Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, has responded to filmmaker Lancelot Imasuen, who called her out for ignoring the industry that made her. She recently had her say while congratulating him on his three-decade run in Nollywood.
Speaking via her social media page, Omotola said that even though she has been mostly silent on many issues plaguing the Nigerian movie industry in recent times, she has remained vocal underground.
According to her, she has never completely ignored the industry that made her successful, and she’ll soon start unfolding her ideas that can make Nollywood a healthier home for professional actors.
“Hmm ….. Hello O. Is it time for us to visit this? Filmmakers? Actors? ‘Veterans’? Cinema chains? Distributors? Government? Or should we come back another time.
Let me start by congratulating the legend! The great king of Issakaba, the Guv @lancelotimasuen on his 30th Anniversary!!!
Ironically, I am also celebrating my 30th Anniversary Run in the Entertainment industry which started last year and will run till 2026.
Even though I have been mostly publicly silent on many issues plaguing my amazing industry in time past, I have been vocal somewhat underground and I’ll probably now start unearthing these for an attempt for a healthier industry. So thank you ‘The Guv’ for your submission,” she wrote.
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She then highlighted the harsh economic realities facing movie producers who take their films to cinemas, stressing how cinema exhibitors take half of the returns while the government also deducts multiple taxes, along with distributors and marketers.
Omotola maintained that most Nollywood producers now invest so much money that they never get to recoup after the movie is released.
“My findings (earnings) Nollywood cinema run… Cinema (exhibitors) take – 50%. Value Added Tax (Govt) – 7.5%. Entertainment Tax (Govt) – 5%. Withholding Tax (Nig Govt) – 10%. WHT Tax (Ghanian Govt) – 15%. WHT Tax (Liberian Govt) – 15%. Distributor fee (distribution) – 15%. VAT (on distributor’s fee) – 7.5%. PnA (publicity and adv) – 20% of movie budget.
Now tell me… after a movie producer invests so much money, usually (N150m as possible minimum) and has all those deductions… what they possibly could have left? Or if they can EVER recoup their investment?
I ask again… Are we ready to have this discussion? Or do we go back to the #shhhh culture… Lol” she added.
