Renowned Nollywood veteran, Kanayo O Kanayo, recently shared his concerns regarding the increasing presence of Nigerian actors and producers on YouTube.
He highlighted a troubling trend where actors and filmmakers prioritize individual projects over collaborative efforts, often resorting to intensive one-day shoots. Kanayo emphasized the detrimental effects of such practices on actors’ health, citing a colleague’s struggle with overwork-induced health issues.
In an Instagram video, Kanayo criticized the unsustainability of one-day shoots, stating, “Take, for instance, the whole irony of a one-day shoot. It is not sustainable.”
He emphasized the significance of placing health above immediate benefits, warning against the prevalent mentality of valuing quantity over quality.
He noted, “Most of you think you are enjoying ‘I am fully booked for the next six months’ but your health…I hope you enjoy good health like those of us who started 38 years ago because what you are doing is not sustainable.”
Moreover, Kanayo expressed skepticism about YouTube’s long-term viability in Nigeria if these practices persist. He lamented the decline in collaborative efforts among actors and producers, noting the adverse impact on industry growth and sustainability.
“YouTube is not going to last long in Nigeria as a platform,”he stated.
“Most actors like everything Nigerian , have created their own channels . They’ve stopped acting for other producers . That’s not the way to build the industry. You need to lend your service to other people .
“Yes, we’re creating content but then we all need each other . That is the spirit by which Nollywood came about so all this thing I don’t see a sustainability of it that people are now giving different conditions – no actor is free and so on,” he said.
Kanayo urged stakeholders to embrace a collaborative spirit reminiscent of Nollywood’s origins, emphasizing the need for mutual support and professionalism.