MOVIE REVIEW: BEASTS OF NO NATION

SO I WAS NETFLIX AND CHILLING...

Never been so immersed in a war film as I was with Beast of No Nation. One word, BEAUTIFUL.

I wouldn't want to give all the spoilers here.

Cary Fukunaga's attention to the details around Agu's Character, made it easy to understand the true point of view and struggles of a child soldier.

The angles, the sound and the awesome accent. I loved the accent. So richly African... with a whole lot of "I am having...", "I am liking...", "I am being" and so on...

It was compelling and real in every sense. The portrayal of dirty politics and power-hunger at the expense of family lives and peace of a nation while ripping children off their innocence and joy of childhood couldn't have been any well written.

There was Agu the young innocent child, full of life and maybe some childish smart antics, then there was the situation of war in the Nation, no peace, no more laughter in the home and watching his mother disappear before his very eyes wasn't the height of the heart-wrenching scenes, but having to run into a place you have no idea would be any better - all by yourself.

Then he became a captive in the hands of the rebel, with the only course of finding his mother someday and the feeling of indignation of losing the rest of the family to the government, rebellion seemed like the right and only choice.

Finally a killer was birthed.
I watched the innocence of Agu buried quickly under a growing need to survive and find family again.

The idea of the initiation  was one of the realest thing portrayed around a rebel camp. vain goals and lustful longings  was an essential detail that added a rich blend to the drama. Only to realize that it was all to nothing.

It was just the right amount of drama and action and the glimmer of hope as it all comes ending slowly, gives a special feel to a war film that is generally rare.
After long devastating moments in the movie we reach a point were we can heave and believe in the one person we vouched for through the entire movie - Agu.

Idris Elba and Abraham Atta absolutely nailed their roles.

What do you think?

THE RIGHT THING IS WRITING -Part I

WRITING THE RIGHT THING, WHEN THE RIGHT THING IS WRITING.

WRITING is the reflection of great thinking on notes that can be seen by a reader, while creating and maintaining the images of the thoughts of the writer in the mind of the reader, that he begins to see it as his own.
There is always a triangular part to the concept of writing and they are: the writer, the material and the audience, and there MUST be a relationship between
these three folds.
The writer has to understand his audience and know how his material affects them, else he'd be painting blur pictures and simply wasting his time.
A good writer is a good reader. there is no appeal to it. therefore, always do well to expand your knowledge box.

SCREENWRITING: This is a rather more creative, clear and concise description of a thought pattern of an idea or an image and the rule is, you mustn't waste time around the NAIL, just hit right on the head!

The whole idea is to create a 'REAL' picture of something entirely 'VIRTUAL' or 'MUNDANE' or 'OBSCURE' or 'IDEAL' and make it impossible to be doubted and one must understand the basics to be able to know how to communicate a good idea to the reader.
Screenwriting like every other successful thing in life, grows within a structured pattern.
There is a structure that should be observed through every act, sequence, and plot point.

So when you write know that doing the right thing but whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well, thus you have to NAIL IT. You don't have a choice.

I will share a few ideas that I have, on how to basically make it work with writing. I am not calling them absolute but you could learn a thing or two.

Welcome.

NIGERIA MOVIE SCREENWRITING

WRITING AND THE BLESSEDNESS OF REWRITING

One of our major issues as Nigerians is our inability to stop rushing. we rush everything as though it would all be gone in a split second.

It is sad enough that every other place that isn't under our fully control may be in a hurry to leave you but your writing is yours, no one is taking it away from you.

Take your time to write the script and very importantly be patient enough to rewrite, over and over and again.

Patience is a virtue in screenwriting and so would your script become a virtue if you are willing to let it flow in it's pace.

NIGERIA MOVIE UPDATE

GBOMO GBOMO EXPRESS by Walter Banger

After I saw  this trailer of gbomo gbomo express

You don't know how excited I am that we are having better stories coming at this point where I am starting this blog. Even though I would not be giving the all hearty pat in the back for stuff that go badly, I will not hesitate to give a huge HI-Fives to great stuff too.

The movie industry is doing really fine in this part of the world and yet another beautiful story is going to be unleashed. the movie title Gbomo Gbomo express promises to be thrilling as it stars the likes of Ramsey Noah, Osas Ajibade, Gideon Okeke, Gbenro Ajibade, Ikechukwu and may more...

