A Filmmaker and Director, David Royal Ogbonna has urged the Federal Government at all levels to create a film commission for the industry to strive and contribute more to the country’s GDP.
David Royal who graduated from the prestigious Federal University of Calabar, UNICAL in 2017 with 4.3 Grade Point Average [GPA] in the Department of Theatre & Media Studies made the appeal in an Interview with Vanguard on Wednesday.
According to David Royal, all the states in the USA, have a film commission, which makes production convenient for filmmakers in such climes.
“It is only Lagos that has a film commission. The absence in other states makes it a bit difficult to expand film production across the country.
“So, it is pertinent for government at all levels to create a stable and enabling environment for film production to thrive,” he said.
David further said the enabling environment could also be in the provision of loans at a low-interest rate to encourage more investment in the sector.
He said that Nigeria’s film industry had been projected to be worth $6.4 billion, producing about 2,500 films on a yearly basis.
David listed budget, quality, Africanis and the environment where the film was produced, as some of the determinants of a good movie.
According to him, many streaming platforms are coming to Africa because they have seen the potential in Africa, but budget remains a big determinant for the success of any production.
He harped on the need for filmmakers to add African culture to their production.
David Royal said standards must be met for any film to travel far and wide and should not be compromised.