Are You Africa’s next Creative Disruptor? Here’s what to do About That- Itch.

By Sahndra Fon Dufe.

"AFRICA's CREATIVE INDUSTRY IS EVOLVING"

Nollywood Cinema has since evolved from the days of fuzzy home videos smeared with boom mics in between shots. Those days, mothers relished near-theatrical performances, of old-timer veterans like Pete Edochie, or the perpetually evil mother-in-law Patience Uzokwor, best known as “Mama G”.

These days, the industry has expanded to meet International attention and six-figure paychecks. Just the other day, Netflix grabbed Imo State beauty Genevieve Nnaji’s "LionHeart" for a whopping 3.8 Million Dollars. Nigerian-born Bestselling writer Chimamanda Adichie's novel "Half of a Yellow Sun" was greenlit and shot for 10 million Dollars, and her voice graced Beyonce's ASCAP-winning feminist anthem song, "Flawless."

The list is endless-

Comparison between Pete Edochie, Old-timer Nollywood Veteran's Home video in 1999, and Netflix Original in 2019.

Beyond movies, books, art, and music have moved in leaps in bounds. These days, Wiz Kid's lazy voice fills the air in International malls as far as Dubai, Latina Uber drivers sing along to Davido's upbeat"Assurance" song when they cruise the streets of Los Angeles and Asa easily plays in coffee shops on Corso Venezia street, In Milan.

The Industry is evolving.

We must evolve with it.

This shift calls for structure in content distribution, reskilling the next generation of filmmakers, media personnel and creatives all over Africa.

LAGOS 2019.

Del-York Creative Academy, Africa’s premier film school, recognizes, and is taking ownership of this premise- for the sake of a future, which will change with or without us:

In less than a week, from May 10th- June 10th, 2019, the Del-York Creative Academy (DCA) holds its flagship world-class training program in partnership with leading Media and Film Institutions; Warner Bros, USC, and twenty-five of the most prolific film and media instructors from Hollywood in Lagos, Nigeria.

500 of Africa's most creative Students will enjoy an extensive menu of Courses including Directing, Screenwriting, Editing, Acting, Sound Design and Scoring, Music Video Production, Broadcast Journalism  Costume & Set Design, Make-up & Special Effects, Cinematography & Set Lighting, Coloring and Grading, Producing and The Business of Filmmaking, Introduction to Theater, VFX, Animation Design and Drone Technology.

Apply Today.

HOLLYWOOD PARTNERS

Best known for its world-class faculty, The University of Southern California (USC) has been churning out groundbreaking filmmakers for decades, from George Lucas (creator, Star Wars), Ryan Coogler (director, Black Panther) to Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump).

Warner Brothers Entertainment (WME) has been a household film studio since 1923. As one of the “Big Five” major American film studios with operations in film, television and video games, this mogul is responsible for a variety of international blockbusters from Harry Potter, to Justice League- and Jason Momoa’s sinful abs as Aquaman.

DCA has established a strategic partnership with USC Dornsife Faculty of Arts and Warner Bros/ BE.

The groups’ Representatives will join the film renaissance in Lagos where the Del-York Creative Academy(DCA) is stationed. After the program;

Selected Del-York Creative Academy alumni will be hosted at the Warner Brothers Studios in Hollywood later this year.

Sponsors, partners, alumni, and executives who have worked closely with the Academy extol it highly. The institution's previous achievements and the partnerships forged with Hollywood, are a feat unprecedented anywhere else in Africa, but what makes the Del-York Creative Academy unique according to its founder, Linus Idahosa, is the academy’s hands-on approach to learning. In an interview at the Del-York’s Headquarters, on Tuesday he said:

“To compete in the real world; the best of our raw talents would need to be pruned in fire; by learning how to commercialize their crafts; our artists would be transformed from show-stoppers to game changers.  Though we appreciate film theory, our Academy is not for theorists, it is for the pragmatic and for those who are ready to turn their creative tools into instruments of real change.” - Linus Idahosa.

2019 Lecturers, from Hollywood and Del-York Creative Academy Founder/ President- Linus Idahosa

♥ Home to over 1,200 successfully-trained alumni exporting notable contributions in the contemporary film and broadcast industry, Del-York Creative Academy, (the capacity building arm of Del-York International) has stood the test of time for over a decade as Africa’s first class filmmaking and media training hub.

The Academy kicked off its first edition on a historical note, partnering with one of the most notable capacity-building institutions in the world, based in New York. Five editions later, she stands alone as the Del-York Creative Academy, poised to spur an educational-reform and transform the world of media education by replacing classroom theory with a “Vocational/Hands-on approach to learning.”

Del-York Creative Academy Past students strike up for a pose. Alumni, Nollywood star Deyemi Okanlawon, far right.

Also, in a bid to empower the next generation, 500 of Africa’s most talented creative disruptors will be selected from across the continent:  Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, South Africa, Gambia, Rwanda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Chad, Morocco, and other African nations, will be groomed under Project 500. Their vital mission? To “Change the African Narrative and Drive Social Change Across the Continent,” in what has been termed, the most intensive hands-on training program in Africa, crashing a rigorous six-month curriculum into just 4 weeks!

Creative Design & Photo Credit: Del-York Creative Academy | @delyorkcreativeacademy

STUDENT FINAL PROJECTS

As part of their final projects, selected participants will partner with international media partners to curate original feature films, documentaries, skits, short videos, Television Commercials, and video content to spearhead a social intervention agenda across Africa. The best graduating student, demonstrating global-standard promise, will be awarded a brand-new car!

Indeed, Del-York Creative Academy has remained true to its ethos from the very beginning - “Capacity Building” to foster “Nation Building.”

AN “UNUSUAL” INTERESTING FIND.

Beyond unconventional teaching methods, the Academy celebrates this generation’s rising stars, reskilling Africa by authoring change agents through the powerful medium of film to drive a new day for a continent coming of age, from its cinematic adolescence.

Do the words “Change and Impossible", ignite your fire? Then it’s time to take a hands-on approach to learning!

So, place the power in your hands and master the cinematic craft. Become one of the 500. Apply today!

APPLY TODAY!

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You’re welcome. Thank me later. Good Luck!

Use this LINK to apply for the 2019 Program. Did you know there are TUITION SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES? Register Now and Maybe you’d get lucky! Or, Maybe it’s Maybelline. Just kidding. Have a delicious week!

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