Nollywood actor Gabriel Afolayan has emphasized the vital role of criticism in advancing the Nigerian film industry.
In an interview with Punch, Afolayan noted that open feedback from viewers and industry professionals is essential for progress.
“Criticism is needed. How do we get better if people are not ready to talk about what we are doing? Both the audience and filmmakers have to come together,” he stated.
The actor also expressed confidence in Nollywood’s readiness to explore diverse film genres, including action.
“Nollywood is ready for everything. Trust me, we just need to keep serving. You don’t know how intelligent people are until you create something that will blow their minds. Even if you believe you’ve made a great film, until an audience watches it and decides whether it’s good or not, nothing else really matters. I feel our audience is ready for everything we have to give them,” Afolayan said.
He further commended Nigerian audiences for their discerning taste and deep engagement with film. “The taste buds of Nigerians when it comes to different movie genres are very sharp. You see people in the medical field analysing films as if they were part of the production. Ordinary people dissect movies, and you’ll be amazed. You know why? Because we make these films for them. A film doesn’t belong to the filmmaker; they are just instruments the universe uses to put it together. And because they love the film, they’ll put money in your pocket as a filmmaker. But even after you release a film, you won’t make anything from it until the audience says it is good enough,” he explained.
