Award-winning Nigerian music video director ThankGod Omori, popularly known as TG Omori, has revealed why some high-profile music videos can cost more than $100,000 to produce.
The celebrated director made the disclosure while discussing the economics of music video production, particularly projects filmed outside Nigeria.
According to TG Omori, the amount spent on a music video depends heavily on the creative concept, location and production requirements...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
Why Shooting Abroad Is More Expensive
TG Omori explained that producing music videos in countries such as the United States can significantly increase production costs.
He specifically mentioned locations including Los Angeles and Las Vegas, where productions may require additional expenses that are not as substantial when filming in Nigeria.
These costs can include insurance, location-related expenses, crew payments, equipment and charges based on the amount of time spent on set.
Because many of these expenses are paid in US dollars, the overall production budget can quickly become very large.
The director said some of the projects he has worked on abroad have therefore gone well beyond $100,000.
Some Nigerian Videos Also Cost Around $100,000
TG Omori also revealed that he has worked on music videos in Nigeria with budgets of approximately $100,000.
However, he explained that spending such an amount locally can be more financially efficient because production expenses are generally lower than those associated with shooting abroad.
He pointed to the availability of local manpower and artisans as one of the advantages of producing major projects in Nigeria.
Why Directors Don’t Always Reveal Their Budgets
The director explained that filmmakers are often reluctant to publicly disclose the amount spent on individual projects.
According to him, filmmaking is subjective, meaning two productions can have completely different financial requirements depending on the concept and execution.
He also suggested that revealing a large production budget could cause people to focus on the figure rather than appreciating the creative work behind the finished product.
A Large Budget Does Not Mean the Director Takes Everything
TG Omori also addressed the perception that music video directors personally receive the entire production budget.
He explained that a substantial portion of the money goes toward expenses such as crew members, locations, equipment, artisans, talent and other production requirements.
As a result, a video with a six-figure budget does not necessarily mean the director personally earns that amount.
Why TG Omori Enjoys Shooting in Lagos
Despite working on international productions, TG Omori said he enjoys filming in Lagos because the city provides access to skilled local workers and artisans at comparatively lower production costs.
However, he acknowledged that achieving his desired results often requires intense supervision.
The director explained that he sometimes has to sacrifice sleep and personal time to monitor different aspects of production and ensure that the final video matches his creative vision.
From Smaller Budgets to Six-Figure Productions
TG Omori’s comments also highlight how significantly the Nigerian music-video industry has evolved.
The director has previously discussed starting out with much smaller production budgets before eventually working on major projects running into hundreds of thousands of dollars.
His latest revelations offer a glimpse into the often unseen financial demands behind the polished visuals accompanying some of Africa’s biggest musical releases.
For TG Omori, the size of a music-video budget ultimately comes down to the vision, location and resources required to bring that vision to life.
