“Nollywood Needs A Change In Its Structure” – John Boyega

• John Boyega stated that Nollywood should raise its filmmaking quality to match global standards.
• The actor encouraged directors and producers to keep an open mind, accept changes, research thoroughly, and seek helpful criticism.

Nigerian-British actor John Boyega has emphasized the need for change and teamwork in Nollywood to elevate its standards.

He stated this at the AFRIFF panel session on Monday.

Boyega believes that filmmaking in Nigeria has not yet reached its full potential and requires international partnerships, workshops, and training to improve.

The actor stressed the importance of raising filmmaking quality to match global standards and encouraged directors and producers to be open to change, research, and constructive criticism.

He cited the success of international movies like Marvel’s Avengers and Black Panther, suggesting that Nollywood can achieve similar success with collaboration and a willingness to learn.

He said:

“Unfortunately, the filmmaking is not at the level it needs to be. Everybody has to be a student and collaborate at this point, we need to collaborate. To collaborate, both international and Nigerian filmmakers need to be humble.

“We also need to raise the standards. I want to see a Nigerian franchise that can make a billion naira at the global box.

“I want us to be the main place at the mainstream but we do need to improve the quality of filmmaking here.

“This then leads to opportunities like workshops that provide opportunities for people to learn. We also need government’s support. The most important thing now is we need to change our mind. We need to raise the standards.

“The new standard should be if I enjoy Avengers and Marvel, why not in Nigeria? Why can’t we have those kinds of movies here? We saw the way Black Panther went down in the global box.

“How much money they made imitating you but why can’t we do that for ourselves? I think it means getting off our high horses and everyone becoming a student.

Also, Nollywood directors and producers have to open up their minds to a structural change. We need a structural change.

“If you think you have put a film together and you haven’t done research for the dialogue to be authentic, the extracurricular research outside of the role to see how the character will talk and walk.

“Trust me, you are not there yet and it is important for someone to tell you at this level that you are not there yet because how are you going to reach your full potential?

“… So we need to think about how we can collaborate to create change.”