Nollywood filmmaker Biodun Stephen has rejected suggestions that romantic scenes in films contribute to marital problems, saying both actors and their partners are fully aware of what the profession involves.
In a video posted on Instagram on Thursday night, Stephen responded to remarks from a young woman who claimed filmmakers should reduce kissing scenes because they could negatively affect the marriages of actors.
Reacting to the criticism, Stephen said she struggled to understand the reasoning behind it, emphasizing that kissing is not a prominent feature in her filmmaking.
“I just watched a video. There’s this young lady who always has something to say about Nollywood. Nobody is even casting her, but she said producers should take it easy on having actors kiss because we are possibly ruining their marriages.”
She explained that she intentionally keeps intimate scenes to a minimum because she prefers making films that families can enjoy together, although she is willing to include such moments if they are necessary for the story.
“I don’t even know how to address this. Kissing is not a big part of my craft, not because I don’t enjoy a little romance and ashewo things in my films. But I want films you can watch with your children, which is why I sort of limit it. That does not also mean that if an opportunity comes, I won’t embrace it.”
Stephen noted that expressing love and emotion is central to acting, adding that strong performances naturally encourage audiences to become invested in on-screen relationships.
“One of the things we are selling as actors is emotions and love. When people believe in that storyline, they start rooting for the love. That can be done with or without intense kissing.”
She maintained that decisions surrounding romantic scenes are the responsibility of actors and their spouses, who should already understand the realities of the profession before entering such relationships.
“I think that responsibility is on the actor who has chosen this profession and on the spouse who has accepted that their spouse is an actor. They must have made their peace with it.”
The filmmaker further pointed out that while some actors refuse romantic scenes because of their personal convictions, others are comfortable performing them.
“There are actors who have said they can’t participate in romance because of personal beliefs, and there are actors who do not mind. So whether you are kissing or being intimate, my job as a movie producer is to protect you. My job is not to break your home.”