In line with the promise of the Federal Government to intensify efforts in fighting piracy so as to protect the intellectual property of the entertainment industry, President, Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) Ejezie Emeka Rollas has welcomed the development describing it as laudable.
Minister of State for Labour and Employment Mr. Festus Keyamo who made the statement lamented that piracy is taking over the entertainment industry. He urged the actors’ guild to come together to salvage the situation saying ‘if nothing is done, intellectual property of artistes would be lost through piracy and that will ultimately affect Nollywood.”
Rollas who is currently in Las Vegas, U.S.A. attending the 4th African Business Summit did not agree less. He said: “I totally agree with the minister. In Bollywood there is no dignity in labour because outside piracy, a lot of producer, independent and pay TV stations don’t pay actors what is due to them. Everywhere in Nigeria every Tom, Dick and Harry is carrying equipment claiming to be a filmmaker, taking advantage of actors.
AGN is working out a framework to ensure actors begin to get royalties and residuals in high collaboration with Audio Visual Society AVRS and other collecting society.”
The President opined that the story now is no longer about appearing in movies but about ensuring that the average actor has his rights covered. By 2020 all actors whether big or small must sign a contract form for performances whether on pro Bono basis or well paid.
