Award winning filmmaker, Ike Nnaebue, has taken the age-long Igbo apprenticeship system to the global stage with his filmmaking apprenticeship programme.
Nnaebue joined forces with film students from Bournemouth University, England; Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf, Germany, in an educational and creative project titled, ‘A Letter From Across the Channel’.
•Nnaebue
The project is a notable exploration into the theory and practice of Transnational Cinema. It was executed both in-person and virtually, leveraging technology to bridge the geographical divide. It kicked off with a one-hour lecture titled, Introduction to Transnational Cinema, delivered by Dr. Samantha Iwowo, Principal Academic, Directing at Bournemouth University. This was followed by a 30-minute interactive question and answer session.
Following the lecture, students were grouped into transnational teams, drawing members from both universities and Ike’s Apprentice Filmmakers via LP House of Creatives in Nigeria. These teams embarked on a creative and challenging journey to ideate and produce short films under the collective theme of ‘A Letter from Across the Channel’. The films were based on a three-scene transnational screenplay, adaptable ad lib, and set in the locations of the participating universities and creative hub.
The project encouraged the use of smartphones for filming, emphasizing the consistency of the film’s overall texture. This aspect aims to demonstrate the innovative and resourceful nature of modern filmmaking.
The intensive project spanned a 72-hour period, providing a platform for students to develop, shoot and edit their transnational film projects, culminating in an online screening and discussion event.
The event was not only a learning opportunity, but also a practical collaborative experience that underscores the importance of hands-on apprenticeship-style filmmaking training. Participation was exclusive to students of Bournemouth University, apprentices of Ike Nnaebue, and students of Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf, Germany.