The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) on Tuesday urged associations and guilds in the value chain of film productions to intensify efforts in promoting professionalism in the industry.
Its Executive Director, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas, made the call during a stakeholders’ interactive session organized by NFVCB, in Lagos.
Adedayo said that the associations and guilds must work on sensitizing their members to desist from cutting costs at the expense of achieving a high level of professionalism.
He advised that due process must be adhered to, for the advancement of the industry.
“Stop cutting costs at the expense of professionalism, I can only pick a few associations growing this industry, we should all be involved in moving the industry forward.
“I am happy at this point that NFVCB has been able to make your associations, guilds, and the federation formidable.
“No association has written to us in recent times that they need any form of assistance to host their events, this is because NFVCB has created the platform for you to be sustainable.
“We want you all to work more on being true professionals that you are,” he said.
Thomas advised film producers and directors to work in synergy with the 19 registered associations and guilds, in ensuring actors, technicians, make-up artists, and all other players involved in the process of movie production are selected from the registered associations and guilds.
He said this would further strengthen the guilds and associations while practitioners in the industry who had yet to register with professional associations would be spurred to do so.
“I want you all producers and directors to make sure only registered association members are engaged in your films.
“This will make those gallivanting around the register while we clean up the quacks and your associations will become stronger.
“This can only be done through collaborations and constant engagement.
“This industry is like a tree with branches, collaboration is key,” he said.
Thomas hinted to the stakeholders that the annual digital conference for the industry would be held from 14 to 16 November 2023 and proposed to honour the late Peace Anyiam-Osigwe.
He said that NFVCB received and censored 541 movies produced by the film industry in the second quarter, describing such a feat as laudable.
He noted that the issue of a downward review of censorship fees for stakeholders was not feasible, considering the increased cost of operations.
Earlier, Mr. Emeka Aduah, President of Film and Video Producers and Marketers of Nigeria (FVPMAN), urged NFVCB to consider the downward review of censorship fees for producers given the economic situation of the country.
Also, Mr. Ikechukwu Okafor, a member of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP), who supported the review of censorship fees, said this was necessary considering the low-income independent producers.
Okafor said this category of individuals only distribute their content on YouTube and generates minimal revenue.
On his part, Mr. Bolaji Amusan, National President of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), appreciated the efforts of the NFVCB executive director in strengthening the various guilds and associations.
Amusan appealed to the leadership of NFVCB to intensify efforts in moving the industry forward by working more with the heads of the associations and guilds.
Mr. Israel Eboh, National President of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), commended Thomas for his good intentions toward the advancement of the creative industry.
Eboh said members of the associations were not proactive enough but rather too reactive to issues.
“We appreciate Alhaji Thomas for the mutual respect and trust he has shown toward us. I appeal to the federation members to be active on platforms created for interaction.
“The platform is for us to collaborate. I also appeal that we collectively strengthen the federation and individual associations, through your laudable contributions and find common ground that would be beneficial to us all,” he said.
Mr. Leo Owoseebi, National Secretary of the Creative Designers Guild of Nigeria (CDGN), pleaded with film producers and directors to work with members of CDGN in their efforts to produce quality films.
(NAN)
