Biodun Stephen explains why filmmakers often recycle similar film themes

Filmmaker and actress, Biodun Stephen, has explained the repetitive movie trends in Nollywood, attributing them to the drive for commercial success.

She noted that when a particular type of movie becomes commercially successful, others try to replicate the formula, often without understanding the factors behind its success.

This approach, she said, leads to a flood of similar films, as everyone tries to cash in on the trend.

Stephen likened the situation to opening a shop and selling a popular product, only for others to follow suit without innovating or understanding the original recipe for success.

She emphasised that filmmaking is a gamble and that the desire for return on investment often drives decisions.

While commercialization has been a long-standing issue in Nollywood, Stephen encouraged filmmakers to explore simplicity and originality, rather than solely chasing trends and financial gains.

In an interview with Pulse Nigeria, Biodun said: “Nollywood is largely built out of pocket so of course commercialization is very key. It’s almost like you open a shop out there and you’re selling rice and fried stew, and you’re making a lot of money. In another few months, somebody else opens a store ten meters away and sells the same thing because they feel like that’s what’s making money. And that’s exactly how the business is.

“Somebody makes one comedy film, the film does well, and we’re all now making comedy. Somebody says ‘Oh this is the camera, we shot it on this camera and it was the best’ and now we’re all trying to do that without understanding what were the reasons why certain choices were made for certain films, which is why perhaps it was successful. Sometimes, the actors, and the tech involved in the film, have nothing to do with success. Sometimes, it was just the right time.

“Film is a gamble and all filmmakers, we’re all gambling and we’re all thinking this is what they want to see, let me just do it. Because of course, you want a return on investment. If you’re making a film only for the money, I can’t question certain choices that you make in making the film. Not every razzle-dazzle is travel-worthy, sometimes simple is travel-worthy.

“This commercialization has been a disease that has plagued us for years. It was the campus film before, and everybody jumped on the train. Everybody jumped on the gang film, everybody was making gang films. Everybody jumped on comedy. Everybody is just jumping on whatever everybody thinks is the cash cow. Right now, there is a street thing that everybody is doing now, and everybody is jumping on it.”

Source: The Nation