环球英语 — 174:Nollywood
时间:2019-02-21 作者:英语课 分类:环球英语 Spotlight
Voice 1
Hello. I’m Rachel Hobson.
Voice 2
And I’m Mike Procter. Welcome to Spotlight 1. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 3
“I only watch Nigerian films. And I love them. I learn so many things from them like being careful to choose good friends.”
Voice 1
These are the words of Mariama Touray from the West African country The Gambia. She is one of millions of people around the world who enjoys watching Nigerian films. The Nigerian film industry is growing very quickly. It is Nigeria’s answer to America’s film industry Hollywood and India’s film industry Bollywood. People call it “Nollywood”. In today’s Spotlight we tell about Nollywood.
Voice 2
In the 1980’s and 90’s many film theatres closed in Nigeria. People were afraid to go out at night. There was much crime on the streets. So people often stayed at home. When they wanted to see a film, they had to rent video cassettes 2 and DVDs. But most of the films came from Hollywood and Bollywood. Many Nigerians were not interested in the subjects of these films.
Voice 1
In 1992 everything changed. Ken 3 Nnebue is a businessman in Nigeria. He invested 5 in a film. In the past, filmmakers needed film cameras that cost a lot of money. But this “film” was made and sold on video. Video cameras were not costly 6 to buy. So, Mr. Nnebue did not need to invest 4 so much money to make the movie. And stores and market traders could easily sell the movie on video cassettes.
Voice 2
But, this video was important for other reasons too. It was made in Igbo - one of the major languages of Nigeria. And the film-makers used shocking 7 images to tell their story. The video/film was called ‘Living in Bondage 8’. Bondage means being trapped, but the film is about being trapped spiritually. The main character is called Andy Okeke. He wants to be wealthy. He will do anything to gain money. He meets a group of people who use power from the spirit world. They use witchcraft 9. And he falls under their influence. This group demands that he sacrifice his wife in exchange for wealth. When Andy goes back to his village, his family does not accept him. They see that he is wealthy. But they know something is wrong. Finally Andy becomes mentally sick. He becomes completely insane 10.
Voice 1
Many people bought ‘Living in Bondage’. The film became extremely popular. It made more money than any other Nigerian film in the past. But more importantly it captured 11 Nigerians’ imagination. Nigerians had not seen anything like it before.
Voice 2
Other producers saw how successful this film was. They saw the amount of money to be made. And they decided 12 that they would make films too. Today there are around three hundred [300] film producers. These producers are very busy. They make up to one thousand [1000] films every year - and sometimes even more. Films cost less than forty thousand [40,000] dollars to make. This is not a lot of money for producing a film. But in Nollywood, it is enough
Voice 1
Filmmakers often record these films in just one week. They use new technology to help them. Digital cameras replaced video cameras. And now HD cameras replace digital ones. Technology helps with editing 13. With film, editing meant cutting the film and putting it all together. Now, editing happens in video, using computers. This is much faster, so less costly.
Voice 2
But the filmmakers work in very difficult conditions. They may have to pay criminal gang 14 members to let them work in peace. They have limited time in most places they work. They often get delayed in traffic for hours. And actors may be very late. Many actors work on several different films on the same day.
Voice 1
All of these problems do not stop filmmakers from making films. Every week, they release 15 twenty [20] or more new films to stores and market traders. So, Nigerians have many films to choose from. They wait excitedly to see what new films are ready each week. To buy a film only costs three dollars. And to rent one is sixty [60] cents. So, most people can pay the price to see them. And the average film sells around fifty thousand [50,000] copies.
Voice 2
Many Nigerians are proud of Nollywood. They feel that for the first time African voices are telling their own stories. Mildred Okwo is a Nollywood movie director and producer. She explains why she makes films:
Voice 4
“I need to tell the African Story in my own way. Africa is getting popular again with Hollywood. In the past two years, so many films have been based around Africa. Those stories are not really our stories. They are always centred on the Americans or the British with Africans as waka passes. They only play small parts. I would like to change that by giving our actors lead parts in stories that are truly ours.”
Voice 1
However, there are other people who do not like Nollywood. They say the films are a negative influence. They say the films only tell stories about violence and witchcraft. They feel this shows an untrue picture of Africa. Martin Mangenda is from Zambia. He said:
Voice 5
“The main problem with Nigerian films is that they show too much witchcraft. I do not think that Africans are like that. But children watch these films. And their minds get affected 16. I have stopped my family from watching them.”
Voice 2
Other people criticise 17 the quality of Nollywood films. They say the sound is bad. And the pictures are not clear. In fact almost anyone who wants to make a film just makes one. Often, that person has no special training.
Voice 1
However, this may change soon. On the second of April 2007 former President Olusegun Obasanjo officially opened Studio Tanapa. This is a completely modern film studio - a place where producers can make high quality films. It is extremely large. And it has the newest equipment. This studio could greatly change the way producers make films in Nigeria.
Voice 2
In the past, President Obasanjo also talked about the subjects of Nigerian films. He asked film producers to create films that would improve Nigeria’s image in the world. He said there were many good things happening in Nigeria. But that no one talks about these things.
Voice 1
Nollywood is only fifteen [15] years old. But it already earns around two-hundred million [200,000,000] dollars a year. It employs thousands of people. And the industry will continue to grow. Many people are waiting to see how it will develop. Will there be films with other subjects? Will the quality improve? Will more and more Africans get a chance to tell their stories?
- This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
- The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。
- audio and video cassettes 盒式录音带和录像带
- The cassettes were of inferior quality. 那些磁带质量较差。 来自辞典例句
- Such things are beyond my ken.我可不懂这些事。
- Abstract words are beyond the ken of children.抽象的言辞超出小孩所理解的范围.
- I have decided to invest in a new car.我已经决定买一辆新汽车。
- The best time to invest is now.现在是投资的最佳时机。
- The money will be invested in managed funds. 这笔钱将投资于管理基金。
- He invested his lawyer with complete power to act for him. 他让律师全权代办。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
- This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用,左不过贵了些。
- His attitude was shocking to her.他的态度令她感到震惊。
- Such behaviour is really shocking.这种行为真不像话。
- Masters sometimes allowed their slaves to buy their way out of bondage.奴隶主们有时允许奴隶为自己赎身。
- They aim to deliver the people who are in bondage to superstitious belief.他们的目的在于解脱那些受迷信束缚的人。
- The woman practising witchcraft claimed that she could conjure up the spirits of the dead.那个女巫说她能用魔法召唤亡灵。
- All these things that you call witchcraft are capable of a natural explanation.被你们统统叫做巫术的那些东西都可以得到合情合理的解释。
- Insane people are sometimes dangerous.精神病人有时非常危险。
- The letter made her insane with jealousy.那封信使她妒忌得发疯。
- Allied troops captured over 300 enemy soldiers. 盟军俘虏了300多名敌方士兵。
- Most of the rebels were captured and disarmed. 大部分叛乱分子被俘获并解除了武装。
- This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
- There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
- The processing of data in random order,not subject to preliminary editing or sorting.未经预先编辑或分类,以任意次序对数据进行的处理的做法。
- The gang live abroad,beyond reach of the British police.这帮匪徒住在国外,英国警方鞭长莫及。
- Some gang came in and shot the place up.有股匪帮进来对这个地方开枪扫射。
- After my examination I had a feeling of release.考完试后我有如释重负之感。
- This medicine will give you release from pain.这药吃后会解除你的疼痛。
- She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
- His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。