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Veteran Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde has urged actors and filmmakers to take their craft more seriously, warning against reducing the industry to social media excitement and “vibes.”
Speaking during an interview with News Central TV on Wednesday, Omotola advised creatives seeking to build a lasting legacy to look beyond online metrics and refocus on professionalism and storytelling.
“This social media thing, we love it, but then relax, okay?
“It’s not vibes, it’s a serious job. We do have fun and everything, but it is still a serious job. Please, we need to relax, we need to start to listen to the story, we need to take the stories seriously,” she stated.
Omotola emphasised that the industry is also a commercial enterprise, not merely a platform for showmanship.
“It’s a business, it’s show business, it is not just show, it is show and business. These are the things that we got right in early Nollywood.”
Reflecting on the early days of Nollywood, the award-winning actress noted that while productions may not have been as glamorous as they are today, the dedication and discipline were stronger.
“You might look at it and say, oh, back then, you know, our films were not as glamorous as this one’s now and everything, but what did we do right then? It was because we took it very seriously,” she explained.
She recalled that actors often showed up to work regardless of pay because they understood their responsibility to audiences.
“Even if you weren’t paid at the time, you would come on set, and you would work anyway, you know, because we understood that, look, people, we had to deliver, there were people who were waiting for those films, they wanted to watch these films and we’re going to give them the films,” Omotola said.
According to her, promotion was driven by passion rather than obligation in the early years.
“It would be hard in those days for you to say someone is not maybe promoting the movie because you were so excited to be in the movie, that you would promote that movie,” she added.
While acknowledging the love between fans and actors, Omotola warned that Nollywood must recognise its growing global audience and the scrutiny that comes with it.
“So please, I know that the fans love us and we love you too, but understand that this is a job. These movies don’t just end in Nigeria, it’s not vibes.”
She further stated the importance of maintaining standards, especially as international collaborations increase.
“We have standards, we have other industries also that we have to live side by side as and they are also looking at us and watching, are these people worth our collaborations?” she noted.
