Nollywood actor and filmmaker, Ernest Obi has lamented over the maltreatment of personal assistants and actors by movie producers.
The movie maker made this known while leading a candlelight procession in honor of his late colleague, Junior Pope, and others at the National Stadium in Lagos on Wednesday.
In a video uploaded on his Instagram page, he urged his colleagues to ensure their safety first during production to avoid accidents and to learn to be in communication with their Guild (AGN). He admonished them to put a call through to their President or Chairman whenever they encounter hazards in their work.
Ernest Obi further lamented the ill-treatment of crew members by producers as he encouraged actors to take a stand and speak out. He noted how some producers pay their assistants N10K for 15 days work.
“Take a stand, say No Sir. If you’re a member of the Guild, make a call immediately. Except your guild or president or Chairman is nonfunctional. Tell him that they want you to enter a forest and there are snakes there as you cannot and the Guild should swing into action immediately and not after.
How much are PAs being paid? How can you employ someone to work for you for 10 or 15 days and you pay them N15k. That’s not just a sin but it’s a sin against God”.
Many via his comment section applauded him for his statement.
Recall that Junior Pope passed away on the night of April 10 after several attempts to resuscitate him failed. The actor alongside make-up artist Abigail Frederick, and the production crew; Friday, Olanti, and Precious drowned in Anam River on their way back from the set of Another Side of Life, a movie produced by Adanma Luke.
Speaking out, Adanma Luke clarified that contrary to reports, she had provided life jackets for them. She revealed that the unfortunate incident still feels like a dream to her, which she hopes she can wake up from.
She disclosed that she had been left traumatized over the ordeal and blamed herself for returning to Asaba as she was supposed to be on that boat with them and her brother’s 2 kids.
Ernest Obi isn’t the only one who has vented out over the poor structure in Nollywood.
Yvonne Jegede noted how his death could have been avoided if only he had worn a life jacket or if Nollywood producers had done better.
Ini Edo slammed the poor structure of the industry that has taken a toll on them as she lamented how the actor’s death was a sacrifice for the realization of the need for the much-needed regulation and structure that would safeguard an entire production.
Sarah Martins had dragged Adanma, noting how her recklessness had cost her the lives of people. Doris Ogala had also dragged Adanma, calling for her arrest as she slammed the President of AGN for allegedly protecting her.
