Nollywood trailers are an entirely separate genre on their own. They are oddly unspecific, weirdly entertaining, and occasionaly really hilarious.
So we decided to break down all the recurring aspects that make a Nollywood trailer truly stand out:
1. The Excited Narrator.
A Nollywood trailer isn’t complete without a strangely overexcited narrator with a Lagos gateman accent (don’t ask).
I guess the logic here is, if the person talking about the movie is unduly hyped about it, you will automatically be too.
2. The Loud Music.
In a Nollywood trailer, you must always have the narrator and the background music fighting for supremacy in your ears.
The more distracting and the unpleasant the background music is, the closer you are to the perfect Nollywood trailer.
3. The Roll Call.
A Nollywood trailer is always extremely proud of the movie’s cast and crew.
While a Hollywood trailer only gives top billing to their biggest stars, a Nollywood trailer will fit everyone’s name into their short running time; from the background extras to the editor… of the trailer.
4. The Naming.
You will find the name of the movie being flashed across the screen, running at the bottom, plastered on the edges, and getting screamed out by the excited narrator at weird times.
All this is just in case the viewer somehow manages to forget what they’re watching in its 2-minute run time.
5. The Flashes.
God help the epileptic that stumbles upon a Nollywood trailer.
It’s basically a sensory assault that is meant to distract you from the choppy editing. I’d like to say it works, but it really doesn’t.
6. The Font Assault.
Well, Nollywood is anything but subtle so you can expect the fonts used in a typical trailer to be loud and alive.
Yeah, you read that right, ALIVE. The fonts need to, jump, vibrate, and if the budget covers it, explode to their death on the screen.
7. The Missing Plot.
While Hollywood trailers are usually guilty of giving away the entire plot of their movies, Nollywood trailers are guilty of the exact opposite.
You should count yourself lucky if you’re able to gather what the hell the movie is about after the 2 minutes are up.
8. The Editing.
The editing process in Nollywood trailers is so random you almost start to think the intention is to confuse.
Well, if it is, then it totally works. It goes from the housegirl taking off her pant, to her birth in the village, to the oga eating amala; the scenes just fly by without warning or a point.
9. The Distributor.
Before it’s over, Nollywood trailers will namedrop their distributors. Basically, all roads lead to Ebinpejo Lane, Idumota, Lagos Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
Some addresses are synonymous with Nollywood adverts e.g Ebinpejo lane Idumota
— Chukwuemeka (@EmekaEmezue) August 4, 2015
When you know, you know.
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