British actor and filmmaker Idris Elba outlined his ambitions to build an enhanced film infrastructure in Africa, telling an audience at SXSW London on June 4th that he “want to build an Odeon in Africa.”
Elba pointed out that in his debate on creativity as a capital for change, he has a small number of cinemas across the continent. “I think the film experience we have had is something that a new generation should experience, so I think I can work on some of it.
“What should I do? Building a model of data that shows people actually want to watch films and enjoy the theatrical experience. I’m not trying to boil the ocean, but I’m going to happen one at a time. Data is one thing, it’s about building the strength of the economy around the creators, and that’s what distributes it.
Born in London, Elba is a legacy of Ganian and Sierra Leone. His acting credits are in scope Wire, Luther and Sonic Movie franchise. He made his directorial debut, Yadico-directed the 2018 and survival thriller Above With Martin Owen, who finished filming in early 2024.
Elba is also the co-founder of the Akuna Group, which focuses on promoting Africa’s innovation and production. Among the group’s efforts is the creation of an Akuna wallet currently available only in Ghana, as a means to help Ghana creators get paid from anywhere in the world if there is no Western banking structure.
“Movies and music made in the 80s are made with equipment that aren’t better than cell phones, and these kids know that,” Elba said. “They’re making movies, they’re making songs on these devices. There’s a wall when it comes to getting it out there and monetizing it (but) the confidence that Afrobeatus’ Nollywood gave to the African creators is huge, I think the young creators are huge.”
Elba also spoke about the importance of African creatives to use AI in the right way. “For two years I have been saying that artificial intelligence will jump over the creative sector in Africa.”
He said he was committed to grasping the lamp to full production: how to make movies for young people, whether it’s short or feature, using mobile phones, using AI, using all hybrids, funding movies and finding ways to deliver movies.
Elba also gave him sneak peak for App Talking Script, the platform he developed with British and Canadian director Stephen Schwartz. boy, the walking dead and Luther. The app converts scripts into audio forms and helps people in the industry who can find it difficult to read.
“I think reading scripts is very difficult and absorbent,” reveals Elba, who has dyslexia. “It grew over time and it became a bit of a hindrance for me. You’re constantly reading a lot of different scripts, especially in the series… Stephen and I are, what would happen if he could absorb the script in a different, in a comprehensive way, in a comprehensive way.”
(TagStoTRASSLATE) Africa (T) Exhibition (T) SXSW (T) UK/Ireland
