How sex, violence is destroying Nollywood – Sola Fosudo

Nigerian professor and veteran actor, Sola Fosudo has revealed that violence and sex are now prevalent in modern-day Nollywood movies.

Fosudo made this statement on Saturday in Lagos during his presentation at a capacity building workshop for members of staff of the National Film and Video Censors’ Board (NFVCB) south-west zone.

The event with the theme, ‘Film and Video Works in the New Horizon’, had in attendance stakeholders from the academia as well as seasoned industry practitioners who held training sessions for participants.

Fosudo spoke on ‘General Principles and Criteria for Film Classification’ at the event.

“The violence scenes in our films today have become more gruesome and sex scenes have become increasingly detailed,” he said.

“Use of vulgar language on screen has also increased over the years along with disregard for moral values, family values and religious tolerance.

“We rarely get to watch movies that are purely serene and meaningful and lacking violence and obscenity.

“Today’s generation would consider such movies of those days to be lame or boring because they are so used to seeing and hearing the violent and the obscene.”

He said that the moral decadence and increased aggressive behaviour among juvenile were largely traceable to films they watch.

He, therefore, urged filmmakers to place societal values, culture and national interest above personal pecuniary interests.

The professor of Theatre Arts, however, commended NFVCB for its role in steering the nation’s evolving motion picture industry.

He urged the board to be more stringent in handling filmmakers who breach its classification guidelines.

“Extensive research has shown that higher levels of children’s exposure to media violence correlate with increased acceptance of aggressive attitudes and increased aggressive behaviour.

“Hence, there is a need for proper and diligent classification of our films in order to protect the young and the vulnerable in our society.”