Let's hope the story comes out as good as it promises.

WE WILL BE BACK TO MAKE OUR REVIEWS... wait for it.

THE "CEO" BY KUNLE AFOLAYAN

One of the most darling director and Movie producer of Nollywood is having something big up his sleeves. It is going to be titled "The CEO"

Kunle Afolayan has a thing with great stories told well using detailed characterizations and beautiful picture that, if you are a fan of one of his work, you are a fan of all!
The CEO would be staring  Grammy-award winning songwriter and Activist from Benin - Angelique Kidjo; Fatym Layachi; Nico Panagio, Kemie Lala Akindoju, Wale Ojo, Peter King and Aurelie Eliam.

The extra mile Kunle would go to tell his stories the best way, is why he remains one of my favourite Nigerian Directors,

I can't wait ...

NIGERIA MOVIE REVIEWS - DIALOGUE

CREATING THE IDEAL DIALOGUE FOR YOUR MOVIE

THE NOLLYWOOD MOVIES CASE STUDY

the Nigerian conversation

Growing up as a child, one of the things I envied about adults was the way they engaged in conversations.

I would wonder how they come up with such speeches or how they say the things they said.

I usually thought, it was something you couldn't control. You just open your mouth and let the words pour out and the recipient would do same, and somehow, they would both be making sense to each other. it kind of justifies why I was a noisy kid back then. I just simply blabbed on and hoped it made some sense to my listeners. It wasn't always so easy; Infact most of the time i got scolded because i was simply MAKING A NOISE.

I realized as I grew that there was more to talking than just opening the mouth. There was a thought process.
So when I see movies that create characters who just do what I used to do as a kid - i.e MAKE NOISE, in a bid to engage in dialogues I feel the need to bring to the notice what they must have missed out during the screenplay creation process. 

1. There is a certain pattern or style that is usually unique to the speaker's personality. For instance, a playful sanguine may reply to a simple question like: "are you hungry?" by saying "I can eat an elephant!" While a taciturn choleric may just say "yes". Another personality may reply with a question "do you want to give me food?" So when writing dialogues in your screenplay one should take note of the characters personality and should ONLY talk like they would.

This is why you must first create a well defined character.  (More about defining characters would come soon)

2. It is also pertinent to take note of the world of the story. In what kind of environment do your character reside?
if you were ever that kid whose mother never allowed to mingle with people in the neighbourhood of Oshodi just so that you wouldn't speak like the "agberos" that roamed about, then you should understand the essence of environmental influence on a person. Now how do you feel when you see a setting about an epic story of a village girl who is speaking the queen's English?

3. In all, let your dialogue be creative, concise and relevant in moving your story forward. No one likes to hear an over flogged joke, or an over emphasizd point especially when we have gotten it already.
In your screenplay, if the dialogue is too long and irrelevant - kill it.

A good dialogue makes the entire screenplay feel like music - well woven, stimulating and carrying the message of the story.

If you have any suggestions on how Nollywood screenwriter can make their Movie dialogues make more sense, Pleaseshare in the comment section, I will love to hear it.

WELCOME TO THE JULIBRAVO!

Hi there,

If you are searching for creative appreciation of the writing art and the visual display of this creation; with open and constructive criticism of movies and screenplays you are in the right place!

If you want to be a better writer, screenplay writer, Nigerian film maker and learn more about movies in Nigeria that have hit the standard reviews and rankings in the world, YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

My name is Ako Julie Onoshiokhue and I am a screenplay writer and creative content creator. I want to take you on a ride that you can trust and tell you when it is the right thing you are doing with your scripts/movies/writings.

I will be reviewing only GOOD Nollywood movies and breaking down their scripts because it is what I have a great passion for - good storytelling, whatever the form.

I have been saddened in the past by the mediocre level in which our movies have wallowed for a long time and inasmuch as passion and talent pushed me into this line of art and writing, one of my biggest motivation to start this blog was the need to appreciate the few stories/movies cutting out of this niche of mediocrity.

Let's tell the right story and tell it well.

I can not do this alone, and your contributions would be heartily appreciated.

I believe that if we can criticize these people and applaud them when they do good, we could be creating an healthy competition where they stand to want to become better.