Nollywood actress Jemima Osunde has shed light on a growing trend in the Nigerian film industry, where filmmakers are increasingly pressuring actors to become social media content creators before casting them in their films.
This revelation was made during a conversation with her colleague, Jammal Ibrahim.
She said: “Now, it’s as though they [filmmakers] are forcing every actor to be a social media content creator before casting them. It’s as if you must dance on the internet to get roles. Why?
“It’s like if you’re not an actor with a strong social media presence, we’re not casting you because we need you to sell our film. That shouldn’t be the actor’s job.”
Rather than focusing solely on an actor’s talent and experience, filmmakers are now considering their social media presence and ability to create engaging content.
Osunde’s comments come on the heels of her own experiences with the challenges of working in Nollywood. She has spoken out about the poor working conditions and lack of prioritization for actors’ health and welfare on film sets.
In 2025, Osunde revealed that she had been battling a life-threatening illness, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which she contracted from food served on a movie set.
