‘It’s Not My Duty to Protect Actors’ Marriages’ – Producer Biodun Stephen

LAGOS – Nigerian filmmaker and producer Biodun Stephen has said it is not the responsibility of movie producers or directors to protect the marriages of actors, insisting that actors and their spouses understand the demands of the profession before taking on roles.

Stephen made the remarks in a video shared on Instagram while responding to criticism over kissing scenes in Nollywood films.

Reacting to comments that filmmakers should reduce intimate scenes to help preserve actors’ marriages, the producer maintained that such decisions ultimately rest with the actors and their partners.

According to her, actors have the freedom to accept or reject roles that involve romantic scenes based on their personal convictions.

She explained that while she generally avoids excessive kissing scenes because she wants families to enjoy her movies together, she would not hesitate to include them if they are necessary to tell a compelling story.

Stephen noted that believable chemistry between actors is often essential to convincing audiences and making romantic storylines authentic.

“There’s this lady that always has a mouth for Nollywood. She said something about the kissing, Nollywood, and producers. She said producers should take things easy on having actors kiss because we’re possibly ruining their marriages.

“Kissing is not really part of my craft because I want people to watch my movies with their children, but that doesn’t mean that when an opportunity comes for it, I won’t embrace it. I will embrace it as long as the story calls for it.”

The filmmaker stressed that actors who are uncomfortable with kissing scenes are free to decline such roles, adding that many performers make their boundaries known before accepting a project.

She further argued that responsibility for managing the impact of acting on a marriage lies with the actor and their spouse, not the producer or director.

“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 my spouse is an actor. They must have made their peace with it. That responsibility is not my responsibility.”

Stephen explained that her primary duty as a producer is to ensure actors are treated professionally and portrayed effectively on screen, rather than becoming involved in their personal relationships.

“My job as a producer or director is to protect you as an actor. My job is to present you properly to the audience without harming your person, but my job is not to break your home because that’s not on me. I did not put a gun to your head to work for me.”

Her comments have sparked debate on social media, with many users sharing differing opinions on the role of intimate scenes in Nollywood productions and their impact on actors’ personal lives.