Actor Deyemi Okanlawon has shared insights into why YouTube is increasingly becoming the platform of choice for Nigerian filmmakers.
In an interview with Channels Television, Okanlawon highlighted the challenges independent producers face in getting their films into cinemas, making YouTube a more accessible and viable alternative.
“Taking a film to the cinema, it’s really difficult for an independent filmmaker, especially if you’re starting out. There are so many things that you’ll find as obstacles. So, it’s not really to their advantage,” the actor said.
“That’s why you find now that there are a lot of people who are serious filmmakers, but they are now gravitating towards YouTube. It’s very democratised.
“Nobody’s standing in your way. There’s no politics of, are you a popular producer? Are we giving you enough showtimes? Are you spending enough money on your marketing so that we can now decide whether your film is worthy of attention in cinemas?”
His remarks reflect a broader trend among Nigerian creatives who are bypassing traditional cinema releases and major streaming platforms in favor of direct online distribution.
Despite the success of his 2023 film, which grossed over ₦130 million in cinemas, Okanlawon revealed that the earnings barely covered production costs. He explained that filmmakers receive only a fraction of total ticket sales.
“Your profit is totally different, right? So now you’re looking at how much I spent? How much did I make? And remember that the entire N130 million cinema ticket sales wouldn’t come to just the producer,” he said.
“It split up between the cinema and the government, who take its taxes. You’re going to get about 40% of that amount. And for me, I’ll tell you, that didn’t cover my costs.”
The actor also weighed in on why streaming giants like Netflix have slowed down on commissioning Nigerian originals.
“They were looking for their Squid Game. They were looking for their Money Heist that would come out of Nigeria. And while we’ve had some big films produced in Nigeria, I don’t think that they got enough traction,” he said.
“No matter where I find myself, whether it’s a Netflix original, a cinema film, or now on YouTube, I’m going to give my 100%.”
