In an emotional video posted on her page, veteran Nollywood actress Jaiyeola Kuti addressed fellow filmmakers, including Funke Akindele, about what she described as an increasingly taxing routine, expressing her displeasure with the industry’s current marketing trend where producers and actors use dance skits and social media gimmicks to promote their films.
“I’ve seen a lot of ongoing discussion online concerning executive producers, producers, dancing to, you know, [promote] their movies.”
With visible emotion, Kuti opened up about the sacrifices many filmmakers make just to get a movie to the audience.
“Some executive producers go as far as to sell what they have to make a good movie… because, indeed, a good movie is a lot of money.”
The actress revealed that when she made her first film, she didn’t have to do much for it to be successful. “I made my money plus interest. You understand?” she said.
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However, the experience was vastly different the second time around. After putting together funds with her partner, they not only financed the production but also had to pour more money into publicity. “Post this, Post that… we go to radio, we go to television,” she lamented.
Kuti questioned the pressure producers now face to become entertainers beyond their craft.
“Not everybody can dance like Funke Akindele,” she noted. “God made everybody beautiful and imbued all of us in different ways. Everybody has a place in art.”
“If dancing is what will make it sell, maybe we should start then,” she added ironically, even as she praised Akindele for her unique charm and dancing prowess, expressing concerns that such trends set high standards for others.
She further criticised the shift from acting to creating social media content as a survival strategy. “Now some of us are turning from proper actors to skit makers,” she said.
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She shared how costly her production Blacksmith was, involving over 200 people, and how heartbreaking it is to put that kind of effort into a project only to be met with pressure to go viral instead of letting the film speak for itself.
“Viewers, you need to help us,” she pleaded. “If that person is on the latrine, shitting is what is making the person to sell, the next person is going to go and shit on the latrine. Just because it worked for somebody doesn’t mean it will work for you.”
She emphasised that the current climate could wear down even the most passionate creators.
“We don’t want to be tired of doing a good movie,” she said. “So please encourage us not to do so much. Let’s make it beautiful for you to enjoy it.”
Her remarks come right before the launch of her most recent production, Family Brouhaha, which was directed by Femi Adebayo.
Jaiyeola Kuti exhorted viewers to support Nollywood films for their own sake, not only because of their viral marketing.
“Is not everybody that have that strength of Funke Akindele. Funke Akindele is a natural dancer. But please, when the film is good, you will know.”
Today, where going viral seems to be the golden ticket, Jaiye Kuti’s honest message serves as a necessary reminder of the heart, cost, and hard work that goes into making films. And maybe, just maybe, she’s asking that the work be enough.
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