Notable Nollywood actors

History
The first Nigerian films were made by filmmakers such as Ola Balogun and Hubert Ogunde in the 1960s, but they were frustrated by the high cost of film production. However, television broadcasting in Nigeria began in the 1960s and received much government support in its early years. By the mid-1980s every state had its own broadcasting station. Law limited foreign television content so producers in Lagos began televising local popular theater productions. Many of these were circulated on video as well, and a small scale informal video movie trade developed. Nigerian film is thus a video movie industry; Nigerians call them 'home videos'. There is some debate concerning what caused this small local market in videos to explode into a booming industry that has pushed foreign media off the shelves in much of Africa and is now marketed all over the world. Use of English rather than local languages served to expand the market. Aggressive marketing using posters, trailers, and television advertising also played a role in Nollywood's success. Many point to the 1992 release of Living in Bondage, a film about a businessman whose dealings with a money cult result in the death of his wife, as the industry's first blockbuster. Since then, thousands of movies have been released. One of the first Nigerian movie to reach international fame was the 2003 release Osuofia In London, starring Nkem Owoh, the famous Nigerian comedic actor. Modern Nigerian cinema’s most prolific auteur is Chico Ejiro, who directed over 80 films in a 5-year period and brags that he can complete production on a movie in as little as three days. Ejiro’s brother Zeb is the best-known director of these videos outside of the country.

The first Nollywood films were produced with traditional analog video, such as Betacam SP, but today all Nollywood movies are produced using digital video technology. Only recently, Time magazine published an article rating the industry as the third-largest after Hollywood and Bollywood.

Production
Nollywood has one studio, Studio Tinapa in Tinapa, Calabar. Most movies, however, are not produced in studios in the Hollywood style. Video movies are shot on location all over Nigeria with distinct regional variations between the northern movies (made primarily in the Hausa language), the western Yoruba-language movies, the Igbo movies shot in the southeast,(Benin City) Edo Language shot in Benin city and the popular English-language productions, also shot primarily in the southeast. Many of the big producers have offices in Surulere, Lagos. Shooting films in Nigeria is difficult.

Nigerian directors adopt new technologies as soon as they become affordable. Bulky videotape cameras gave way to their digital descendents, which are now being replaced by HD cameras. Editing, music, and other post-production work is done with common computer-based systems.

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Rating: Reviews: Name: Realnezz1   11/13/2009 1:09:09 PM Review: it was ok nothing spectacular, ghana still got miles to go to catch up to Nigeria,, its the cold truth.. the light skin dude is a good actor though.. peace Name: anke   11/9/2009 9:23:42 AM Review: I cannot image that Ghanaian women and men can be so loose. This is the third Ghanain movie I have tried to watch without been judgemental. But I must say affect barely making it through ten minutes, I am very disappointed on how the actress allow themselves to be so sexually expose and do not leave nothing to the imagination. There is a limit on following the Americanised way of making movies. Remember that no matter the modernisation in our sociiety we are still Africans. I am very worried about the image they are potraying to the youth and those who watch their movies as we Africans are still battling with severe diseases such as HIV/Aid. There needs to be a revolution!!! Feel free to bad-mouth me afterwards, the truth needs to be told and I will not keep quiet about it. Not everything is good for us; there must be moderation. Please!!! Name: Africanchick9   11/6/2009 1:51:03 PM Review: OOOOHHHH THIS MOVIE IS SOOO HOTTTTTTT...IM LOVING EVERY SINGLE MIN OF IT...I CANT TO FINISH IT,ALL HATERZ GO TO HELL Name: iruka08   11/5/2009 10:47:06 PM Review: Are they really showing that SEX SCENE like that ??? Ass Shots and ALL ! LMAO !!! Name: missadmass   11/2/2009 6:29:08 AM Review: VERY VERY NICE MOVIE, I LOVE IT. Name: ritzteph   11/1/2009 3:24:08 PM Review: the part played for only 12mins not showin and part two isnt too Name: talk2isioma86@yahoo.com   10/31/2009 8:53:45 PM Review: did i just see a crack? Name: MAIME   10/31/2009 3:19:38 PM Review: OK IN THE FIRST PART I THINK THE PLOT WAS KINDA CONFUSING.SEEMED LIKE 2 THINGS WERE GOIN ON AT THE SAME TIME.THE SEX SCENE HMM I DIDNT RELI UNDERSTAND IT BUT I GTA PRAISE MY GHANA FAM 4 A DECENT FILM.IT CUD ONLY GET BETA Name: dreamz007   10/31/2009 12:57:13 AM Review: Good movie full of suspens!! Ghana has done it again. Thumbs up! Name: dreamz007   10/31/2009 12:53:57 AM Review: Goog movie full of suspens! Ghana has done it again! Thumbs up! Name: patra   10/30/2009 2:42:33 PM Review: This one I have to rate. God Ghana, U have done it again!! Really nice movie highly entertaining. Majid, U are one of the best, always surprising me with ur role. Really nice, Im speechless.

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