How To Become a Nollywood Actor or Actress

How To Become a Nollywood Actor or Actress. In this article, I want to explain the simple, easy and most realistic way of getting into the Nollywood and making a great career out of the Nigerian movie industry and probably become one of the household name in Nigeria soon.

It is obvious that a good number of Nigerian youths are currently searching for how to join Nollywood or how to become actresses/actors in Nollywood.

Nollywood is Nigeria’s movie industry and has experienced notable growth in recent times. Nollywood movies are watched everywhere in the world, and the existence of movie streaming platforms such as Netflix and YouTube have increased the popularity and success of Nollywood actors. If you are a talented actor, you can easily build a successful career in Nollywood. You will become a celebrity and you stand to enjoy many benefits such as paid acting gigs, a huge fan base and endorsement deals. In this article you will learn how to become a Nollywood Actor or Actress.

Nollywood actors such as Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Odunlade Adekola, Ini Edo, Linda Osifo, Alex Ekubo, Rita Dominic, Uche Jombo, Ramsey Noah, Olu Jacobs, Joke Silva, Sharon Ooja, Timini Egbuson, Mercy Aigbe, Mide Martins, Fathia Williams and a host of many other actors have all built successful careers in Nollywood. So, how can you become a Nollywood actor and share your talent with the world? Keep reading.

If you are looking for straight forward means to become a Nollywood actress or actor, pay attention to this post. The process is not difficult as long as you already have the talent because talent is what make a great star. Before we go into the details, let’s see what you stands to gain if you finally become a Nollywood star.

Benefits Of Becoming A Nollywood Actor Or Actress

Earnings – The Nigerian Movie industry is the third biggest in the world. Therefore, one would expect the glamour and wealth that flows in Nollywood. Average Nigerian movie stars earn between N100,000 to N500,000 per role, while the big names in the industry earn between N1 million to N5 million depending on the name and the movie production budget.

If you earn N100,000 per role as a new and upcoming star and get ten roles in a year, that will amount to a whooping N1,000,000. Remember you are still upcoming, your earning is bound to grow even bigger as you grow bigger and more popularity. At the beginning, you should focus more on getting your roles right rather than the cash.

Apart from the take home from movie roles, the real money actually comes from products endorsements and contracts that will come your way when you become popular. Some popular stars are currently being signed up for products endorsement by some of the Telecom and other big companies in Nigeria. That is where the big bucks will come from.

Lifestyle – There is huge glamour and seemingly enjoyment going on in the entertainment industry all over the world. You will have the opportunity to attend some of the finest events in the country, travel to places, I mean some of the places you can only dream about now and get to meet great people in the society.

To most people, this aspect is the most attractive of it all. Red carpet events, awards, and other stuffs like that you used to watch on TV. You get to be in all of them and enjoy yourself to the fullest, at least as it seems.

Opportunity – Many celebrities have been able to get political appointments in their states or at the national level due to the popularity acquired through the entertainment industry. People get to see you perform on TV including government officials and policy makers and see what you are capable of doing through the way you act.

From there, you can land a political appointment which is a big deal in Nigeria considering the amount of money that is being shared in Government here. So, if political appointment or getting into politics in Nigeria is your dream, I must tell you that the easiest means of achieving it these days is through the Nollywood.

How To Become a Nollywood Actor or Actress

Follow these steps to become a Nollywood Actor

1. Create an acting portfolio

The first step in becoming a Nollywood actor is to create an acting portfolio. Your acting portfolio should contain all relevant acting work you have done so far. This will help you when you go for auditions, decide to join a talent agency or contact filmmakers and movie producers. An acting portfolio is essential in your quest to becoming a Nollywood actor, and will help you immensely when you are trying to get acting gigs.

2. Go for auditions

If you want to be a successful Nollywood actor, you have to go for auditions. Auditions are where you can meet with actors, producers, directors, cameramen and a host of other people in Nollywood. The best part is that you get to showcase your raw acting skills in front of casting directors. If your acting skills are up to par, you can get selected to play a role in a Nollywood movie. When you attend auditions, make sure you network properly and make connections with the right people.

If you eventually do not get the role you auditioned for, a relationship built with a director or producer could get you another acting gig in the future. Making connections with other actors at auditions is very helpful. They might let you know about other auditions you could try out, and snagging the role at such auditions could be your big break in Nollywood.

3. Join a talent agency

Especially in Lagos which happens to be the city of choice for Nollywood industry veterans such as producers and film makers, there are several talent agencies for actors which you can join. The advantages you get when you join a talent agency are enormous.

A talent agency will help you secure acting jobs in Nollywood because they have the necessary industry knowledge and connections. Talent agencies tend to know about auditions before anyone else does. Joining a talent agency is an important step in becoming a Nollywood actor.

4. Showcase your talent on social media

Social media in the past decade has proven to be a great tool for showcasing your acting skills as an aspiring actor. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Snapchat are social media platforms that have turned everyday people into Nollywood celebrities. The likes of Broda Shaggi and Wofaifada have managed to level their huge presence on social media to the big screen. Wofaifada is an Instagram comedian who has starred in the African Magic sitcom, Flatmates. Broda Shaggi is a funny comedian popular on Instagram and YouTube who starred in the widely acclaimed Nollywood movie, The Bling Lagosians.

If you would like to become a Nollywood actor, it is important you create a social media account especially on the most popular platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Snapchat. Use the same username on all social media platforms so people can find you easily. Make sure the username is memorable and catchy. You should use your first and last or middle name preferably. Then, showcase your acting skills everyday on social media.

Film makers and movie producers are bound to notice you on social media easily if you put in the work. You can make skits with fellow aspiring actors like you. This can help you get a major acting gig in Nollywood if one of your videos goes viral on the internet. Be consistent and post everyday if possible or weekly at the very least.

5. Build a personal brand

A personal brand is very important if you want to become a Nollywood actor. Make sure you craft a personal brand that highlights your strengths as an actor. You can create a niche for yourself in the acting industry. This will help you get certain roles in Nollywood.

You can then branch out into more challenging roles later. Broda Shaggi being a comedian is often cast as a funny character in movies. You can craft your personal brand such that you are known for something. This will help your acting career greatly.

6. Reach out to film producers and film makers

Social media has made it easier to reach out to film producers and film makers in Nollywood. All you have to do is search for their social media accounts and reach out to them. They often have an email address or phone number in their bio through which you can contact them.

7. Attend acting classes

Acting classes are very important for aspiring actors in Nollywood. It is very important that you constantly hone your craft. Nollywood is a very competitive industry; therefore you have to attend acting classes to upgrade your acting skills. There are many talented aspiring Nollywood actors, and you have to keep learning if you want to become successful in Nollywood. There are many film academies founded by different Nollywood actors that offer acting classes.

Conclusion

Nollywood actors are becoming even more recognized in the international scene. Nigerian movies are now showcased at film festivals globally and winning several awards globally. If you become a Nollywood actor, you stand to enjoy many opportunities. Gone are the times when being a Nollywood actor was frowned upon. Becoming a Nollywood actor is fast becoming a sure path to career success and fulfillment.

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