Computer Graphics and Special Effects: A creative way of producing Igbo-themed movies for the global audience.

Abstract

Film production in developed nations have gone digital, and the old ways of producing movies are gradually dying. The Nigerian Movie Industry, popularly referred to as „Nollywood‟ is yet to come to terms with this, despite being ranked the third highest grossing movie maker in the world, behind „Hollywood‟ in the United States of America and „Bollywood‟ in India. Computer Graphics, Animation and Special Effects created with computers have been embraced by movie studios in developed nations. Film editors, who for decades worked by painstakingly cutting and gluing film segments together, are now sitting in front of computer screens. There, they edit entire features while adding special effects, animations and sound that is not only stored digitally, but also has been created and manipulated with computers. Viewers are witnessing the results of all these in the form of stories and experiences that they never dreamed of before. This paper aims to create more awareness on the need for Film Makers, Producers, Directors and all other Stake-holders involved in the making of Igbo–themed Nollywood Movies, to incorporate computer graphics, animations and special effects in their movie productions, and also to encourage more people to get involved in this virgin area of film production. By doing this, the movies produced would be globally accepted and would compete with other movies from around the globe. This in turn would create positive awareness for the Igbo people and their culture, in a globalized society, create employment for them and create wealth for all the other stakeholders involved in the movie industry. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of all these, however, is that the entire digital effects and animation industry are still in their infancy in Nigeria. Igbo Nollywood practitioners must tap into this very virgin area of film production. The future of Igbo-themed Nollywood Movies looks very bright.