Wale Ojo Advocates For Blend Of Old, New Nollywood

Nollywood actor Wale Ojo recently shared his thoughts on the evolution of the Nigerian film industry during an interview with HipTV.

Ojo expressed his nostalgia for the storytelling and authenticity of the old Nollywood era while highlighting the advancements and challenges faced by the modern generation of actors.

He reminisced about the excitement he experienced while watching classic Nollywood films featuring veteran actors and praised the compelling stories and exceptional acting that characterized those earlier productions.

The actor suggested that in the age of artificial intelligence, some modern actors may have veered towards ‘artificial acting’ which lacks the genuine authenticity that was prevalent in the old Nollywood.

While acknowledging that change is inevitable and the industry has progressed, Ojo proposed a harmonious blend of the old and new Nollywood.

He suggested that marrying the storytelling and realness of the past with the advancements and innovation of the present could create a cinematic experience that resonates with both traditional and contemporary audiences.

“When I used to watch the old Nollywood, those were the stories that used to excite me. Those are Ramsey Nouah’s flicks, Rita Dominic, Pete Edochie, Omotola Jalade, Genevieve Nnaji. The stories were really good. The acting was great.

“I know that things had moved on, but in this age of artificial intelligence, perhaps, they [modern day actors] have taken on more of artificial acting rather than realness which was there [old Nollywood], and which you actually find more in Yoruba movies, by the way.

“I remember watching Hubert Ogundes, Lalude, Jide Kosoko, Baba Suwe, Papilolo. These were real hardcore veterans at that time.

“Things have changed and they must change. Things have changed for the better and some things have also changed for the worse.

“And I can understand this feeling of nostalgia for wanting to go back to the old Nollywood. The wonderful thing would be to marry that old Nollywood now with new Nollywood so that it is a marriage that would please our audiences.”