Some countries produce their own films, while others do not. What are the reasons for this? Is it a positive or a negative development?
Reasons for some countries not producing their own movies
Some societies lack resources: expertise, modern technology and money
Some face impediments in terms of having limited audience
Some cultures do not allow such entertainment
Chaotic social environment
Benefits
Global perspectives enrich local psyche
Lead to cultural reinvention
Drawbacks
Can hamper cultural perpetuation and result in cultural invasion instead
Impedes local creativity
Loss of economic opportunities
Impact tourism negatively
It is quite intriguing that despite movies becoming a ubiquitous form of entertainment, some parts of the world have chosen to abstain from producing local content. This lack of inclination may be fueled by economic or social factors, but this makes society vulnerable to cultural invasion.
At the outset, the most prominent underlying aspect underpinning reluctance to bolster home-grown production of motion pictures is the orthodox social environment that forbids the local populace from engaging in creation of any such material; it is believed any involvement with this modern medium might fetch them the wrath of their ancestors and bring them bad omen. To exemplify, numerous countries in the Middle- east and North-Africa have enacted laws to circumscribe/ban such activities.
Similarly, even some liberal regions are unable to produce their own cinema owing to paucity of resources and financial feasibility. Admittedly, they face an acute shortage of modern equipment, expertise, and sufficient audience to receive and view local creations, making it onerous to justify the colossal investments in relation to the anticipated returns, thereby discouraging such endeavors.
However, although some might uphold this unwillingness as praiseworthy, depriving the local populace of films made within the country means opening doors to forays by cultural aspirations brought in by foreign pictures which could result in dilution of native ways of life and beliefs. Moreover, this attitude is likely to rob citizens of opportunities of gaining employment and business created by the film production sector based within the country.
To conclude, this propensity of not having home-based movie productions is supported by absence of an appropriate environment; having said that, it is laden with a plethora of complications that could lead to disappearance of local customs and beliefs, and thus, I consider it to be detrimental.
