Why I Switched from Music to Nollywood, JJC Skillz
In an enlightening interview with Channels TV, noted filmmaker and former musician JJC Skillz opened up about his change of pace, from the upbeat world of music to the compelling universe of Nollywood.
Although he made waves in the UK’s music scene with acts like Big Brovaz and JJC & the 419 Squad, JJC Skillz shared that he felt a growing disconnect: “I started feeling too old for the youthful energy of the music industry,” he explained. It was this sense of misalignment that pushed him toward a new passion, storytelling through film.
He reflected on his roots in visual storytelling: “For as long as I remember, I’ve been making music videos, I even directed my own ‘We Are Africans.’ After ‘African Gang’ in 2011, I realized I was moving past that youthful scene and needed a shift.” Firmly driven by that urge to narrate meaningful stories, JJC packed up and relocated to Nigeria to begin his Nollywood journey.
However, it wasn’t a smooth transition. As an outsider, he had to start fresh and contend with industry gatekeepers. He recounted, “I was a JJC newbie. I didn’t come up with most of the Nigerian filmmakers. It was like, ‘You want to enter our space?’ Some doors were closed,” illustrating the barriers he faced.
Fortunately, he found allies in actor Deyemi Okanlawon and filmmaker Funke Akindele, who recognized his talent and encouraged him along the way.
JJC also shed light on one of the biggest challenges facing filmmakers in Nigeria today, unfair revenue from cinema ticket sales. “It’s a situation of ‘monkey dey work, baboon dey chop,’” he said candidly. With cinemas sometimes keeping 60 to 70 percent of earnings, followed by a 22 percent tax, filmmakers are often left with very little, and even end up having to handle distribution themselves.
Further complicating matters is the departure of streaming platforms from the Nigerian market. This retreat has made recovering production investments far more uncertain. “We hoped streaming platforms would help, but now they’re gone. We’re back to wondering: if we put money into a film, will we ever get it back? Business is killing creativity,” he lamented
To counter these obstacles and win over audiences, JJC stressed the importance of delivering value. He even marketed his own film with a promise of refunds if viewers weren’t satisfied.
His dedication has indeed paid off, JJC Skillz has helmed acclaimed projects like Industreet, Jenifa’s Diary, and Omo Ghetto: The Saga. His most recent work, Hakeem: Seeking Justice, features action-packed sequences and highlights his growth as a filmmaker.