Actress recounts harassment by area boys while filming "Isoken"

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June 1, 2017 4:33 PM

"No beauty without struggle, and that's honestly what we did when we shot those scenes" - Dakore Akande on challenges encountered while filming "Isoken."

The cast and crew of

Speaking at a private screening on Thursday, June 1, 2017, Dakore Akande recounted her experience while filming with Marc Rhys in the busy Balogun Market in Lagos.

"It was very stressful. You know for me I have moved around Balogun when I was younger, when it wasn't as crazy as it is now," said Dakore.

"For Kevin [Marc Rhys, he was particularly brave. We had army escort and everything, but do you know these guys left us at a certain point?

According to Akande, they risked their lives to shoot some of the scenes in "Isoken."

"It got to the point where the area boys were just coming, but, we had to shoot the scene. We had to make sure we got what we wanted. Because, if we didn't get it that day, logistics and all, it was too high.

"So, we risked our lives actually in that scene. We had to form 'ah, we are exploring,' but we were really like 'let's hurry up and shoot this thing and get out of here."

She explained that the Balogun market scene wasn't the only challenging scene they had to shoot.

"Even where we shot my office scenes, they [area boys] were outside chanting. They were waiting for us. I was terrified.

"So you have to suffer something to get something. No beauty without struggle, and that's honestly what we did when we shot those scenes."

Other filmmakers who have been harassed while shooting include Funke Akindele, Omoni Oboliand Ijaduade Ololade Azeez.

Several filmmakers have called on the Lagos State Government to intervene and make provisions for the safety of filmmakers, who contribute to Nigeria's GDP.

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