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Veteran actress, Idowu Phillips a.k.a Iya Rainbow, on Saturday appealed to government at all levels to support movie producers with financial aids in order to save the industry from imminent extinction.
She made the appeal in Ibadan on Saturday in a chat with journalists shortly after the launching of “Unveiling Mama Rainbow at 77 in Dubai”, a series of activities organised by Gulf Platform, to herald the actress’ 77th birthday which comes up later in October.
Phillips argued that social media and internet were negatively affecting practitioners in the movie industry, regretting that most movie producers and film makers record losses because most of the films surface on the internet even before they are out for sale.
According to her, the internet has reduced patronage for home videos throwing many actors, actresses and producers into debts after production.
She said: “I want the government to support us especially with loans. It is the marketers that are borrowing us money now but ee don’t even get the money back after producing. Someone will spend N2million for a film and end up getting only N600,000 because the film has gone on the internet before it is even out for sale.
“I appeal to government to support us to avoid this profession going into extinction. I don’t want it to go into extinction. We are begging the government. We are urging them to look at our side.”
The veteran actress chided young actors and actresses, who show off wealth and nudity on the internet.
“It is those who are not wise that are showing their wealth on the internet,” she said. “How can you be showing that you have fifteen million when you don’t have five million. As for those who are still exposing their bodies, we are still talking to them at the locations because I don’t like it. I don’t want them to go astray. God said that we should cover our body, why do you have to expose yourself.
“Lack of role models and masters is another issue. In the past, we have masters who train people with many upcoming actors and actresses under them. But now, someone with money will just come without enough training. Thst is one of the things killing the industry.
Directors of Gulf Platform, Mr. Olusegun Davids and Mrs. Juliana Afonrinwo while speaking, explained that the event was put together to honour Iya Rainbow who will be 77 on October 16, for her massive contributions to the entertainment industry especially
The Chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) Oyo State chapter, Mr. Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, was chairman of the occasion. Also present were Nollywood actors and actresses among whom were Saheed Balogun, Peju Omobolanle-Ogunmola, Toyin Adegbola, Razak Olayiwola, Yemi Sonde and Mr. Olusegun Davies and Mrs. Juliana Afonrinwo.