It was an epoch-making event as the first set
Media Institute (MFMI), Abeokuta, Ogun State,
graduated last Friday.
In a keynote address delivered by Femi
Odugbemi, a filmmaker and CEO of DVWorx
Studios & Zuri24 Media Lagos, at the event,
he urged the graduates to apply passion to
their works.
“Filmmaking is serious business,” said
Odugbemi.
“It is a socially conscious re-interpretation of
reality. It is birthed in a context, it is relatable
to its environment, it bears the distinct sounds
and sights of its origination. Films are cultural
artifacts which reflect the cultures, and, in
turn, affect them. So your work as filmmakers
must be culturally relevant or it loses its
point.
“If you got nothing else from your time at this
institute, I pray and hope this important point
stays with you regardless of whether you
choose to be a director, a cameraman or a
scriptwriter going forward.
Odugbemi who is also the co-founder/director
of I-Rep Documentary Forum Film Festival
urged the students to embrace technology as
they go about their various endeavours.
“Africa today is largely a consumer of
technology and is yet to join the league of
countries that are primary producers,” he said.
“So while African cinema is constantly
evolving and trying to catch up with Western
cinema, in terms of technology we continue to
face important challenges. Creating certain
genres of stories especially ones that
explicate the mysteries of African
mythologies, for instance, require existing
technology to be customised for the filmmaker
to successfully tell his story.”
Odugbemi also emphasized the place of
education for film makers.
“The ugly reality continues to be that we have
more practitioners driven by interest rather
than equipped with knowledge,” he said.
“It explains why the majority of our films still
look like stage drama captured on video.
“We need to begin to create filmmakers who
understand the visual arts, filmmakers who
understand the impact of colour and lighting,
literature and poetry, sound and music, yes
filmmakers with strong filmic storytelling
intelligence.
Mainframe Film and Media Institute which
was founded by legendary filmmaker Tunde
Kelani kicked off some weeks ago. At
inauguration, Kelani described setting up the
school as the highlight of his career. Courses
the school offers include Storytelling and
scripting, Production Design: Props, Costume
and Make-up, Digital Photography and
Cinematography and Location Sound
Recording.
All Credits :the nation
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