Etinosa Idemudia decries area boys’ extortion in Lagos

• Actress Etinosa Idemudia has called on the government to help improve the movie industry.
• Speaking on ways Nollywood can be ameliorated, she suggested funding, eradicating local touts in Lagos, as well as creating a set standard for entering the industry.

Popular Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Etinosa Idemudia, has called on the Lagos state government to tackle the menace of local touts aka area boys.

She 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 thugs often demand outrageous amounts from filmmakers before allowing them to shoot in certain locations.

The producer 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.”