Nollywood actor, Yemi Solade has criticized traveling abroad for the main purpose of shooting movies.
In a recently-held interview on Africa Magic TV, the popular actor who has successfully wormed his way into the heart of many Nigerians with his acting prowess; said it’s of no advantage going abroad to shoot a movie.
According to him, filmmakers and actors who prefer to shoot their movies abroad are showcasing and promoting other people’s countries.
The 60-year-old maintained that industry stakeholders should desist from shooting their contents in the overseas. He said it’s detrimental to not just the entertainment industry, but the country.
He said, “Of what value it is when I go to Dubai to shoot a movie when I can easily go to a village in Ondo state to shoot my movie?
“It is common among young singers. But no one can stop them from doing that because it is their own business. Though one may criticize their going abroad to shoot their videos but these musicians would have tenable reasons when asked.”
Solade, however, blamed the Nigerian government for its rigidity in approving specific locations for shooting in the country.
“Since Nollywood came into existence, let’s not talk about the inception of cinema. Nollywood is about 30 years old now. The government has not deemed it fit to give us even prison to shoot our movie.
“When people watch a cinema scene, they criticize the locations used and they say that is why we don’t watch Nigeria movie. It is because the producer can not shoot a movie in front of the prison yard or police station; you will be chased away.
“It’s not that producers didn’t know their steps to obtain permission from these places but the bureaucracy involved is discouraging. So when young artistes gather their money, buy tickets and travel abroad without input from the government, I see nothing wrong in it but it doesn’t promote our culture,” he lamented.
The actor added, “Even the federal government can not stop them because the government has not put an alternative in place. Is not even convenient to producer movie in Nigeria because of lack of stable electricity, fund, and other challenges.”
While traveling abroad to shoot movies might be the best in comparison to shooting in Nigeria; there are quite a few things Solade thinks actors and movie producers should put first.
As a movie enthusiast, do you think shooting locally should be the ultimate for actors and movie producers?