Nollywood actress and filmmaker Bolaji Ogunmola has shed light on the financial realities of movie production in Nigeria, describing filmmaking as an expensive creative venture that demands significant investment.
Speaking during an interview with Jay-on-air, Ogunmola said many people underestimate the amount of money required to produce films, particularly projects released on YouTube.
According to her, YouTube was not originally structured as a platform for film distribution, yet producers continue to invest heavily in creating quality content for online audiences.
“YouTube was never designed for films. Film is a very expensive art,” she said.
The actress disclosed that some performers charge as much as N5 million for a short production schedule of about five days, while others request between N1 million and N2 million for similar appearances.
She noted that even films considered low-budget or poorly executed by viewers still require substantial funding to complete.
“If you see anybody do a YouTube film and you are thinking, ‘what is she doing?’ Even the worst film on YouTube costs money to make. And nobody’s trying to play a terrible film,” Ogunmola stated.
Beyond actors’ fees, she explained that producers must also invest in proper casting, locations, crew members, and post-production processes to achieve a successful project.
Ogunmola further stressed that despite careful preparation, film productions can still face unexpected complications capable of affecting the final outcome.
According to her, detailed planning remains essential, but the unpredictable nature of filmmaking means challenges can still arise during production.
