Film Producers Part 3

Try and come up with original stories. Please avoid men dressed as women. Making fun of the body shape of African mothers and grandmothers is not funny. These are women that raised us against all odds. 

Some Nigerian actors and actresses are now behind the camera as producers. This is not new because actresses like Mary Njoku, Uche Jombo and Ruth Kadiri have well-established production companies. There are more actress-turned-producer now, thanks to YouTube. Male actors are also behind the camera as producers.

Money. Sleepless nights. Producers can relate to that. They need money for cameras, lights, transport, food for cast and crew, and many other things the director needs to shoot the movie. The big ticket item is the camera. Cutting corners with the camera is suicidal. I don’t know how many YouTube movies I’ve seen that are dark or grey and you can hardly see what is happening on the screen. It’s a waste of money. Costumes are not important, wigs that cost six months’ rent are not important. Invest in a high quality camera and microphones.

As a new producer, you must constantly work with the director about the who, where and when, because every scene has a price tag.

1. Jogging scenes. Compress them. Setting up camera on the road costs time and money. Instead, shoot the actor flopping on his front door, all sweaty, after a long morning run.

2. School scenes. You don’t need a whole school. Decorate one empty room with posters. Desks? A carpenter can make two or three unique ones. Since it’s not a real school, the director will shoot tight, close-up scenes so that viewers don’t realize it’s not a proper school.

3. Food. Get rid of the usual pasta, rice and chicken. It costs money and time to prepare. The director will shoot a pair of hands collecting plates, pretending they just finished eating.

4. Car entering the gate. People at home don’t need to see it. It’s enough when the character gets out of the car, takes out her briefcase and enters her home.

5. Avoid shooting in a real market. It’s a headache to set up and there are too many distractions.

6. Use the cellphone torch to light hard to reach spaces, like drawers.

These are just ideas. As a producer, you must be creative in how to cut costs, without compromising the story.

Nonqaba waka Msimang

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