Nollywood actress Teniola Aladese has emphasized the need for open conversations about pay disparities within the Nigerian film industry. Speaking on the ‘ThatsWhatSheSaidVodcast’, Aladese highlighted the issue of underpayment for actors in Nollywood, recalling a conversation that opened her eyes to the significant disparities in earnings.
Aladese recounted a discussion with actor Timini Egbuson on the set of “Love in a Pandemic,” where he expressed dissatisfaction with a project’s pay offer, noting that the amount offered for weeks of work was what he could earn in just a few days elsewhere. This experience underscored the importance of financial discussions within the industry, according to Aladese.
She praised actors like Timini Egbuson and Kunle Remi for openly sharing their earnings with colleagues. Aladese explained that the lack of open dialogue about pay often leaves actors unaware of their earning potential, leading them to accept lower offers without realizing the flexibility in budgets. She added that budgets can be flexible. For instance, a character might only be needed for a couple of days. But the budget might allocate 700,000.
