A video is making rounds online of actor Femi Branch being prevented from leaving a movie set for assaulting a crew member.
According to reports, the famous actor slapped a crew member and attempted to leave the movie set, but was restrained. The movie location’s gate was locked as crew members stood in solidarity with their colleague and refused to shoot.
Kemi Filani further learned that the incident occurred between 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM on Day 8 of a 9-day shoot. The cast and crew prepared to wrap up at one location before moving to the final setup. Tensions flared up during a routine camera set-up involving two camera units. While the Assistant Director and Director of Photography were still adjusting the second Camera, the Director began rolling on the first camera without notifying key crew members.
“I was hitting the door for them to open because the DP wanted to go out and confirm the frame,” the victim recalled. “When Femi Branch shouted they were filming, I questioned what they were filming when the DP and 1st AD were still inside.”
What began as a verbal disagreement escalated quickly. The actor allegedly hurled insults, telling the Assistant Director his “head is incorrect.” The AD, standing his ground, reminded Branch of his authority to halt filming if necessary.
He flared up, asking who I was to talk back at him,” the victim stated. “As he came inside shouting at me, I told him he can’t intimidate me and that I was well within my rights, that was when he hit me.”
According to sources, the altercation stunned the crew, who rallied to support their colleague. After wrapping the scene, they moved to their next location at Lekki Conservation Centre, but filming came to a standstill. In a rare show of solidarity, the crew refused to proceed unless Branch issued a formal apology.
“When he arrived at the new location and was asked to apologise, he refused and tried to leave,” the AD explained. “The crew locked the gate to prevent him from escaping.”
A few weeks back, Godwin Nnadiekwe was hospitalised for internal bleeding after suffering an unexpected injury on a movie set with Zubby. According to him, while shooting a movie, Zubby had kicked him in the chest, which was not part of the script nor directed by the filmmaker.
