Young film actress Ogbor Josephine Mena (right) waits for a scene in which she will act, while members of the film crew check what had been recorded earlier on the set of a Nollywood movie production. Nollywood has become the second largest employer in Nigeria and many young people now see the movie industry as their ticket to success in a country that offers few other opportunities.
Make-up artist Kpoyi Creation (right) preparing a gun-shot wound on the face of an actor playing a vigilante on the set of a Nollywood movie production. Vigilantes, guns and murder in Nollywood movies reflect the often violent Nigerian reality.
Actors Adaobi Enekwa and Dr. Keiggy Ogarekpe, director of photography Osmeka Onwuegbuzia, and film director Ola Orlando Shoyinka (left to right) shooting a scene of a Nollywood movie in the suburbs of Lagos. The street is not closed to traffic and people can freely pass by while the film is shot.
Director Ola Orlando Shoyinka (far left) uses a digital camera to film a scene involving actors Ufuoma Ejenobor, Patience Ozokwo, Ngozi Doomanbey and Richard Dike (left to right) on the set of a Nollywood movie production. Almost all movies in Nollywood are shot digitally.
Film actors Emeka Ike and Funsho Adeolu (left and right), playing businessmen and friends and actress Ufuoma Ejenobor (center), playing wife of Adeolu, on the set of a Nollywood movie production.
Film actors Emeka Ike, playing a wealthy businessman, and Ufuoma Ejenobor, playing the wife of his business partner, act in a rape scene on the set of a Nollywood movie production.
Actors Adaobi Enekwa, Richard Dike and Ngozi Doomanbey (left to right) play members of high society in a scene of a Nollywood movie production. Homes in richer neighborhoods of Lagos are often used for the setting of these movies.
Film director Ola Orlando Shoyinka (left) discusses the script with actresses Patience Ozokwo (center) and Ngozi Doomanbey (right) on the set of a Nollywood movie production.
Member of the film crew holds the script for the Nollywood movie on the set of its production. The word 'shot' designates a scene that has been already filmed.
Film actor Emeka Ike signs his autograph in the text book of a school boy who was passing by the set of a Nollywood movie production. Emeka Ike is one of the stars of Nollywood and is regularly recognized on the streets.
Despite odds of endless traffic jams, seemingly permanent power cuts, lack of infrastructure, heat and humidity, Nigerian movie industry is thriving. Nollywood, as it is called, has surpassed Hollywood in the number of movies made each year and is now the world's second largest movie industry. Almost all films are produced with digital video technology and a typical movie is usually made in 10 days, on a budget of $20,000 to $40,000, financed by a private producer. On a movie set, low budgets dictate a fast tempo and there is little time for rehearsing or repetitions and a lot of space for improvisation.