Pere Laments Loss On Movie Production Investment In Nollywood

Pere Egbi, former BBNaija housemate turned actor and producer, shares his experience of investing N200 million in his film The Silent Intruder, which grossed only N53 million, highlighting the challenges faced by Nigerian filmmakers in cinema promotions.

Pere Egbi, the former BBNaija housemate and now actor and producer, has opened up about the financial struggle he faced with his film The Silent Intruder. Despite investing a staggering N200 million into its production, the film only earned N53 million at the cinemas, leaving him with a net profit of just N8 million.

Egbi’s frustrations echo the recent claims made by Femi Branch, the lead actor of House of Ga’a, regarding the challenges Nigerian filmmakers face in the cinema industry. In an emotional Instagram post, Egbi shared how his film suffered from poor screen times and limited promotional efforts, which contributed to its disappointing box office performance.

The N200 million spent on The Silent Intruder included over N150 million of Egbi’s own funds, plus an additional N11 million borrowed from a friend in London. However, despite this significant financial commitment, the film struggled to gain visibility in the cinema, grossing only N53 million.

“I spent over 200 million naira on the production, and it made only 53 million at the cinemas. Out of that, I personally earned just 8 million naira,” Egbi shared in his post, expressing his frustration with the distribution system that he believes hinders local films.

Adding to his challenges, The Silent Intruder has not yet been picked up by major streaming platforms like Netflix or Prime Video, even though other films released at the same time have secured deals. Egbi revealed that the financial burden has forced him to leave Nigeria and return to the United States to work and repay the loan.

“To the kind-hearted woman who lent me money, I had to go back to America to work just so I can pay her back,” he explained.

Egbi’s experience highlights a critical issue in Nollywood—how the cinema industry often neglects local films in favor of foreign productions. Many filmmakers, like Egbi, believe that cinemas in Nigeria offer inadequate screen times for Nigerian films, which results in poor box office returns. Furthermore, the lack of support for independent filmmakers and the challenges in securing fair distribution deals contribute to the industry’s struggles.

As Egbi waits for a breakthrough, he has vowed to take matters into his own hands. If by January 2025 no progress has been made, he plans to release The Silent Intruder directly on YouTube, bypassing traditional distribution channels.

“Right now, I don’t care about being blacklisted,” he stated, underscoring his determination to control his narrative.

Egbi’s bold decision has sparked renewed discussions about the urgent need for reforms in the Nigerian film industry. Many argue that Nollywood’s rapid growth is being stifled by inadequate structures for revenue sharing and film distribution.

For filmmakers like Pere Egbi, this situation calls for systemic changes to ensure fair treatment, better support for independent creators, and a more equitable distribution of earnings in the industry. As Egbi continues to pursue his creative vision, his story serves as a call for reform in Nollywood, encouraging discussions on how to improve the industry’s framework for future filmmakers.