Yul Edochie, a popular actor in Nollywood, has spoken out against directors and producers who he believes cast young performers more on emotion than skill.
Edochie voiced his dismay at the situation on Saturday during the Kogi Blazing Mic Talent Hunt in Lokoja, hosted by Majesty International Academy and Black Wall Street.
According to Edochie, some producers mislead underachieving performers by not giving them constructive criticism.
He spoke about his own experience of rejection in 2005 and how he used it as motivation to go better, emphasizing the necessity of honesty in developing talent.
Since “some Nollywood producers and filmmakers have failed to be honest with upcoming talents,” as Edochie put it, “we lack exceptional actors today,” this is likely true.
“I demand honesty from myself at all times. I had been rejected and felt discouraged in the past, but I worked hard and am now where I am. Upcoming actors need to invest in self-improvement.”
Edochie noted out the prevalence of dishonesty in the sector, leading to inferior productions. He said that it is counterproductive to Nollywood’s development to feature actors based on their social standing rather than their acting ability, and he promised to uphold a high standard of quality in his own films.
If you want this job, you’ll have to follow my rules. I will not think twice about firing you if you fail to meet my expectations. The future of Nollywood depends on our commitment to excellence. Promoting performers who aren’t up to par can have a negative impact on their health. Edochie stressed the importance of ending this practice so that the industry can compete on a global scale.
Edochie advised young artists to focus on their skills rather than their weaknesses.
Veteran actor Jide Kosoko, at the ceremony, called the Nollywood sector as the largest employer of workers in Nigeria.
