By Olamide Jasanya
Movie director, Mac Collins Chidebere has blasted actress, Genevieve Nnaji for describing the movie industry as bland and mediocre.
Nnaji, in an interview with Punch Newspaper, responded to a question about her absence from the movie scene saying, ‘Having practiced my art in international and professionally produced stories like Ije, Mirror boy and Tango with me, I don’t think I can return to the blandness and mediocrity that characterized Nollywood in the past.’
In a statement he released recently, Chidebere described Nnaji’s opinion as an insult to the industry and advised her to contribute to its improvement rather than criticise it: ‘Genevieve has just insulted the industry that made her who she is today and what effort has she made to help improve Nollywood?’
Chidebere reminded the actress of her early days in the industry before she became internationally known and chided her for criticising it publicly;
‘Those days in Enugu when Genevieve was growing in Nollywood, our movies were not rubbish; she has grown now, made money, fame, popularity e.t.c. How much has she invested in this Industry that made her? All the while she was busy waiting for Titanic scripts, Nollywood was trying their best to keep the flag flying, waiting for her to come back and take the industry to the next level.’
He advised actors not to betray the industry and rather contribute to its growth, saying ‘Artistes should stop biting the fingers that fed them. We are watching and waiting for them to bring down heaven. We made them stars; we are waiting for them to come back and take the industry to the next level. Instead of blasting Nollywood, come and improve Nollywood.’
