The film industry in Nigeria, popularly referred to as ‘’Nollywood’’ is estimated to employ over 1 Million Nigerians, thus, it is the second largest employer of Labour in Nigeria after agricultural sector. It is also estimated to contribute about $600 Million to the nation’s economy annually, producing about 50 films weekly.
Various skilled personnel are responsible for bringing a film into existence, the main categories being directors, producers, screenwriters and actors.
However, there are hundreds, sometimes thousands (Hollywood) of jobs associated with filmmaking.
The Wedding party, highest-grossing Nigerian film of all time in Nigerian cinemas (₦453,050,000) was made by 400 extras, 75 crew members, 20 lead cast, 40 different contractors, about 20 luxury cars.
Therefore, for someone looking at the prospect of a career in Nollywood, it can be an overwhelming and confusing task to understand where your aspirations fit in amongst the dozens of artistic, technical, and logistical departments. Not too worry, this thread got your back.
The various career prospect will be divided under, Development and Pre-production Production and Post Production.

How many likes to go ahead with this thread?

Subscribed

Looking forward..

Go ahead please I'm following

Ride on

I am interested in directing, screenwriting and editing.

@Op, how prospective is editing work in general? Whether you work mainly for Nollywood or for any possible video/audio editing work? Can one earn a decent life out of it?

Development & Pre-Production
Development: The start of a project differs, but generally will begin with development of a script, be that an existing script, a book, a brief story outline. Development may also start with a Director and/or Writer pitching an idea to a Producer.

Pre-Production: This is the phase where you would narrow down the options of the production. It is where all the planning takes place before the camera rolls and sets the overall vision of the project. Pre-production also includes working out the shoot location and casting. The Producer will now hire a Line Manager or Production Manager to create the schedule and budget for the film.

STORY DEVELOPMENT
Typically under story development we have the following people depending on the movie.
1. Screenwriter
2. Story Editor
3. Researcher
4. Script Reader
5. Literary Agent

Screenwriter:
Screenwriting is the act of writing scripts intended to be turned into movies or television shows. Those who write scripts are called screenwriters, and screenwriters are often freelance writers, which means they are self-employed.

Let start with some hard facts about selling a script to a movie producer or a big production company. To be totally honest, you don’t simply write a screenplay, market it, and then sell it for a million naira. That’s a myth.

In order to break into the movie industry (Nollywood) as a script writer you have to go in with a realistic viewpoint, if not your dreams will get crushed in a twinkle of an eye.

Here are some quick guides for a career in script writing.

BROADEN YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Acquire all the knowledge you can lay your hands on about script writing and the industry. Read as many produced script that you can lay your hands on. This will be the best education you get. Reading scripts. Reading produced scripts especially.
WATCH MOVIES, consume as many movies as you can. Do it like your life depended on it. It is also expected that you pay attention to details while watching these movies. Each scene matters. Each scene builds to the next. Each scene has purpose. Each scene is short, sweet, and to the point.

WHAT MOVIES DO YOU WANT TO WRITE?
Think long and hard about what you want to write and if your ideas are big enough, be it in comedy, horror, action, drama, or sci-fi (GOOD LUCK WITH THAT, YOU’LL NEED IT). Once you are able to narrow what genre of movie you will be writing, it will be easier to make a master piece with your scripts.
Kemi Adesoye, screenwriter for movies such as Figuring, Phone Swap, Doctors Quarters, Tinsel, said “There is need for you to have a particular pattern of writing especially now that the industry is growing and the world becoming a global village. You must come out of your comfort zone to write yourself into prominence.”

