Bolaji Ogunmola says Nollywood filmmaking remains expensive, revealing actors can earn up to N5 million for short productions

Nollywood actress and filmmaker Bolaji Ogunmola has spoken about the financial pressure facing filmmakers in Nigeria, insisting that producing movies for YouTube remains an expensive venture despite public perception.

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The 34-year-old actress made the revelation during an interview with Jay-on-air, where she discussed the realities of film production and the hidden costs involved in creating movies.

Bolaji Ogunmola stated that YouTube was not originally created as a platform for films, adding that many viewers underestimate the amount of money invested in productions released online.

“YouTube was never designed for films. Film is a very expensive art,” the actress said.

The filmmaker further disclosed that some actors demand between N4 million and N5 million for appearances lasting just four or five days on set.

According to Bolaji Ogunmola, even productions regarded by viewers as low quality still require substantial funding and effort from producers and crew members.

“If you see anybody do a YouTube film and you are thinking, ‘what is she doing?’, even the worst film on YouTube costs money to make. And nobody’s trying to play a terrible film,” she added.

The actress also stressed the importance of detailed planning before production begins, describing casting, location scouting and post production as critical stages in filmmaking.

She explained that producers must secure the right cast, suitable filming locations, an effective production team and a strong post production crew to deliver quality projects.

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The comments have sparked fresh conversations around the financial realities of Nollywood and the growing dependence on YouTube as a distribution platform for Nigerian films.