Biodun Stephen says filmmakers aren’t responsible for actors’ marriages

Biodun Stephen discusses kissing scenes in Nollywood, saying filmmakers should protect actors on set but are not responsible for their marriages

Nollywood filmmaker Biodun Stephen has weighed in on the debate surrounding kissing scenes in Nigerian movies, saying producers and directors should not be held responsible for challenges that may arise in actors’ marriages because of their roles.

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Stephen said actors who choose the profession and their spouses understand the demands that come with screen performances, adding that managing personal relationships remains the responsibility of those involved.

The award-winning filmmaker explained that she does not deliberately centre her movies around intimate scenes but may include them when they are important to making a story believable.

“I think one of the things we are selling as actors on screen is believability. You’re selling an emotion, you’re selling chemistry, you want people to believe in this love,” Stephen said.

She noted that convincing chemistry between actors can be achieved in different ways, saying some stories may require intimate scenes while others can create emotional connection without them.

Stephen said she respects actors who choose not to participate in kissing scenes because of personal convictions, religious beliefs or individual boundaries, adding that she has adjusted scripts in some cases to accommodate such decisions.

However, she maintained that filmmakers should not be blamed for protecting actors’ marriages, stressing that performers and their partners must understand the realities of the industry.

“When you now begin to say things like, ‘the marriage, the home,’ I think that responsibility is on the actor who has chosen this profession, and also on the spouse of that actor,” she said.

“That responsibility is not my responsibility.”

The filmmaker added that her duty as a producer and director is to ensure actors are treated professionally, respectfully and with dignity throughout production.

“My job as a producer/director is to protect the actor. But my job is not to break your home because that’s not on me,” Stephen said.

She further explained that actors should not be presented in a manner that compromises their dignity, while filmmakers should focus on creating authentic performances within agreed professional boundaries.

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The discussion reflects a long-running conversation in Nollywood about balancing artistic expression, cultural expectations and personal values in film production.