Filmmaking in Nollywood, the heart of Nigeria’s movie industry, faces a tough reality check. I recently finished two movie projects in association with Rok Studios, but something felt off. We rushed through a 65-page script in just six days, leaving my crew unhappy by Day 5 because they thought I was taking too long with our 12-hour workdays. It seems I’m swimming against the tide with my traditional approach.
This got me thinking about how Nollywood has changed. Less than two decades ago, when I started out, there was a real love for storytelling. But now, it seems like money matters more than telling a good story.
One big change is how quickly we make movies. It used to take 10 to 14 days to shoot a film, but now we’re trying to do it in five to seven days, and some even aim for just two and a half days! This rush means the quality suffers, and everyone feels the pressure.
Another problem is some people asking for too much money, holding productions hostage. This messes up budgets and makes things hard for everyone. We’ve also lost the days when actors would meet to rehearse before filming. Now, we’re doing crazy late-night shoots that last almost 24 hours, leaving everyone exhausted.
Even though we occasionally make big-budget movies, it’s hard to sell them. Streaming platforms only buy a few, so most producers, actors, and actresses who produce content themselves are struggling to get noticed. It’s a constant battle, especially with everyone marketing their work non-stop on social media. It’s tiring!
To fix this, we need a change. We must focus on making fewer, better movies and create a supportive environment where creativity can thrive. By investing in talent and working together, we can bring back the passion that made Nollywood great in the first place.
Despite the challenges, I’m hopeful that if we all work together, we can make Nollywood shine again.
