Nollywood has grown over the years to become one of the largest movie industries in the world.
It encompasses movies made in English, Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Itsekiri, Edo, Efik, Ijaw, Ibibio, Urhobo, and many other Nigerian languages.
Nollywood movies are watched globally and the advent of movie streaming platforms such as Youtube, NetFlix, iroko TV, etc. has boosted the movie industry and its actors.
However, Nollywood is very competitive, if you are not talented, you might be relegated to the background or overshadowed by talented actors.
Hardworking and talented actors do not find it very hard to build a successful career in Nollywood, they do not fight for roles but roles fight for them.
Becoming a Hollywood actor is not as smooth as many people think, you must be ready to work hard and make lots of sacrifices to climb the ladder of success.
Many Nollywood stars today did not become great overnight, they toiled to get to where they are today.
However, if you want to join Nollywood, this article on how to join Nollywood is a step-by-step guide that will help you join and build a successful career in Nollywood.
How To Join Nollywood
It does not matter how you join Nollywood, what matters is your ability to sustain your career in the movie industry.
Many people started well but presently are nowhere to be found. It is either they got tired and resigned or the fierce competition that exists in the industry pushed them aside.
Nollywood is full of talented actors who know their onions, and you must be talented and hardworking to make a living out of the movie career.
However, joining Nollywood the right way will save you from many setbacks and challenges, and below are the ways you can join Nollyhood appropriately.
1. Have Passion
Passion is what drives people to succeed despite the many hurdles they face. If you want to join Nollywood, you must have a passion for making movies no matter what role you play in the production of movies.
Passion will sustain you even when you are yet to succeed or passing through difficulties. It will also make you work hard to accomplish your goals.
To join Nollywood, make sure you have passion for the industry so that people’s character, difficulties, and many other things people face when building a career will not make you opt-out.
2. Develop Your Talent
No matter how talented you are, to make it to the limelight, you have to hone your talent to become the best at what you do.
To join Nollywood and become successful, you have to develop and sharpen your natural talent by enrolling in a higher institution or reputable movie academy.
By enrolling in a higher institution or movie academy, you would be thought so many things, and also exposed to the intricacies of the movie industry, so you do not become a total stranger when you get to join.
However, many people do not join Nollywood as actors but as, writers, producers, directors, etc. You have to choose the aspect you are good at and develop yourself.
3. Create an acting portfolio
After developing your talent, you need to create an acting portfolio. A portfolio is a collection of your work that you can use to enter competitions or apply for work.
Your acting portfolio should comprise all the relevant acting work you have done so far. This will help you when you go for auditions, plan to join a talent agency, or contact filmmakers and movie producers.
Your portfolio will make people see how dedicated and talented you are and also land you numerous gigs.
An acting portfolio will greatly help you to join Nollywood and get roles. It is very essential in your quest to become a Nollywood actor, producer, or director.
4. Go for auditions
No upcoming actor ever stays at home to get movie roles, they go for an audition. An audition is an interview where performers are required to display their talent through a previously rehearsed piece.
If you want to join Nollywood, you have to go to auditions, that is where you will meet people that will help you in your acting career.
Going for auditions will help you meet actors, producers, directors, writers and so many other people that are involved in the production of movies, and build a healthy relationship with them.
When you attend an audition and showcase your talent, depending on what the casting directors want, you might be selected for a movie role and that would be the starting point of your movie career.
However, fellow actors are not your enemies, so you have to build connections with them so they would let you know about many other auditions.
5. Join a talent agency
Joining a talent agency would be one of the best decisions you would take in your journey to joining Nollywood.
There are so many benefits of joining a talent agency and one of the major benefits is access to auditions.
Many producers or directors do not bother advertising for talent, they reach out to trusted agents to carry out the process of sourcing the best talents for them.
There are several talent agencies for actors in Nigeria you can join if you want to join Nollywood and succeed in your acting career.
6. Showcase your talent on social media
Social media has done a lot for people than you can ever imagine. It has brought so many people into the limelight and also boost their careers.
Many people get sponsored by displaying their talents on social media, you can also use social media to showcase your acting skills to the world as an upcoming actor seeking a place in Nollywood.
Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Snapchat, and Tiktok have made people earn a movie role in Nollywood on a platter of gold.
If you would like to join Nollywood as anything, it is important you create a social media account on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Tik Tok.
However, endeavor to use the same username on all your social media platforms so people can find you easily.
Create engaging content that will make people stay glued to your page. You can also make interesting skits and short videos.
When you do this, filmmakers and movie producers are bound to notice you easily if you are good at what you do and give you a role to play in a movie which might be your turning point.
7. Take Acting Courses
Even as a talented filmmaker or actor, you still need to take filmmaking and acting courses that are related to your area to stay relevant.
Nollywood is a very competitive industry so you must learn every day to upgrade and stay relevant.
Nollywood is made up of talented actors, writers, and filmmakers, so you have to stay on top of the game by constantly getting better in everything you do.
However, even if you are yet to join Nollywood, take career transforming courses and be at your best because you do not know when the opportunity will come knocking on your door.
