Grooming the Next Generation of Filmmakers
Vanessa Obioha writes that prominent filmmaker Femi Odugbemi whose TV series ‘Tinsel’ and ‘Battleground’ redifined TV culture is taking on a bigger task with the launch of MultiChoice Talent Factory
Over two decades ago, leading video and entertainment company, MultiChoice Africa, introduced a film initiative, New Directions, to empower a crop of budding filmmakers on the continent. The platform was open to directors and scriptwriters with the sole objective to stimulate the growth of emerging African filmmakers. Nollywood at the time was at its teething stage. Prolific filmmakers like Tunde Kelani, the late quintessential Amaka Igwe, and Mahmood Ali Balogun, were part of filmmakers who enrolled in the training. The knowledge and skills garnered established these individuals as masters in the field of storytelling. Through their eyes, other filmmakers were able to understand the craft and business of filmmaking.
Prominent filmmaker, Femi Odugbemi, was also a beneficiary of that programme. Though he studied film and television in Montana University, USA, it is not unlikely to find the Ondo State born gentleman on a quest to find new ways and meaning to storytelling through film and TV. His love for the camera is unrivalled. Whether he is catching still or motion pictures, or leading a discourse about the creative industry, one thing is certain, Odugbemi’s life revolves around the camera. His lasting relationship with MultiChoice since ‘ New Directions’ has and is still yielding good fruits in the industry. A good pointer to this is the intriguing way he reshaped the TV culture with his successful TV series, ‘ Tinsel’ and more recently, ‘ Battleground” which already has a cult following. Both programmes are shown on Africa Magic channels on DStv.
His latest endeavour with the company, however, is in talent development through Multichoice Talent Factory, a pan- African social investment initiative aimed at igniting and growing Africa’s creative industries into vibrant, economic centres.
“Multichoice Talent factory for me is the most exciting intervention the African creative industry will witness. It is an intervention that I think covers almost everything about our present and our future. It sustains what I will consider the Multichoice family values of promoting excellence in the industry. They have a legacy for doing that and I’m one of the products of that legacy. The initiative attempts to institutionalize, put in place touch points to engage the industry in excellence and to engage excellence as something that is not random but something that we actually do as a habit. It is really an exciting journey that I’m looking forward to,” Odugbemi said.
Launched in May, the programme is open to young and talented persons whose passion lie in filmmaking. It was founded on the reality that Africa needs more technically and operationally skilled professionals in the film and television industry. As such, MTF is spread across three regions in Africa: Southern Africa, West Africa and East Africa. Each of these regions will have a learning hub known as MTF Academy which is the first touch point of the initiative. Nigeria is the hub for West Africa, Kenya for East Africa and Zambia for Southern Africa. The Academy which is a 12- month intensive training will focus on the youth market and a curriculum will be developed in partnership with relevant local and international industry experts. In West Africa, Odugbemi is the academy director.
According to the filmmaker, the academy is meant only for persons who are committed and passionate about film and TV. It is more than a film school which overall impact goes beyond skill acquisition.
He added: “It is a film school, a business school, a passion school wrapped into one. It has the potential not only to empower