How movies are made in Nollywood

In this issue, you will learn how poor Nigeria defeated America.

Nollywood is the Nigerian film business, the second largest in the world in terms of the number of films shot per year. There are about a thousand film studios in Nigeria, local geniuses write the most scripts in the world, auditions are constantly held here and tapes are mounted. No pavilion shooting, all the stories are taken from life and certainly end in a happy ending. With two hundred films a month, Nigeria is ahead of the United States in terms of the number of films made per year, second only to Bollywood.

Of course, local cinema traditions are far from those to which the "consumers" of Hollywood blockbusters are accustomed. Yes, and the way of presenting the material here is completely different. For example, one film here lasts at least 4 hours.

(Total 24 photos)

Photo (© Guy Calaf)

1. Nigerian cinema boomed in the 1990s and 2000s, eventually becoming the 2nd largest film industry in the world in terms of annual film premieres, surpassing Hollywood and second only to the Indian film industry. Pictured: The actress takes a break from filming the film, tentatively titled Strippers, in Lagos, Nigeria. (© Guy Calaf)

2. According to a CNN report, Nigeria generates US$250 million in film production revenue by releasing about 200 videos per month to the domestic market. Pictured: The cast (Betsy Ikeme with a phone) and crew during a 21-episode break between filming of A Thread. (© Guy Calaf)

3. Nollywood is the largest film industry in Africa in terms of revenue and the number of films produced per year Pictured: Actor Nonso Diobi (wearing a tie) and actress Tonto Dike after filming a scene for the movie The Strippers. (© Guy Calaf)

4. Although films were made in Nigeria prior to 1960, the growth of affordable digital filming and editing technology spurred the growth of the industry. In the photo: actresses rehearse on the set of the film "Hustlers". (© Guy Calaf)

5. In Nigeria, one of the most criminal and at the same time closed countries in the world, most of the stories are not invented, but taken from real life. Yes, and the names of the films briefly speak about their content - "Political Prostitute", "Gangster Queen", "Blood River". (© Guy Calaf)

6. The belt of a young promising actress taking part in the filming of the television series "Dangerous Shave." (© Guy Calaf)

7. For the African viewer, the main thing is that everything ends with an indispensable happy ending. The famous Nollywood filmmaker Sylvester Obadieghe says about this: “If the film does not have a good ending, they won’t even watch it - we already have a difficult life.” Pictured: Actress Halima waiting to film her scene in The Strippers. (© Guy Calaf)

8. Actors meet in Innis, a neighborhood where young Nollywood artists hang out to strengthen bonds and find new roles. The scope of the modern Nigerian film industry is impressive - only the Actors Guild of Nigeria consists of 20 thousand people. (© Guy Calaf)

9. Nigerian movie star and screenwriter Stephanie Okereke, one of the first to start acting in foreign films, near her house. (© Guy Calaf)

10. Nollywood stars who act in serious films receive good fees - up to 10 thousand dollars a month. This is very big money for Nigeria. But they also have to work a lot: the working day begins before dawn and ends at sunset. In the photo: Actress Halima (in pink) in a scene from the film "Hustlers". (© Guy Calaf)

11. Up to 20 films are shot daily in Nollywood, and each one takes one to two weeks. In general, Nollywood makes one film in one week and for ridiculous money. And on a digital camera. The costs are small, but as a result, the business brings in millions. Pictured: On the set of a low-budget Yoruba film called "Maniac" on the outskirts of Lagos. (© Guy Calaf)

12. In an oil country - impoverished, torn apart by corruption and religious strife - the national cinema is more successful than Hollywood. In the photo: Nigerian paparazzi lie in wait for Nollywood stars at the entrance to a private club. (© Guy Calaf)

13. Young promising actress Victoria in a nightclub during a private party. (© Guy Calaf)

14. VIP guests of a private party with the participation of Nollywood stars. (© Guy Calaf)

15. Nollywood star Stephanie Okereke walks to the African Academy Film Awards in Bayelsa's state capital, Yenagoa. (© Guy Calaf)

16. Compared to American films, Nollywood productions are created in pronounced black and white, and in the pictures there are either sharply positive or negative characters. In the photo: The cast and crew are preparing to shoot the scene of the TV series "A hair's breadth". (© Guy Calaf)

17. As for the whole of Africa, the influence of Nollywood films is so great that in some countries, for example, in neighboring Ghana, the authorities are even trying to fight Nigerian film production by force. The police are constantly raiding stores selling Nollywood films. Pictured: A manager checking his notes during the filming of the TV series "On the Line". (© Guy Calaf)

18. Actor Nonso Diobi and actress Tonto Dike rehearse on the set of the film "Hustlers". (© Guy Calaf)

19. African Film Award winner Deacon Irogbu in Lagos. Dixon is preparing for a rather risky project called "Soldier's Child", which he will shoot in five African countries. The film's budget is $2 million. If the picture is successful, he will be the first to direct such a successful project in the history of the Nigerian film industry. (© Guy Calaf)

20. In Nigeria, there is virtually no film distribution, films are released on DVD, which are sold at the giant video market in Lagos. In the photo: Alaba Market is the largest wholesale market in the Nigerian capital, where they buy video cassettes and movie CDs. (© Guy Calaf)

21. Famutsa Film Productions brand store, part of a large video market in Lagos. (© Guy Calaf)

22. Due to the low budget of films, you have to shoot quickly, so there is no time for rehearsals and reshoots. But there is a lot of room for improvisation. In the photo: Actor Nonso Diobi and actress Tonto Dike are filming in one of the scenes of the film "Hustlers". (© Guy Calaf)

23. Nigerian star Stephanie Okereke at the African Film Academy Awards, where she was nominated not only as an actress, but also as a screenwriter. (© Guy Calaf)

24. Here it is, the birthplace of Nollywood… (© Guy Calaf)