LagosExplorer reports: Popular Nigerian actor Gabriel Afolayan has called on fans and industry players to embrace constructive criticism as a way of improving Nollywood’s quality and global relevance.
The award-winning actor praised Nigerian audiences for their depth of analysis, noting that viewers are often able to dissect movies in ways that surprise filmmakers. He emphasised that films ultimately belong to the people who watch them, not just those who create 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,” Afolayan explained.
Speaking in an interview with Saturday Beats, he stressed that filmmakers must be open to feedback from audiences if they want to push the industry forward. According to him, without honest assessments, Nollywood risks stagnation.
“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,” the actor said.
When asked about Nollywood’s readiness for more daring productions such as action blockbusters, Afolayan expressed confidence. He insisted that the industry has the capacity to deliver on all genres if it continues to challenge itself. “Nollywood is ready for everything. Trust me, we just need to keep serving. 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,” he added.