Movie Making is not about having a fine face, but being a good performer – Kanayo O Kanayo states
Veteran Nollywood actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has expressed deep concerns about a trend he sees as damaging to the Nigerian film industry, particularly on platforms like YouTube.
He believes that casting decisions are increasingly being based on an actor’s popularity and physical appearance rather than their genuine acting skills.In a video shared on his Instagram page, the actor stated that he has decided to take control of his own creative path on his YouTube platform.
He emphasized that “movie making is not about having a fine face, it’s about being a good actor, a good performer.”
In a video message shared on his Instagram page on Monday, the seasoned actor announced a shift in his own approach, pledging to concentrate on working with new and under-recognized performers rather than chasing after already popular names.“I have decided to take my destiny in my own hands as it pertains to my platform on YouTube”
“Movie making is not about having a fine face, it’s about being a good actor, a good performer. So, with or without a fine face, that’s what I’ve decided to do. If you don’t like it, well, that’s quite unfortunate.”
He drew parallels with the early years of Nollywood when, according to him, sponsors and promoters sidelined promising actors who did not appear marketable, thereby ending many careers prematurely.
“There was an incident many years ago when we were trying to bring up this Nollywood business, about 25 years ago. Some sponsors woke up and started branding actors: ‘this one is not a good one, this one does not sell films.’
They killed the careers of those guys. I can mention names, but for the sanctity of this broadcast, I won’t,” he said.
Kanayo warned that the same destructive trend is now returning through digital platforms.
