“Nollywood Is in Crisis”: Kenny George Raises Alarm Over Rising Production Costs, Investor Exodus

 

Veteran actress and filmmaker Kenny George has voiced serious concerns about the sustainability of the Nigerian film industry, warning that soaring production costs are driving investors away and placing a heavy burden on actors.

In a candid Instagram post over the weekend, George expressed frustration over the increasing financial demands of film production and predicted that actors may soon become the sole financiers of their projects.

“I solidly stand on my word that one day, actors will be the sole investors in movies. Right now, most investors are backing down. The cost of filming is very high — actors’ fees and more — it’s scary,” she wrote.

Highlighting the financial strain, George criticized what she described as unrealistic demands from actors, even those with limited audience reach.

“You hear an actor who doesn’t even have up to 10k views on their channel asking for ₦500k per day. To get someone to take ₦100k per day now is a battle,” she lamented.

According to her, this trend is pushing the industry back to its early, less commercial days, where filmmakers had to rely on mutual support within tight-knit groups.

“We’re heading back to the beginning, where it was a group thing — ‘I help you, you help me in my film.’ That’s what we’re approaching again.”

Kenny George also pointed out that YouTube, once seen as a reliable platform for revenue generation, is no longer dependable due to its fluctuating income models.

“After shooting, the only sure market is YouTube — and even that comes with unsure revenue. It’s painful that no one is talking about this,” she noted.

With traditional investors stepping back, many filmmakers are now forced to wear multiple hats.

“We’ve now become actors, producers, marketers, executive producers — and to crown it all, all of us have become full-time dancers,” she said humorously, hinting at the increasing demand for creators to entertain on social media to stay relevant.

George ended her post with a plea for the relevant authorities to step in and help stabilize the industry.

“I advise the right authorities to look into this. Let’s all proceed with caution,” she concluded.

As conversations around Nollywood’s sustainability gain momentum, Kenny George’s comments add to growing concerns about the long-term viability of film production in Nigeria without structural reforms.