Nollywood actor, Saidi Balogun has recounted how he lost over N24 million to piracy in 2011.
In an interview WithChude, the ace filmmaker revealed that two of his movies were pirated, with the first being pirated even before its release date.
Balogun said he invested a substantial N24 million but he earned only N800,000 due to piracy.
He also recounted how he incurred debts and lost all his possessions.
The actor described the period as the “most difficult time” in his life.
He said his mother’s unwavering support helped him through the challenging times
Then I was in Germany, I did this movie ‘You or I’, all Caucasian actors, spending more than N24 million. The movie got pirated,” he said.
“I got a call very early in the morning, I called back, nobody was talking. So, I flew back to Nigeria the following day and I went straight to our house in Lagos Island and I saw the pirated copy.
“That movie was supposed to be released in a week or two then and it had flooded everywhere.
“I lost a lot of money, a lot. Can you imagine producing a movie worth N24 million as at 2011 and you lost everything. The highest money I made was N800k.
“My mum kept telling me I should keep doing it that I would get there. So for a week she was always beside me.
“I had had plans for the money. I already thought I could do a lot of things, achieve dreams and visions but it didn’t happen.
“I was the first to produce a two-cast movie in the history of Africa, it was pirated and not well marketed. After that then ‘You or I’ the same thing so I was like what is going on.
“…So those are the most difficult times I can never forget. I can never. A lot of difficult times.
