Kanayo Expresses Concern Over Increasing Tendency Of YouTube Channels

Kanayo O Kanayo

“The appeal of YouTube videos raises concerns about the quality and viability of Nollywood productions in the future,” Kanayo O Kanayo laments

The seasoned Nollywood actor Kanayo Q. Kanayo expressed concern about the increasing tendency of performers starting their own YouTube channels and directing their attention away from joint ventures with experienced producers and into personal endeavors.

According to Kanayo, this will have a long-term detrimental effect on the film business.

Recent global and national economic downturns and hardships have had a severe negative impact on the industry. Both the films made and the practitioners' quality of life have suffered as a result.

In order to avoid the associated expenses of shooting for theaters or DVD discs, a growing number of filmmakers are using YouTube as a new channel to monetize their work and expand their audience.

Kanayo expressed concerns on the future viability and caliber of Nollywood films in an Instagram post, pointing out that the appeal of YouTube and related platforms is starting to eclipse more conventional approaches.

In Nollywood these days, nearly everyone is a producer, with absurd film budgets and risky working conditions and morals.

His worries about the industry stem from the tragic event that happened on April 10th, when actor Junior Pope and four other people were traveling to the set of the movie “Other Side of Life” when they were involved in a boat accident. This incident also sparked discussions about the need for industry reforms and improved welfare.

Highlighting the role that YouTube and other comparable platforms have played in the film business, Kanayo said that YouTube is the ideal venue for promoting Nigerian talent internationally.

However, he soon changed the tone of his speech to express his dissatisfaction and unhappiness with the difficulties facing the business, blaming many of them on the behaviors and attitudes of individuals who work in it.

The Nollywood icon bemoaned Nigerians' all-too-common propensity to waste opportunities, stating, “I have sat back and watched the opportunities offered by the YouTube channel, which is a perfect platform. But unfortunately, like anything that comes to Nigeria, our dear country, we will jump in and try to mess it up.”

The seasoned actor criticized the prevalent tendency of unsustainable behaviors, such as charging outrageous rates for one-day shoots without taking into account the long-term effects on the development of the business, the welfare of performers, and sustainability.

Thinking back on how Nollywood has developed over the years, he stated, "We built Nollywood brick by brick, block by block. But the guys who have besieged YouTube actors, not the producers, don't have any sense of purpose or process to create a procedure for lasting videography of creating content.”

Digging further into the particular problems Nollywood faces, Kanayo noted that a host of variables, chief among them the actions and choices of certain performers, have an adverse effect on the business.

“Take, for instance, the whole irony of a one-day shoot is not sustainable-some of them now make it so difficult for producers and tell you one day shoot is N1 million or N1.5 million. It is not sustainable.

“And unfortunately, my high-standing colleague, who started this one-day shoot, is unhealthy. Why? For every person who gives you a job, he wants it done. So they pack you with enough to finish in one day-30 scenes, 35 scenes. Most of you think you're enjoying and giving conditions. 'I'm fully booked for the next six months; I'm doing this” in your house. I hope you enjoy good health like those of us who started 35-38 years ago because your actions are unsustainable.

“Earn all your money, but then the disservice you do to professionalism will not last long. YouTube will not last long as a platform in Nigeria. Most actors in Nigeria have created their own channels and stopped working for other producers. That's not a way to build the industry.

“You need to lend your service to other people. Yes, we're all creating content, but we need each other. That is the spirit with which Nollywood came about,” he said.

The veteran actor emphasized that actors and other professionals in the business already face serious dangers since they lack full insurance coverage, which fosters an atmosphere of uncertainty and vulnerability.

According to him, Nollywood has a culture of mediocrity and instability as a result of the industry's short-term thinking, excessive costs for one-day shootings, and lack of dedication to quality and greatness.

Kanayo made a heartfelt appeal to all industry participants, including producers, directors, performers, and fans, to put the industry's cohesion, cooperation, and collective development ahead of individual ambitions and fleeting achievements.

The actor made a strong plea to members of the public and business community to identify, keep in mind, and hold those who stand in the way of the industry's advancement and growth accountable.

He demanded the creation of a framework to recognize and deal with the problems caused by disruptive people and things, saying “Unfortunately, this is what is happening. I needed to bring this to the public's attention because what an older man sees while sitting, you cannot see it standing on the tallest roof. I also want to call on those. I know there were people then in the class who were in secondary or primary school who used to write the names of those noisemakers and so on.

“Let's have a prefect who will note the names of the people making it difficult for producers to produce good content for our viewership. Let's write your names. We will never forget,” Kanayo said.