Nollywood Filmmaker Pascal Atuma Reveals Shocking Truth About Production Costs in Hollywood
Pascal Atuma, a renowned Nollywood filmmaker, has shed light on the stark difference between production costs in Hollywood and Nollywood. Speaking on Channels Television’s breakfast program, The Morning Brief, Atuma revealed that the production cost for a single Nollywood film falls short of the pre-production cost in Hollywood.
Atuma analyzed the basic cost of the flight of the cast and crew, pointing out that big stars in Nollywood do not fly economy, but rather business class. He noted that the cost of business class tickets alone can range from $7,000 to $8,000 per ticket. In contrast, low-budget movies in Los Angeles are classified as three million dollars, while Nollywood films rarely reach a budget of one million dollars.
The filmmaker emphasized the importance of considering the business aspect of the media industry, stating that “it’s not just fun, it’s business and we have to do business.” He believes that telling the right stories and maximizing collaborations are key to staying afloat during economic hardship.
Atuma also spoke about his latest movie, “Imported Wives,” which highlights the struggles of men who travel back to Nigeria to find wives to relocate abroad with their wives. The film stars Omoni Oboli, Patience Ozokwor, Nancy Isime, Joseph Benjamin, Linda Osifo, and Ngozi Nwosu.
In his advice to aspiring filmmakers, Atuma stressed the importance of being patient, resilient, and eager to learn. He cautioned that filmmaking is not for everyone, stating that “it’s not for the soft-hearted. A lot of people will tell you that you can’t do it, it’s going to take a long time but if it’s what God has called you to do and if you have the passion and patience.”
With his candid remarks, Atuma has sparked a necessary conversation about the challenges faced by Nollywood filmmakers and the importance of adapting to the changing media landscape.
