Filmmaker Jeta Amata: Capturing Nigeria #GBB

 

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The last few years have seen stakeholders of the Nigerian film industry lead a structural design, calculated to make their system work. That resolve has led to the growth of the industry, now known as Nollywood; home to some of the world’s most ambitious filmmakers. Given its rising global position as the second biggest film market in the world, it is safe to say these filmmakers have made a mark. Equally refreshing is their constant appreciation of international best practices, while there are a good number of productions coming out of Nollywood that barely meet standards there are exceptions that occasionally remind the world of the existence of an African film world, and offer a fresh artistic injection.

Jeta Amata belongs to that cluster of Nigerian filmmakers who have decided to tell their story differently. If you are an avid student of Nollywood, you will know that the very few who are able to go the extra mile to put out quality productions, are hailed, and accorded the kind of respect they deserve.

Such is the feel-good factor behind Amata’s success story. In the last half decade, he’s been called everything from ‘Maverick’ to a filmmaker whose stories are as ‘puzzling’ as his persona. Amata himself has inspired some kind words, as he continues to put forward his best foot, encouraging a succession of quality end products. He knows he is good at what he does so when attacks are made on his creative dispositions he replies gently by letting people know ‘he is Nollywood’.

Akon attends the Black November New York City Premiere at United Nations
“I don’t care what people say, or what they think, or how they say it is really not Nollywood, I am Nollywood,” he recently told the CNN. Amata comes from a family of filmmakers. His brother Fred Amata is a popular face on local television. His father is a veteran actor. His confidence, inspired in part by the successes chalked by his family, however he created his own paths and has become that filmmaker, adored at home and spoken of respectfully internationally. In 2003, when he produced a short film for the BBC, he used his movie the Game of Life as footage. That prepared him for the bigger leagues.

Part of the Jeta Amata success story, which includes the efficacious execution of productions like The Amazing Grace, Mary Slessor and Alexa Affair, has placed him above the noise. The Amazing Grace is the first Nigerian movie to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival. It won the award for Best West African Film at the 2006 Screen Nation Awards. Alexa Affair was also screened at the 2004 Berlin Film Festival.

Black November
He’s reached a point where quality is just another part of his directing toolkit. His storylines can be heart wrenching and consuming but also provokes and stirs intellectual discussion.

Out and already winning Amata a lot of praise is Black November, a story on the struggle for the Niger Delta – an oil producing region in the South-South Zone of Nigeria. A taboo and contentious subject for the Nigerian government and people, the air that hovers around the Niger Delta isn’t one most Nigerians breathe with excitement. It evokes fear.

Black Gold
So when Amata decided to use the art of storytelling to capture it, he knew what was in store for him; revisiting a 50-year old industry that has brought pain and anguish for too many Nigerians. Evermore stark, was the interpretation it was going to get. But he flipped all of that and opened a new page – one that tells the story in a viewer-friendly manner. He wanted a story that was different – free from political connotations and unsubstantiated theories. He’s managed to do that.

Released last year, Black November is esteemed and reviled in equal measure. Some voices within the Nigerian government say it seeks to challenge the system but Amata has stood to the defence of his creative piece of work, insisting it is a visual projection of what the story is and not what a group of persons would want to see it become.

Kim Basinger attends the 'Black November' New York City Premiere at United Nations
Originally titled Black Gold, the movie had over 60% of the initial scripts reshot and presented as the new title, in celebration of the month in which the late Nigerian activist Ken Saro-Wiwa was arrested and executed in 1995 by the then military regime. Saro-Wiwa led constant protests against the oil company Royal Dutch, who were later accused by his family of having a hand in his death. His death led to Nigeria being suspended from the British Commonwealth, only to be reinstated in 1999.

Actor MickeyRourke, left, and actress Mbong Amata attend a screening of Black November
Black November stars a blend of Nigerian and Hollywood stars including his wife Mbong Amata as female lead, his father Zack, his brother Fred, Mickey Rourke, Kim Basinger, Kae-Kazim, Dede MAbiaku, Enyinna Nwigwe, Ivar Brogger, Nathin Butler, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Ibrahim Aba-Gana, Vivica Fox, and Nadine Nicole, Heimann among others.
It also stars the Haitian-born American musician Wyclef Jean and Senegalese-American composer/musician/producer/entrepreneur Akon, who doubles as Executive Producer.