Nollywood is the most profitable business in Nigeria. The Nigerian movie industry has not only done better than the rest of Africa, but it has also gone global and is now the third most successful industry in the world.
The industry has a lot of glitz and glamour, so it’s not surprising that many young people want to be a part of it in some way.
There are only two ways to get into the business that are sure to work;
- To have a lot of talent
- Keep in touch with people.
It’s no secret that many people who want to make it in the industry are taken advantage of. There are many wolves out there who want to eat naive people.
When you choose this way to get famous, you have to be very careful, especially in the beginning.
How Nigerians can make money online.
There are problems in the Nollywood business as well. But there is a lot of competition, and no matter how good you are, if you don’t have a good plan, you’ll probably end up in the background.
Every successful actor or actress on the big screen today has a story from their past that no one knows about. Only 10% of them were lucky enough to make a lot of money on their first try. The rest had setbacks, were turned down, and were disappointed.
And if you want to be as successful as they are, you should be ready for your fair share.
How to get a job as an actor or actress in Nollywood in Nigeria.
Thousands of people could have made it big in the business world, but they didn’t have the right connections or follow the right steps.
If you think you have what it takes to be the next big thing in Nollywood, you have to be ready to face a lot of challenges, take advantage of opportunities, and do whatever is legal to make your dream come true.
Here are the steps you need to take to reach your goal in Nollywood:
Sign up for the Auditions
Be Talented
Take classes in acting
Make Online Skits
Join an organization.
Join The Actors Guide of Nigeria (AGN) and connect with Directors and Producers
Be Adaptable
Keep things the same.
Volunteer
Sign up for the Auditions.
By going to auditions, you can show off your skills to the right people. There are sometimes big names in the business at these auditions, and if you show that you are a great actress, you might get the part.
Keep your ears to the ground, because there’s always an audition going on somewhere. You should go to as many as you can until you find one that gives you your big break.
You can’t do it from the comfort of your own room. Go out into the world and show what you can do.
Some auditions happen in person, and some happen online. In any case, you should never miss a chance to show off your skills.
Be Talented
The thing that will get you to the top and keep you there is your talent. If you have a unique skill, movie directors and producers who are looking for people to use you are not likely to find you.
If you can’t act, you don’t belong in the movie business. Even if you weren’t born with talent, you can still get it and develop it through consistent practice and hard work.
Take classes in acting
You can improve your acting skills by taking acting classes.
On the other hand, no one can beat natural talent. Raw talent is amazing, and it keeps you ahead of the competition.
Make Online Skits
Social media is the best way to get your name out there. Make yourself available on all of Nigeria’s popular platforms, like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Tiktok is one example.
You can work with another actor-want tobe to make videos and keep your online presence going. If your content is very interesting, it will probably go viral, giving you much-needed attention.
Join an organization.
You can put yourself in front of opportunities by joining several talent agencies.
If you want to be an actor or actress, you might not be able to do well as a freelancer. To have some kind of back-up, you’d need to be part of a group.
The heads of these agencies may be contacted by movie directors and producers who want to suggest someone for a role. Now, you will be on the recommended list for sure if you have consistently shown your worth and talent during your time at the agency.
Join the Nigerian Actors Guide (AGN)
The Nigerian movie business is run by the Actors Guild of Nigeria, or AGN. Its main goal is to protect all actors’ and actresses’ rights.
Getting noticed is a sure thing if you join this group. Because you are always in touch with real people in the industry, you can take advantage of the chance to make connections that will help your career.
Also, the AGN is the right place to go to report any kind of abuse or exploitation. The AGN doesn’t like this at all, and if you break the rules in this area, there will be serious consequences.
As of this writing, the cost to join the Actors Guide of Nigeria (AGN) is 18,500.
Make connections with Directors and Producers
As was already said, connections are one of the two surefire ways to get into the industry. Do everything you can to get the right connection; it will be worth it.
You can keep up with an actor, producer, or director you like by following them on social media. Do anything they tell you to do on their platform.
If you are a woman, people are more likely to notice you.
