Ben Stiller “To Spread Goodness” in Nigeria
Posted on Friday, May 8th, 2009 at 4:32 pmBy Louisa Olubukola Kinoshi
As Nollywood continues to rise in popularity, Hollywood might just begin to see Nigeria as the perfect background for its movies. Why not? A city like Lagos has all the scenic drama you would need for the perfect action scene. Variety Magazine announced this week that Ben Stiller will be directing a new movie based on a Chicago banker who gets swindled in a Nigerian scam. While the project is meant to be entertaining, it also sheds light on current issues in Nigeria and other African countries. The film is going to be produced by Participant Media (The Soloist) whose mandate to make films that compel social change.
At the premiere of X-Men the wolverine last weekend, many Nigerians were proud to see that one of the beginning scenes was set in Lagos. There was even a man speaking Igbo! The aerial view was definitely Lagos and some even think that the action shot that featured a Nigerian diamond dealer took place in the UBA building. However, most of the shots were probably in a studio.
It looks like Nollywood might also be able to compete with “Tinsel Town’ some day. UNESCO announced that the Nigerian film industry has overtaken Hollywood and closed the gap on India in the number of movies produced each year. So, what are your thoughts on Hollywood films and TV shows that reference Nigeria and how accurate are they? Here are a few below but I’m probably missing a lot.
Tears of the Sun
Bruce Willis plays a Special-Ops commander who leads his team into a jungle in Nigeria to rescue a doctor played by Monica Belluci who will only go with them if they agree to rescue 70 refugees too.
Sahara
Matthew McConaughey is cast as explorer Dirk Pitt who goes on the adventure of a lifetime of seeking out a lost Civil War battleship known as the “Ship of Death” in the deserts of West Africa while helping a UN doctor being hounded by a ruthless dictator.
Phat Girlz
Monique plays a plus-size woman trying to find a place in the skin-and-bones world of high fashion by launching her own line of clothes for large ladies. While on vacation, she meets Tunde (Jimmy Jean-Louis), a handsome and successful doctor from Nigeria, and she discovers to her surprise that Tunde is strongly attracted to her.
Addendum
I just had to write this note after hearing the opinions of our readers thus far. I definitely agree that we have seen too much from the media about the negatives like the scam industry and not enough positive news. Just wanted to note that the producers of the movie have stated that the movie will highlight issues in the country that influence the scam industry.
The purpose of film is to showcase reality, provoke thought, invoke emotion and hopefully bring about change. The “419″ scam is one that is very real in our society and stains our public image. This movie or any type like it is not what is destroying our image. Unfortunately, thanks to a few bad apples, all “The West” has to do is look at their inbox and fax machine to be presented with a negative view of Nigeria. Hopefully through a movie like this we can talk about the real reason why corruption and scams like “419″ exists.
I also agree that “The West” needs to look internally instead of pointing the finger at us. From the corporate greed in Wall Street that caused the global financial crisis, to Bernie Madoff and other Ponzi schemes, 419 exists in everyone’s backyard. While we shouldn’t rely on Hollywood to be the ones to highlight our issues, culture and identity. We need to understand that to change perceptions we do have to be in the broad public dialogue.
The one thing that makes me nervous is that the there isn’t a single Nigerian on the executive production team. Either way, as someone who doesn’t have the luxury of being in my country every day. It’s still pretty cool to once in a while see Nigeria or Nigerians referencd in a movie or TV show, unfortunately that comes with bad plot lines and inaccurate scenery. Thanks guys for the comments and please keep them coming!
Note (3:15pm) Synopsis of Tears of the Sun movie changed to “jungle in Nigeria”. Thanks for catching that rizzle we definitely dont want the world to think all of Nigeria is a jungle.
Tags: ben stiller, bruce willis, Louisa Kinoshi, Matthew mcconaughey, nigerian entertainment, nollywood
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actually, wolverine (the village shot) was done right here in vancouver, BC, Canada…i saw the set…dunno what y’all is talking about it being shot in Nigeria and such
omg get over yourself. the movie will bring comedy into such a bad rep. just like comedians joke about racism-it brings light to something so bad.
I agree with $poh. As a Nigerian, I am still embarrassed to tell people where I come from because of 419 fraud cases and because of aggressive Nigerian men (usually older) who try to talk to me and my American friends (we are 19-20yrs) . 7 years ago, Americans didn’t know what 419 was, but now, its everywhere. I even hear some Americans say “Oh, so and so is shady, they are Nigerian” or “Will go to Tanzania, but probably not Nigeria, its too dangerous and they are a bunch of crooks.” This new Ben Stiller movie shouldn’t be celebrated, as it will only bring further embarrassment, shame and discrimination to Nigerians abroad. Highlighting the causes of 149 won’t help either. Poverty exists everywhere and the focus will be about the ’scamming Nigerians.’…And the Title ‘Jungle in Nigeria’- wow, that’s really sad- its 2009 people! Last comment- was anyone else pissed about the movie Phat Girls? It portrayed Nigerian men as loving obese women. No respect to Monique, but even though some Nigerian women are curvy with hips etc, we are not that large and all men here don’t like that. In fact, in my family, all the women are slim. And the part at the end of the movie where the maid can’t speak English? What?!
Bla Bla… i love Wolverine and Stiller! lol
I can bet the end result of this film is going to be detrimental to the image of nigeria. I wonder if we should be celebrating this impending disgrace or making sure it addresses both parties equally? At least its a greedy person(foreigner) that will drop 100 to get 1000 in exchange. They hope to make profit that’s why they invest and then get duped.
Gosh. Someone actually said ‘This scam stereotype we are saddled with’.
Saddled with? Stereotype? Has that person lived in Nigeria in the past – gosh what – two decades?!?!?
I understand folks are involuntarily supposed to take up arms in support of country. But a little though, a little perspective is necessary. Lets not be children, which means irrational.
You forgot the new Wolverine movie…
this was a pretty informative article….great work BellaNaija
we are not amused.
I agree with those that are offended at the ’scam’ stereotype we seem to be saddled with. However, as we continue to evolve ( Fashola of Lagos)is a good example of what positive changes we can achieve…), even the so called Hollywood will also grow with it. I just hope they’ll use 9ja actors and actresses and transfer the technical skills, workable distribution framework and professionalism our movie industry sadly needs…..Anything to create jobs cos that’s the root of all the crime, brain drain, sucking up to stupid leaders.. etc in 9ja. A good example is the india movie industry-Bollywood…back in the day, all Hollywood referenced was their ‘juju like stories (snake girl? lol) and now see how technically advanced their movies are…I actually go to the theatre to watch their really good movies and Pixar/Dreamworks/Disney et all are all finding a footing there….the ripple effect is enormous.
Its kindda like our independence….i still wish we got it in 1980 as against 1960, just so they would have put up a rock solid infrastructural system for us before leaving…Imagine Yar Adua not understanding that he NEEDS to fix energy ASAP. We would have been competing with India for outsourced jobs but instead……….thank God for Fashola, hope dey!