Academics and practitioners in the movie Industry in Nigeria have expressed concern over promotion of immoral contents in the country's airwave, particularly on African Magic and other channels on the platform of multi-choice, a popular cable television service providers
The stakeholders raised the concern on Wednesday at a forum between the gown and town organized by the Theatre Arts Department of the Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta as part of a three-day activities in honour of its founder and pioneer Head of Department, Dr.Basil Ledogo Wikina who is retiring from the service of the Institution
Former Deputy Provost of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijaniki , Lagos,Dr. Femi Adedina and a popular playwright,Kola Obadimu Junior asked the Federal Government through its regulatory agency to reverse the trend and support movie producers and those in the academics in the Institutions of higher learning to come up with rich contents that would promote morals and values in the society
Adedina a highly respected academic who had produced a number of movie producers and stars in the industry, lauded Tunde Kilani, a famous movie producer for his continous relationship with academics, particularly in writing of most of his scripts and productions,
He stressed the need for strong relationship between the practitioners and academics, while asking government to rise up to the challenge in the fight against piracy (intellectual theft)for the iñdustry to thrive in the country
Also speaking, Obadimu Junior known for his number of television serial productions including "Mama Karo" and the likes, tasked students in the Theatre Arts Department of the College, to be more creative by writing short stories that would fetch them money
He urged them to take advantage of abundant opportunities on the internet through You-Tube and other social media platforms to begin to expose their talents in the film industry, to attract the attention of notable producers and directors to feature them in their productions.
"While you are here as students, you must put your thoughts together and begin to sell yourself, promote yourself before. You can make money from the theatre but you have to be creative in the industry", Obadimu charged the students
Head of the department, Dr.Chris Omotosho called for a radical approach by trained practitioners, whom he said should be more involved in making of films, tasking academics to come up with good scripts to expose the abundant talents among students
His words",producers/script writers should create market for the students by producing good films, making use of young talents , let the unknown be known
Also speaking the Celebrant, Dr.Basil Wikina stressed the need for restoration of Drama Society/Clubs in primary and secondary schools, where solid foundation for budding talents are laid in the industry
"Theatre is dead and bury in primary and secondary schools, the foundation is very weak , we need to revive it" Wikina lamented
The veteran Lecturer however called for better Synergy between movie producers and the academics while calling for the support of the media, particularly broadcasting organization to provide free airtime for film productions packaged by Theatre Arts Departments of various tertiary Institutions, to expose their Students in the industry
Similarly, a highly respected movie producer and actor , Rasak Oyadiran assured the Theatre Arts Department of the College of his readiness to involve talented students of the department in his production, as part of efforts to expose them
He added that they should be ready to make the necessary sacrifices by playing down on financial reward for their participation in such production
"Let your face be known before running after the money, you must be ready to sacrifice for others", he urged the students
The event was spiced up later in the evening with stage drama of a play titled " Resurrection of The Dead" written by the Celebrant, Dr.Wikina, to expose how political office holders diverted public fund for personal use at the expense of the needed capital projects for the people
Some of the scenes of the stage drama
The activities for the retirement of Wikina which started on Tuesday, ends this Thursday, 11th of November with a public book presentation and launching in his honour at the department
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