Stephen said: “I think that responsibility is on the actor who has chosen the profession, and also on the spouse of that actor who has accepted that their partner is an actor.”
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nollywood actress and producer Biodun Stephen has responded to critics of kissing scenes in the Nigerian film industry, noting that it is not her duty to protect actors’ marriages.
She made this known recently in an Instagram video, responding to criticism raised by a netizen regarding intimate and passionate kissing on movie sets.
Addressing the issue, Stephen argued that actors and their spouses are fully aware of the demands of the profession and should take responsibility for managing their own relationships.
Insisting that directors should not be blamed for challenges in actors’ marriages arising from the scenes they are cast in, she explained that actors have the right to decline romantic or physical roles.
Highlighting the duties of a producer and director, she said her role is not to salvage actors’ marriages, but to ensure that cast members are treated professionally during filming.
She further stated that films aim to convey believability, emotion, and chemistry, because “you want people to believe this love so that they can root for it.”
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Stephen said: “There’s this lady who always has something to say about Nollywood. She said something about kissing, Nollywood, and producers. She argued that producers should take things easy when it comes to having actors kiss, because we’re possibly ruining their marriages.
”Kissing isn’t a major part of my craft because I want people to be able to watch my movies with their children. But that doesn’t mean that when the opportunity calls for it, I won’t embrace it. I will embrace it as long as the story demands it.
”One of the key things we’re selling with actors on screen is believability. You’re selling an emotion, you’re selling chemistry, and you want people to believe this love so that they can root for it.
”Yes, it can be done without intense kissing, but when you start bringing up arguments like ‘it ruins marriages’.
”I think that responsibility lies with the actor who chose the profession, and also with the spouse who accepted that their partner is an actor and that things like kissing and physical contact might occur.
”They must have made their peace with it. That is not my responsibility.
‘We have actors who will tell you, ‘I’m sorry, I can’t kiss due to personal beliefs,’ and there are actors who say they don’t mind kissing at all.
”My job as a producer or director is to protect you as actors. My job is to present you properly to the audience without damaging your character, but my job is not to protect your home—that’s not on me. I didn’t hold a gun to your head to work for me.”
