Livespot Studios has officially closed submissions for its nationwide casting call for University of Side Hustle, its debut feature film. The deadline passed at 11:59 PM WAT on Sunday, 22 June 2026, and the production is no longer accepting new entries.
The announcement of the film and its casting call came directly from Deola Art Alade, CEO and co-founder of Livespot360, who positioned University of Side Hustle as a bold, authentic look into the ambition, survival instincts, and dual identities that young Nigerians navigate every day. The studio described the project as a cultural mirror held up to the true heartbeat of Nigeria’s economy, one that documents the silent sacrifices and brilliance of a generation that refuses to fold.
Livespot360 was founded in 2014 by Deola Art Alade and Darey Art Alade. Deola, a Harvard Business School alumna, serial entrepreneur, and producer, serves as CEO and oversees the company’s strategic direction. Her husband Darey Art Alade, the award-winning musician and producer who first gained wide public attention as a contestant on Project Fame Africa in 2004, serves as Executive Creative Director. Together they have built Livespot360 into one of Africa’s most recognised creative companies, with credits including The Real Housewives of Lagos and Last One Laughing (LOL Naija) for Amazon Prime Video. University of Side Hustle marks their first feature film as a studio.
The submission process was conducted entirely on Instagram and was open to male and female actors between 18 and 45 years old, including talent from outside Lagos and across Africa. Applicants were required to record a 60-second monologue, attach a professional headshot, and post both publicly to their Instagram page while tagging @Livespot360 and @UniversityOfSideHustle_ with the hashtags #UNIVERSITYOFSIDEHUSTLE and #LIVESPOTSTUDIOS. The production team strongly encouraged new and emerging faces to apply, stating they were looking for performers with genuine presence, confidence, and range.
Candidates who submitted before the deadline should keep their Instagram accounts public as shortlisted applicants will be contacted directly by the Livespot Studios team for in-person evaluations. No production or release date has been announced yet.
