academy day in Berlin last fall.
Usually, The Academy has about 700 jurors to judge regional content from around the world, from beginning of March to end of September. And they go through a rigorous process to select the semi-finalists. Then, a new set of judges selects the finalists and you have four nominees from each category out of which the winner comes out. Sometimes an Emmy can be won merely on the basis of good acting. And for now, no one can say there is dearth of talent in Nollywood industry. Of course, broadcast television in Nigeria is going through an extraordinary time of change and challenge. And it is still one of the most popular forms of entertainment and information, with the average Nigerian viewer still watching twenty hours or more per week, though the rapid growth of the internet and interactive media is competing strongly for audiences and revenues.
People in Nigeria go around looking at studios, talking to production companies and looking for ways to engage agencies for advert placement. Ordinarily, they should not have to do any of this. They simply would have approached any of the networks who would have looked at their concept and bought into it, or not, depending on its viability. With this event being hosted in the country, Nigerians will see that, initially the TV industry in any country grows internally, in isolation and in an insular fashion; China, Brazil, and even Australia, to some extent, are some examples of this phenomenon. During this initial period, the focus remains within the society of the producers. Gradually, as production gets better, acting gets better and techniques evolve, there comes a tipping point. The industry becomes more sophisticated; the producers travel more and find out the developments in the production field of other countries.
The Nigerian motion picture industry is no exception to this evolution. TV producers of any country have their strengths to contribute to the industry globally. And key Nigerian corporate organisations that have been looking for this kind of opportunity can now leverage this platform, to have the best rewarding value for their presence. The hosting of the Emmys , therefore, is to open the eyes of Nigerian industry players, corporate or individual, to the need for a positive change.
Abdullahi is Host Coordinator, 2011 International Emmy Awards.