New actors deserve chance too says Biodun Stephen
Award-Winning filmmaker Biodun Stephen has stressed the importance of allowing new and up-and-coming actors to shine in Nollywood productions.
Speaking during a recent chat. Stephen noted that art should not be restricted to a particular group of people, emphasizing the need for inclusivity in casting, especially across streaming platforms.
“For me, art cannot be limited to a particular scope of people. People need to be given opportunities. If they cannot get that opportunity in cinema, they should be able to get it on streaming platforms like YouTube,” she said.
She expressed concern about the growing trend of using already popular faces across all platforms—including YouTube—rather than using such spaces to discover fresh talent.
“If again we are still taking the cinema faces, Netflix faces to YouTube, how then do we open the door for new actors? How do we, then, discover new people? That was what my rant was about,” she explained.
Stephen called on audiences to keep an open mind when watching movies with unfamiliar faces, urging them to focus on the story and the performance rather than just the star power.
“The audience should be a bit more accommodating when they see a face that they don’t know, trusting that if the story is good and they give that actor a chance. There are many actors who became superstars from one scene, but that won’t happen if they don’t give the film a chance.”
Known for her ability to tell relatable and emotional stories, Biodun Stephen continues to be a vocal advocate for talent development and opportunities within the Nigerian film industry.