Veteran Nollywood actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has said the arrival of YouTube helped the Nigerian film industry break free from years of pressure and control by influential movie marketers.
The actor who spoke during The Honest Bunch podcast recalled a period in Nollywood when powerful marketers, who often also worked as executive producers, controlled the careers of actors and enforced strict rules.
He said these marketers often suspended between 10 and 12 actors in a single year, without giving them a fair chance to defend themselves.
The reasons for punishment were usually unclear, often described as “unholy conduct” or other vague charges.
Kanayo said the marketers were determined to prevent actors from promoting themselves or becoming marketers.
He revealed that any actor who tried to take on marketing had to pay a fine of ₦500,000, a huge sum at a time when the total budget for a film was around ₦800,000.
Many actors were trapped financially and creatively, unable to grow their careers freely.
The actor said that the situation began to change when YouTube and other online platforms became available.
These platforms allowed actors to reach audiences directly, bypassing the strict control of marketers, and opened new opportunities for growth in the industry.