Also read: Top 11 Best Film Schools In Nigeria
Film Schools In Nigeria
It is very important to enroll in a film school if you want to join Nollywood and succeed in your movie career..
There are so many benefits of attending a film school, you will have the opportunity to work with and learn from other students.
You will be mentored by experts and also learn the fundamentals of filmmaking which will help you in your movie career.
Going to film school will give you the opportunity to work with experts in your field and collaborate with other passionate creatives.
However, film schools have incredible resources that can help you to be successful in your careers such as federal grants, financial aid scholarships, and support from industry-experienced tutors.
However, below are the film schools we have in Nigeria.
1. Del-York Creative Academy
2. Purpose Academy of Film and Photography
3. Royal Art Academy
4. PEFTI Film Institute
5. Disciples Film and Television Institute (DIFTI)
6. Magnus Film Academy (MFA)
7. High Definition (HD) Film Academy
8. The Mount Zion Institute of Christian Drama
9. Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts (LAPA)
10. Ai Multimedia Academy
11. The Sword of Excellence Drama-Film University
2. KingsCrew Film Academy
13. Mainframe Film and Media Institute (MFMI)
14. MX Film & Multimedia Academy
Also read: Top 13 Best Cinemas In Nigeria
Popular Actors And Actresses In Nollywood
Below is the list of popular Nigerian actors and actresses.
- Ramsey Nouah
- Funke Akindele
- Richard Mofe Damijo
- Osita Iheme
- O. C. Ukeje
- Jim Iyke
- Olumide Oworu
- Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
- Bovi
- Olu Jacobs
- Tope Tedela
- Mike Bamiloye
- Pete Edochie
- Chiwetel Ejiofor
- Saint Obi
- Lateef Adedimeji
- Broda Shaggi
- John Boyega
- Dele Odule
- Femi Branch
- Efa Iwara
- Wasiu Alabi Pasuma
- Femi Adebayo
- Francis Odega
- Odunlade Adekola
- Muyiwa Ademola
- Yemi Ajibade
- Jimoh Aliu
- Fred Amata
- Chet Anekwe
- Okey Bakassi
- Saheed Balogun
- Joseph Benjamin
- Yul Edochie
- Segun Arinze
- Alex Ekubo
- Deyemi Okanlawon
- Ken Erics
- Mike Ezuruonye
- Sola Fosudo
- Chinedu Ikedieze
- Hakeem Kae-Kazim
- Jide Kosoko
- Ayo Makun
- Chuma Mmeka
- Zack Orji
- Ali Nuhu
- Dele Odule
- Dede One Day
- Clem Ohameze
- John Okafor
- Dayo Okeniyi
- Babatunde Omidina
- Emeka Ossai
- Nkem Owoh
- David Oyelowo
- Afeez Oyetoro
- Kola Oyewo
- Adebayo Salami
- Sunday Omobolanle
- Yemi Shodimu
- Ime Bishop Umoh
- Nonso Diobi
- Charles Inojie
- Desmond Elliot
- Kanayo O. Kanayo
- Segun Arinze
- Emeka Ike
- Sam Dede
- Kenneth Okonkwo
- Uzee Usman
- Chidi Mokeme
- Zubby Michael
- Liz Da-Silva
- Genevieve Nnaji
- Omotola Jalade Ekeinde
- Sola Sobowale
- Joke Silva
- Rita Dominic
- Mercy Johnson
- Kate Henshaw
- Ini Edo
- Nse Ikpe Etim
- Nancy Isime
- Yvonne Jegede
- Caroline Danjuma (maiden name: Caroline Ekanem)
- Lilian Esoro
- Adesua Etomi
- Bimbo Ademoye
- Efe Irele
- Mary Lazarus
- Uzo Aduba
- Tonto Dikeh
- Liz Benson
- Kehinde Bankole
- Fathia Balogun
- Tomi Odunsi
- Stephanie Okereke
- Nafisa Abdullahi
- Adunni Ade
- Ayo Adesanya
- Taiwo Ajai Lycett
- Nikki Amuka-Bird
- Rosaline Meurer
- Regina Askia
- Dorcas Shola-Fapson
- Monalisa Chinda
- Chioma Chukwuka
- Abiodun Duro-Ladipo
- Megalyn Echikunwoke
- Adesua Etomi-Wellington
- Carmen Ejogo
- Tamara Eteimo
- Hadiza Gabon
- Regina Daniels
- Rahama Sadau
- Muma Gee
- Shan George
- Kate Henshaw
- Chika Ike
- Carol King
- Bisi Komolafe
- Annie Macaulay–Idibia
- Lola Margaret
- Iyabo Ojo
- Sharon Ooja
- Sophie Okonedo
- Chioma Okoye
- Oge Okoye
- Moji Olaiya
- Kiki Omeili
- Racheal Oniga
- Bimbo Oshin
- Patience Ozokwor
- Helen Paul
- Idowu Philips
- Toni Tones
- Mary Uranta
- Bukky Wright
- Folake Olowofoyeku
- Ngozi Ezeonu
- Beverly Naya
- Beverly Osu
- Abimbola Craig
- Ruth Kadiri
- Weruche Opia
- Yvonne Orji
- Toyin Abraham
- Mercy Aigbe