The Critics Company: How Nigerian Sci-fi Movie Teenagers Gained Global Recognition

The Critics Company – a group of young teenagers from northern Nigeria who started making sci-fi movies in 2016 have become a global sensation and attracted international recognition.

Interestingly, in making their first sci-fi movie in 2016, the teenagers shot all the movie scenes from android mobile phones that they borrowed from close family members. They improvised with umbrellas to block off sun rays and made tripod stands out of wood.

Today, their work has attracted international recognition and drawn attention from millions of people worldwide, including top Hollywood actors and producers.

Science fiction, popularly known as Sci-fi, is a genre based on scientific phenomena based on multiple universes, time travel, aliens, robots, and extraterrestrial life forms.

Sci-fi is one of the most significant genres because it has a storyline, action, suspense, and humor all in one.

It is not a new concept and has been a part of silent cinema since early days, but it became more popular after the massive success of ‘Star Wars.’ People love this genre because it takes them away to places far beyond their imagination.

However, it is the least attempted genre in movie production because of its complexity and dexterity. It also requires numerous technological gadgets, insight, and mastery.

Well, for the group of Nigerian student filmmakers called “The Critics Company,” impossible is nothing, and they are making huge waves worldwide for their achievements.

The young filmmakers from northern Nigerian made their first film titled “Redemption” in 2016.

According to them, they had to save for a month to buy the green fabric for the chroma key and taught themselves how to do visual effects by watching tutorials on Youtube.

Their short film caught the attention of millions of people on Youtube, including celebrated Nigerian movie producer Kemi Adetiba. Her post about the group was a catalyst that gave them international attention.

Following their story on Reuters and Al Jazeera, the teenagers got the attention of International filmmaker JJ Abrams known for highly successful movies like Star Wars, Star Trek, Spiderman, etc., Hollywood Actress Olivia Wilde, and The Visual Effects Society.

Adetiba also started a fundraising campaign that amassed almost $6,000 for the group that “The Critics” used to buy some equipment for their future productions.

Now, the team has more efficient laptops, a few lighting gadgets, light shedder, some cameras, and others.

They were involved in producing Nigeria’s first Netflix Original movie, titled ‘King of Boys’ – a movie by Kemi Adetiba.

For the young teenagers, the sky is only the beginning.