The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), has launched a
mentorship programme on film verification and rating for Theatre Arts
undergraduates in Nigerian Universities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the launch held at the
2018 Nigerian Universities Theatre Arts Festival (NUTAF) holding from
June 4 to June 6 at the Plateau State University in Jos.
Over 600 undergraduates drawn from 25 universities across Nigeria
ware attending the programme with the theme: “Nurturing a Vibrant Film
and Video Culture for Economic Prosperity.’’
University Dons, and other industry practitioners were gathered by the NFVCB to hold master classes for the students.
Mr Adedayo Thomas, Executive Director of the board said that the
mentorship initiative was to equip the young theatre practitioners with
practical knowledge of the movie industry besides their academic
experience.
“As the key regulator of the Nigerian motion picture industry, the
board has decided to bring practical knowledge of how the sector works
to these potential filmmakers to secure the future of our movie
industry.
“We are teaching them on classifications and rating of videos and
films, in order to properly position them for opportunities that abound
in the industry.
“A lot of them are good script writers, actors and directors, but
they have not been able to harness and chart a direction for themselves.
`However, many don’t know anything about classification, rating and
even media literacy, which would make them effective professionals
tomorrow,’’ he said.
He explained further that the board, under his watch was set to take
its mentorship initiatives to all universities were Theatre Art is
studied.
He added that to sustained the initiative, students would be trained and mentored, and will in turn train other students.
“From here, the board is going to establish mentorship clubs in
universities across the 36 states, where it will train students who will
become the board ambassadors on campus.
“The club will be a platform for enlightenment and education on issues of classification and rating on campuses across Nigeria.
Thomas noted that although a good knowledge of rating and
classification of films and videos was crucial to filmmaker of the 21st
century, it was hitherto not part of the curriculum for the Nigerian
theatre Art students.
He explained that the board was making efforts towards ensuring that
film classification and rating were inculcated into the Theatre Art
curriculum of Nigerian universities.
“We are working towards getting making plans to get the NUC to
include classification and rating of films into the films analysis
courses in Nigerian universities.
`If a filmmaker does not understand classifications of films; how can he be a master in the art of filmmaking,?’’ he said.
NAN reports that the NFVCB is a Federal Government body that regulates the films and video industry in Nigeria.
The Board is empowered by law to classify all films and videos whether imported or produced locally.
It is also the duty of the Board to register all films and videos
outlet across the country and to keep a register of such registered
outlets among other functions.