Nigerian author and filmmaker Arese Ugwu has revealed how a rejection from streaming giant Netflix left her devastated and nearly shattered her creative spirit. In a candid interview with Afropolitan, the 39-year-old shared the emotional impact of Netflix’s decision to turn down her proposal to expand her acclaimed TV series, The Smart Money Woman.
Ugwu explained that after the first season of The Smart Money Woman received a warm reception-ranking in Netflix’s top 10 for 13 weeks and enjoying success on Africa Magic-she approached Netflix for sponsorship to produce a bigger and better follow-up. To her shock, the platform declined to partner with her on a larger scale.
“We were able to produce Season 1 of The Smart Money Woman and got a fantastic reception on Africa Magic and Netflix. We were in the top 10 for 13 weeks on Netflix. I then approached Netflix for sponsorship to make the project bigger and better, and shockingly, they turned me down. That rejection almost broke me,” Ugwu recounted.
Despite the setback, Ugwu remains determined to carve out her identity as a filmmaker, not just as an author whose book was adapted for television. “I want to establish myself as a filmmaker. I feel like some people still see me as the girl who wrote a book and the book was turned into a TV series,” she said.
Ugwu’s experience highlights both the challenges and resilience required in the creative industry, especially for African storytellers seeking greater investment and recognition on global platforms.
