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Popular Nollywood actress and producer , Etinosa Idemudia, has urged the Lagos state government to curb the growing increase of local touts aka area boys.
During a recent interview, the screen diva lamented over constant disturbance posed by the area boys on movie sets and noted that she has never had that experience in any other state.
Etinosa Idemudia said the touts often demand huge amounts from filmmakers before allowing them to shoot in certain locations.
She said:
“Another challenge is the case of area boys who often disrupt film shoots, demanding money in Lagos State. These people usually ask filmmakers to pay outrageous bills in order to continue their shoot. It’s daylight robbery.
“The Lagos State government needs to address this issue. I have not encountered this problem in any other states, such as Edo, Enugu or Abuja where I have filmed.
“The lack of regulation in Nollywood is a big challenge for me as a filmmaker and actor. Regulation is not about blocking the gate of any industry; it is about putting a check on entrance procedures, ways of carrying out activities and protecting its practitioners.
“In the film space, there is hardly anything like an exam or qualification process. It is a free-for-all, which is both good and bad. The value of films needs to improve. These challenges need to be addressed for the industry to thrive, and for us to showcase our craft to the world.
“Another major challenge is the lack of funding. Funding has always been a challenge. Sometimes, as a creative, you have amazing ideas, but the budget constraints can be disheartening. Recently, there have been improvements. There have been grants from the Edo State government and other sources. However, funding is likely to remain an issue in the industry, until the right things are done.”
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