Popular Yoruba actress, Dayo Amusa has lamented over not making money from Nollywood. While speaking in an interview with The Sun, she talked about the challenges she faces as an actress. However Amusa who is also a movie producer engages in other businesses.
“I do a lot of things that generate money for me. I have always done business even before I came into Nollywood and I am still in business.
“I came into Nollywood as an actress before becoming a movie producer and to date, I have shot 12 movies and still counting. Truth be told, I have not made money from Nollywood yet.
“After 12 movies I have not made the kind of money that I should make but I know I will make it. You see, there is a difference between making a huge profit and then, just getting your money back on your investment. I haven’t broken even,” she said.
Amusa also lamented over her movies not showing in cinemas, a major challenge for her. And the reason is that her movies are indigenous and the titles are local. Amusa wonders why local content cannot be encouraged since Nigerians get to watch foreign indigenous movie with subtitles.
“Why can’t we encourage our local content? I want to believe that even if a movie is 100 percent indigenous, that does not stop it from showing. As long as the movie is well subtitled.”
“It has greatly affected me as an independent film maker, I do most of my productions from my purse. It is not like I get grants and it really eats movie makers up when we don’t get the opportunity to showcase what we have,” she said
Amusa Emphasizes on change
In addition, Dayo Amusa feels the cinemas should do better instead of labeling her movies ‘local’.
“Even if they feel we are not getting it right, there is a way they can inform us that this is what you need to achieve this and that. But they just label it local content, indigenous this and indigenous that. Giving what we do all sorts of names. But the fact is, when you preview a job and story wide you have it, picture wise you have it, quality wise you have and artistic whatever you have it. Then why the barrier? Why can’t movies be seen in all cinemas across Nigeria.
“But they are giving excuses that when cinema going audiences hear the title, they will not like it. Who says so? Yes a title could have a very positive impact on a production but a title is a title, be it local or English or what have you. An indigenous title cannot stop a good film from flying the box office,” she added.
Dayo Amusa’s new movie “Omoniyun” will be at the cinemas from November 29. Listen to the soundtrack for the movie HERE.
