EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:
‘NOLLYWOOD is No. 1 Film Industry Famous for Export Promotion of African Culture Worldwide’ –Clarion Chukwurah, Nollywood Legend, UN Int’l Special Peace Envoy
*Says: “Nigeria is a Non-Film Equipment Manufacturing Nation”
*Laments: “Nollywood is a Growing Industry limited by lack of Infrastructure”
*Explains: “Hallmark of Nollywood is Telling the African Story”
* Echoes: “Nollywood Far Better than India’s Bollywood in Creative Artistic Talents”
*Tells President BUHARI: “Federal Govt Should Protect Nollywood against Piracy, Facilitate Enabling Environment for Creative Minds in Nollywood to Flourish”
*REVEALED: “Celluloid Film Production in Nigeria Too Expensive as Nigerian Economy & Foreign Exchange Rate Declines”
States: “I’m Always Humbled by My Fans’ Loyalty to My Brand”
FOR over three decades (30 years) Clarion Chukwurah, an ageless beauty, Queen of Nigerian movie called Nollywood, a serial award winner with membership of several film-related bodies worldwide, an accomplished actress and film producer whose professionalism in character interpretations in various movies and highest standard, quality productions made her a Nigerian Legend has become a familiar face in most homes of Africans across the globe. In an Exclusive Interview with CNNiReport Journalist North America, this most celebrated Nigerian beauty, movie expert and Founder, Clarion Chukwurah Initiative International talks about the Adventure of Nollywood, How Nollywood still remains number one film industry for Export Promotion of African Culture, Why Celluloid Film in Nigeria is too Expensive, Her advise to Nigerian Government on Ways to Improve Nollywood and Message to her ever-loyal Fans
Q: How will you rate Nollywood performance in Nigeria so far?
A: Nollywood is a growing industry limited by lack of Infrastructure in a non-film equipment manufacturing nation.
Q: Do you think Nollywood some day can be upgraded into Hollywood level?
A: Nollywood does not have the Infrastructural, broad based investment input and the the national scientific vision advantage that built and sustains Hollywood. The nation within which Nollywood has to grow beyond our unending limitations for Nollywood to grow into her own not necessarily Hollywood.
Q: From Nollywood in Nigeria, Ghallywood in Ghana, Callywood in Cameroon and Bollywood in India, which would you say is the best in quality content, great characters, messages, mass appeal and global acceptance?
A: Bollywood is a film industry that is almost 100 years old with about 50 years history of film production equipment manufacturing, broad based investment, internationally acclaimed film schools, and expertise input into all areas of production. So technically, India is ahead in quality but Nollywood possess the most creative artistic talents.
Q: How come most movie producers in Africa always scripts their films around sex, instead of the riches of African culture?
A: Nollywood is the first film industry to become famous for export promotion of African culture worldwide and the hallmark of Nollywood is telling the African story the African way, not sex.
Q: Will you say President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has failed the creative film industry in the country in terms of support and ideology?
A: Nollywood began as entrepreneur initiative and grew from private business funding funding not government.
Q: What are the evergreen moments of your career in Nollywood?
A: I have several evergreen moments across four continents.
Q: What ways can Nollywood be used by BUHARI to spread the virtues of the nation and attract foreign direct investors into the country?
A: The Federal Government should protect the industry against privacy, create an enabling economic environment for the creative minds in Nollywood to flourish and leave the creative initiative to the artists not dictate creative content for any reason because that will retrogress the industry and further politicize it.
Q: How come there are no more celluloid films as produced in era of late Hubert Ogunde again?
A: Celluloid film production in Nigeria became too expensive as the Nigerian economy and foreign currency rate went into decline and has continued a downslide for almost thirty years limiting practitioners to video movie production because Nigeria is a non-film equipment/film stock production country.
Q: What are the lasting legacies you have imprinted on sands of time in Nollywood?
A: My work, my pace setter role model mode, my integrity and internationally recognized humanitarian work, my unique acting style and craft and talent which has extended over three generations, are some of the hallmarks of my career.
Q: What is your final message to your fans worldwide?
A: I love my fans and I am always humbled by their loyalty to my brand. I value their mass love which has sustained my career over 30 years.
