Junior Pope: Actors Guild Of Nigeria Suspends Movie Shootings
THE Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has announced a 24-hour suspension of movie shooting in the country following the death of renowned Nollywood actor, Junior Pope.
Pope and three other crew members lost their lives in a boat accident on Anam River in Anambra State on Wednesday while filming the movie “Another Side of Life,” the production of which has been suspended. The movie was being produced by Adamma Luke.
The guild’s president said in a statement that “all films involving riverine areas and boat riding are hereby suspended indefinitely.”
Emeka Rollas, National President of AGN, in a statement on Thursday, said: “Following the tragic incident of a boat mishap that claimed the life of Junior Pope and three other crew members at the waterside of River Niger Cable point Asaba on 10th of April, all films that involve riverine areas and boat riding is hereby suspended indefinitely.
“No Shoot on all locations nationwide on Thursday, 11th April 2024 and the film titled ‘The Other Side of Life’ is suspended indefinitely.
“Also, no actor is allowed to work with Adamma Luke as a producer till further notice, while we keep searching for the bodies of the remaining
persons.
“May their souls rest in peace,” he said.
The late actor and three of his colleagues were returning from a movie location in a boat when they fell into the Anam River in Anambra State on Wednesday.
Mr Rollas confirmed Junior Pope’s death on Thursday after initially claiming on Wednesday that he survived the accident.
He said it was initially believed Junior Pope survived the accident when slight movements of his fingers were noticed on Wednesday.
Mr Rollas took to his Instagram page on Thursday to disclose the sad development as he wrote, “It is so so sad that our joy was short lived.”
He added: “My first post was out of excitement when we noticed his tingling fingers. Two notable hospitals tried their best to revive him but to no avail.
“God knows the best. We finally lost him,
Mr Friday’s corpse has been identified but three other corpses are yet to be found.
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭.”
Junior Pope joined the Nollywood industry in 2006 and started attending movie auditions and acting as a minor character in movies.
He usually played the role of a bodyguard, palace attendant, and servant in movies.
He rose to fame in 2007 after acting in the Nollywood blockbuster movie “Secret Adventures”, a movie directed by Tchidi Chikere.
He acted in more than 150 Nollywood movies which include: “Secret Adventures”, “Mad Sex”, “Bitter Generation”, “Vengeance of Bullet”, “The Cat”, “The Generals”, and “Wrong Initiation” among others.
In 2010, he won the award for Nollywood Most Promising Actor in Nigeria at the Entertainment Factory Awards.
He is known for acting in criminal, villain, armed robber, militant and hitman roles in movies alongside Emma Ehumadu, Sylvester Madu, Zubby Michael, Jim Iyke, Alaso Wariboko, Gentle Jack, Hanks Anuku, Jerry Amilo.
Other awards he won include Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice (AMVC) Awards and Best Actor of the Year at the Africa Movie Academy (AMA) Awards among others
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