Nollywood's filmmaker and actress, Oboli, has declared that Nigeria's film industry is able to be shoulder shoulder with Hollywood, especially in the field of original narrative.
Speaking in an interview with Instablog9ja on Saturday, Oboli responded to often level criticism against Nollywood films, particularly regarding the predictability and development of the plot.
She argued that while some stories can be predictable, which really captivates the public is the trip that the characters make. “A story can be predictable, but if it is well told, people will still see it and enjoy it,” Oboli said. “They are not just the Nigerians or the Africans who look at. People around the world are tune in to enjoy our stories.”
Oboli also emphasized that Nollywood has a rich reservoir of original and related narratives, often overcoming what is in the main Hollywood films. “I dare to say that Nollywood has more original stories than Hollywood,” he said. “I listen to people to say: 'Oh, these films are predictable.' I'm like, name five or ten Hollywood films that are not predictable.
In addition, he emphasized the importance of writing scripts and storytelling crafts, pointing out that even in genres such as romantic comedies, where the finals are often obvious, it is the trip that makes a film convincing.
“If the trip is not interesting, it is when you start saying: 'Oh, very predictable.' That is because you did not enjoy the trip.
Oboli's comments highlight the growing confidence within Nollywood as the industry continues to gain international recognition and evolving both in quality and in scope.
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