This is a conversation I have had with several Nollywood filmmakers, producers, directors, etc, but unfortunately, many of them seems to be too far from the reality on ground and the golden opportunity begging for their attention. Meanwhile, someone else has spotted that reality and happily smiling to the bank as result, and that person is no other than Edo State born Nollywood Actress, film writer and producer, Ruth Kadiri.
Ruth Kadiri has literary turned YouTube into her own Netflix, and while her co filmmakers and producers are waiting for these big streaming platforms to come knocking on their doors, Ruth has taken a bold step, and has equally decided to journey through another path and seems to have arrived at the targeted destination quicker than many people who detested and avoided her choice route. Well, it is not like I’m against those who chose the path of Netflix, no, but this woman in question is doing something extraordinary, which need to be brought to the limelight for others to equally learn and take their career to that next level.
One thing I like most about Ruth is the fact that she completely understands what majority of movie lovers crave for, especially in terms of storyline and casting, such that will always present itself as a major talking point for people, especially Nigerians for a long time, hence placing her movies on unfading spotlight.
Do you know that her movies on YouTube are among the highest African grossing movies on that very video streaming platform? Most of her movies hit one million views in less than twenty four (24) hours once uploaded on her YouTube channel, and some of her movies has over 8-10 million views, of which some are even more than that.
Then coupled with the fact that she has been a prolific filmmaker, uploading as many movies as she can every week/month, hence the reason her earnings in a month is huge. You know that if she isn’t cashing out big time from her movies, definitely she wouldn’t have been producing as many movies as she has been producing, including the use of expensive cast and crew.
Again, her choice of cast is something that is worth talking about, because this iconic Nollywood filmmaker seems to have mastered the business of filmmaking more than most of those who used to rank higher than her. For instance, have you noticed how she combines her casts? Such that you have no option than call it a perfect casting, and the roles and interpretation of these roles by her artists has made it that the casts are talked about for a very long time after the movie must have been released.
Take a look at Chidi Dike, especially after his performance in the movie “Better Half”, till date people have not stopped talking about this very actor and the movie itself. And same goes with most of the actors/actresses she uses in her movies. Also, being a very good film writer as well, she knows what story that will easily capture hearts of her fast growing fan base, and movie lovers in general. That’s why there’s hardly any of her movie that will not trigger a seemingly unending conversation/debate across social media platforms.
Finally, while several Nollywood filmmakers are queuing while waiting for the day Netflix will answer their age long prayers, Ruth Kadiri is turning YouTube into her own Netflix, with her channel already hitting about one million subscribers. In other words, she has gradually taken the lead in a style that will remain a talking point for a very long time to come.
