Ireti Doyle, the Nollywood actress, has tackled Niyi Akinmolayan over a tweet he made about “influencer actors”.
In a Twitter post, Akinmolayan, the movie director, had reprimanded actors and critics for demanding challenging roles in the industry.
He hedged that, as with everything about filmmaking, much more challenging roles often require big budgets.
“‘I want a challenging role, I want a challenging role’. can you train for 3 weeks for free? No!” the director tweeted.
“Can you refuse other jobs for 2 months to be in character without being paid? No. So you see, my dear actor and critics who want challenging roles. Challenging roles need challenging money.”
I want challenging role…I want challenging role….can you train for 3 weeks for free…No!! Can u refuse other jobs for 2 months to be in character without being paid…No. So u see my dear actor…and critics who want challenging roles. challenging roles need challenging money.
— Niyi Akinmolayan (@niyiakinmolayan) May 22, 2022
In another tweet, he took a dig at some people who he described as “influencer actors” but can’t deliver table reads.
“Ordinary table read, una no go show, talk less of rehearsals. But u want challenging roles. Influencer actor lol,” he wrote.
In her reaction, Doyle pointed out that producers like Akinmolayan are guilty of hiring the same influencer actors.
She alleged that his type prioritizes social media numbers instead of hiring talent and expertise in the film space.
“Perhaps if [the] casting is based on talent and the hunger to succeed as opposed to social media numbers and who is willing to push your film aggressively producers wouldn’t have this particular problem,” the actress wrote.
Perhaps if casting is based on talent and the hunger to succeed as opposed to social media numbers and who is willing to push YOUR film aggressively (at no added cost) producers wouldn't have this particular problem. https://t.co/euKIcrdN8k
— Iretiola Doyle (@IretiolaDoyle) May 22, 2022
