Actress and filmmaker Bolaji Ogunmola has opened up about the financial struggles filmmakers face in Nigeria, stressing that many people underestimate the true cost of movie production.
Rising Cost Of filmmaking
Speaking during an interview with Jay-on-air, she explained that YouTube was never originally designed for films, yet many filmmakers now rely on it to distribute their projects.
She revealed that actors’ fees take up a large part of production budgets.
Some actors charge between ₦1 million and ₦2 million for a few days on set, while others demand as much as ₦5 million for about five days of filming.
Many viewers criticise films on YouTube without considering the money involved in making them.
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She stressed that even films seen as low quality still require heavy investment because no filmmaker sets out to produce a bad movie.
Bolaji Ogunmola Highlighted Behind The Scenes Planning
She highlighted the importance of proper planning before filming begins.
Producers must select the right cast, secure suitable locations, hire a skilled crew, and assemble a strong post-production team.
Unpredictable Production Challenges
Even with careful preparation, she noted that unexpected challenges can still arise during production.
She described filmmaking as one of the most demanding creative industries because plans can change at any moment.
