OGONI FILMMAKER REJECTS $40,000 OFFER FOR ADULT SHOOT

An Ogoni filmmaker, Idum Felix, has narrated how he rejected a $40,000 deal to produce adult-content films after discovering the true nature of the project.

Felix, while sharing his experience, said the opportunity began in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic when he met a man on Facebook who introduced himself as a filmmaker.

According to him, they remained in contact until 2021, when the man offered him a production contract.

Felix said the offer initially appeared attractive because he was expected to produce about 10 minutes of a series every week.

«“It was indeed a nice deal. I needed money, and I needed to make that money with my craft,” he said.»

He explained that after a video call to confirm his identity, they finalised the deal, after which the man sent him $355 along with an agreement.

Felix admitted that, excited about the opportunity, he did not initially read the agreement carefully.

He said the producer later sent him details of the type of actors he wanted for the project. After some of his suggestions were rejected, Felix was asked to look for a particular type of people whom the producer believed would attract audiences.

He subsequently submitted photographs of some potential actors and said three people—two women and a man—were eventually selected.

According to Felix, the agreement provided for each actor to receive $1,500 from a $40,000 production budget per series.

He added that he later received another $410 for equipment and welfare for the first shoot, with the promise of $10,000 after delivering the first production.

Felix said he initially wrote a script, but the producer rejected it and requested a storyline centred around romance and love.

He then developed another story, which was approved, and preparations for filming began.

However, Felix said he later felt compelled to revisit the agreement.

It was while reading the document again that he discovered what he described as the actual nature of the project.

According to him, the agreement was for between 10 and 15 adult-content productions, with a total of about one hour of content. He said the agreement offered $60,000 for productions without masks and $40,000 where the actors' faces were covered.

Felix also recalled that the producer had previously asked him to provide half-naked photographs of the people he intended to work with, a request he said he had declined.

He subsequently contacted the producer and told him that adult-content production was not the kind of filmmaking he wanted to pursue.

According to Felix, the producer tried to convince him that the actors could cover their faces, but he remained unwilling to proceed.

“I told him that this kind of movie was not my kind of movie. He said I could do it and that they could cover their faces, but I told him I was not interested,” he said.

Felix claimed that adult-content productions were becoming a trend in parts of the Port Harcourt film industry at the time, adding that he had seen several producers engaging in such productions.

Despite the financial incentive, he said he decided that the money was not worth compromising his personal values and career direction.

“Even though I didn't have money, I can't do it,” he said.

Felix also recounted what happened when he informed the actors he had selected about the nature of the production.

According to him, one of the female actors agreed to participate, while another declined, saying she respected her parents and could not take part despite her financial situation.

He added that the male actor also agreed to participate.

Despite their willingness, Felix said he ultimately decided not to proceed with the project.

“That was how I rejected $40,000,” he said.

Reflecting on the experience, Felix said the deal could have been a life-changing financial opportunity for him, but accepting it would have taken his career in a direction he did not want.

“To some, it was a life-changing opportunity, but for me, it was the dead end of my career,” he said.

Felix concluded by inviting people interested in his experiences and stories to follow his timeline.