Gabriel Afolayan says constructive criticism is vital for Nollywood’s growth and creativity across all genres.
He praised Nigerian audiences as perceptive, stressing that their feedback shapes filmmaking success.
Nollywood actor Gabriel Afolayan has stressed the importance of criticism in helping the film industry grow and improve.
Speaking in an interview with Punch, the actor explained that filmmakers and audiences must work hand in hand to build the industry. According to him, criticism is necessary for progress, as it gives filmmakers the chance to know what to improve on.
Afolayan also expressed confidence in Nollywood’s ability to deliver across different genres, including action films. He maintained that Nollywood is ready for every kind of story, and that creating bold projects often reveals just how intelligent the audience can be.
He said, “Even if you believe you’ve made a great film, until an audience watches it and decides whether it’s good or not, nothing else really matters. I feel our audience is ready for everything we have to give them.”
The actor further praised Nigerian movie lovers, describing them as very perceptive. He explained that audiences from different walks of life often analyze films deeply, sometimes as if they were part of the production team.
He added that, “A film doesn’t belong to the filmmaker; they are just instruments the universe uses to put it together. And because they love the film, they’ll put money in your pocket as a filmmaker. But even after you release a film, you won’t make anything from it until the audience says it is good enough.”
