- Pearl Wats, a renowned filmmaker and actress, predicts Nigeria’s third-largest film industry will soon surpass Hollywood’s global market.
- Miss Wats stated that the growing international recognition and growth of Nollywood will prompt filmmakers to intensify their efforts, aiming to compete with Hollywood.
Filmmaker and actress Pearl Nkiruka Waturuocha, popularly known as Pearl Wats, has declared that Nigeria’s Nollywood, currently the third-largest film industry in the world, is on course to rival America’s Hollywood, the world’s leading film industry.
In a recent interview, Miss Wats explained that Nollywood’s rapid growth and increasing international recognition are motivating filmmakers to elevate their craft, which will eventually put the industry on par with Hollywood.
Speaking about Nollywood’s economic impact, she said, “It is not only actors, actresses, producers, cameramen, directors, and producers that make money from the industry, but also make-up artists, stylists, fashion designers, video editors, food vendors, set designers, house agents, project managers, and many more.”
She added, “Apart from the fact that movies help a lot of people relax, it has also helped in curbing unemployment in Nigeria. Nollywood is the 3rd biggest film industry in the world. Entertainment as a whole is a very big deal in Nigeria and has put Nigeria on the map.”
During the interview, Pearl encouraged filmmakers to explore stories about Nigeria’s slave trade, arguing that Nollywood’s growing focus on cultural and historical narratives makes this an important subject to tell. She also expressed her willingness to take on a role in such movies.
Reflecting on her career, Pearl revealed that her most challenging role was playing a mentally deranged woman. “When I first received the script, I thought it would be easy, but once I got into character, I realized it was much more demanding,” she said.
She also shared that watching movies as a child made her happy and inspired her to become an actress, with the desire to bring joy to others.
Despite her passion, Pearl candidly spoke about the challenges she faced early in her career, including people not taking her seriously and producers trying to take advantage of her naivety.
