Film
Arts & Entertainment
The Evolution From Skits to Short Films: Caro's Production Company and the Wider Industry Shift
The announcement of Cameroonian actress and skit creator Caro's production company and five forthcoming short films marks a broader pivot in digital-content creation. The piece examines why skit makers are increasingly transitioning to short films—a move that promises greater creative range, narrative depth, professional credibility, and access to festival circuits and streaming platforms.
NGANU and the Perils of Ambition Without Execution
A critical review of Kang Quintus's second feature film, NGANU, which tells the story of a violent man who joins the military in a bid for redemption. The film is praised for its technical craft and certain performances but faulted for narrative opacity, unconvincing character motivation, and a bloated middle section that undermines its emotional core.
Typecasting and the Impoverishment of Cameroonian Cinema
Typecasting—the practice of repeatedly casting actors in similar roles—constrains both individual talent and the film industry's creative range. The essay argues that this limitation is particularly acute in Cameroon, where a thin market for scripts and a consolidation of producer-actors narrows the stories told and perpetuates harmful stereotypes.
Quartier Mozart: A Mirror to Cameroon
The writer recommends the 1992 film Quartier Mozart as essential viewing for Cameroonians—particularly filmmakers—for its unflinching social drama and earthiness. Released three decades ago, the film remains urgently relevant because the conditions it depicts have not merely persisted but worsened.
The Technology Paradox: Why Better Tools Haven't Made Better Art
Reflecting on The Sound of Music's enduring artistry despite its 1965 production constraints, the writer asks why contemporary filmmakers with vastly superior technology often produce inferior work. The essay identifies three systemic obstacles: the death of quiet reflection, the democratization of tools without corresponding craft education, and the prioritization of aesthetic polish over substance.
The Artistic Director: A Neglected Role in Cameroon's Entertainment Industry
This piece examines the role of artistic director in music video production, arguing that it remains an undervalued and often-unfilled position in Cameroon's entertainment sector. The writer outlines the core responsibilities—determining visual imagery, collaborating on pre-production, and understanding technical elements like lighting and editing—and sketches the personal qualities and skills required for the work.
The Case for Artistic Directors in Cameroonian Music Video Production
The writer argues that Cameroon's entertainment industry, particularly in music video production, lacks trained artistic directors—professionals responsible for the visual and aesthetic direction of a project. This gap leaves the role often absorbed by video directors or filled inadequately, when it should be a distinct position for creative individuals with formal training or self-directed learning in art, design, and technical production.
On Stephanie Tum, 'Saving Mbango,' and the Possibility of Cameroon's Cinema
A longtime skeptic of Cameroon's film industry praises Embi Productions' marketing campaign for 'Saving Mbango'—specifically its strategy of educating the public about cinema history while building engagement—as a rare example of thoughtful cultural production. The writer remains wary of broader industry tendencies but allows that this effort has rekindled hope.
Aaron Sorkin: A Master Class in Dialogue for Cameroonian Screenwriters
The writer introduces Aaron Sorkin's body of work—particularly The West Wing, The Newsroom, and films like The Social Network and Moneyball—as essential study for anyone working in Cameroonian film and television. Through close attention to Sorkin's signature techniques of rapid-fire dialogue and the 'walk and talk' cinematographic style, the piece frames Sorkin's craft as a masterclass in screenwriting that transcends American cinema.
An Open Letter to Cameroon's Filmmakers: On Product, Distribution, and Respect
A filmmaker and industry observer critiques Cameroon's film sector for expecting audiences to validate their effort rather than deliver compelling entertainment. The writer argues that filmmakers must professionalize their platforms, embrace direct-to-consumer distribution, develop original storytelling, and stop prioritizing red-carpet prestige over sustainable business fundamentals.
Black Panther and the Work of Creating Our Own Heroes
Reflecting on the global resonance of the Black Panther film, the writer argues that while the movie's cultural significance is real, the deeper task lies not in celebrating representations crafted by others but in identifying and elevating heroes from within African and Black communities—figures whose lives offer authentic models for self-recognition and pride.
The Disconnect in Cameroonian TV: On Storytelling and the Samba Trailer
A writer new to Cameroonian cinema examines why the trailer for the award-winning series Samba fails to compel, analyzing the gap between technically accomplished production and narrative clarity through the lens of classical screenwriting structure.
On Ewube's Video Work with Adrenaline: Camera, Craft, and Genre
A critical review of a music video collaboration between vocalist Ewube and cinematographer Adrenaline, examining both the technical execution of the shoot and Ewube's artistic positioning within contemporary reggae-dancehall.