Why AGN couldn’t sue filmmaker Adanma Luke

The President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas, has given the reason why they may not pursue authorized motion in opposition to filmmaker Adanma Luke following the tragic dying of actor Junior Pope.

Junior Pope tragically died in a ship accident on 10 April whereas coming back from the set of Adanma Luke’s film “Different Facet of Life”.

Consequently, on 11 April, Adanma was suspended for breaching security protocols.

The Guild additionally banned movies involving riverine areas and boat driving to make sure the security of actors and crew members by stopping related incidents from occurring sooner or later.

The AGN finally lifted the ban on Adanma in August.

Earlier than the incident, the 34-year-old producer was recognized for producing motion pictures comparable to Iga (Love in Chain) (2020), Slender Affection (2023), and College Bother (2014).

Throughout an interview with ARISE TV, Mr Rollas defined the drawbacks of suing Adanma.

“Replace on Junior Pope, you understand I used to be right here, and I stated we’re about to sue. Whereas interacting with our authorized adviser, he stated that the AGN didn’t have the locus to sue from the contract Junior Pope signed with the producer. He stated both the direct household or the spouse ought to sue the producer.

“From the construction we’re creating, tapping from the follow, we’ll start licensing actors as a result of we additionally discovered that even the Junior Pope, as of his dying, was not a due-paying guild member. He was a giant actor who had not paid dues within the final 12 months earlier than his dying,” he stated.

Restructure and licensing of actors

The AGN president additionally emphasised the pressing want for reforms in Nigeria’s movie trade, specializing in actor licensing and higher compensation constructions.

Mr Rollas defined that the Guild is engaged on creating a brand new construction that features licensing actors to make sure higher compensation and monetary safety for trade practitioners.

He stated, “We’ll return to the construction we mentioned. We are attempting to vary many issues as a result of we simply returned from Los Angeles.

“Now, in case you speak about advantages, as an example, within the common steadiness, you have to be financially updated to get advantages.

“So now if we modify, if we start to improve and say look, you might be lively in Nigeria, you possibly can work on, you might be concerned in what you’re doing, however you could have a license to follow. And that license you’re given means you’re eligible to get all the pieces you want as a result of you’ve gotten a allow.”

Challenges

Mr Rollas additionally addressed the challenges Nigerian actors face, emphasising the dearth of economic techniques and compensation constructions.

He stated, “I’ll be talking from the attitude of the Actors Guild of Nigeria.

“We all know that in Nigeria right this moment, we now have many huge firms making movies right here, and no one is speaking about royalties or residuals paid to actors, which is the foremost supply of an actor’s revenue.”

He highlighted that missing correct constructions leaves Nigerian actors susceptible, particularly when outstanding actors face severe well being points.

“You see huge names once they fall sick, they don’t get any assist as a result of their monetary remuneration from the work they do doesn’t lengthen to royalties and residuals,”

“Within the regular parlance of advantages, you could must be financially updated to get advantages.

“So now, if we modify, if we start to improve and say, ‘Look, you might be lively in Nigeria, you possibly can work, you might be concerned in what you’re doing, however you could have a license to follow.’ And that license you’re given means that you’re eligible to get all of the issues it’s essential to get as a result of you’ve gotten a license.”