Tech Will Help New Faces To Break Into Nollywood – Niyi Akinmolayan

Nigerian filmmaker Niyi Akinmolayan has spoken up about integrating tech into Nollywood. He recently shared the inspiration behind his decision to launch an application for actors and producers.

Speaking during an interview with OGHENOVO EGODO-MICHAEL, Niyi revealed that he unveiled his app mainly to make the process of finding new talent easier.

According to him, after several complaints about new faces finding it difficult to break into the Nigerian film industry, he decided to launch an app where rising stars can create their profiles, upload their photos, and even access a “Monologue” feature.

Highlighting how upcoming female actresses lament about a lack of safety during auditions, he stated that their harassment fears prompted his decision to build a safe system.

“We have been thinking seriously about how to find the right talent for Nollywood in a way that is both safe and effective, and that ensures the right people get opportunities to be on screen.

Over the years, people have complained that we keep using the same faces, and that it’s difficult for new talents to break in. There’s also been a major concern around the safety of auditions, particularly for young women, who sometimes encounter harassment, scams, or other unpleasant situations.

So, we asked ourselves how we can build a safe system that gives anyone, from anywhere, a fair chance.

Traditionally, when auditions are called, hundreds of people turn up, making it almost impossible to identify the right fit. So, we decided to build two platforms for actors; and producers and casting directors respectively.

The first app allows actors to create profiles, upload photos, and input details like height, skin colour, and location. There’s also a feature called Monologue, where users can record performances using a teleprompter.

It looks and feels a bit like TikTok, but it’s entirely professional. We’ve uploaded over 2,000 monologues from Hollywood, Nollywood, and Bollywood scripts,” he said.

Niyi further noted that the app will also help Nigerian filmmakers to search for actors who best suit their projects without breaking a sweat.

The producer concluded by saying that both the actor and producer will not even have access to each other’s personal details until a role has been confirmed.

“On the producer side, the app allows producers to create projects and search for actors based on specific criteria. For example, ‘a woman aged 19 to 25, based in Ibadan, who speaks Yoruba.’

Only actors who meet that description see the casting call and can apply from anywhere. The producer then reviews submissions and decides who to contact.

Importantly, actors and producers don’t have access to one another’s personal details until a role has been confirmed. This protects both sides and eliminates many of the industry’s safety concerns,” he added.