It’s no secret that a lot of women are willing to trade their bodies for the industry’s fame. Even when these desperate women “used what they had to get what they wanted,” they are sometimes left alone.
Be Adaptable
When you have a natural skill, it’s easy for you to change. You shouldn’t just be good at one thing, because that would be limiting. Instead, you should learn a lot of different things.
Be ready to help out whenever it’s needed. A person who wants to be an actor or actress wouldn’t be smart to turn down any role, no matter how small. Who knows, maybe this small part will help you get where you want to go.
Almost all of the big names you hear today started out with small parts, or even as extras, but they worked hard and were able to move up to the next level.
Keep things the same.
“If you hang out at the barbershop long enough, you’ll get a free haircut,” says an old saying.
Consistency is the key to success. It means not giving up when you get turned down and going to auditions even if you don’t “look the part.”
If you really want to be an actor, you should take advantage of every chance to study and improve your skills.
Volunteer
If you can, offer to help on set so you can get as much experience as possible.
Keep going; the more setbacks you face, the more determined you should become.
How to Try Out for a Nollywood Movie
Give a good first impression.
Be yourself and have confidence
Be On Time
Even if the job is only for one person, there will be more than just you at the audition. There might be other people there who are better than you.
Even so, here are some things you can do to make sure you are the one who gets called back for the part:
Give a good first impression.
The first impression is the most important. On your first day, you need to be careful about what you wear, how you talk, and what you do.
Do not let your reflex acts embarrass you. If you have a good body, show it off. People in the business want to see it.
Be True to Yourself
If you have been given a script ahead of time, try to practice your character. Learn all of your lines so you don’t stutter and have to look at your script during your auditions.
Show the crew that you are the best person for the job because they want a natural actor.
Be sure of yourself
Don’t be afraid to talk to other people. Keep your head up. The business world is not for people who are shy.
When it’s not your turn to speak, you can start a conversation with a key team member. Also, don’t forget to smile all the time. There shouldn’t be any signs of worry in the way you stand or move.
Be On Time
If your audition starts at 8, you should be there by 7:30. Still, you would meet people who were there before you.
Some judges look at how on time you are, and if you are late, you will lose some points from your overall score. How can they trust you to get to a shoot on time if you can’t even get to an interview on time?
The Nigerian Film Academy and School Fees
Here is a list of the Nigerian Nollywood film schools and how much they cost;
Fees Paid by the State for Film Academy
Royal Art Academy Lagos & Uyo ₦123,500 Del-York Creative Academy Lagos $1500 – $3000
Mount Zion Christian Drama Institute
Osun ₦60,000 – 180,000
National Film Institute Lagos, Kano, Abuja & Umuahia
Magnus Film Academy is now free (MFA)
Enugu ₦40,000 – 100,000
PEFTI Film Institute Lagos & Ibadan ₦85,000 – 285,000
Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts (LAPA) in Lagos 1,200,000 High Definition (HD) Film Academy in Abuja Not Specified
Ai Multimedia Academy Lagos ₦68,000
The Heritage Film Academy in Lagos costs 120,000 per year.
Here is a list of the courses that Nigerian film schools offer;
3D Animation
The costumes and special effects
Movies and Acting
Broadcasting and News Writing
The camera work and lighting on set
Coloring and Getting Grades
An Introduction to Putting on a Play
Making movies and the business side of it
Acting in a Movie (On-Premise)
Screenwriting (On-Premise) (On-Premise)
Cinematography and Lighting of the Set
Digital content creation and the influence of social media
Public Relations and Communication with the Media
Coloring and Sorting
VFX
Digital Marketing Photography
Fashion, Art, and Craft Drone Direction
Editing a movie
Introduction to Putting on a play
Making a music video
Costume & Set Design
Production and the business side of making movies Sound design and scoring for movies
From the outside, the business of Nollywood looks interesting and appealing. But, to be honest, it would take a lot of work and giving up things to get in.
If you don’t want it badly enough, you’ll probably give up before you hit the jackpot.
Many Nigerians want to be the next big name in Nollywood, but they don’t know how to get there. So, this article is a complete resource for all the tips you’ll need on your way to fame.