YouTube Has Turned Friends into Enemies, Rex Nosa Claims

Nollywood actor Rex Nosa has opened up about the deliberate decisions that helped him establish himself beyond the Asaba movie industry, saying his success was driven by foresight, planning and the ability to adapt to changing trends.

Speaking about his career journey, Nosa explained that his years in Asaba were not a limitation but an opportunity to develop his acting career and establish a strong foundation.

The actor disclosed that he was born and raised in Lagos, where he completed his primary and secondary education. However, after graduating from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, he relocated to Asaba to pursue opportunities in filmmaking.

He said Asaba was an important centre for grassroots movie production at the time, with film marketers playing a significant role in determining the direction of the industry.

According to Nosa, many actors he admired had also built their careers through productions in Asaba and Enugu before progressing to wider recognition.

He explained that he always intended to return to Lagos after gaining the necessary experience and establishing himself professionally.

“Everything I did was intentional. I was planning and positioning myself for what I wanted to achieve,” the actor said.

Nosa emphasised that career development requires understanding that different stages demand different decisions. He noted that recognising when to evolve and move forward helped him adjust to opportunities beyond his original base.

His account underscores the importance of setting clear goals, making deliberate career choices and responding to developments within the entertainment sector.

During the interview, attention also turned to his educational background, with the actor being asked how he moved from studying Mechanical Engineering to pursuing a career in acting.

Nigerian entertainer Rex Nosa has revealed how the rise of YouTube filmmaking has changed relationships among actors, expressing concern that competition between creators has weakened the friendship and cooperation that once characterised the industry.

The actor, who combines movie appearances with comedy content and independent productions, said many entertainers are now preoccupied with growing their individual channels, sometimes at the expense of relationships with colleagues.

Speaking about the changing entertainment landscape, Rex Nosa observed that some actors no longer maintain the same level of communication or social interaction because they are focused on managing their own businesses.

“YouTube has also turned many of us into enemies in some ways. Some people no longer answer one another’s calls, and we hardly hang out or spend time together,” he said.

He explained that when entertainers become deeply involved in their personal projects, they may begin to suspect that calls from colleagues are requests for favours or business assistance.

Despite the challenges, the actor believes collaboration remains important, arguing that professional circumstances can change and that today’s competitors may need one another’s support tomorrow.

From church dramas to professional acting

Rex Nosa traced his interest in entertainment to his childhood, when he participated in church dramas, led songs and played drums during services.

He said he enjoyed being involved in activities that entertained people and occasionally asked others to interview him after children’s drama performances.

Although he did not initially realise that acting would become his profession, he later recognised those experiences as early indications of his interest in performance.

His professional journey began after graduation, following an industrial training placement in Asaba, Delta State, during his 300-level studies.

The city exposed him to actors and movie productions, encouraging him to relocate there after completing his education.

He recalled arriving at an audition venue and learning that registration with the Actors Guild of Nigeria was required before he could participate.

After registering and obtaining a temporary membership card, he attended the audition and was subsequently informed that he had been selected.

That opportunity launched his acting career in 2010.

Rex Nosa said he learned much of the technical side of filmmaking through experience, including understanding the difference between a master shot and a close-up.

How Jenifa’s Diary helped expand his career

The actor also recalled how he became involved in Jenifa’s Diary, the television series created by Funke Akindele.

He said he already knew Akindele through movie productions in eastern Nigeria before she invited him to join the sitcom.

During an earlier production in Awka, he noticed Akindele working with a writer during breaks and later learned that they were developing the series.

Although she contacted him about joining the production during its earlier seasons, his commitments to movies in Asaba delayed his participation.

He eventually joined around the seventh season, seeing the role as an opportunity to reach a broader Lagos audience and demonstrate his versatility.

Rex Nosa said he frequently travelled from Asaba to Lagos for filming, sometimes leaving early in the morning to meet scheduled call times.

He praised Akindele for giving him the opportunity and recalled an incident when he had to return to Lagos after beginning his journey back to Asaba because some footage needed to be reshot.

The experience, he said, required sacrifice and commitment but helped him expand his professional visibility.

The changing business of filmmaking

Rex Nosa compared the present YouTube-driven industry with the earlier DVD era, when marketers financed films and played a major role in determining the projects that reached audiences.

He explained that actors once had access to frequent productions because marketers invested in movies and organised their distribution.

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Under the current model, many creators must finance their own projects, promote their work and hope that audience engagement generates sufficient returns.

He said this arrangement offers greater independence but also exposes filmmakers to the risk of losing money when their productions fail to perform as expected.

Despite operating his own channel, Rex Nosa continues to accept roles in other creators’ productions.

He said he does not believe entertainers should concentrate exclusively on their individual businesses because collaboration can create relationships and opportunities that prove valuable later.

The actor acknowledged that balancing his own projects with other people’s productions is challenging, particularly because he travels frequently between Nigeria and London.

Nevertheless, he continues to organise his schedule to accommodate selected collaborations while giving increased attention to his personal projects.

A supportive marriage behind the scenes

Rex Nosa disclosed that he married in 2015 and has children. His family lives in London, which explains much of his movement between the two countries.

He credited his wife for supporting his career and allowing him the freedom to participate in professional activities without feeling that marriage limits his opportunities.

He said they maintain an open relationship in which he informs her about his activities in the entertainment industry.

According to him, his wife sometimes checks his photographs before he posts them online and has also recorded some of the content shared with his followers.

He added that he values her support and tries not to abuse the trust they have built over the years.

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The actor believes the arrangement works because they understand one another and communicate about decisions that could affect their marriage.

Why he created his distinctive comedy identity

Rex Nosa explained that his sensual and humorous social media content emerged from his desire to stand out in a competitive entertainment industry.

He said he had always enjoyed making people laugh and discovered that some of his spontaneous performances amused his friends.

Rather than rely exclusively on conventional acting roles, he decided to develop a distinctive online identity that audiences could immediately recognise.

He acknowledged that some viewers disapprove of the content but said his motivation is entertainment and differentiation, not attracting women.

He also explained that expressions associated with his online persona became part of the identity he developed across social platforms.

The actor said the approach has helped distinguish him from performers whose public identities depend primarily on their appearance or conventional movie roles.

Future ambitions and advice for young talents

Rex Nosa said he hopes to take on more challenging roles that would demonstrate his versatility to audiences at home and abroad.

One of his ambitions is to play twins with contrasting personalities and mannerisms. He also expressed interest in portraying several different characters in a single production.

However, he noted that creative ambitions must be balanced with commercial realities, particularly when existing comedy projects are generating income.

He encouraged audiences to watch Couple in Power, his recent film collaboration with actress Tara Matu.

For aspiring actors, his advice was to develop their skills, believe in their abilities and use social media to attract attention from producers.

He urged newcomers to record their performances, publish content that showcases their talent and tag relevant industry professionals.

Drawing from his own experience, he said he began creating comedy because he was not receiving the roles he wanted.

He encouraged young entertainers to move beyond their comfort zones, avoid people who undermine their ambitions and surround themselves with individuals who support their progress.

Rex Nosa’s journey reflects the changing opportunities in Nigerian entertainment, where traditional acting, digital platforms, independent production and personal branding increasingly intersect.