Nollywood actress and filmmaker Bolaji Ogunmola has argued that YouTube was never originally designed as a platform for films, insisting that proper filmmaking is too expensive to be treated lightly. Speaking in a recent interview with media personality Jay On-Air, she said many viewers do not realise the financial risks producers take when they put full movies on the video-sharing site.
Ogunmola explained that film is a “very expensive art”, from script development and location costs to equipment, crew and post-production. She noted that some actors now charge between ₦4 million and ₦5 million for just four days on set, before other production expenses are even considered.
According to her, many critics who complain about adverts, low budgets or storytelling quality on YouTube films have little idea how much money is tied up in a single project. She maintained that the platform was primarily built for short-form and user-generated content, not for full-scale movie distribution that requires cinema-level budgets.
The filmmaker added that while YouTube has opened doors for exposure and independent distribution, it does not always guarantee producers a fair return on their investment. She pointed out that revenue is often dependent on views and ads, which can be unpredictable compared to traditional cinema releases or streaming deals.
Ogunmola’s comments have triggered reactions online, with some agreeing that audiences undervalue the cost of filmmaking, while others argue that YouTube has become an important lifeline for new and mid-level producers. Despite the debate, she stood by her view that filmmakers and actors deserve better appreciation and compensation for the scale of work that goes into each production.
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Court sentences ex-power minister Saleh Mamman to 75 years over ₦33.8bn fraud
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years in prison after finding him guilty of diverting about ₦33.8 billion in public funds. Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment on Wednesday, convicting Mamman on all 12 counts of money laundering and fraud brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court held that the EFCC proved beyond reasonable doubt that Mamman diverted funds earmarked for key national power projects, including the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power schemes. Investigators told the court that large sums were moved through contractors and cronies before being traced to the former minister’s personal accounts and assets. Justice Omotosho noted that Mamman personally benefited from the fraud, including the cash payment of 655,700 dollars (about ₦200 million) for a property in Abuja, in […]
YouTube was never designed for films, says filmmaker Bolaji Ogunmola
Nollywood actress and filmmaker Bolaji Ogunmola has argued that YouTube was never originally designed as a platform for films, insisting that proper filmmaking is too expensive to be treated lightly. Speaking in a recent interview with media personality Jay On-Air, she said many viewers do not realise the financial risks producers take when they put full movies on the video-sharing site. Ogunmola explained that film is a “very expensive art”, from script development and location costs to equipment, crew and post-production. She noted that some actors now charge between ₦4 million and ₦5 million for just four days on set, before other production expenses are even considered. According to her, many critics who complain about adverts, low budgets or storytelling quality on YouTube films have little idea how much money is tied up in a single project. She maintained that […]
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