Nigerian filmmaker and producer, Biodun Stephen has spoken candidly about the mounting pressure Nollywood creatives face when promoting films on social media.
In a recent conversation with The Nation, the acclaimed director revealed just how mentally and physically demanding it has become to get audiences to pay attention — even when the film is top-tier.
“The audience’s attention is diminishing every day,” Stephen said. “It’s so difficult to get them to engage with your movie trailer but if it’s a skit you will get more engagement.”
Her statement reflects a growing concern in the Nigerian film industry, where marketing efforts often feel overshadowed by the viral nature of short-form content like comedy skits and TikTok dance videos.
Stephen didn’t hold back as she described how exhausting it is for filmmakers to create promotional content that feels native to social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.
“Even me, I’m tired because I have to think of what to say or the dance to dance because you can do like twenty takes before it would make sense,” she revealed.
The stress, she notes, is often worse than the actual filmmaking process itself.
“The stress of marketing is much more than that of making the film. If you’re doing all that stress, make sure the film is good.”
Despite the challenges, Biodun Stephen maintains that quality storytelling must remain the foundation of any film promotion strategy. Without a compelling narrative, she warns, all that marketing effort is wasted.
Her comments underscore a deeper shift in how Nollywood professionals must now merge creativity with influencer-style engagement to gain traction online — often without the budgets and resources available in other industries.
No Comment! Be the first one.