Why I Hate What Film Promotion Has Turned Into - Omoni Oboli

Nigerian movie producer Omoni Oboli is currently making the rounds promoting her latest movie The Uprising: Wives on Strike and during her latest stop on Your View, Omoni Oboli was asked her honest thoughts about the state of film promotion these days, and how she feels about it.

For context, it seems these days that filmmakers have to do A LOT to get people to cinemas to watch their films. Most rampantly, filmmakers and cast members are expected to dance like Funke Akindele recently did in promotion of her own upcoming movie Everybody Loves Jenifa. They are also expected to do things such as skits, appear in popular creators' posts, and generally go far and beyond on social media to get people into cinemas to watch their films. Now, Omoni is getting REAL about her thoughts, and explaining why she doesn't like it at all! Here's what Omoni Oboli said.

Speaking about film promotion in today's landscape and all that has become expected of filmmakers to promote their films, Omoni Oboli said:

OMONI OBOLI: I'm not even going to lie to you, I'm not happy that it's gotten to this. I feel like so much work goes into actually making these films, you know. Putting all your resources, everything, into making a beautiful film that I feel like coming on interviews and going to other TV stations, posting about it, doing all those things, should be enough to sell the film.

Posting about it on your social media platforms and saying 'guys my movie is out, go watch it' should be enough to get Nigerians out to watch these films. But then, we have to do so much more. It is heartbreaking honestly. It's too much. It's a lot, I'm not even going to lie to you. I mean, it seems like it's fun, but it's a lot.

Look outside of Nigeria, how are movies promoted? Do they have to do that much? Don't they have younger audience? They do. And I'm just being honest. I could sit here and say "you know what it's fine, we gotta do what we gotta do," you make it look exciting and all of that, but it is taking a toll. It takes something away from you.

I'm a filmmaker. I want to work. I want to do film, and put it out there, and say "guys my movie is out," and let the work speak for itself. But now if I don't dance and do all of those things, you're not going to come out to watch the film.

It's also very discouraging to upcoming producers because they're thinking if they don't do all these things, them no go watch my film, make I just dey my house because I don't have the power. Do you know how many filmmakers say to me "Omoni, I don't have the strength to do these thing you guys are doing, let me just not go to the cinemas?" We need to do better.

What do you think about what Omoni Oboli had to say? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment either below or on my Jide Okonjo Facebook post.

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