DON’T STOP! KEEP WRITING!!!
If you keep working on writing scripts cover to cover you are honing your skills before your big break into the industry. Your first script will and always will be your worst. Don’t fall into the trap of writing your first script and then going out and trying to market and sell it. You’re not ready.
Renowned script writer, Tunde Babalola, when asked how he has perfected his art over the years, his reply was “It is by continually writing. One never stops learning. The more one does it, the better one gets at it. Of course, there are books one can read on the subject and further degrees that one can study to enhance one’s craft, but I’ve always believed practice makes perfect.”[i][/i]
In the course of reading produced script you will pick up certain knowledge that will be very useful to you. You will learn that you need to draw your reader/viewers in from your first few pages, they have to engage the viewers, making them yearn for more.

HOW DO YOU MARKET YOUR SCRIPT?
Do your research and find out who to approach. Do not just pick the most popular producers/ Production Company and throw your script at their faces. Do your research. I will advise you find a way of getting their email address. Email is non-committal. They don’t have to talk to you. They have to read through their email. And response-wise, it’s as easy as clicking “delete” or “reply”.
When reaching out to prospective client/investor you should give basic introduction about yourself, logline, synopsis, and end by saying thanks for considering.
What if you can’t get an email? Well, if you can lay your hands on their phone numbers brace up and give them a call. Before you make that phone call rehearse your selling point and give it the best shot you can.

NETWORK!!!!
Attend industry related events where you can come across potential investors, a big producer, other aspiring script writers or a production company. When you find yourself in the presence of such personalities it is important you portray a good impression of yourself. You might only get that opportunity once and one opportunity is all it takes to set your care

SO HOW DO YOU SELL YOUR SCRIPT?
First thing is to have at least 2-3 great scripts you are 100% sure will have anyone hooked from the first few pages. You might ask why? Well, if you get the opportunity of meeting someone who seems interested they are probably going to ask you “what other script do you have?” They may love your writing, but the concept you have in the script they read isn’t something they want to produce. So they’ll see if you have anything else. If you don’t? “Great. Nice to meet you. Have a nice day.”
Have three great scripts and you’ll look more and more like a seasoned writer that’s ready to tackle this beast of a screenwriting career rolling.

Ride on op

STORY EDITOR

We hardly come across a Story Editor in Nollywood film value chain. Nonetheless, let’s find out what the job of a story editor entails in other climes.
According to Wikipedia, Story editor is a job title in motion picture and television production, also sometimes called "supervising producer". A story editor is a member of the screenwriting staff who edits stories for screenplays.
The story editor has many responsibilities, including finding new script/breakdown writers, developing stories with writers, and ensuring that scripts are suitable for production. The story editor will work closely with the writer on each draft of their story and script, giving the writer feedback on the quality of their work, suggesting improvements that can be made while also ensuring that practical issues, like continuity and correct running time, are adhered to.

What Skills & Education do you need?

A university degree in English, creative writing, or film and television production with a concentration on scriptwriting is valuable education that places you ahead of the rest.
The majority of story editors first start out as show writers. The best way to get a job as a story editor is to break into the field as a staff writer, and then work your way up to a story editor position.

Finally, landing an internship or work placement at a production company is also an excellent way to break into the field. Even if your job isn't related to writing, per se, it may put you in contact with the people who are, which is a good time to slip them a spec script. If your internship or placement is with a writing team, take the time to learn how things are run and who does all the hiring of new writers.

UbChapter:
@Op, how prospective is editing work in general? Whether you work mainly for Nollywood or for any possible video/audio editing work? Can one earn a decent life out of it?

....

Following...

Nice one! following...

FILM RESEARCHER
This is another field of expertise that is not made use of in Nollywood. However, it doesn’t mean you can’t pursue a career as a film researcher. A good researcher is an integral part of any production team. Yet, when was the last time you watched an outstanding film and said to yourself afterwards, "That was an incredible piece of work — I wonder who researched it"? I would venture to guess that for most people this is not the first question that comes to mind. It is obvious that a producer, director, and editor play significant roles in shaping a film, which is why they tend to receive the most prolific accolades. On the other hand, a good researcher may just be the unsung hero of a well-crafted and thought-provoking non-fiction film.

