Popular Nollywood actor Bolanle Ninalowo has said that he cannot remember the last time he auditioned for a role in Nollywood.
He recently questioned the need for auditions for major film roles when producers should already have a clear vision of their cast.
Speaking during an interview with Potpourri, Bolanle revealed that Hollywood writers and producers already have an idea of their preferred cast while putting the script together.
According to him, international filmmakers go as far as making a list of preferred actors and substitute actors while working on the script, in case their first choice is occupied with a different movie.
He stated that any Nollywood producer who doesn’t think in like manner will only be delaying the project with unnecessary auditions.
“I can’t even remember the last time I auditioned in Nigeria. But, though, even abroad, when they write scripts, they know exactly the actor they’re looking for. They have the actor, and they have a substitute actor, just in case that person is not available. So if you’re a filmmaker today, and you don’t know who you can potentially use, then you have a problem, if you have to start auditioning,” he said.
The movie star further noted that while auditions are not bad for supporting or smaller roles, lead roles should be cast with more intention.
Bolanle concluded by saying that having an idea of your main cast is the level of intentionality that Nigerian producers should strive for.
“There are roles that you audition for which you know, which are like minor roles, or maybe you have supporting roles, and you feel like, you know, let’s audition a few people.
But for your main cast, you should have an idea of the kind of people that you want. So, if these are not available, then you can always have a substitute, but that’s just being honest,” he added.
Folami David is a dynamic journalist who views the world through an analytical lens, translating complex narratives across multiple industries into compelling stories. With an insatiable appetite for information and a keen eye for emerging trends, Folami specializes in uncovering the interconnections between technology, business, culture, and society.
