Emma Ugolee slams Nollywood’s casting trend, favoring influencers over trained actors with real talent.
He warns that social media clout should not replace skill in storytelling or performance quality.
Media personality Emma Ugolee has voiced his concern over what he identifies as a growing trend in Nollywood. The trend of casting actors based on their social media popularity rather than their talent.
In a recent post, Ugolee described the unspoken practice of prioritizing follower count over performance ability as “sickening,” calling it a disservice to trained professionals in the industry.
He cited two lead actors from the trending series To Kill a Monkey as examples of skilled performers who remain under the radar because they’ve chosen to stay away from sensationalism. “Why?” he questioned. “Because they’re not trading their privacy, nudity, or personal drama for clout.”
Ugolee compared them to a well-known social media creator whose massive following is built around content that features women twerking, imitating sexual sounds, or discussing intimate topics on camera. He noted that such individuals often get chosen for acting roles, not for their acting prowess but because of their online influence.
“This is in no way to make fun of what he’s doing,” he added. “But to show you exactly what it takes to get the engagement Nollywood is asking of these professional actors as tickets to get acting gigs.”
He urged producers and casting directors to reconsider the standards they’re setting for actors, saying many talented individuals have no interest in baring their personal lives or chasing viral moments, they simply want to perform.
In closing, Ugolee commended filmmakers who continue to cast based on merit rather than metrics. “Shout out to the directors who ignore this rule while casting,” he wrote.
