Publicising Box Office Earnings Puts Filmmakers Under Pressure — Biodun Stephen

Nollywood filmmaker Biodun Stephen has urged her colleagues to stop announcing cinema earnings, saying that it puts pressure on other filmmakers.

Speaking during a podcast, she said, “I think that we really should do away with the announcements.”

“I feel like this is a distraction, and it puts pressure on those other people who… feel as if that is the determinant and that’s how you determine my success,” she added.

Using a slipper business as an example, she said people often copy successful ventures without understanding the work behind them.

“Somebody starts selling slippers and people are rushing to buy slippers; the next one… is going to sell slippers… because they think that slippers sells, meanwhile they don’t understand what you have put in to ensure the slipper sells.”

She also questioned filmmakers’ pursuit of international recognition before establishing themselves locally.

“It’s great to hunger for more, but I always say, have you even conquered Nigeria that can you stand and say that if I go to Kano they know me as an actor?”

Stephen argued that box-office figures don’t always reflect a film’s quality or potential.

“…the film go tough, but it can be a lot of crap and then the film that is really good that can travel, that has export value can do 40 million… the only yardstick for measuring success is this very shallow number.”

Explaining her priorities, she said, “I’m doing it because I am living a life of purpose; I’m not chasing the numbers, I’m not chasing the audience.”

She added that touching lives through her stories mattered more to her than winning awards.

“When people call me to pray… and cry and say thank you so much, Jesus, my work is done, no award.”