Respected Nollywood marketer, Chief Gab Onyi Okoye, is set to revolutionize the Nigerian movie industry with the launch of a new nationwide distribution platform, G-Media, Gabosky, as he is popularly known, with this giant stride, will raise the bar of movie distribution in Nigeria to an unprecedented level. Commenting on the problems bedeviling Nollywood, the Anambra born businessman lamented that “The problem with Nollywood started because we did not build on the momentum that Nollywood gathered after its birth. We were all too amazed by the phenomenon that we failed to realize the need for real structures that would ensure that the success would last for a long time. But it is time to put things right and that is what we are doing with G-Media. Distribution has always been identified as the major problem with Nollywood. The enthusiastic audience has been unable to get their hands on the movie they love to watch due to inadequate distribution, which allowed piracy to thrive in that sector”. According to Okoye, “We have worked very hard for many years to put this distribution platform together so that our people can enjoy the movies they have always loved without having to go through hassles to get them.” The first phase of the G-Media distribution project will commence in January 2014, with 25 stores spread across the nation; 30 regional distributors as well as 4000 community distribution stores. It will also leverage on a state of the art web portal system that will link all distributors and major stakeholders to the central system for sales and statistical information as well as transparency of the system. The G-Media distribution project stands on firm grounds with support from the Bank of Industry, FCMB and additional funding from the $200m fund for the creative industry, an initiative of the federal government, under the Ministry of Finance. One of the results of the distribution problems of Nollywood has been the withdrawal of some of the best hands that gave Nollywood its early success from the scene. When sales dropped drastically and less capable hands became the leaders of the industry, many major producers and directors thought it best to stay away from the rot. “It is very important to have all hands on deck and the old hands need to come back and join hands with the new ones so we can have a truly dynamic industry once again. Our promise to them is that we will get their movies to the buyers wherever they may be”, he assured. G-Media stores will commence operations with the distribution of Biyi Bamidele’s Half of a Yellow Sun, Mahmud Ali-Balogun’s Tango With Me, Charles Novia’s Alan Poser, Obi Emelonye’s Onye Ozi, among others.