In a recent Facebook post, renowned Ghanaian director Leila Djansi questioned Netflix’s supremacy as a validation stamp for creators, sparking a heated discussion in the African film business.
Although Netflix is a significant force in the worldwide streaming business, Djansi contends that it shouldn’t be the only yardstick for achievement.
Djansi claims that rather than seeing Netflix as one of several possible distributors, many African filmmakers now see it as a validation of their work. In order to reach a larger audience and receive royalties, she notes that her own films are distributed on a number of platforms, such as Starz, BET, YouTube Movies, Apple TV, and AMC’s AllBlk.
Instead of depending only on Netflix, her piece emphasises the necessity for African filmmakers to consider innovative approaches to marketing and distribution. (Read Abdul Salam attributes the demise of cinema to bad films.)
In order to reach a wider audience and boost their earning potential, she advises filmmakers to investigate alternative platforms and distributors like Tubi and FilmHub.
Read her full post below;
For some African filmmakers, Netflix has become more than a distributor; it’s their validation stamp. You can land Hulu, Prime Video, or Apple TV deals, but if it’s not Netflix, you “haven’t made it.”
Someone once tried to cut me down by saying my films aren’t on Netflix. I howled. My films were on Netflix. Now they live on U.S. platforms like Starz, BET, YouTube Movies (U.S. only), Apple TV, and AMC’s streamer AllBlk, who own the rights. That’s called a waterfall.
Here lies the problem: You have made Netflix your validation, not your distributor. YouTube is your distraction because “others are making money there, so let me go too.” That’s why you refuse to innovate or try elsewhere or add more.
Have you even tried? I listed distributors you can contact in my previous post.
Netflix is NOT validation. It’s not the win. It doesn’t mean you’ve “arrived.”
Look, Prime Video is signing overall deals worth millions. Some of the best shows and films you’ll ever watch are on Prime, Hulu, or Max. (For those in the diaspora) Prime even offers movies free to audiences
Ghanaian subscribers to Netflix is paltry. Meaning, you don’t pay for content. So you are not valuable. Change that narrative.
Even if Tubi isn’t in Ghana, use FilmHub to get your content on Tubi. Your films don’t have to be limited to Africans. I haven’t released a movie in Africa since 2022, but my films are still watched and I still collect royalties.
Half of you arguing haven’t walked my journey.
From Ghana, Ho to Hollywood.
I’ve done it. Many others have. Zambia’s On Becoming a Guinea Fowl is being distributed by A24.
Everything is possible if you put in the effort. Do you know how I broke in? I took a VP to lunch. That was it. Food. But I also had a movie that was internationally appealing. I was prepared to meet opportunity.
So when you keep arguing against the possibility, maybe it’s not logic. Maybe it’s your village people.
Ghanaian audience. Netflix Netflix. Oh ho! Nuka dzor? This is your fault too! Diversify your viewing experiences! If a filmmaker posts a link to their film, don’t go asking, “Is it on Netflix?”. Is watching on Netflix going to change the storyline or something? Do better! Support!
Source:Lovinghananews.com
