Popular Nollywood actress, Joke Silva has raised alarm over rampant cases of sex demands in Nollywood.
The actress expressed her concern while fielding questions from newsmen on Wednesday after the launch of ‘Disowned’, a book by Nina Anyianuka about sexual abuse and harassment, at Terra Kulture in Lagos. She lamented that the pressure from Directors and Movie producers on young actress to offer sex for roles was very high.
“Unfortunately, the casting couch issue is alive in Nollywood. Sometimes there is this hunger to get the work. Maybe you’ve gone to several auditions and you haven’t gotten the work, then somebody tells you that it is because you are not doing what you should do that is when you are not getting the work.
“What I say to them is don’t believe it. By the time the producer, director, production manager or whoever insists on sleeping with you, it is very likely you will end up not getting the work. Some of the sad stories we hear is that because some people are so desperate, they end up getting passed around.”
Drawing an analogy with entrepreneurs, Silva said up and coming actresses should not compromise their dignity to get by. There is no need for that. As an entrepreneur, you go round looking for money and you are probably going to get several nose before you get your yes.
“It’s the same with audition. You must keep your dignity. Find something else to keep body and soul together. That is why you hear that abroad people wait tables or work in restaurants because they need something to keep body and soul together until that break happens.
“You should be proud as long as you are earning honest money. If possible train yourself in audition skills.”
She said when more women take up the roles of Directors and Producers, then the issue would be significantly addressed.
“We need more women producers, more women scriptwriters and more women stories so that we can then absorb a lot of women in the industry,”
