Filmmaker Femi Adebayo has explained why cinema actors are rarely seen in YouTube films, saying the situation is more about industry perceptions than personal choices by actors.
He made the remarks while responding to a question from Theatre Arts and Movies Production Association of Nigeria president, Mr Latin, at an event. Femi said there appears to be an unspoken hierarchy in the industry, where actors known for cinema releases are sometimes believed to avoid colleagues who mainly work on YouTube films.
Dismissing the idea, Femi said such labels should not exist. He stated that there are no “cinema actors” or “YouTube actors,” stressing that actors are simply actors, regardless of where their films are shown.
He acknowledged, however, that many people within the industry still believe the distinction exists. Femi said he could only speak for himself and not for other actors, adding that he does not discriminate against anyone based on the platform they work on.
According to him, he has acted in both cinema and YouTube films within the same year, showing that he moves freely across platforms. He said the real challenge is often from producers rather than actors.
The 46-year-old explained that some producers avoid actors who frequently appear in cinema projects because they assume such actors have become too expensive or are no longer within their budget. He said this belief creates unnecessary division and wrongly suggests that actors look down on colleagues from other platforms.
Femi Adebayo has remained active across film platforms in recent years. He starred in and produced Jagun Jagun, which was released on Netflix in 2023. He also produced and featured in the cinema release King of Thieves in 2022. In 2024, he also starred and directed Netflix series, Seven Doors.
In 2025, he appeared in the action film Suky, released on Amazon Prime Video.
