“Nobody intends to produce a bad movie” – Judith Audu

• Judith Audu, has recently shared her opinions about filmmaking in Nollywood.

• The actor and producer showed understanding for other filmmakers, highlighting that no one aims to create a poor film.

Judith Audu, recognized for her 2016 film Just Not Married, has recently shared her opinions about filmmaking in Nollywood.

The actor and producer showed understanding for other filmmakers, highlighting that no one aims to create a poor film.

As a strong advocate for social justice and supports the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), using her voice to bring attention to issues such as sexual and gender-based violence. This dedication inspired her to produce the short film Not Right, which focuses on domestic violence in Nigeria and encourages women to speak out.

During a session at the Nollyfemme Shorts program on August 30, 2024, Audu expressed her love-hate feelings for Nollywood. She discussed the obstacles filmmakers face and urged her colleagues to practice empathy and kindness among themselves.

“Even though I love doing this, I have a toxic relationship with Nollywood. What I’ll say to every filmmaker out there is that be nice to people. It takes nothing to be nice to people. It is hard making a film and it is harder making a film in a toxic environment. That is my life mantra, be nice to people,” she said

She emphasized that movies created with passion often shine brighter, and everyone in the production will naturally feel a sense of ownership without any pressure.

“Films that you make in love do so well. Everyone that worked on that project will own it as their own. They won’t be coming to set as if they are coming for a job but coming because it is a collaboration. If this film do well na all us, if e do bad na all of us. Nobody associates with a bad film but when the film does well, everyone will identify with it, you have to beg them to post about it, and they’ll all say, I was there. If you make a film that everyone loves you will not beg anyone to post for you. They’ll post it because they feel it is theirs and they want the film to do well,” she said.

Audu shared her annoyance with self-appointed gatekeepers who block filmmakers’ progress and critics who unfairly judge films without recognizing the hard work behind them.

“Nollywood is for all of us and I believe we all want the best for Nollywood because every opportunity that opens up, a win for one is a win for all. What we do in Nollywood is that when one person opens the door another person goes and shuts it but in shutting it, you shut it for yourself too. The way we talk badly about our people is making outsiders talk to us badly too. How many of us watch Nollywood films and just move on in life but when we watch our film, we drag it down, tear it down knowing how hard it is to make a film in this climate, especially in this kind of economy,” she added.

Audu highlighted that filmmakers typically do not want to produce poor films, but sometimes situations they can’t control push them to release something that isn’t very good.

“Nobody sets out to make a bad film, nobody leaves their house and says today I’m going to make a bad film, they go out, try to make a good film and they go to their edits and things don’t just pan out the way they planned. They’d love to go do pickups but they don’t have the money to go do it so they just put the film the way they can. I think we should be more empathetic to our fellow filmmakers. We know how it is. If outsiders say it we shouldn’t say it cos as filmmakers we know what it takes,” she said.

She honored female filmmakers who have created opportunities for rising filmmakers by transforming the narrative and dispelling myths about women.