Films should tell Nigerian stories better — Shine Rosman

Actress, Shine Rosman, has called on filmmakers to create more stories that reflect the realities of Nigerian society, stressing that art should mirror the times and experiences of the people.

Speaking in an interview with Sunday Scoop, the actress, who played Amanda Sparkles in the movie series, To Kill A Monkey, said while love stories are important, filmmakers should also pay attention to socially reflective storytelling.

“It will be good to see more filmmakers reflect the reality of Nigeria when making films. I know we want to make all these other love stories, but it’s also important for art to reflect the times, and I think that wherever we are, we need to key into that,” she said.

Rosman also spoke about the overwhelming reception that greeted TKAM, admitting that although she was surprised by the attention her character received, she was not shocked by the success of the project.

“Truly, I was shocked at the reception my role got, but I wasn’t shocked at all by the reception the series got. It was a fantastic and really God-ordained project, and everyone on set could feel it while we were shooting. It was an amazing process; it took a lot of sweat and blood. I am so grateful for every fan who keyed into that story and resonated with it,” she added.

Rosman further revealed that playing Amanda Sparkles stretched her emotionally and creatively because parts of the character initially felt difficult to relate to.

“The role took me out of my comfort zone. There were a lot of parts of her that, from a broader perspective, were stereotyped, and I struggled to understand that part of her. But when I delved deeper into the character, I understood her so much. It just helps one to have more compassion and less judgment,” she said.

Asked about the quality of storytelling in Nollywood, she said, “Storytelling has so much potential in Nollywood. We have such a long way to go, but with baby steps, we are going to get there every year. We are growing, learning and evolving; and that’s how it’s supposed to be for us.”