Before you jump on the Youtube bandwagon

Although this might be coming a tad late for some people but it still needs to be said, and repeated, just in case. At this moment, YouTube, the online video sharing platform, is where millions turn to for different kinds of content and like everything else in these parts, when something appears to be in vogue, everyone likes to rush in. I’m not talking about those channels or content created for some other medium which only use Youtube as an alternative mode of disseminating content. Because on YouTube TV stations, film directors and producers have found a sure platform to showcase their channels and products. For instance, I now watch most of my Television on Youtube. It’s not just convenient, with most TV stations storing old videos, you can always go back to watch shows/programmes you may have missed.

However, my focus is on celebrity types who want to reach their fans or just have more exposure. I notice there’s a frenzy to jump in without a plan for content or the structure of the content. Like they’re making it up as they go along. The question is: Why have you chosen to come on YouTube? Is it that you’ve exhausted all other ways of reaching your target audience? Now, I don’t know if there are specified guidelines on how to run a channel on YouTube. Regardless, our celebrities need a section titled ‘How not to make your YouTube channel look like your personal Instagram page’ or something like that. If you’re going to be talking about the same things you show on your social media platforms, why then do you need a YouTube channel? A cursory glance at the YouTube stats show that channels with the most views are those with structured content and MarkAngelComedy tops this list with the most number of subscribers. Channels TV comes second, even though it has fewer subscribers than P-Square in third place, has more views. But I digress.

Let’s return to celebrities/entertainers on YouTube. I noticed the trend last year that many entertainers/celebrities were opening YouTube channels. I had followed singer actress Waje’s channel for a bit. Then came Funke Akindele’s. Well, maybe not in that order. I liked Funke’s channel because I think there was some level of professional production that went into it. Although I haven’t been seeing new content for some time now. I only realised how this was fast becoming a trend when Tonto Dikeh started her channel last year which seemed specifically and solely for the drama between her and ex-husband Olakunle Churchill. To be fair, in her introduction, Tonto advised anyone tired of their ongoing battle to move on. I did move on. Fortunately, in the wake of COVID-19, Tonto or King Tonto has rebranded the King Tonto Channel to ‘Grub and Rub’. The idea is to have guests drop by and grub (eat) and rub minds (while eating); and there’s usually a generous spread of mouth-watering dishes. As far as concepts go, this is not bad. But some level of professionalism is required to pull off eating and talking at the same time. The viewer wants information and that sometimes gets lost in all the excitement.

This is where my other challenge comes in: Should I judge shows like Grub and Rub like other shows on TV? Should I judge Tonto Dikeh like I would any TV presenter/host?

 AD WATCH

Foreign Drug Ads: Medicine Worse Than Death?

I never cease to be fascinated with foreign ads with special focus on American drug ads. They start by grabbing your attention and can be interesting. But they can also be frightening leaving you with a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea. Whereas we in Nigeria are on one extreme – our drugs can cure all a la gbogbo n’ise ogun jedijedi, where any possible side effects are dismissed with “It’s not my portion,” – American drug sellers believe in telling you all possible side effects all in one ad. It usually goes like: ‘Drug A is good for impotence. But if you have XYZ, don’t take it’. Meanwhile all that time the ad is running, they’re showing you how wonderful your life will be with the drug. Then the clincher: ‘Oh, you may experience varying side effects from depression, suicidal thoughts to heart attack. If you experience any of these, stop and consult your doctor.’ After you have died, abi?

For those like me who hate drugs, this is a perfect reason not to take drugs. When did a cure become worse and more life threatening than the disease? I know it’s not just because these drug sellers like giving too much information (TMI), it’s often the fear of litigation that makes them talk about potential harm.

Still on the NBC Code

I should’ve mentioned this update last week concerning the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC amended Broadcasting Code but the column was already running rather long. What’s more, I thought we needed some kind of breather from NBC’s self-inflicted problems. Still, it was shocking to discover that the supposed amended Code did not have the backing of the NBC Board.  Find below excerpts from the statement released by Ikra Aliyu Bilbis, chairman NBC Board:

“As a Board, we have received and taken our time to compile the responses of numerous stakeholders which include our Nobel Laurette, Activists, Legal Practitioners, Broadcasters, Investors, BON, Content Creators, Copyright experts and professional organisations. Most of them have adduced reasonable reasons against the proposed amendment…

“The NBC was set up by law and there is an Act that guides its operations. The Honourable Minister, therefore, cannot usurp the powers of the Board as clearly stated in the Act. Any such action by the Honourable Minister is illegal. The Board of the NBC wishes to make it quite clear that as long as it is in place, the only NBC Code that we recognise and which we shall work within the setting of operating policies and standards for the NBC is the 6th edition of the NB Code which was launched in 2019 in Kano. Any other purported review has no Board endorsement and therefore cannot be utilised in regulating broadcasting in Nigeria.”

NET FLICKS

What To Watch

Cinemas are still closed or mostly closed. Even if they are open, many people are understandably not in a hurry to rush in thanks to the fear of the coronavirus. Not to worry, video streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and others have you covered. Here’s a short list of films and series you can watch on Netflix:

• Living in Bondage 2
• 4^th Republic
• Your Excellency
• Elevator Baby
• Love Is War
• The Governor
• Nimbe
• The Ozarks
• The Last Dance (for basketball lovers and Michael Jordan fans).
• Little Fires Everywhere (Amazon Prime)
• In Between (Youtube)

REEL REVIEW

Derrick’s Wedding

Director: Stephen O. Okoh (Bishop)

Starring: Debra Jalmet Ododo, Obed Akanya, Akume Akume

Derrick’s Wedding, directed by Stephen O. Okoh (Bishop), is a 20-minute short film that tackles sickle cell anaemia. It’s wedding day for bride Ziza (Debra Jalmet Ododo) and her beau Derrick (Obed Akanya). What should count as one of the happiest days of their lives is about to turn sour as there’s a major obstacle to them getting married.

On her way to the church, Ziza is confronted by another woman dressed up as a bride taunting her that the groom would have to choose one of them. Ziza runs back into the room and locks herself in. It looks like a ‘A Tale of Two Brides.’ However, at this point in the film what the viewer doesn’t know is that the second bride is actually the groom’s mom (Toyin Phyllis Wiggins). She’s objecting strongly to the marriage based on the fact that bride and groom both carry the sickle cell gene-with the genotype AS. She puts on what one of the bridesmaids calls an Oscar-worthy performance in trying to stop the wedding. The groom counters with news that almost gives his mother a heart attack when he says he’s ready to marry his friend and best man Bill (Akume Akume) or his mom. How can this apparent standoff be resolved?

Help and enlightenment comes by way of the bride’s older brother who just happens to be a gynaecologist as it happens a doctor in real life (Dr. Kenneth Egwuba). Worried about his sister’s no-show at the church, he comes to check on her and manages to convince mother of the groom. His message is that science now offers AS couples hope in that they can have kids who won’t carry the sickle cell gene.

There’s only so much Derrick’s Wedding can pack into a 20-minute short film, but it does open a good conversation on sickle cell. It also gives hope and useful information to those who find themselves grappling with sickle cell.

Nduka Otiono, Professor of African Studies at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada and an award-winning writer also serves as research consultant on Derrick’s Wedding.