What do Film Researchers do?
A Film Researcher researches and fact-checks the information in movies — both fiction and nonfiction — so they’re as accurate, and therefore believable, as possible.
Typically, a film researcher works with films in pre-production. Before the movie’s made, therefore, you comb through the script in order to fact-check it, which means reading it, then highlighting information — names, dates, locations, occupations, historical and cultural references, scientific facts, etc. — that will need to be verified. Upon reading the script and identifying your research objectives, you then set to work finding and correcting facts by doing Internet searches, e-mailing and calling subject matter experts, and accessing electronic research tools.

Do you want to be a film researcher?
You should have a bachelor degree and consider these salient points.

Have wide interests.
Be curious. Subject matter can vary widely when you work as a researcher. Quite simply, the broader your interests are the more skills you will be bringing to your work and the more likely you will enjoy your research.

Be critical.
Often a researcher is given the task of finding out everything there is to know about a certain subject. A good researcher must be able to sort through information and determine which details are relevant and which are not.

Know your sources.
For nearly every researcher, a research trip now begins on your desktop. The Internet has become a treasure trove of information making research faster and easier, and academic resources more accessible.

Persistent: [/b]You keep pushing through, even when faced with tough obstacles.

Outside the Box Thinker: Your creative brainpower gets a workout as you come up with innovative ideas.

Reliable: You can always be counted on to do a good job.

Script Reader

These days everybody claims they have a blockbuster script to sell to executive producer and producers. With the excessive influx of scripts available these days, busy executives and producers cannot read everything.

DUTIES

The script reader is tasked with reading scripts submitted for possible production, or scripts submitted on behalf of a writer seeking representation from an agent.
He or she will also be given some sort of rubric for making comments or notations for the executive concerning the merit of the story, characters, and setting.
A script reader typically looks out for the following:
That the script is in the proper format for page layout.
An improperly formatted script is not read and immediately trashed.
He or she checks to see that the title page (cover) provides all of the required information (title, author, date, address, phone, etc.).
If the script passes the looks test, then the reader proceeds to actually peruse the story.
After done perusing the script, the script reader makes a review of the script and opines on the material’s strengths and weaknesses, the overall effectiveness of the narrative and its viability as a film or TV project. The reader gives the script a grade of RECOMMEND, CONSIDER or PASS.

Skills & Education

A University degree is not a requirement, though formal education in film and television production, theatrical production, scriptwriting, or related fields is beneficial. Courses in entertainment business and writing are also helpful. Most valuable to an employer is the script reader’s ability to quickly and succinctly summarize the material, pull out the significant points of interest, and understand how a script fits with the company’s current production aspirations. The script reader must understand the rules for proper formatting, conventions of story, and actually enjoy reading, of course. Moreover, this position demands you be highly discerning, critical, and analytical.

LITERARY AGENT

According to Wikipedia, a literary agent (often synonymous with "publishing agent" is an agent who represents writers and their written works to publishers, theatrical producers, film producers and film studios, and assists in the sale and deal negotiation of the same. Literary agents most often represent novelists, screenwriters and non-fiction writers. They are paid a fixed percentage (usually twenty percent on foreign sales and ten to fifteen percent for domestic sales) [1] of the proceeds of sales they negotiate on behalf of their clients.
A knowledgeable agent knows the market, and can be a source of valuable career advice and guidance.

Literary agents are often very experienced members of the publishing industry who usually transition from years of working in the industry before moving on to being agents.

We have come to the end of the development and pre-production stage. Next we shall be looking and the production stage and the various creatives involved at this point.

GOOD NEWS FOR SCRIPT WRITERS


Are you a talented and creative scriptwriter between the ages 16 and 30 with the ability to capture your audience? Homevida is giving you a big opportunity!

Homevida is calling out to you guys to send in your original scripts that promote;

Transparency, Accountability and Good Governance – endowed by USAID/SACE or;
Countering hate speech – supported by Google.

