Dr Rasheedah Liman, a lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Performing Arts, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has called on government at all levels to engage filmmakers in promoting national values.

She made the call in an interview with the media on Thursday in Bauchi at the sidelines of the 2018 Consumer Forum of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB).

The forum with the theme: “The Movie Industry: The case for Peace, Economic Development and Social Engineering”, held from Jan. 29 to Feb 1. at the Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi State.

According to Liman, one of the resource persons at the event, film was a veritable tool that could be used to drive national narratives and set agenda for development of societies.

She added that movie producers and creative designers should be engaged to creatively reflect national values and promote the culture, people and science/technology of Nigeria.

“Producers, as well as directors, with support from investors and government, could promote identified values that represent Nigeria.

“The director is the brain behind the final product from scene to scene, and as a result he is an important individual in promoting group or national agenda.

“He must be schooled on the national values of his people in other to promote it and thereby ensuring behavioural change, ’’she said.

Liman therefore urged relevant government agencies, especially the legislature, to formulate policies and ensure enabling environment for the filmmaking to strive.

“It will be easier to get the filmmakers to promote good plans of government for a better society if they are carried along and supported.

“When you listen to people and show to them that you are ready to work with them, they will be willing to contribute their quota to national development.”

The Don noted  that the Nigerian creative industry still placed emphasis profit because of the attendant social and economic realities in the country.

She however advised that although the filmmakers are business persons who set out to make profit, there is need for them to be socially responsible, as they shape public opinions.

“Besides its economic importance, film can be used to develop and project a nation positively.

“It is the duty of the film directors to use their art to construct a positive identity for their society.

“For example, Nigerians are known to be survivors under any circumstance, they are known to be optimistic, faithful and daring irrespective of challenges, when they set out to achieve a goal.

“This aspect of the Nigerian life has not been exhaustively promoted by the Nigerian film industry,” she noted.

The Consumer Forum is a flagship programme of the NFVCB aimed at sensitising stakeholders in the Nigerian movie industry.

It brings together actors and producers, entrepreneurs, the academia and other relevant government functionaries to discuss the enormous potentials available in the sector.

The 2018 edition brought together students and filmmakers, among other stakeholders, for lecture series that offered participants opportunity to share thoughts and brainstorm on contemporary issues in film making.

Culled from : ThePress

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