Arese Ugwu, the creator of The Smart Money Woman, recently opened up about a painful moment in her journey as a filmmaker. She revealed that a rejection from Netflix left her feeling heartbroken and almost made her give up.

After her show gained popularity on both Netflix and Africa Magic, Arese had high hopes of expanding it. She believed the show had more potential and could reach an even bigger audience. So in 2021, she reached out to Netflix, asking them to support a bigger version of the show.

Unfortunately, Netflix turned her down.

Arese admitted that this rejection hit her hard. She had put so much effort into building the show and was hoping for a partnership that could take it to the next level. She said it almost broke her spirit.

Despite the setback, Arese is still determined to grow in the film industry. She wants to be known not just as an author whose book was turned into a show, but as a true filmmaker with her own voice and vision.

Her story is a reminder that even successful creatives face challenges, but passion and persistence can keep the dream alive.