And guess what? This year, Homevida is dishing out a whopping sum of N250,000 (two hundred and fifty thousand naira) [/b]in each category and the winning scripts get turned into short films!

You would also have the privilege to take part in a 3-day seminar facilitated by some of Nollywood’s best directors, screenwriters and filmmakers…C’mmon! Who wouldn’t want to be a part of this? I bet you would!

To stand a better chance of winning, please ensure you read the criteria for selection. To send in your original scripts, please visit the website to view the criteria and upload your entries. http://www.homevida.org/
[b]
Entries close August 3, 2017.

PRODUCTION: PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY

We shall be looking at the various creatives involved in the production stage.
Location
Set Decoration
Props
Makeup/Hair
Costume
Art Department
Camera
Grip
Lightening
Production sound
Special Effects
Transportation
Craft services
Catering
Publicity

Which of these should we explore first? Need enagement from you to carry on.

Nollyconnect:
PRODUCTION: PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY

We shall be looking at the various creatives involved in the production stage.
Location
Set Decoration
Props
Makeup/Hair
Costume
Art Department
Camera
Grip
Lightening
Production sound
Special Effects
Transportation
Craft services
Catering
Publicity

Which of these should we explore first? Need enagement from you to carry on.

Location

i wil love to act one day or become an oap...but age isnt on my side anymore.....Lord,let ur wil be done

Great Job you doing here.

This will be a great opportunity for script writers. Thanks @nollyconnect
But what is wrong with homevida's website

Waooo..... Greatest article ever....

Nolaneye:
This will be a great opportunity for script writers. Thanks @nollyconnect
But what is wrong with homevida's website

They are probably doing some upgrade i guess. Are you a script writer? Keep checking for updates.

Nollyconnect:


They are probably doing some upgrade i guess. Are you a script writer? Keep checking for updates.

I am. I have scripts I plan to sell but I am working on it. Almost through though.

Nolaneye:

I am. I have scripts I plan to sell but I am working on it. Almost through though.

Alright. All the best Nolaneye

Pls I want ask about script writing..
Is it advisable to send all your full copy of written scripts to a producer through email or direct..
The fear of they might steal the idea by reading and never pay you..

Nnabuochidi:
Pls I want ask about script writing..
Is it advisable to send all your full copy of written scripts to a producer through email or direct..
The fear of they might steal the idea by reading and never pay you..

If you have a good script, first thing you do is to copyright your script. You can even copyright an idea. Register your script with a copyright office then you can send it to the producer. You have the upper hand then.
I see great writers coming up with great stuff.. Nollywood, get ready

Nnabuochidi:
Pls I want ask about script writing..
Is it advisable to send all your full copy of written scripts to a producer through email or direct..
The fear of they might steal the idea by reading and never pay you..

It is important to copyright your work like @Kennypoka rightly pointed out. However, there are also a few tips you should adapt before sending out your script.
You need to carry out your research on whoever it is you will be sending your script too. You also don't necessarily need to send a full copy of your written script.
Regardless of title and story, the most important element in pitching your screenplay is the Logline. This is the short pitch. A one or two sentence description of the basic concept, and unique hook that your story has. This is what Producers will read and know if they have confidence to take the time and read the script.

Finally, when marketing your work, keep records of correspondence by saving emails or postal mail to any third party who request your material.

Side note: I'll implore every screenwriter/scriptwriter to see the movie ''TRUMBO''. It's a biography of successful screenwriter Dalton Trumbo (Bryan Cranston) and other Hollywood figures who get blacklisted for their political beliefs.

“Location, location, location.” This well-known phrase is typically used to discuss real estate business. We, however, will be looking at the film crew involved at location.


These crew include:

Location Manager

Location Scout

Location Production Assistant


STAY TUNED.

Following this threat as if my life depends on it ride on op

Comedy: Hayorlad Laughing Gas (Ep 7) - BELLEFULL LOVER

via


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUelaI6AMs4

Please Subscribe.