Popular comedian and filmmaker, Bright Okpocha, also known as Basketmouth, has criticized Nigerian movie producers for allegedly mismanaging funds allocated by global streaming giant, Netflix, for film production.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV, Basketmouth accused some producers of diverting the bulk of these funds for personal luxury rather than investing in quality filmmaking.
“When the streaming platforms came in, they gave money to these producers. I’ll tell you point blank: these producers would take the money—$1.5 million or whatever—and use about 10% to make the movie,” he alleged.
Basketmouth claimed that the misuse of funds has led to substandard Nollywood productions, with some films falling below professional standards. “When you do that and expect your movie to be 100%, it can’t. It’s impossible. That’s why when you see some of our epic movies, they look like stage plays,” he said.
He further revealed that in response to these practices, Netflix began paying actors directly to ensure transparency. However, producers allegedly coerced actors into returning part of their pay. “These guys would go behind and tell the actors to pay half of that money back to them. You can verify this information anywhere,” Basketmouth stated.
The filmmaker argued that the situation undermines Nollywood’s growth and credibility in the global entertainment industry.
The allegations come amid a growing call for increased accountability and professionalism in Nigeria’s burgeoning film industry, which has become a focal point for international collaborations and investments.
While Netflix has yet to comment on the claims, the revelation has sparked discussions about the need for stricter regulations and oversight in Nollywood.
