Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Ruth Kadiri, has spoken out against producers who put unrealistic pressure on actors to achieve a million YouTube views.
In a recent post on Instagram, Kadiri criticized producers who judge a film’s success solely based on its immediate online performance, stating that this practice reflects their own shortcomings.
Kadiri argued that many producers lack an understanding of how platforms like YouTube operate, and that they should not expect actors to achieve unrealistic goals.
The 36-year-old actress urged actors to resist the pressure of these misguided expectations and to focus on their craft instead.
“Dear Nollywood actors!!! Take the pressure off your shoulders!!!,” Kadiri wrote. “Any producer who requires one million views from you in one day has failed! A good production requires more than your face. One million views is not a standard of success nor failure. So much y’all don’t know about YouTube don’t let their ignorance rob you of your joy.”
Kadiri, who has appeared in over fifty Nollywood films, including “Boys Cot”, has also made a name for herself as a screenwriter. She has contributed to movies such as “Matters Arising”, “Heart of a Fighter”, “Ladies Men”, “Sincerity”, “First Class”, and “Over the Edge”.
The filmmaker recently shared her reasons for uploading her movies on YouTube, citing the excessive regulations within Nigeria’s film industry. She explained that the platform allows her creative freedom, enabling her to express herself and “tell my stories” without restrictions.
