Actors Guild to check quackery in FCT

The Chairman, Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Abuja Chapter, Mr Agility Onwura, said the guild will check quackery in the industry in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

“The AGN is the only recognised umbrella body of Nollywood actors across Nigeria, and any actor who is not a registered member is a quack,” Onwura said.

“We are now going to audition locations across the FCT to ensure that quacks are not cast by movie producers.”

He added that the presence of the freelance actors, who were always ready to accept little or nothing for acting roles, was making some movie producers undermine the services of the guild members.

He said that the guild was the umbrella body for all professionals in the industry.

“We are encouraging actors, especially upcoming ones, to register with the guild for them to be recognised and patronised by movie producers.

“Once an actor is registered with the guild, he or she will pass through our orientation and induction programmes.

“We will then recommend them as our members to movie producers.”

He said that membership of the guild in the FCT had increased by more than 20 percent during the first half of the year, as many upcoming actors registered in 2015.

He, however, urged actors to always maintain good reputation on and off set and they should not allow their character to be questioned.

He said: “The guild takes public perception of its members very seriously. Hence, the need for them to uphold best practices to gain positive recognition and relevance in the industry.’’

He called for funding from government and private investors since the movie industry was crucial to job creation and growth of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).