Read on Twitter
I’ve quietly observed the ‘war’ going on in Nollywood Twitter since yesterday. And as I usually would, I have concluded that this was an avoidable situation in the first place.
And I’ll explain my stance in the next set of tweets.
And I’ll explain my stance in the next set of tweets.
Let me start by saying something that I’ve always had in mind, but never really got around to saying: EVERYBODY has something they’re sensitive about. While two individuals can be sensitive about the same thing, it’s also possible for them to be sensitive about different things.
A comment that can bounce off the skin of one person, can pierce deep into another person’s self confidence & esteem. Why sometimes I see the “You don’t have a thick skin” comments as rubbish. You can’t dictate to someone what they should be sensitive about & how they react to it
Its not uncommon that a lot of creatives are sensitive about their work. Because that’s where they put a lot of their blood, sweat & dedication. Show me a creative who isn’t sensitive about their work (even to a degree) and I’ll show you someone who didn’t put in the dedication
I remember telling @reminola about a script conference we went for & how I changed it for someone who tried to insult my work. I didn’t care that he was my boss on the job, I told him “You can insult me as a person o, but NEVER IN YOUR LIFE insult my work”
Guy was shocked.
Guy was shocked.
Now the thing with Nigerians is that we tend to mix up critique with criticism. What we call ‘critique’ sometimes is an all out bashing of one’s work without proffering suggestions as to how the work could’ve been done better. We just outright dismiss it by calling it “rubbish”
And we think we’re being helpful with our dismissal. Wrong! What we end up with is someone who becomes defensive and ultimately resentful. Over time, they stop listening to you entirely. The message is lost because the messenger did a piss poor job at delivery.
I’m saying all this because I want to address the original tweet that has caused this ruckus in the first place.
In all honesty, that tweet was anything but kind.
It left me wondering if the intent was to teach, guide or deflate someone’s ego, self esteem & confidence.
In all honesty, that tweet was anything but kind.
It left me wondering if the intent was to teach, guide or deflate someone’s ego, self esteem & confidence.
Even if it wasn’t intended for the young man who picked up the sub, it doesn’t make it less of an unkind thing to say to ANYBODY, irrespective of whoever it is.
We who have been in the industry for years, should be charitable with the words we have for those coming behind us
We who have been in the industry for years, should be charitable with the words we have for those coming behind us
It’s not nice to make such comments about a group of young pple who are coming up & looking up to us to help navigate them through the minefield that is Nollywood.
We’re to be strict but also kind in our reviews & recommendations. That way, the message is passed & well accepted.
We’re to be strict but also kind in our reviews & recommendations. That way, the message is passed & well accepted.
Tough love doesn’t mean damaging the psyche and confidence of anybody. It’s telling them “you can do better than what you’ve done & this is how”.
I do that a lot when I’m giving feedback on scripts sent to me by young writers. They won’t see the lesson if I’m being patronizing.
I do that a lot when I’m giving feedback on scripts sent to me by young writers. They won’t see the lesson if I’m being patronizing.
I think I’ll stop here. Hopefully, I was able to pass the message across.
I won’t be entertaining any form of aggression or insults on this thread.
God bless.
I won’t be entertaining any form of aggression or insults on this thread.
God bless.
