Basketmouth Accuses Nollywood Producers of Misusing Funds from Streaming Platforms
Nigerian comedian-turned-filmmaker Bright Okpocha, widely known as Basketmouth, has made serious allegations against Nollywood producers, accusing them of mismanaging funds provided by global streaming platforms like Netflix. In a recent interview on Arise TV, Basketmouth claimed that only 10% of the allocated production budget is used for the intended purpose, with the rest being diverted for personal gain.
According to Basketmouth, streaming services, which began funding Nollywood movies, gave large sums like $1.5 million to producers, but most of this money never made it into the film’s production. Instead, producers allegedly used the funds to buy luxury items such as houses and cars. This, he argues, has caused a noticeable decline in the quality of films being produced in Nigeria. “When you do that and expect your movie to be 100%, it can’t. It’s impossible,” he said.
He also highlighted how the streaming platforms, frustrated with the misuse of funds, took a step to pay actors and crew members directly, in an attempt to bypass the producers. However, Basketmouth claimed that even this measure didn’t stop some producers from asking actors to return a portion of their payment.
Basketmouth’s revelations have sparked a broader conversation about the transparency and management of funds in Nollywood, particularly as the industry continues to grow with the involvement of global streaming giants.
The comedian’s remarks come as part of a broader discussion on the challenges facing Nollywood, from production budgets to the impact on film quality.
