FOR the first time, Bollywood, rated the largest movie producer in the world will meet Nollywood, the second largest producer of movies in terms of titles at the Ion International Film Festival (IONIFF) billed for Port Harcourt in December. Already, Parminder Vir OBE has been appointed programme consultant for the session aimed at connecting the two movie industries.advertisementAn award-winning film and television producer of drama, documentary, current affairs and entertainment with over 20 years experience, Parminder has worked with BBC, ITV, Channel Four and Carlton Television. Her credits include Babymother, reggae musical, with acclaimed documentaries such as Algeria Women at War, The Sex Warriors and the Samurai. She is also the Managing Director of PVL Media Consultants, which specializes in accessing multi cultural markets and raising private equity finance for film and media businesses as well as a non-executive director of Goldcrest Films, advising on investment of an EIS Film fund.A former manager in charge of Ingenious World Cinema, an equity fund set up by Ingenious Media Investment, investing in feature films from the emerging markets, Parminder is pleasantly surprised at the positive reception Bollywood movies had enjoyed in Nigeria for over 50 years."Nigerians have been watching Bollywood movies, embracing the songs, fashion and stories of the film culture. I am always amazed at the ease with which Nigerians will recall the names of the Bollywood stars, the dialogue and even sing the songs, given that this is not their language or culture. Over the years, I have become a great admirer of the Nollywood film industry, which is very similar to the Bollywood film industry with their "can do" attitude. In the absence of government support, both have created an industry which contributes substantially to the wealth of the nation."As part of the programme for the IONIFF, leading Bollywood producers will be invited to share their experience of the industry, its cultural and economic value, and explore collaboration opportunities for Nollywood producers to work with the Indian film industry. There will also be a panel discussion on new models of financing media in terms of developing creative and financial partnerships and accessing new market.The synergy between both movie industries will also be buttressed by celebrating the stars of the world's largest film industries by inviting a major Bollywood celebrity to attend the festival as guest of honour.Meanwhile, in a bid to empower the emerging talent during the festival, the organisers of the event has announced the opening of entries for the workshop series which will be held alongside the international film fiesta in Port Harcourt.According to the Creative Director, Omcomm, Caterina Bortolussi, the workshop series registration officially commenced on October 1 and would run till October 30, to allow interested individuals submit entries for the workshop on Omcomm website. The 3-day workshop, which will be handled by international recognised instructors in the world of cinema is open to filmmakers, students and creative minds from all over Nigeria. It will focus on screen-writing, digital cinematography + lighting, sound composition, budgeting + networking + financing.Attendees will learn amongst others how to develop story from an idea and shape into screenplay, the basic techniques of digital cinematography and lighting, the role of art director, the function of music in film in creating an atmosphere; examining the step-by-step on how to create a budget, and how to develop a strategy to obtain finances for their films.In the spirit of promoting intellectual development and participation of young talents, the organisers waive the course fee, while interested participants are expected to pay a token of N2, 500 as registration fee for the workshop that is expected to parade Julie Dash, John Demps, Kennard Ramsey and Brenda Doby-Flewellyn as facilitators.Julie Dash is an accomplished African American and the first woman to have a full-length general theatrical release in the United States. Her work, Daughters, was listed in O Magazine among its fifty greatest Chick Flicks, while she was honoured earlier this year at the twenty-fifth Annual Newark, with her film Daughter of the Dust, rated as one of the most important cinematic achievements in Black Cinema in the 20th Century.Doby-Flewellyn is principal and cofounder of Film Bankers international. She's one of the premier finance professionals in the entertainment industry. She has financed more than 100 feature films and television series with budgets raging from USD 500.000,00 to USD 50.000.000,00John Demps, who is expected to handle cinematography and lighting workshop, has a long list of television movies, documentary films, studio and independent feature to his credit. Kennard Ramsey, facilitator of the Sound Composition workshop, is an established Hollywood film composer. His work has been released in the Sundance, Toronto and Berlin Film Festival.
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